139 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Harborside, Maine range from established state parks to oceanfront private campgrounds, with most offering views of the Atlantic coastline or surrounding mountains. Camden Hills State Park Campground provides tent, RV, and glamping options approximately 30 miles southwest of Harborside, while Oceanfront Camping at Reach Knolls offers waterfront sites just 10 miles east. The region includes several campgrounds with boat-in access options, reflecting the area's strong maritime character. Most developed campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several also offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort.
Seasonal considerations heavily impact camping availability, with most campgrounds operating from mid-May through mid-October. Camden Hills State Park operates until early September for walk-in sites, while Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park remains open from May through October. Reservations are strongly recommended during peak summer months when oceanfront sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds provide basic amenities including drinking water, toilets, and fire rings, though shower availability varies significantly between locations. Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, particularly at campgrounds in more remote coastal areas. A visitor commented, "Camden Hills SP is a no contest campground if you are visiting Camden and surrounding MidCoast areas. The campsites themselves are fairly secluded with enough tree and brush in between you and your neighbors to feel separated."
Campers consistently highlight the natural beauty and relative quiet of camping areas near Harborside. The proximity to Acadia National Park provides access to numerous hiking trails and scenic vistas. Several visitors mentioned the benefit of staying on the "quiet side" of Mount Desert Island to avoid crowds while still enjoying park access. Campgrounds on the Schoodic Peninsula receive particularly high marks for stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers appreciate the balance between natural settings and access to coastal towns for provisions and dining. A recent review noted, "If you're looking to connect with the wonders of Acadia and avoid the crowds, stay here! It was amazing and the lack of light pollution at night made the star-gazing spectacular!"
"Camden Hills SP is a no contest campground if you are visiting Camden and surrounding MidCoast areas. 9 out of 10 times I visit Camden (one of my favorite places in Maine), I stay at this campground."
"As with all real estate, location, location ! The camp is well situated amongst many Maine towns all of which are worth a visit to."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Direct access to Maine's rocky shore. Everything you need to be comfortable including hot showers and bathrooms cleaned three times a day."
"On our way out we had some trouble with our electric entry steps. Steve and another member of the community came and helped us out until we were able to rectify the problem."
from $14 - $168 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful, quiet location with views of the deer isle bridge and access to walking the beach. Owners are so nice and friendly and accommodating. Sites are mostly private and have space. Very clean."
"Site number 4 was great it was tucked away a bit yet still had a nearby bathroom and a 3 minute walk to the seashore which was beautiful!"
from $29 - $39 / night
Check Availability"Close proximity to Bar Harbor and a lot of the main attractions of the national park. Showers are just outside of the entrance to the campground, coin operated."
"quiet, wooded, relatively secluded. good spot at 111 where we stayed. nice places for tents. private showers outside main camping area were a positive since none in camping area itself."
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability"This campground has beautiful tent sites along the waters edge."
"It 11 miles to Bar Harbor town proper and only 8.7 miles to the Hulls Cove Acadia National Park visitors center and the entrance to the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road."
"This campground is quiet, walking distance to the ocean. Family oriented. There are however, no showers. Most of the walk in campsites are only steps away from the parking lot."
"We stayed at the tent walk in sites (D25) The sites are close together but otherwise, well maintained."
from $22 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Desert, Maine which is right next to the fabulous town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Forest."
"Our site was right next to a potable water spigot, and within easy walking distance to a bathroom building which includes full plumbing and metered showers (4 quarters for 5 minutes)."
"The campsites start level with the main road and then tier downwards towards the water. Campsites on the southside have less trees while campsites in the north are a little more rocky."
"**The location of this campground is outstanding. Conveniently situated between Camden and Rockport off of Route One, the views of the Penobscot Bay are drop dead gorgeous."
from $32 - $58 / night
Check Availability"You are close to Castine, Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Deer Isle and Stonington. "
"This location offers level sites, views of rolling blueberry fields, a picnic table, and other goodies from your host. Lakeisha really takes pride in this property, and it shows."
from $49 - $69 / night
Check Availability"Overall, this is a great little private RV park with awesome views (from some sites) and great access to the ocean. "
"This is a great location from which to explore Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and towns of Belfast, Rockland and Camden."
