Leighton O.
Guide
GuideSeawall Campground — Acadia National Park
Campsites are very close together. Price is very reasonable though. Restrooms are very clean.
Tent Camping near Seal Cove, ME
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The Seal Cove area offers a variety of tent camping experiences along Maine's coastal landscape, with several islands accessible only by boat providing secluded backcountry tent sites. Saddleback Island and Nathan Island stand out as prime destinations for tent campers seeking primitive camping through the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA), which maintains over 200 islands for sea kayak camping. Duck Harbor Campground, part of Acadia National Park on Isle au Haut, provides one of the most sought-after tent camping experiences in the region, though reservations must be secured months in advance through the National Park Service.
Most tent sites on the islands require specific preparation as they offer minimal amenities. Campers must pack in all supplies and use Wag Bags for human waste disposal rather than digging cat holes. According to one visitor, "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." Tent sites typically feature flat spaces on natural terrain, sometimes with fire rings, though fires are prohibited on many islands including Saddleback and Shivers. Significant tidal changes of 9-14 vertical feet can make landing at high tide difficult or impossible on many islands.
Areas farther from the mainland provide deeper seclusion but require careful planning. A recent review noted that "the fog can roll in at any minute so come prepared with a chart, compass, bearings between islands/markers and a marine radio." For mainland options, Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land offers walk-in tent sites about a half-mile from parking with more traditional amenities. Maine Wild Blueberry Bliss provides tent campsites with picnic tables and fire rings on private land with views of rolling blueberry fields. Both mainland and island camping in the region require first-come, first-served strategies, with no advance reservations possible for many sites, making backup plans essential for backcountry tent camping adventures.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Seal Cove (14)
1. Saddleback Island
"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. "
2. Shivers Island — Settlement Quarry Preserve
"You must heat the water up in another pot already, so why not just chuck in the coffee filter bag directly into the pot? Save a step."
3. Rough and Raw
"We had no idea there was a clothing optional site near Acadia and stumbled across this with hipcamp. A safe and lovely primitive site. We will be back!"
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $100 / night
4. Four Acre Woods Campground
"All the things you need are there - firewood, water, bathrooms and showers, and even electricity at the site. Only thing is the sites are small and close together."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $50 / night
5. Maine Wild Blueberry Bliss
"There are 4 total campsites, and each offers a slightly different view and sense of privacy. The owner met us when we arrived. Dogs are allowed. "
"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."
Check AvailabilityAvailable this weekend
from $49 - $69 / night
6. Nathan Island
"As a nature and wildlife photographer, I’m outside shooting pictures in every type of weather, both on land and sea."
7. Old Apple Trees
8. Duck Harbor Campground — Acadia National Park
"Camping on in the Duck Harbor Campground is nearly the stuff of legends. "
"I describe this as "backpacking light". You need to bring everything with you (except water) on the mailboat and then walk on a short distance to one of 5 campsites."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
9. Donnell Pond — Donnel Pond
"This lake is huge so keep that in mind. We parked at the public dock that has public parking and boated over to the beach."
"This was really a beautiful spot to set up camp. I stayed here for only 1 night as I had reservations in Acadia (about 45 minutes outside Acadia) but I will absolutely come back in the future."
10. Continuous Harmony Farm
"We're so excited to have this property, hosted by Doug, on our platform. Park your van, or pop your tent, next to the pond."
"The space is gorgeous, right next to a pond. Important to know though, there are several campsites. It's unclear how many campers could be there on any given night but it could be many."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 4 min from Bangor, ME
- 2 hrs 24 min from Lewiston, ME
- 3 hrs 1 min from Portland, ME
- 4 hrs 4 min from Manchester, NH
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Seal Cove, ME
14 Photos of 14 Seal Cove Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Seal Cove, ME
698 Reviews of 14 Seal Cove Campgrounds
Nancy W.
