Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Isle au Haut, ME

This is a wonderful campground with sites with lots of privacy. We stayed for a month and were very happy with our stay. The amenities are all well done, limited in scope. The result is a quiet atmosphere. Troy and his wife (the owners) are very friendly and helpful. Our AT&T reception was fine for streaming, internet access and calls. We did not use the laundry facilities and showers but they were clean and welcoming. And it is pet friendly. Located near Stonington, it is near the harbor, restaurants, a sand beach and the ferry to Isle au Haut. Opportunities for Kayaking, SUP’s and hiking abound here on a quiet island. Stonington has some great restaurants and is a quaint fishing village. The harbor is beautiful. And it is not far from busier areas like Blue Hill, Brooklin, Castine and a one hour ride from Mount Desert Island. What we enjoyed most was the lack of crowds and many places to just sit and enjoy the views.

Acadia, especially in the shoulder seasons, is a paradise. Although it is one of the most densely-visited parks during the summer and fall colors seasons, if you time things right, the whole park can be yours to explore.

Blackwoods Campground was our only camping option inside the park during our visit in late October. As some of the campground is closed at this time of year, we were surprised to learn it was almost full to capacity when we arrived for four nights. Definitely book in advance. It is one of the priciest NPS campgrounds at $30/night for a bare tent site, but as our only option for camping inside the park, we swallowed the cost and made the most of it. If we had visited during the summer, we would have stayed elsewhere, like on Isle Au Haut or Seawall Campground.

The campground itself is what you’d expect at most national parks. Bathrooms with flush toilets, sites with picnic tables. Easy access to the wonders of Acadia.

During our five days in the park, our favorite activities included hiking the Precipice Trail (closed during certain months because of nesting), seeing the quieter side of Acadia and walking to Wonderland Point, joining the crowds to watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, and exploring the town of Bar Harbor (highly recommend seeing a movie at Reel Pizza!).

You can read much more about our five days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Acadia)

Gear Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I’m one of the lucky ones that gets to review new outdoor products from time to time. As a nature and wildlife photographer, I’m outside shooting pictures in every type of weather, both on land and sea. I needed something to protect my camera from the elements, but also need it to be lightweight and easy to put on/remove. I ordered the camera base layer and an additional lens base layer and have been using these products for the past few weeks while working at a campground and serving as a Naturalist Educator on a charter boat on the coast of Maine. This weekend, we did some sea kayak camping and hiking on the islands in the Gulf of Maine.

What I like about these products:

• Very lightweight and well made.
• Simple design, relatively easy to use in the field.
• Provides some padding so my camera and lenses won’t break when jostled around in my backpack.
• Water resistant with integrated rain cover.
• Keeps lenses warmer so that they don’t get too cold and fog up.

What could be improved:

• When I have my telephoto lens on my camera body, it barely fits into the camera base layer. I wish the pocket were just a bit deeper to accommodate this longer lens a bit better.
• The padding could be a bit thicker on the camera base layer and still be lightweight, giving my camera even more protection.
• The rain cover for the camera base layer should be fully integrated, rather than it being a separate feature. As is, it’s a bit fiddly and doesn’t always stay put when rolled down with the rest of the cover. I prefer how the lens base layer has the rain cover full integrated inside; I plan to stitch the rain cover into the camera base layer.
• I’ve added a carabiner to my camera base layer so that I can hang it from my camera strap while shooting. This way, I won’t put it down and forget about it, or have the wind carry it away when I have my back turned.
• Matador should consider making a fully waterproof product with padding, rather than just water resistant.

Product Links:

Camera Base Layer https://matadorup.com/collections/matador-products/products/camera-base-layer?variant=16831186502

Lens Base Layer [https://matadorup.com/collections/matador-products/products/lens-base-layer?variant=16831195590](http://](https://matadorup.com/collections/matador-products/products/lens-base-layer?variant=16831195590](http://)

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggjtW4p4-zY

Campground Review:

The Maine Island Trail offers 200 islands in which to sea kayak camp and Nathan Island is one of the many gorgeous options in the Deer Isle Archipelago. The free camping spots and beaches are maintained by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. This island is perfect for 1-2 small tents and is just a stone’s throw away from the famous and beautiful Isle au Haut (part of Acadia National Park). We stayed 2 nights on Nathan and paddled to Duck Harbor for some day hiking on Isle au Haut.

