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Mount Desert, Maine encompasses a network of coastal campgrounds primarily centered around Acadia National Park, with options ranging from national park sites to private campgrounds along the rugged Atlantic shoreline. The area features three distinct Acadia National Park campgrounds: Blackwoods and Seawall on Mount Desert Island, plus Schoodic Woods on the mainland Schoodic Peninsula. Private options include Mount Desert Campground on Somes Sound, Bar Harbor Campground, and several KOA locations. Most campgrounds provide access to hiking trails, ocean views, and proximity to Bar Harbor's amenities. According to campers, the sound of ocean waves can be heard from exterior sites at Seawall Campground, creating "a very pleasant way to sleep."
The camping season in Mount Desert generally runs from May through October, with most facilities closing during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer visits when the area experiences high visitation. Blackwoods Campground operates from May 1 to October 31, while Seawall has a shorter season from late May to early September. Weather conditions vary significantly throughout the season, with daytime temperatures ranging from 60-80°F in summer and 50-60°F in spring and fall. Cell service is inconsistent throughout the region, with better connectivity near Bar Harbor and limited or no service in more remote areas like Seawall Campground. One visitor noted that "T-Mobile and Verizon did not provide any service" at Seawall, while Schoodic Woods offered "1-2 bars of LTE" suitable for basic email.
The camping experience varies significantly between locations on Mount Desert Island. The eastern side near Bar Harbor tends to be busier with more amenities and closer proximity to popular park attractions. The western "quiet side" offers more secluded experiences but requires longer drives to main park features. The Island Explorer shuttle service connects many campgrounds to Bar Harbor and park destinations, reducing parking challenges during peak season. Campers report that Schoodic Woods, opened in 2015, offers "the most pleasant, clean, accommodating camping experience in the National Park" but requires "close to an hour each way" to reach main park attractions. Most national park campgrounds lack showers, though nearby pay facilities are available, while private campgrounds typically offer full amenities including showers, laundry, and camp stores.
"From our campsite, we had a five minute walk to the ocean path! This path brings you to a beautiful view of the ocean and mount desert island."
"Blackwoods has a great location on mount desert island. 15 mins from bar harbor, ocean path trail, Jordan pond and top of cadilac mountain."
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Absolutely love this campground located on the Mount desert island side of Acadia national park. Amazing seawall directly outside of campground and sound of the ocean can be heard from sites."
"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."
from $22 - $60 / night
Check Availability"We camped for years and years at Mount Desert Campground with our four children and my Sister-in-Law and her two sons."
"Mount Desert Campground was awesome. Bathrooms were clean. Views were outstanding. Amenities (docks and shops) were great! We WILL be back."
"This is the first campground you can reach once you arrive in Mount Desert island."
"Having only planned my Maine getaway only three weeks prior, I was without many choices. I caught a lucky break with this KOA."
"This is a nice campground located close to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park."
"We love the state parks and unorganized, off the beaten path camping. This is definitely not that!"
from $60 - $81 / night
Check Availability"Rangers here seem more engaged & experienced than at Seawall on Mount Desert Island and actually circulate in this section of the park."
"This side of the park has less to do than Mount Desert, but it's still very lovely and very quiet."
from $22 - $60 / night
Check Availability"The campground is on the Island Explorer bus loop, which is the bus that takes you all around Mount Desert Island, to Acadia, and Bar Harbor."
"**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."
from $29 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Multiple sights with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. This campground has every possible kind of sight, RV, pop-up, tent, Cabin, Rustic Cabin, and tents on platforms."
"It has all the things is usually stay away from because I like a little bit more primitive accomadations- less family style."
"My wife and I stayed at Somes Sound for 4 nights on our Maine honeymoon trip in July. We absolutely loved our stay. We set up at camp site 9. Incredible view of the sound/water."
"I showed up to Maine unprepared with a place to stay. Somes Sound View Campground was the only campground I could find in the area with availability."
"This is a large campground, right on Mount Desert Island, about 8 miles from Acadia NP. Most of the sites are pretty close together, but we got a site on the water with lots of room."
"Some of the sites are very close to one another...we happened to get lucky with a site with more space. The proximity to Acadia and Bar Harbor was fantastic."
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
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.
GuideFairly short walk-in to site H4 - very pretty, quiet, small and private site. Surrounded by trees/vegetation, with tent pad and picnic table. Basic, clean outhouse short walk away. Saw only one other couple, heard no one. Only drawback is no campfires allowed at these walk-in sites. We stayed one night. Considered a 2nd night in A-loop but not very appealing - sites were all pretty close to one another and fairly small.
ScoutHad wood and ice available for purchase, chill atmosphere, clean bathrooms, wonderful experience.
