Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Machias, ME

Cobscook Bay State Park Campground welcomes pets throughout its 106 sites situated along the dramatic coastline near Machias. Campsites feature picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water, with many sites offering direct water views where dogs can enjoy exploring the shoreline during low tide. Cutler Coast Public Land provides more primitive camping options for hikers with dogs, offering free dispersed sites along its scenic coastal trails. Both locations maintain pet-friendly policies requiring leashes and proper waste disposal. The campgrounds accommodate various camping styles including tents, RVs, and walk-in sites, though amenities differ significantly between the established state park and the more rustic ecological reserve. Campers consistently note the privacy between sites at Cobscook Bay, with wooded areas providing shade and natural buffers that help minimize interactions between pets at neighboring campsites.

Hiking trails throughout the region offer excellent opportunities for dogs and their owners, with the Cutler Coast's 10-mile loop trail providing spectacular ocean views and access to several primitive campsites. The Bold Coast Trail features a mixture of bogs, wetlands, and maritime forests with moderate terrain suitable for most dogs, though owners should be prepared for undulating paths with several steep sections. Tides in the area are extreme, dropping up to 24 feet in some locations, requiring careful planning when bringing dogs to the shoreline. Visitors should pack in all necessary pet supplies as the nearest substantial shopping is in Machias, approximately 35 minutes from Cobscook Bay State Park. The region experiences significant seasonal changes in bug activity, with mosquitoes and black flies becoming particularly aggressive in late spring and summer months, potentially affecting outdoor comfort for both pets and their owners.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Machias, Maine (41)

    1. Cobscook Bay State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Whiting, ME
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 726-4412

    $20 / night

    "We had a tent site (53) that had a short root-laden walk into the site, but not bad and well worth the bay view."

    "A nearby state park holds the official title but we will chat about that later."

    2. Cutler Coast Public Land — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

    7 Reviews
    Whiting, ME
    15 miles
    Website

    "The coast of Maine offers very few places for overnight backpacking or even just seaside hiking. The Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land is one great option."

    "This is probably the most beautiful coastal location in the state of Maine. The campsites are very limited and this is a popular spot. Show up early to get one!"

    3. Cottonwood Camping & RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Addison, ME
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 598-8497

    "The very clean restrooms were located nearby , which was convient. The staff was so friendly and very accommodating."

    "This is the first campground we have stayed at that has ATV trail access, horse friendly camping, full hookups, pull through sites, tent camping, tent rentals, teepee rentals, "tiny bird cabin", and a"

    4. Tom's Retreat on Gardner Lake

    1 Review
    Machiasport, ME
    7 miles
    +1 (347) 595-3963

    $42 / night

    "Brought our own kayak to enjoy Gardner and Second Lakes!"

    5. Sunset Point Campground

    6 Reviews
    Addison, ME
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 483-4412

    "Nice old fashioned campground on a classic Maine Bay. Full hookups or tent sites with grass and trees"

    "Nice old fashioned campground on a classic Maine Bay. Full hookups or tent sites with grass and trees. Tmobile 4g with a strong signal"

    6. Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    94 Reviews
    Seal Harbor, ME
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-3274

    $30 - $60 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    7. Long Point — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

    1 Review
    Whiting, ME
    16 miles
    Website

    "This spot is situated right along the Maine coast and has one heck of a view, not to mention a nice gravel beach!"

    8. Jonesport Campground

    1 Review
    Roque Bluffs, ME
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 263-6576

    $35 / night

    9. Fair Head — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

    1 Review
    Whiting, ME
    15 miles
    Website

    "We approached the area via the Inland Trail, about a 5.5 mile hike from the trial head(trail signs are inaccurate, they don't account for the recent re-route)."

    10. Sunset Point RV Park

    10 Reviews
    Lubec, ME
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 733-2272

    $35 - $40 / night

    "The tent sites are great — right on the water’s edge — and much more spacious and private than the hookup sites."

    "(The only downside is they are farther away from the bathroom.) Some tent sites (A– D) have a wooden shade structure with picnic table and fire pit, the others just have a fire pit and picnic table."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Machias, ME

478 Reviews of 41 Machias Campgrounds


  • Steve V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2019

    Hadley's Point Campground

    Ranger Review: Morsel Spork at Hadley’s Point Campground

    **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.

    **---------------------------- **

    **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.

  • D
    Jul. 23, 2023

    Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    Great KOA!

    My family and I stayed at this KOA this past week. It was agreat experience! That staff was awesome and over the top accommodating. We had a pull through site with full hook up right across from the on site Lobster Trap Cafe. The site was spacious and comfortable. The whole campground was neat and clean. Staff members pick up trash throughout the day at all of the sites. The Lobster Trap had a good menu, and great customer service. They are mainly open in the evenings but also appear to serve lunch and breakfast on the weekends. 