The camping spot is simple and similar to most backcountry sites: a flat space to pitch your small tent, no toilet, no drinking water, no picnic table, and no reservations possible. But, what this island lacks in “amenities” is made up for in beauty all around! With a deep, rocky shore, it’s the perfect place to make dinner, watch the sunrise or set, and star gaze with no city lights or trees to obstruct your view.

The nearby village of Stonington has everything you may need for your island camping adventure. You can even rent kayaks and most of your gear from Old Quarry Ocean Adventures.

Things to consider when sea kayak camping in this area: 1) the fog can roll in at any minute so come prepared with a chart, compass, bearings between islands/markers and a marine radio, 2) you are required to use Wag Bags instead of digging hole to dispose of human waste, 3) since all of the islands are first-come, first-served, have a back-up plan for camping on another island, 4) there are no docks, so the islands are not accessible to large boats, 5) you may get awakened by the sound of lobster boats motors, as they start their day pretty darn early; bring ear plugs if you are light sleeper, 6) the tide in this area is significant (9-12 vertical feet), so landing at high tide is tricky/impossible on Nathan (and many other islands) and 7) leave a float plan before you go out (Old Quarry Ocean Adventures is the perfect spot to do this, as well as launch and park for a small fee).

Gear Review

As Rangers for The Dyrt, we often receive gear to review. My husband is passionate about being out on the water in any way possible, and this wetsuit is helping him enjoy being there even when it’s cold, or in this case, in Maine’s frigid gulf waters. While on the coast of Maine this summer, he's been learning how to surf a stand-up paddle board on the wave created during the tide change at Blue Hill Falls. Let's just say, this wetsuit has kept him trying to master it! Enjoy the video below…

What he likes about this product:

• Very comfortable, and very warm, the 4 /3 mil neoprene is soft and thick enough for most days during the summer in the Gulf of Maine.
• Simple design and easy zip-in closure. The zipper is short and easy to access, you don’t need a friend or zipper pull tether to close yourself in.
• Flexible enough to move around and swim in without feeling constrained.
• Reinforced knee pads and chest area which take a beating when surfing.

What could be improved:

• All wetsuits are difficult to get into, and the Siroko is no different. It manages to maximize performance and comfort when wearing it while sacrificing the ease of getting it on your body.
• The cinch helps keep the zippered flap tight against the body, I wish there was an adjustment for the neck gasket, as sometimes a little cold water comes into the front of the suit while swimming.

Product Link: https://www.bodyglove.com/collections/mens-wetsuits/products/16111-blu-siroko-4-3mm-slant-zip-fullsuit

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnvqTGLchw8

Campground Review

What an unbelievably beautiful, comprehensive campground and activity center! The campground is small and quaint and sits right on Webb Cove near Stonington Harbor. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and some lawn chairs…a nice bonus! The bathrooms are clean and showers are nice and hot. There is also a quality dishwashing sink behind the bathrooms. There are also bunkhouses, suites, and bunk rooms for those who want to enjoy the activities without sleeping in a tent.

The grounds are spectacular and well kept, with gorgeous flowering bushes as well as spruce, pine, and hardwoods. Most sites are very private, with just a few that experience walk-by traffic. Three sites are dedicated to RV’s which need water and electrical hook-ups and there are a handful of waterfront sites. Picnicking areas are scattered throughout the campground and down by the waterfront next to the boat ramp. It’s also a great campground to start/end from if you are camping along the Maine Island Trail. Check out our article on Sea Kayak Camping.

In addition to an adorable campground, Captain Bill offers everything from kayak rentals and guided trips to ferry service to Isle au Haut (part of Acadia National Park) to puffin and eco-boat tours to sailing lessons. If it can be done on water or land, this place rents it, guides it, and/or teaches you how to do it.