LegendLake St. George State Park Campground
Prett lake setting
This campground is located on the northwest shore of Lake St. George which is a beautiful spring fed lake. The closest big town is Belfast which is just 16 miles west and Augusta is about 25 miles away. The park offers lots to do like boating, picnicking, volleyball, fishing, hiking, and swimming (which is in a designated area with lifeguards in the summer months). The park has rental canoes, paddle boats and kayaks for those that don’t have their own. We visited in the summer and the campground was pretty full but you didn’t feel like you were smothered. There are only 39 campsites, most of which are reservable online. The campground is also open in the winter and offers lots of winter outdoor activities. Campsites are a mix of gravel, grass, shady, and completely open sites. Be careful which site you book because some campsites are wide open with no shade so you may not want to book those in the summer. There is are newer restrooms with showers towards the front of the campground. The restrooms and showers are together in one room so you have lots of privacy. The shower had plenty of hot water. A dump station and potable water fill are located near the entrance. Sites along the water were nice and large enough for big-rigs but many were unlevel. We thought sites 21-23 and 30 were some of the nicest. Campsites in the middle section seemed more level than the ones along the lake or nearest the road in the woods. The sites in the middle also tend to be larger and you could use as a pull-thru. Our Verizon phone and hotspot worked well and we were able to pick up a few over-the-air antenna. One of the downsides is the noise from Route 3 which is a busy road. The other is that there are no hook-ups in the campground. Each site does have a firepit and picnic table. Nearby is the Lake St. George Brewing Company which has great beer and a dog-friendly patio. Check out the little town of Liberty nearby which has a restaurant, an interesting tool store and Liberty Graphics which has tons of cheap t-shirts with cool designs.
- Nancy W.Legend
Schoodic Woods Campground — Acadia National Park
Quiet Side of Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is definitely one of our favorite National Parks and Schoodic Woods Campground adds to the awesome experience. This is the “Quiet Side” of Acadia which means way less crowds. The campground is divided into two loops A and B with campsites able to fit big-rigs to tents. Loop B has large pull-thru sites adequate to fit any size RV and has water and electric with sites being more open than Loop A. Loop A has a little more privacy between sites and does offer 30/50-amp electric but no water at the site. Many sites in Loop B are not level and we had a difficult time getting level in our site (B24). All the roads are paved and campsites are gravel with a large patio and fire pit and picnic table. Each loop has two bath houses, but be forewarned, there are NO showers in the campground (you have to drive to another campground nearby and pay for showers), nor is there a laundry facility. There are dish washing stations at the bathhouses with hot water. Park staff does a great job of keeping the bathrooms clean and camp hosts regularly clean campsites and fire pits. There is a hike-in tent section but, oddly, campfires (wood and charcoal) are not allowed but you can use butane. There is Wifi at bathrooms and Ranger Station. All sites have to be booked online and they will not make reservations at the ranger station.
We love this section of Acadia because there are far less crowds but you still have the beautiful coastline and plenty of hiking and biking opportunities. Hiking trails and the carriage roads are accessible right from the campground so you don’t have to drive anywhere. Frazier Point is a great place to launch a canoe or kayak, just be aware of the 10–12-foot tides and plan accordingly. The Musquito Harbor Brewery is a great place to go for pizza and beer after a morning exploring the park.
Daniel S.
TravelerCottonwood Camping & RV Park
Nice peaceful place to stay
Nice owner and staff, spotless and modern washrooms, great showers, fast WiFi... There is a lot to like about this place!
Veronica V.
ScoutTimberland Acres RV Park
Clean facilities. Laundry available for $2.50 for wash and $2.50 for dry. All hook ups worked for me. I stayed at spot 085, very close to bathrooms which was helpful. Friendly and helpful staff.
Thomas B.
RangerHolden Family Campground
Quiet and Pleasant
Spent a few days here in early October. Pleasant host, easy check-in, and quiet campground with full hookups. Minutes from the highway and an hour or so from Acadia.
- KKevin L.Traveler
Timberland Acres RV Park
Acadia Visit
This is a BIG campground with lots of amenities. Laundry, dog park, bath house, etc…. The size of the place makes using some of the amenities prohibitively—you could walk well over a quarter mile to get to the bath house. Generally a very clean location with easy access to the road to Acadia NP.
- KKaren M.Guide
Mount Desert Campground
Amazing site
This has been our favorite site yet! We at C54 which is apparently the best site. We have a roof top tent and the site had power and water. It is a “corner lot”! It has so much room and is right near the bathroom and showers. You are in the woods and there is a beautiful lake with kayak rentals right on site. The staff was so kind and helpful. We felt they were truly happy we were there.
Dana M.GuideLamoine State Park Campground
Great Find!
Nice state campground. Older style restrooms and showers but clean. We got a beautiful site looking out at the bay. We will likely extend our already booked 2 night stay.