RangerThis is a small campground off the beaten path, on a large lake (known locally as Webber “Pond”) with docks for swimming and boating. Many of the sites are reserved for the entire summer with permanent RVs. There are a cluster of closely spaced central sites that are available for others. The bathrooms were clean and showers warm. Fellow campers and sat were welcoming and friendly.
ScoutThis campground is fine, but there are no showers. The bathrooms are in good shape, and the sites are okay. They're decent size, but you're still not gonna have much privacy from your neighbor.
It's a busy campground. There are over 300 sites, and there are not a lot of services, as far as visitor services or anything like that. The amenities are very limited. You just have water at spigots and bathhouses without showers.
GuideTook our 20 foot travel trailer to Blackwoods for 9 nights to explore Acadia! The campground is clean and quiet! The spots are close but we had no issues with neighbors or quiet hours. They are a primitive campground, so no hookups. There are bathroom on every loop with toilets and water but if you need a shower there are coin showers just outside the campground. We truly loved our stay!
ScoutWe can't voice enough, what a great place this is and we will definitely come back
TravelerBeautiful waterfront, location with level lots and scenic views
GuideThis is a nice very quiet campground. It is off the beaten path. The bathrooms were clean and the staff pleasant. It was well kept.
GuideOur campsite was A2. It’s quite close to the road, so you can hear some traffic noise. The site itself feels fairly private, although you can see some of the neighboring campsites. That said, everyone has enough space, and we never felt like anyone was bothering each other. One thing to note is that you can’t park your car directly at the campsite. You’ll need to carry your gear about 16 feet from the parking spot, which wasn’t a big deal for us. A huge advantage of this site is its location. It’s only about a 2-minute walk to the bathrooms and showers, and it’s also very close to the Gathering Place. Every morning from 7–10 AM they serve complimentary coffee and a variety of treats. I highly recommend the cinnamon rolls and cinnamon donuts, it’s absolutely delicious! Just get there early because by around 9 AM they’re usually gone. In the evenings (6–9 PM), they serve excellent ice cream. Firewood ($6 per bundle when we visited) and ice are also available for purchase. Another nice bonus is the free 24-hour Wi-Fi, and Verizon had excellent reception throughout the campground. The lake view from this section of the campground isn’t the best. If I came back, I would probably choose a site farther from the road, preferably closer to the water. The bathrooms and shower facilities are clean and have a charming rustic feel. Showers cost $1 for 5 minutes. There are plenty of staff members around, and they do an excellent job keeping the campground clean, organized, and well maintained. Definitely rent a kayak if you didn’t bring your own! A single kayak was $38 for 4 hours when we visited, and it’s absolutely worth it. The lake is beautiful and much larger than we expected, we paddled for 3.5 hours and still didn’t have enough time to explore everything!
GuideThis campground is only about 12 years old. It is clean, tidy, and well-kept. Sites in B loop are spacious and level. Every one is a pull-through. The sites are well spaced and very private. B loop has water and electric— A loop has smaller sites with electric only. There are no showers here, but the bathrooms are very clean. The dump station is easy to access and the flush hose has the best pressure we’ve experienced.
GuideDecided on Bass Harbor after considering the only available tent site at Seawall (very small and close to neighbors). The main area of Bass Harbor has lots of RV sites as well as a good number of nice looking tent sites. We stayed across the street from the office where there is a large wooded field for tents only. Very pretty sites with trees and dense mossy surroundings. Super easy, friendly staff, not busy - we were very happy with the site we selected and the whole experience in general. Plenty of deadwood around for a small fire; bathroom/showers/wash station clean and easily accessed. A little pricier than the national park options, but worth it to be away from the standard cookie cutter sites we saw elsewhere.
Dispersed camping near Harborside, Maine runs from late spring through early fall, with freezing temperatures common by October. Located on the eastern side of Penobscot Bay on the Blue Hill Peninsula, this region features a mix of protected coves and exposed rocky shorelines. Many campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October, with limited off-season availability at primitive sites.
Kayaking from waterfront sites: At Oceanfront Camping @ Reach Knolls, campers can launch directly from the beach area. A visitor noted, "We went swimming at their beach and saw a seal!" The campground provides access to Eggemoggin Reach with views of Deer Isle.
Explore tidepools at low tide: When staying at Seawall Campground, take advantage of the nearby shoreline. A camper shared, "With coastal hikes so close, sunrise hikes and exploring the tide pools were outstanding!" The rocky shoreline reveals marine life during low tide.