This campground is located near the quaint village of Stonington which has most things you might need for your camping trip. It also has relatively comprehensive camp store and a small kitchen which will make you everything from lobster to an egg sandwich.

While you can walk-in without a reservation in the off season, this place books up in the summer (July 1 through Labor Day), so reserve early and be sure to get on a guided trip or charter boat tour if you plan to come during the silly season.

Overall, this is a great little private RV park with awesome views (from some sites) and great access to the ocean. The park is conveniently located just a few miles from downtown Belfast (a sweet little Maine town) which offers plenty to do and see. Plus, you are just five miles from the cute town of Searsport which houses the wonderful Penobscot Marine Museum and two miles from Moose Point State Park with hiking trails, picnic areas, and more gorgeous views.

The park offers a variety of sites (44 total) depending on if you want oceanfront, ocean view, or a pull-thru. All sites have electric (50 or 30 amp), water, cable and wifi. The five pull-thru sites also include sewer. A mobile sewer pump-out service is available for guests staying one week or longer and there is a dump station. Roads and sites are gravel with grass patios and level. All sites have a fire ring and picnic table. Our Verizon 4G phone and Hotspot worked great but we mostly used the free wifi which worked very well.

Park amenities include private ocean access, horseshoes, playground, laundry, showers/bathrooms, free coffee in the morning, free weekend papers delivered to your site, free donuts on Sunday mornings, and a restaurant on-site. The park organizes a lot of group activities including pot lucks, lobster shore dinners, and free wine and beer during Friday Happy Hours. The laundry has two wash machines/dryers and was clean and tidy.

The Moorings is in a great location. It is just a few miles from downtown Belfast where you will find restaurants, a brewery, boutiques, a movie theater, art galleries, historic museums/sites, and plenty of water-related activities. Grocery stores and fuel stations are within a few miles of the RV Park. Just a mere 20 miles away is the popular coastal town of Camden.   

What we liked about this park is the town of Belfast and how close the RV park is to downtown. Also, the parks small size and friendly people make this an enjoyable place to stay. We like the fact that they had social activities (like free happy hour and donuts) that bring people together. The ocean access in this park is great! A short set of stairs takes you down to the water which is great for exploring, launching kayaks, and letting the dog run/swim when the tide is out. 

The biggest downside for us was the price and lack of sewer and 50 amp at some sites. Our site was $66/night for a FHU (50 amp) pull-thru on the hill in the front of the park without much in the way of a water view. Premier oceanfront sites (with no sewer and 30 amps) are $72/night during high season. That being said, there are not too many options for campgrounds in the Belfast area and we really did like staying here. 

From a dog owners perspective this park gets mixed reviews. The rules ask that dogs be on a 4’ or less lease, you may only have two pets (unless you get prior approval), they must do their business in one small area and are not allowed on most grassy areas throughout the park. We make a consorted effort not too let our dog pee or poop in others yards but we don’t always have control over where that happens. We did like the fact that you could take them down to the ocean to play in the water and on the beach when the tide was out. Within two miles of the RV park is Moose Point State Park with a few miles of hiking trails, picnic area and water access (a daily use fee is charged). Downtown Belfast does have a fenced off-leash 1.4 – acre dog park with water for dogs and benches for owners.

**Campground Review: **

Hadley’s Point Campground is located on the north side of Mt Desert Island and just a short distance from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Hadley’s Point is a large private campground that has tent, water& electric RV, and full hook up sites, as well as Cabins. The campground is broke up in to multiple loops (campground map can be found in my pictures) with some loops in open areas with little shade and sites close together, and other loops have more wooded sites that have some shade and privacy. All style sites include a picnic table and fire ring. 

Reservations are site type, not site specific, so a little bit of a gamble. We were assigned site B27 on this visit. This site was partially shade depending on the time of day and very close to our neighbors. Other sites in the B loop did have more trees and more private, but they were full on this stay. Check-in was easy and the staff was very helpful in providing info and answering questions about the area. A host guides you to your site and assist you in positioning if needed. 

The bathroom on B-loop does not have showers so we had to hike to other loops to shower. The Bathrooms and showers were very clean. The showers are metered and cost $0.50 per 7 minutes, so don’t forget your quarters! 

