The Milbridge region in eastern Maine sits at the junction of Narraguagus Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, where the cool maritime climate keeps summer temperatures moderate with highs typically in the 70s. The coastline alternates between rocky outcroppings and small pebble beaches, creating varied terrain for camping options around the area. Campgrounds near Milbridge operate within a short season, generally running from mid-May through mid-October with peak occupancy in July and August.
What to do
Kayaking in Somes Sound: Launch directly from waterfront sites at Mount Desert Campground where visitors can explore the unique fjard (a shallow fjord). "We rented double kayaks from the front office for 2 hours and kayaked Somes Sound - it was beautiful water & amazing exploring! A bit more difficult with the ocean currents vs lake kayaking, so keep that in mind with kids," notes a visitor at Mount Desert Campground.
Hiking in Schoodic Peninsula: Access less-crowded trails at the mainland section of Acadia National Park, just 10 minutes from Acadia East Campground. A visitor shared: "We recently stayed three nights at the Acadia MTN campsite. This was my first time camping and we had a blast. Loved the little hike into our campsite. Short drive from some great hikes. We took the pup to Schoodic Head trail & also Taft Point Preserve which was a very close by gem."
Wild Blueberry Picking: Visit Bar Harbor Campground between mid-July and mid-August when wild blueberries ripen. "Blueberry fields free to pick July to August. Pay showers. No reservations though. Come in early morning and wait for others to leave to grab the best sites," advises a regular visitor to the campground.
What campers like
Ocean Access for Fishing: Sunset Point Campground in Harrington provides direct access to coastal waters. "Nice old fashioned campground on a classic Maine Bay. Full hookups or tent sites with grass and trees. Tmobile 4g with a strong signal," reports one camper at Sunset Point Campground.
Privacy Between Sites: Acadia East Campground offers more secluded camping than most area options. "If you're looking for real wilderness camping, this is the place to go. It's located between the busy Mount Desert Island section (30 minutes away) and the quiet Schoodic section (10 minutes away) of Acadia National Park. They only have a few tent campsites, but they are spread out so you have plenty of privacy," notes a camper at Acadia East Campground.
Inexpensive Oceanfront Camping: McClellan Park in Milbridge offers basic facilities at budget-friendly rates. "Private place to camp right by the shore. Excellent rates. Nice, well maintained trail to bathroom/shower and to coast," writes a visitor to McClellan Park. Sites here cost $15/night as of 2024.
What you should know
Bugs Can Be Intense: McClellan Park and other coastal sites experience significant insect pressure, especially in early summer. "We camped here in early August and the bugs were absolutely terrible. TERRIBLE! You could hear them swarming around the tent. High pitched buzzing and all. Down by the water it was at least bearable, but at the site I hardly left the tent," warns a camper at McClellan Park.
Shower Access Varies: Many campgrounds offer coin-operated showers. At Mount Desert Campground, "The showers are coin operated for warm water. Bring quarters! You can definitely shower completely with one session of about 5 minutes." Some sites like Blackwoods Campground have no showers at all.
Reservation Systems Differ: While most campgrounds take advance reservations, Bar Harbor Campground operates on a first-come basis. "This 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."
Tips for camping with families
Crabbing from Docks: Mount Desert Campground provides excellent shoreline access for kids. "The BEST part of this campground for our family was Somes Sound and the floating docks. We purchased a crab bucket with net from the coffee shop one morning for around $10-12. It was worth it as my kids crab gigged for HOURS off the docks every day!" shares a family visitor at Mount Desert Campground.
Island Explorer Bus Service: Use the free shuttle service to avoid parking issues at Acadia National Park. "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."
Kid-Friendly Activities: Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA runs daily programs for children. "As with any KOA they have lots of activities throughout the day for families, and a pool, but she loves the ice pop contest. If you find a painted rock and bring it to the office you get a free ice pop," notes a parent from Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA.
Tips from RVers
Site Selection for Large Rigs: Many campgrounds have limited spaces for bigger RVs. At Acadia Seashore Camping and Cabins, "Our spot 18 is perfect! The view is spectacular. The campground is small and very quiet. There are clean bathrooms and showers available." However, most sites in the area have tight turns and limited space.
Dump Station Availability: Check if your campground offers sewer hookups or dump stations. "There was a sign saying, 'no trailers' on the road, but we made it just fine and the camp hosts never said anything about it. With that said, if the campground is busy, large RVs would have a very hard time turning around at the end of the road, as there is no circle drive," warns a camper at McClellan Park.
Electrical Hookup Limitations: Many sites offer only 20 or 30 amp service rather than 50 amp. "Not all sites full hookup but it's coming next year. Would stay again. Clean bathrooms but some showers don't have moveable shower head and that's tricky depending on your height. Hot h2o though and great water pressure."