ScoutI had the most amazing and quiet sleep here under the stars with the sunrise overlooking Acadia from the beach. There’s a bathroom too
Mount Desert Island camping includes both national park campgrounds and private operations nestled within coastal Maine's granite terrain. The island rises to 1,530 feet at Cadillac Mountain, creating distinct microclimates across campgrounds with temperature differences of 5-10°F between coastal and inland sites. Winter storms can bring significant coastal erosion to shoreline campsites, requiring regular maintenance of tent platforms and access points.
Hiking with campground access: At Schoodic Woods Campground, trails connect directly to the campground. "Surrounding the campground are miles of biking and hiking trails that are easily accessible from your campsite. There is a six-mile loop that takes you along the beautiful rocky coast with views of lighthouses, islands, forests, and wetlands," notes Nancy W.
Kayaking from waterfront sites: Campers at Mount Desert Campground can launch directly from the property. "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," shares Whitney W.
Crab hunting from docks: Families enjoy this activity at Mount Desert Campground's floating docks. "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!" reports Whitney W.
Beach exploration at low tide: Bar Harbor Campground provides coastal access with varying landscapes. "We loved playing on the playground and going down to the water at low tide. There is a kayak launch as well, and pool," shares Kasey M., who stayed at the campground during her birthday celebration.
Free island transportation: The Island Explorer shuttle connects most campgrounds to park attractions. "The shuttle bus takes 50 minutes to get to Bar Harbor, by car it's closer to 30. There was really nothing to do at the campground except camp -no hikes or trails directly there," explains Karla J. B. about her experience at Seawall Campground.
Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the seclusion at Smuggler's Den Campground. "The tent sites are very private. We felt safe and secure. It's quiet and the staff was very friendly," shares Melissa N., highlighting the campground's atmosphere.
Platform tent sites: These provide level camping on rocky terrain. "Since the campground sits among the rocky and mountainous coast line, they have spent the time and money building leveled platforms for all the sites. Without the platforms, the campsites would be quite miserable," explains Melissa W. about Mount Desert Campground.
Oceanfront sunsets: Premium waterfront sites offer stunning views. "Our waterfront site 344 was terrific - gorgeous view, and one of the larger waterfront spots. We could launch our kayaks directly from the site," reports Heather C. at Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA.
Reservation challenges: Many campgrounds fill months in advance. "I woke up at 5am to reserve a site months in advance for the '24 camping season," mentions Whitney W. about securing a spot at Mount Desert Campground.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly by location. "We didn't have reliable cell service. The shuttle bus takes 50 minutes to get to Bar Harbor, by car it's closer to 30," reports Karla J. B. about Seawall Campground.
Shower options: National Park campgrounds typically lack showers. "Bathrooms are clean and fresh water, many options to stop for firewood on the road to the campground," notes Paige B. about Blackwoods Campground, which doesn't have shower facilities.
Bug preparation: Insects can be problematic in wooded areas. "No matter if you wear long sleeves and long pants, plus use bug spray, the mosquitos are vicious. Between gnats and mosquitos, sitting outside to eat is nearly impossible," warns Rick C. about his experience at Schoodic Woods.
Pool access for kids: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools. "The kids loved playing on the playground and going down to the water at low tide. There is a kayak launch as well, and pool," notes Kasey M. about Bar Harbor Campground.
Rock collecting opportunities: Coastal sites provide natural exploration. "With coastal hikes so close, sunrise hikes and exploring the tide pools were outstanding!" shares Steve M. about his experience at Seawall Campground.
Playground proximity: Consider site location for convenience with small children. "Perfect location for those traveling with small kids, as it was just a stone's throw from both the bathhouse and playground," advises Jen V. about Smuggler's Den Campground.
Wildlife viewing from campsites: Many sites offer natural observation opportunities. "The night was clear, the stars out, and the sounds of the Atlantic nearby made a superb camping experience," reports Steve M. after camping at Seawall Campground.
Site selection for large rigs: Not all campgrounds accommodate bigger RVs. "The sites are large however the terrain is difficult to navigate. 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," advises Garrett D. about Mount Desert Campground.
Generator restrictions: Many campgrounds have specific quiet hours or restrictions. "Each RV took about 15 minutes. If you are third in line, you will be waiting... Since there is no sewer, you would think they would offer more than one dump station," notes Rick C. about Schoodic Woods Campground.
Full hookup limitations: Water and electric are more common than sewer connections. "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," shares audra H. about her stay at Bar Harbor Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mount Desert, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mount Desert, ME offers a wide range of camping options, with 118 campgrounds and RV parks near Mount Desert, ME and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mount Desert, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mount Desert, ME is Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 99 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mount Desert, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Mount Desert, ME.
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