Firewood and limited supplies were available at the office. There is a full grocery store about 10 minutes away. 

We found good cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The campground did not have wi-fi. 

The campground also has a heated pool, playground, and laundry. 

With Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park close by, there is so much to do and see in the area. One of the best benefits of the area is that there is a free shuttle with multiple routes around the island, so you can leave the car and parking hassles behind and just shuttle everywhere. The Shuttle has a stop right on the campground and is dog friendly (on leash and if your dog is friendly). 

Speaking of dog friendly, I’ve never been to an area that is so dog friendly. The campground staff was very forthcoming with dog friendly info and I have to mention Bark Harbor in downtown Bar Harbor. Bark Harbor is a pet store that bakes their own treats, has toys and gifts, and tons of info on dog friendly areas on the island. They have pre-printed lists of dog friendly hotels, restaurants, on and off leash hiking trails, and dog parks. Super friendly crew that keyed us into an off leash hiking area that our dogs loved! 

Pro Tip: A short ¼ mile walk from the campground is an off leash dog friendly beach that you can also launch your kayak or canoe from or have a sunset beach campfire. We really enjoys this beach after a long day of hiking all around the national park. 

With all the outdoor activities of the national park, kayak and boat cruises in the ocean, lobster, lobster, lobster, you’ll need a full week to explore this island. Hadley’s Point made it a perfect place for us to take it all in.

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**Product Review: **

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I tested the Morsel Spork. This spork from Morel is very handy to have in your gear list. We are teardrop campers, so our space is limited. Everything has to have a purpose and be compact. Items like the Morsel Spork, that serves multiple functions, fit right into our needs. We purchased both the mini and the XL. Both are the same (spork on one end, spoon/scraper on the other end), but the XL is a little longer. We found this very functional for regular eating from plates or bowls, or eating directly from food packets. I also found the scraper spoon side useful in cleaning out our french press carafe. Easy to clean, easy to use, comes in multiple colors, and happy to have it a part of our camping equipment.

We stayed at this campground unexpectedly as two places I was looking at would not accept reservations less than 24 hours in advance. They had availability, offered wooded tent spots, and were affordable as some campgrounds anymore are charging an arm and leg to camp. When we arrived, the girls in the office were super sweet. They had the essentials needed if you are in a pinch, a cute gift shop for the Bass Harbor Lighthhouse (bring your lighthouse passport with you to get stamped here), have coffee/muffins in the morning, washrooms were very clean, laundry, dog park, dog run, small rec center, and pool. Tent sites are nicely wooded and spaced out, so you are not on top of one another. Quiet hours are between 10 PM and 7 AM, and it was so nice to camp in peace and quiet with others wanting the same thing. There are homes close by, but they are fenced off and really are out of sight, so it's not really an issue. The Bass Harbor Lighthhouse is literally 500 feet away. We could hear the bouy ding from our campsite. There are two beautiful hiking trails .7 miles away from the campgrounds: Ship Harbor and Wonderland, that bring you to beautiful ocean views. One of the Acadia Park entrances is 5 minutes away. Southwest Harbor is a short ride away to grab an ice cream or a nice dinner. There is a brand new mini golf center further down the road that is amazing!! The Acadia Mountain trail is not far nor is the Cranberry Island Ferry. This was a prime location to see another side of Bar Harbor, see beautiful sites and avoid the crowds of downtown Bar Harbor. So happy I stumbled across this campground by accident. I would highly recommend and will definitely return!

Well maintained. Pet friendly BUT must be in leak at all times. Cannot be left alone in RV or vehicle. No sewer. Friendly atmosphere

Hadley's Point is a private campground just outside Acadia National Park. This campground prides itself on being family-friendly and welcoming to pets.

Children are allowed to bike throughout the campground until dusk. While we stayed, there was a campground-wide Fourth of July bike parade. The kids loved it. 

Pets are welcome but cannot be abandoned in the motorhome when you leave. Plan to take your pet with you everywhere.