Guide to Seal Cove
Tent camping near Seal Cove, Maine offers unique coastal forest experiences with rocky shorelines and tidal pools at elevations below 500 feet. Campers face significant weather challenges with average summer temperatures ranging 65-75°F and frequent morning fog that can reduce visibility to under 100 feet. The region's natural landscape combines spruce-fir forests with granite outcroppings that create distinctive camping terrain.
What to do
Hiking on Isle au Haut: Access the remote section of Acadia National Park by mailboat from Stonington to Duck Harbor Campground, where you can explore several miles of moderate trails. "Starting in 2018 reservations will be online starting April 1. The campground is open mid May to mid October but the mailboat only goes to the campground from late June to late September; otherwise a 5 mile walk from town," notes Patricia P. about Duck Harbor Campground.
Beach camping at Donnell Pond: Walk a half-mile from parking to reach beachfront tent sites with mountain views. "We parked at the public dock that has public parking and boated over to the beach. There are two beaches that you can camp on that have sites with fire rings and picnic tables," reports Amanda F. about Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land.
Blueberry picking: During late July and early August, camp near working blueberry fields where you can participate in seasonal harvests. "Park your van, or pop your tent, next to the pond. Chill out and watch the sheep, or pick your own blueberries alongside their raking crew in their organic wild blueberry barrens," explains a review of Continuous Harmony Farm.
What campers like
Clothing optional camping: Some private camping areas near Acadia offer specialized experiences. "A true hidden gem. We had no idea there was a clothing optional site near Acadia and stumbled across this with hipcamp. A safe and lovely primitive site," writes Heather G. about Rough and Raw.
Wild blueberry fields: The rolling landscape provides unique camping settings with edible surroundings. "We absolutely loved this site, it was nothing we had ever experienced before. The views were incredible, we swam in the water everyday, and picked/ate the blueberries!" reports Korie M. about Maine Wild Blueberry Bliss.
Island solitude: Some islands accommodate just one or two tents for maximum privacy. Shivers Island, described locally as "Honeymoon Island," provides a small, intimate setting for couples seeking seclusion with no distractions from modern amenities.
What you should know
Boat access requirements: Most island camping requires sea kayaking skills and specialized equipment. "Landing at high tide is tricky/impossible on Nathan (and many other islands)," warns a reviewer about Nathan Island. Always check tide charts before planning island landings.
Limited availability: Many sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance reservations. "Since all of the islands are first-come, first-served, have a back-up plan for camping on another island," advises a camper about the Maine Island Trail sites.
Weather preparedness: Coastal weather changes rapidly, requiring multiple clothing layers and navigation tools. The morning fog can reduce visibility to zero within minutes, creating potentially dangerous conditions for boaters and hikers.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection for kids: Some campgrounds offer more family-friendly amenities than others. "The owners are so nice the staff is beyond nice. They will deliver wood ice pretty much anything from the general store," mentions Tara W. about Shivers Island.
Easy access options: For families with young children, look for sites with shorter approach trails. Erik C. notes about Donnell Pond, "The hike in is only about 1/2 mile so it's totally doable even if you need to make two trips. The spots are secluded enough but not isolated."
Privacy concerns: Some campgrounds have sites closer together than expected. "We were shocked to see how close together the sites are (we heard our neighbor snoring)," reports Peña B. about Four Acre Woods Campground.
Tips from RVers
Generator restrictions: Most camping areas prohibit generator use to preserve the natural quiet. "It is dry camping, with no hookups, and generators are not allowed," explains Heather C. about Maine Wild Blueberry Bliss, noting the site had "a picnic table set up with flower boxes in it, and there was a nice fire ring."
Size limitations: RVs must be small and maneuverable to access most sites in the area. Campgrounds like Rough and Raw allow small RVs but aren't big-rig friendly, with minimal setup space and natural terrain that can challenge larger vehicles.
Electrical needs: A few private campgrounds offer electrical hookups, but they're limited. "This is private land that the owner rents to campers. We stayed in campsite 2, where the land is open and flat, and there was plenty of room for our rv," shares a reviewer about their camping experience at Wild Blueberry Bliss.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Seal Cove, ME?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Seal Cove, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Seal Cove, ME is Saddleback Island with a 5.0-star rating from 2 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Seal Cove, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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