    The camp store was well stocked also. There is also an island shuttle bus stop right at the entrance to the campground. There is a gas station and take out restaurant ( Island Take Out) right across from the entrance as well. There was a nice dog park as well. Cell service with AT&T was great. Cell service with T-Mobile was spotty. We did not try the campground wifi. The only down side to the trip was gnats and mosquitos, but that was all over the island and no fault of the KOA. This was one of the best KOA's we have visited and we will definitely stay there again when we visit Acadia.

  • Laurie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2022

    Mount Desert Campground

    A Place To Visit For Generations

    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.

  • Rebecca T.
    Jul. 11, 2021

    Hadley's Point Campground

    Pet and family friendly campground BUT crowded and crawling with ticks

    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

  • K
    Jun. 29, 2019

    Lamoine State Park Campground

    Nice tent sites

    Great place to camp outside the crazy tourist packed Acadia but only a 25 minute drive to the park. Very nice sites, flush toilets and showers. I got a lake view site but also forested sites available. Pet friendly camping. Would definitely go back!

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Cutler Coast Public Land — Cutler Coast Ecological Reserve

    Gorgeous Coastal Backpacking along the Gulf of Maine

    The coast of Maine offers very few places for overnight backpacking or even just seaside hiking. The Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land is one great option. The length of the hiking trails makes this the ideal, weekend getaway location for a two-night campout– just get there early. The sites are few in number, small and difficult to get to, but oh-so-worth-it! 

    As backcountry sites, there are no picnic tables or fire rings, but each has a clean and convenient composting toilet with a stunning view of the Gulf of Maine.  Each campsite is located close to a freshwater source and a few are within site of a small pebble beach– perfect for swimming if you don’t mind the chilly water.  But, come prepared for bugs -- mosquitoes and black flies are impressive in the late spring and summer!   And, the trails can be quite muddy and soggy.  There is a price for this much beauty in one place!

    Located 16 miles east of East Machias, the closest town with gas and a convenience store. Five miles further west along route 1 the town of Machias offers a wider selection of restaurants, farmers markets and grocery stores.

  • Sarah C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2021

    Machias Rips Campsite

    Not bad for free camping!

    Situated right off of Route 9 between Amherst and Wesley Maine, you can access the Machias River Corridor Public Lands. At this particular location, there are 2 RV sites, 3 tent sites and a lean-to shelter, all situated right on the bank of the river.

    We spent one night here in the lean-to on our way to the Cutler Coast. The lean-to was in decent shape but it's definitely been marked by its visitors and has quite the slope to it. It was large enough for us to pitch our 3 person tent in and it was pretty great to fall asleep to the sounds of the Machias River a stone's throw from our tent. 

    There was a massive fire pit at the lean-to that we didn't utilize. There was also a fair amount of trash in the site, and oddly enough a lot of chewed bubble gum. The sites are spaced out nicely and there's a fair amount of shade to be had. There is also a relatively new and quite clean pit toilet available for use. 

    All in all, it was a great stopping point that set us up well for our early morning departure to get to the Cutler Coast. I would certainly stay here again if I were in the area.

  • Rebecca C.
    Jul. 14, 2017

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    Beautiful Location

    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!

  • Justin F.
    Aug. 7, 2020

    Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA Family Trip

    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.


Guide to Machias

If you're looking for pet-friendly camping options near Machias, Maine, there are several great spots where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Pet owners like spacious sites with natural beauty

  • The Cobscook Bay State Park Campground offers a variety of campsites nestled in a wooded environment, providing plenty of space for pets to roam.
  • At McClellan Park, you can enjoy a private camping experience right by the shore, perfect for taking your dog for walks along the coastline.
  • The Sunset Point Campground features waterfront sites with stunning views, allowing your pet to enjoy the fresh sea air.

Dog owners appreciate outdoor activities

  • The Cutler Coast Public Land is ideal for hiking with your dog, offering rugged trails and breathtaking coastal views.
  • At Machias Rips Campsite, you can explore the nearby river and enjoy fishing, making it a great spot for active pets.
  • The Huckins Beach and Trail provides access to beautiful beaches where your dog can splash in the water and enjoy the sandy shores.

Pet-friendly campgrounds include essential amenities

  • The Jonesport Campground features basic amenities like picnic tables and fire pits, ensuring a comfortable stay for you and your pet.
  • At Cottonwood Camping & RV Park, you’ll find full hookups and a market for convenience, making it easy to stock up on supplies for your trip.
  • The Wild Homestead offers a reservable spot with a welcoming atmosphere, perfect for a peaceful getaway with your pet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Machias, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Machias, ME is Cobscook Bay State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Machias, ME?

TheDyrt.com has all 41 dog-friendly camping locations near Machias, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.