Hadley's Point offers laundry facilities, showers, a heated pool, cornhole, and shuffleboard. While the pool is heated, it is not hot -- or even very warm. But this is Maine we are talking about, and I'm sure that the water was warmer than it would otherwise have been. 

The campground is primarily designed to accommodate RVs and motorhomes. The large fields and open lots for RVs provide ample parking and the campground offered electricity as well as other hookups. 

Cute cabins offer cozy sleeping (but no running water) for visitors without tents or RVs. 

We brought our tent and felt a little like second-class citizens at this RV-focused campground. The tent sites were tiny. Our large van, tent, and screened-in pavilion covered the entire site, leaving very little walking space. Our site also lacked trees for shade and hammocks. 

Worse yet, the campground has an infestation of Black-Legged Deer Ticks -- the ticks responsible for Lyme disease. We found two on our son during our stay. I hope they treat for these ticks soon because it poses a huge risk to their campers. 

There is a lot of potential for this campground but they need to spray the grounds for ticks and create more comfortable sites. They could be awesome if they shifted their focus from trying to fit as many people as possible to creating a comfortable camping experience for all. 

Pros:

- Heated pool

- Bathrooms cleaned regularly

- Laundry

- Good price

- Good location

- Playground

- Kid and pet friendly

- Island Explorer Bus stops at the campground

Cons:

- Cramped sites

- Ticks

- Crowded

Perfect pet friendly campground near Acadia but far enough away from it all. Friendly staff, peaceful nature setting on the water, and starry nights. Clean bathrooms and large campsites. Couldn’t have asked for more. Great also if you love kayaking or paddling!!

This is a beautiful campground. Well maintained and right on the water. We loved taking our dogs by the water at low tide. We stayed in site 121. There wasn't any trees, just an open area. This was pull thru, full hook up site. This campground did have the Island Shuttle stop. This is help to get around Bar Harbor or to Acadia when you do not have a car or do not want to take one; however we did not use this amenity. If we were to go back, we would pick the water side sites for the views but they do not have sewer hookups. It was a little bit of a drive to Acadia National Park and the town of Bar Harbor but it was worth the drive. Gorgeous area! Very pet friendly.

Since the campground is closing this fall to renovate I will focus mostly on what the park has to offer. Our family of four plus one pet was impressed with the transportation system provided by Acadia in partnership with L.L Bean. Free buses are pet-friendly which allowed for maximum exploration. Activities within walking distance from the campground included hiking, beach combing, and picnicking. Waking up to see the beautifully painted sky over the ocean at sunrise is well worth it! Rock climbing and various boat excursions were also available. Southwest Harbor neighbors the campground and has adorable coffee houses and restaurants. Also, be sure to seek out one of Ms. Frances' blueberry pies from the Quietside Cafe. Hoping renovations keep walk-in woodsy sites, but update bathrooms and maybe include showers, although a clean pay facility exists a mile towards Southwest Harbor. All together, the gorgeous geography, National Park Service and kind neighboring towns made tent-camping in Acadia an outstanding and affordable experience. This will not be our last visit!

Beautiful park with some shady, some sunny, some on the water, all level sites. Nice bathrooms, laundry room, playground and rec area for kids. Pet friendly. They gave us a site under low hanging branches that were too low for our 5th wheel. They had no problem changing us to accommodate our rig! Very kind staff! 🙂

This is one of the best campgrounds we have visited in many years. This small campground opened in 2021 and has amazing waterfront views and nice full hook-up sites. Rob and Peggy are wonderful campground owners who are super engaging and friendly. They take lots of pride in the campground and have planned group events like lobster and oyster dinners, campfires and music, and are always available or answer your questions or provide information on the local area. Definitely check out their website which has an extensive amount of information about the campground and local activities. West Bay has a great online reservation system that lets you see what sites are available and pictures of each site so you can pick what works best for you. Sites range in price from$125-165/night depending on the season (with possible additional charges for electricity usage). 