Crab gigging from docks: Mount Desert Campground offers floating docks perfect for wildlife observation. According to one family, "We purchased a crab bucket with net from the coffee shop one morning for around $10-12. It was well worth it as my kids crab gigged for HOURS off the docks every day!"
Stargazing on clear nights: The coastal areas near Harborside offer exceptional night sky viewing. A visitor to Seawall Campground recommended, "For stargazers, the short walk across the street to the beach will give you some unbelievable views of the milky way when the night is at peak darkness."
Cedar outdoor showers: Megunticook by the Sea Campground features unique shower facilities. A visitor commented, "The cedar showers are awesome! Hubby used the outdoor shower and thought it was great." Another camper added, "I made use of the cedar showers for a long hot shower- awesome!"
Island Explorer shuttle access: Blackwoods Campground provides convenient transportation options. A reviewer stated, "We were able to walk to the shuttle pickup and ride it to all stops in the park, and to Bar Harbor. It was so convenient!" This reduces traffic and parking concerns when visiting popular areas.
Fresh lobster availability: Many coastal campgrounds offer direct access to local seafood. At Oceanfront Camping @ Reach Knolls, "Highly highly recommend getting fresh lobster from the local lobster man that lives on the grounds, they even supply you with a pot to boil them!"
Proximity to hiking trails: Camden Hills State Park provides immediate trail access. As one camper noted, "One of the real pluses of this park were the miles and miles of hiking trails just outside our doorstep." Many campsites connect directly to trail networks.
Reservation requirements: Most oceanfront sites book months in advance, especially at popular destinations like Mount Desert Campground. A visitor shared, "If you want a waterfront campsite - good luck! They let the families book them year over year so it's hard to get an opening to reserve those sites."
Tent platform considerations: Several campgrounds have elevated platforms for tent sites. According to a camper at Mount Desert, "Un-level sites have platforms to put your tent on. The office even has hammer and nails for you to use to secure everything."
Site size limitations: Some campgrounds restrict large RVs. A visitor noted, "Campers over 20 feet are not allowed. The sites are large however the terrain is difficult to navigate." Always confirm vehicle length restrictions before booking.
Off-site showers: Many national park campgrounds lack shower facilities. A Seawall Campground visitor explained, "Showers were ~2 miles away, open 4-7 pm and $1.50 for 2 minutes of water." Bring quarters and plan accordingly.
Kid-friendly water activities: Searsport Shores Ocean Campground offers excellent water access for children. A visitor observed, "Kids ride their bikes everywhere. I'd say kids get to be just the right amount of feral here. It's a safe, quiet and fun park."
Educational ranger programs: National park campgrounds typically offer evening programming. At Blackwoods Campground, "The campground felt safe with Park Rangers walking around" and the park "hosts ranger talks every few nights" at the amphitheater.
Rock treasure hunting: Low tide reveals collecting opportunities along shorelines. One family mentioned, "At low tide you can do fun rock designs on the shore" at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground, providing a free activity for children.
Painted rock hunts: Some campgrounds organize scavenger activities. A parent noted at Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA, "my daughter begs to camp here...she loves the ice pop contest. if you find a painted rock and bring it to the office you get a free ice pop."
Generator restrictions: Most campgrounds near Acadia enforce strict generator policies. A visitor to Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA noted their campground provides "electric and water only, there is a dump station" but does not permit generator use.
Limited dump stations: Plan waste management carefully. One RVer explained, "There is NO dump station located at the campground however a few miles down the road, there is a campground that allows you to use theirs for a $20.00 fee."
Site selection strategy: Coastal Maine campgrounds often have varying site qualities. A visitor suggested, "You reserve a type of site, and then for an additional fee can reserve a specific site, if desired" to secure preferred amenities or views.
Satellite reception issues: Dense tree cover affects connectivity. A camper at Camden Hills State Park explained, "For television watchers, there is no cable and satellite can be difficult due to trees. There are nine sites (55 - 63) located in an open field that may be able to pick up satellite."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Harborside, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, Harborside, ME offers a wide range of camping options, with 139 campgrounds and RV parks near Harborside, ME and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Harborside, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Harborside, ME is Camden Hills State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 33 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Harborside, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Harborside, ME.
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