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Best Campgrounds near Southwest Harbor, ME

695 Reviews

Southwest Harbor, Maine serves as a gateway to Acadia National Park with several developed campgrounds accommodating tent, RV, and cabin camping needs. Smuggler's Den Campground provides sites with mountain views, featuring both rustic tent areas and full hookup sections for RVs. Quietside Campground offers more basic accommodations with cabin rental options. The western side of Mount Desert Island contains multiple family-friendly campgrounds with amenities ranging from swimming pools to hiking trail access directly from campground boundaries.

Camping in the Southwest Harbor region operates seasonally, with most facilities open from May through October. Winter conditions make camping impractical, with most campgrounds closing after Columbus Day weekend. Reservations are strongly recommended during peak summer months when Acadia National Park visitation reaches its highest levels. Sites with water and electric hookups tend to book several months in advance. The island's shuttle service, the Island Explorer, stops at several campgrounds including Smuggler's Den, providing transportation to various park attractions and reducing the need for personal vehicles. According to one visitor, "Island explorer bus stops at the campground for access to Bar Harbor and the rest of island. Great way to explore Acadia national park and Bar Harbor."

Campground amenities vary considerably across the region, with some providing swimming pools, playgrounds, and camp stores while others focus on natural settings and basic facilities. Tent sites at many campgrounds offer wooden platforms that improve comfort during rainy periods. Campers report high satisfaction with the region's cleanliness and maintenance standards. A recent review noted, "Tent sites are very private. We felt safe and secure. It's quiet and the staff was very friendly." The proximity to hiking trails represents a significant advantage for many campers, with several mentioning the ability to access Acadia National Park trails directly from campgrounds. Family facilities such as playgrounds and pools receive consistent positive mentions in reviews, making Southwest Harbor campgrounds particularly suitable for travelers with children.

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Best Camping Sites Near Southwest Harbor, Maine (112)

    1. Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    97 Reviews
    Seal Harbor, ME
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-3274

    $30 - $60 / night

    "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."

    "quiet, wooded, relatively secluded. good spot at 111 where we stayed. nice places for tents. private showers outside main camping area were a positive since none in camping area itself."

    2. Seawall Campground — Acadia National Park

    53 Reviews
    Bass Harbor, ME
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 244-3600

    $22 - $60 / night

    "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!"

    "We stayed at the tent walk in sites (D25) The sites are close together but otherwise, well maintained."

    3. Mount Desert Campground

    37 Reviews
    Mount Desert, ME
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 244-3710

    "Desert, Maine which is right next to the fabulous town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Forest."

    "Our site was right next to a potable water spigot, and within easy walking distance to a bathroom building which includes full plumbing and metered showers (4 quarters for 5 minutes)."

    4. Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    37 Reviews
    Salsbury Cove, ME
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-3520

    "This campground has beautiful tent sites along the waters edge."

    "It 11 miles to Bar Harbor town proper and only 8.7 miles to the Hulls Cove Acadia National Park visitors center and the entrance to the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road."

    5. Bar Harbor Campground

    32 Reviews
    Salsbury Cove, ME
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-5185

    $60 - $81 / night

    "We love the state parks and unorganized, off the beaten path camping. This is definitely not that!"

    "This is a nice campground located close to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park."

    6. Smuggler's Den Campground

    21 Reviews
    Southwest Harbor, ME
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (877) 244-9033

    "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."

    7. Hadley's Point Campground

    29 Reviews
    Salsbury Cove, ME
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-4808

    $29 - $90 / night

    "**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."

    "There was a fire ring outside of the cabin and a picnic table. We purchased firewood at a stand close to the campground."

    8. Bass Harbor Campground

    19 Reviews
    Bass Harbor, ME
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 327-5857

    "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."

    "Tent campers have a much prettier space than RV, as with most campgrounds, and they have a lot across the main road which is perfect for tent camping. if you have multiple sites for large gatherings you"

    9. Schoodic Woods Campground — Acadia National Park

    36 Reviews
    Winter Harbor, ME
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 288-1300

    $22 - $60 / night

    "Schoodic Loop Road -- less popular than the main park "Park Loop Road", provides access to gorgeous shore line views and more hiking trails, but RVs and trailers aren't allowed past the campground entrance"

    "Although it is quite a ways off the beaten path, Schoodic Woods Campground is well worth the travel time. The campground is new, so it is sparkling clean."

    10. HTR Acadia

    17 Reviews
    Mount Desert, ME
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 244-3890

    "Proximity to Acadia National Park, Southwest Harbor, and all the great things to do in the area is perfect. Great pool and other facilities."

    "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."