There are 26 sites in this terraced campground all of which have full hook-up with a water view. Sites in the Woodlands Section(and#18) have nice tall trees for shade; whereas, the others are in full sun. Most sites have two sewer hook-ups which is convenient because hook ups vary depending on RV type. Roads and campsites are gravel and all sites are level. There is no cable but the Wi-Fi is so awesome that you are given free reign to stream, zoom, or surf without restrictions (in fact they pride themselves on their great Wi-Fi). We love the free community garden which has a wonderful selection of produce including strawberries, tomatillos, fresh herbs, beans, lettuces, etc. Feel free to pick whatever you will eat, just leave some for others. There is no bathhouse so all units must be self-contained. The campground is right on the water and there is a nice path leading to an overlook and down to the water which is tidal. There is a beautiful cleared spot at the waters edge with a swing so you can enjoy the view and watch the tides (and seals come and go). Make sure you wake up early and head down to the point because the sunrises are spectacular. They were super smart and put in an outdoor shower so you can rinse the salt water off. Rental kayaks and paddle boards are available or you can bring your own and leave it down at the waters edge. Just make sure you paddle around high tide or else you will be slogging your watercraft through a soft mucky clam flat. Another great thing about this park is that it is a certified dark sky park. Campers are asked to turn outside lights off so there is no light noise to interfere with the beautiful sky full of stars, planets, and meteor showers. Recently added is a short nature trail and off leash dog park. 

The campground is approximately 45 minutes from downtown Bar Harbor and the main section of Acadia National Park. Just ten minutes away is the Schoodic Woods section of Acadia– a less busy and equally beautiful area of the National Park. Plus, there are many nearby nature preserves and public lands that have great hiking. There is a wonderful organic farm down the road and a couple of local wineries are nearby. The nearby town of Gouldsboro has a delicious little ice cream stand and the Pickled Wrinkle restaurant serves great food. Live lobster can be bought off the dock at the nearby town of Corea.

We were at Blackwoods for two weeks - from October 3rd to October 17th in 2016. Perfect timing for fall color. It was beautiful. The campsites are primitive (no electricity, water or sewer) and there are no showers on site - there is a pay shower close by outside the park. But it was worth it to be in this beautiful pristine environment. The campsite is a short walk to an ocean overlook where you can watch the sunrise and the park has lots to do. We enjoyed great ranger talks before they ended for the season and I loved bicycling on the carriage trails. Don't forget your hiking boots! We had the trails to ourselves most of the time we were there.

The campground is pet-friendly. Most of the trailer sites are pull-through. The sites are not too close together and there are a lot of trees and shrubs between sites. Each site has a fire ring. They run a bus service around the park and there is a stop at the campground.

I cant wait to go back!

We just spent 4 wonderful nights here and it is possibly my favorite campground, ever. The campground is relatively new and although they could have fit more sites in here, I am so glad they did not. The sites are carefully designed so that although you might hear your neighbor you likely will not see them. We sleep in our van and also have a tent for storage and changing. Every tent site has electric, and water is available at the bathhouse. There is also a dishwashing station there, as well as trash, recycling, and food scrap bins. There are no showers, but you can wash up in the bathhouse and also heat water at your site for a quick wipe down. That was fine for us for 4 nights. There are some negative reviews on here about the lack of showers but maybe this is just not the campground for them. There are plenty of other campgrounds in the area that have showers. If that's what you're looking for ....

We stayed at A48 and loved it.  The driveway is deep, so we felt very secluded, especially at night. The only thing we didn't like about this site is that the fire ring is in the middle of the site.  We moved the picnic table to the side and had room, but it did. limit our options for the tent a little bit. 

This is a dark sky park so no string lights or anything like that and as a result it is also VERY quiet at night. Very dog friendly and everyone seemed very responsible as far as no barking and picking up after their pets.

At night we drove over to Fraser Point and took amazing photos of the northern lights. Not for the feint of heart, though — it is VERY dark! This is such an amazing campground, I almost don't want to tell you because it feels like a hidden little secret!

We camped for years and years at Mount Desert Campground with our four children and my Sister-in-Law and her two sons. The kids are all grown now and are taking their own camping trips to this amazing place. It is a family run campground with immaculate grounds and bathroom facilities on Somes Sound in Mt. Desert, Maine which is right next to the fabulous town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Forest. There are so many activities and amenities just minutes from this lovely campground but, if you choose to stay put...you will not be disappointed. There are lovely camp roads to walk, run, or bike. Fresh air to breathe, an epic long dock to catch and release crabs near, kayak or canoe rentals, and so much more. The Camp store has wonderful provisions including homemade bear claws in the am to enjoy with coffee or tea. It is above and beyond a family favorite place to camp in Maine.

Love the location of this park. You are just a few miles from the bridge that takes you to Mt. Desert Island where you have Acadia National Park (NP) and the towns of Bar Harbor, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and a few other quaint little towns at your fingertips. But, drive the other way and you will get to explore Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Surry, Schoodic Peninsula and much more. 

This area has so much to offer - the highlight being Acadia NP. Here, hundreds of trails and gorgeous views abound. Trails range from easy to strenuous with some taking you on a nice walk around a lake or pond where others guide you along steep ledges and up with ladders and rungs. Be aware that hiking during or after a rain can be quite treacherous because of slippery footing. The island is known for their granite and rock faces that are common on the trails which can be very slippery. I advise walking or biking a carriage road (which is crushed gravel) when the ground is wet to avoid slipping. The carriage roads are amazing for biking and walking and link 46 miles of the park.  If you like to kayak, there are plenty of free public boat ramps – Long Pond, Eagle Lake, and Jordan Pond being some of the prettiest.  Many of these water bodies are off limits to swimming as they are the public water supply but personal watercraft are allowed. Fishing with a state license is permitted in many of the lakes and ponds. Many were stocked years ago but I never had any luck catching in the few lakes I fished. 

The shoulder season here is the best time to come. Preferably in the spring before mid-June or the fall when the leaves are changing color. Not all businesses and restaurants will be open before mid-June but you will have far less crowds than in the busy summer months. During the summer season, there is a free shuttle taking you (and bikes and dogs) to various locations throughout the island and within the park. If you are planning on hiking some of the popular trails (like Precipice, Dorr Mountain, Cadillac Mountain, and the Beehive) definitely take the shuttle. The parking lots are really small and you will not find a spot.  Be sure to go to Cadillac Mountain for a sunrise and bring warm clothes as the wind really whips up there. Fall is a beautiful time to visit but be aware that many cruise ships frequent Bar Harbor. Some days will find over 6,000 cruise ship passengers and staff flooded into the downtown. Hiking amongst the fall colors is beautiful but we made sure to go early to avoid the crowds. 

The smaller island towns of Northwest Harbor and Southwest Harbor were more our style than the touristy Bar Harbor. Check out the farmers market in Northwest Harbor and the Common Ground Soup Kitchen in Southwest Harbor for hot delicious popovers. C-Ray Lobster offers a good lobster dinner in a casual atmosphere that is much less expensive than lobster pounds downtown Bar Harbor (and it is BYOB). Downeast Lobster Pound is our favorite place to buy lobster. We would buy them live and steam them at our campsite or you can have them cook them (for a nominal fee) and eat there or take them to go.   

The campground has some 200 sites for RVs and cabins and cottages for rent but they DO NOT allow tents. Prices range from the $30’s to over $100 depending on where you want to camp. The waterfront sites (“300’s” section) have great views but are very pricey. Some of the “800” and “600” section sites are cheaper than the 300’s and still have partial water views. The cheapest sites (the 100’s and 200’s) are near Route 3 which is a very busy road. Park staff is very accommodating and will let you move sites if you decide you prefer something different. (Be aware the park charges an additional $4/night resort fee on sites that are booked less than 30 days.) All sites have full-hookup and cable. The wifi was hit or miss. All sites and patios are gravel with some grass between them. 

There is a swimming pool, horseshoes, volleyball, laundry, and bathrooms. The bathrooms and showers were cleaned daily and in good condition when we were there. (The bathroom nearest the entrance is the newest and gets the least amount of use and was always clean.) There is a kayak/canoe rental in the park which was nice but there is no designated parking there so we had to take the car back to our site. The camp store rents two-person kayaks and canoes for a very reasonable price of ($10/hour and $5 for additional hours). However, you have about a four-hour window to paddle because of the tides. You will be left walking across muddy soft clam flats if you are not mindful of the 10-12 foot tides. There was a free ice cream social when we were there which had four different varieties and toppings and very filling. There is no off-leash dog park but we were told by work campers that we could let our dog off-leash in one of the leach fields to throw a ball for her. Super cool.

The park was clean and staff friendly and very helpful. There are some brochure racks in a community building and laundry and the office has a variety of maps for the island and will let you look through some hiking guide books as well as restaurant menus. We would definitely come back here again. The only downside is that it is a little pricier than other parks but the location is ideal.

This is a nice campground located close to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The campground does not take reservations so you can pick whatever open site you want and if you want to extend your stay, you can. When you arrive, you get a map, find an empty site, get set-up and then go back to the office to register. Once you’re in the park if you want a different site that has a better view or FHU’s, the best thing to do is drive or walk around the section you are interested in and if you see someone packing up put a personal item (chair, table cloth, etc.). Then head to the office and let them know what site you are moving to. Weird system but it seems to work as this is how things have always been done. All different types of sites are available from FHU, electric/water, or privative sites. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There are some sections that are nicely wooded which is great for the shade in the summer and to add a little privacy. Other sites are right on the ocean with great views but these sites are pretty close together and hard to get since the campground is first come, first served. Roads in the park are paved but some corners can be a little tight for big-rigs, best to unhitch your tow car up front in case you have to back up. The camp hosts do a great job of keeping the campground clean and were always out and about cleaning sites, fire pits, and the bathrooms.

This campground is in a good location right off Route 3 and a short drive to Bar Harbor. There is the Island Explorer (free) shuttle that have various routes and stops on Mount Desert Island and Acadia NP. The shuttle stops at the campground so you can hitch a ride downtown or to the park and not have to worry about parking.  The shuttle has a bike rack so you can bring your bike and pets are allowed.  The campground is very clean with no litter and well-maintained. The bathrooms were very clean showers are 25 cents/5 minutes. There is a really nice large swimming pool perched right along the water, nice little nature trails/dog walking areas, laundry, game room, shuffleboard, playground, water access, arcade, and more. 

Just outside the campground (within walking distance) is Utter Heaven an ice cream shop and Mainely Meat a BBQ joint. Across the street is a Pirates Cove– a mini golf course on steroids. During the summer season this place is really busy but calms down when kids go back to school.

The Maine Island Trail offers 200 islands in which to sea kayak camp and Saddleback Island is one of the many gorgeous options in the Deer Isle Archipelago. The free camping spots and beaches are maintained by the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA), which is a non-profit membership organization. This island is perfect for a few small tents or you can rent the island’s cabin through MITA.

The camping spot is simple and similar to most backcountry sites: a flat space to pitch your small tent, no toilet, no drinking water, no picnic table, and no reservations possible.  But, what this island lacks in “amenities” is made up for in beauty all around! With a deep, rocky shore, it’s the perfect place to make dinner and watch the sunrise or set, all with beautiful views of Mount Desert Island, the home of Acadia National Park.

The closest town is Stonington, which has all the things you will need for an island camping adventure. You can even rent kayaks and nearly all the gear you need at Old Quarry Ocean Adventures.

Things to consider when sea kayak camping in this area:  1) the fog can roll in at any minute so come prepared with a chart, compass, bearings between islands/markers and a marine radio, 2) you are required to use Wag Bags instead of digging a cat hole to dispose of human waste, 3) since all of the islands are first-come, first-served, have a back-up plan for camping on another island, 4) there are no docks, so the islands are not accessible to large boats, 5) you may get awakened by the sound of lobster boats motors, as they start their day pretty darn early; bring ear plugs if you are light sleeper, 6) the tide in this area is significant (9-14 vertical feet), and landing at high tide is nearly impossible on Saddleback (and many other islands), and 7) file a float plan before you go out (Old Quarry Ocean Adventures is the perfect spot to do this, as well as launch and park for a small fee).