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Recent Camping Photos near Southwest Harbor, ME

397 Photos of 112 Southwest Harbor Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Southwest Harbor, ME

695 Reviews of 112 Southwest Harbor Campgrounds

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Machias River Camp off Route 9

    My favorite spot in Maine!!

    Super cool mixed use land with established campsites. 6 or 7 in total I think. Right on Machias river. Great ATT service.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Megunticook Campground

    Watch out for their prices

    Online the prices was 40$ for a tent site. We didn’t need water or electric just a spot to sleep for the night. I called to reserve cause the website wasn’t very easy to work with and the man on the phone said 76$ but couldn’t explain costs and was rude with the “you’ll not find another spot for this cheap!” Which we did. For less than half that cost. So watch out on prices and the extra charges.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    So lucky!

    We tried staying here in the summer a few years back and it filled up weeks ahead of time. We got lucky this trip and got one spot open same day. Got here super late and was surrounded by other campers but the trees all around gave us privacy and everyone was super quiet so no disruptive folks like so many campgrounds. The bathrooms don’t have showers of course but they are so clean it was a great thing from other sites pit toilets. If you’re in Acadia this is the spot!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Forest Ridge Campground

    Clean, quiet and affordable

    Stayed here while visiting friends and Acadia NP. Facilities very clean every time I saw them. Showers were nice but you need to wait for the hot water. Run it all hot and it will get there in a little while. Wood available on site. Open spaces in the middle with no trees or shrubs. Campers can be very close. Sides have more wooded sites. Not too many seasonal looking sites. 1 issue: our clean out was a bit high so had to lift sewer hose to clear it out. Didn’t use pool , laundry area worked good , screen porch at facility building. Fire ring worked out well, kept lots of heat in. We were off-season mid September. Reservation system forced us into our site, wants to charge a site selection fee.

  • B
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    Great campground

    quiet, wooded, relatively secluded. good spot at 111 where we stayed. nice places for tents. private showers outside main camping area were a positive since none in camping area itself.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    Nice location, actually on the ocean

    A bit pricey, but it is a nice location and the free island bus stops right at the KOA

  • Jenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    Beautiful campground and a beautiful park!

    A good campground in a absolutely wonderful park. There's a lot of trees around so even though the campsites are close together they feel very private. Good amount of bathrooms, trash cans, and water spickets

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Smuggler's Den Campground

    Great place

    We stayed here one night in mid September without a reservation. Helpful staff, clean and tidy campground. There is a new bathhouse by the tents which I used - very nice! I would come again!

Guide to Southwest Harbor

Camping near Southwest Harbor, Maine, offers a fantastic mix of natural beauty and outdoor activities. With several campgrounds to choose from, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy the great outdoors.

What to do

  • Hiking: Acadia National Park is nearby, providing numerous trails for all skill levels. One camper mentioned, "The southern ridge trailhead for Cadillac Mountain leaves from the campgrounds and connects to a bunch of other trails" at Blackwoods Campground.
  • Exploring the Coast: Many campgrounds, like Seawall Campground, are close to the coast. A visitor noted, "A rocky beach just across the road for exploring tidal pools."
  • Wildlife Watching: Campers often spot deer and other wildlife. One review from Schoodic Woods Campground mentioned, "We did see dozens of deer... by far the most wildlife of any of the three Acadia campgrounds."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Mount Desert Campground stated, "Restrooms were very clean and there was plenty of hot water for the coin-operated showers."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A visitor at Smuggler's Den Campground said, "Great space, easy hookups, plenty of grass and trees."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention helpful staff. One review for Hadley's Point Campground noted, "Nice staff. Nice size lot clean."

What you should know

  • Reservations: Some campgrounds, like Bar Harbor Campground, do not take reservations. A camper shared, "This campground is huge, and takes no reservations, so it works great for us who don’t like to plan ahead."
  • Privacy Levels: Campsite privacy can vary. A review for Seawall Campground mentioned, "While campsites are deep and set off the road, some of them open up to each other at the rear points of each site."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds lack certain amenities. A visitor at Schoodic Woods Campground noted, "There are no showers onsite so come prepared."

Tips for camping with families

  • Family-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with pools and playgrounds. One review for Smuggler's Den Campground highlighted, "The playground was great for the kids. The swimming pool was a highlight as well."
  • Quiet Hours: Be mindful of noise during quiet hours. A camper mentioned, "The only problem was kids running around during quiet hour" at Smuggler's Den Campground.
  • Nature Exploration: Encourage kids to explore nature. A review for Blackwoods Campground noted, "Campsites are close together but that’s on par for all the national parks."

Tips from RVers

  • Site Selection: Choose sites carefully, especially for larger rigs. A review for Schoodic Woods Campground advised, "Choose your site carefully if you have a large rig."
  • Dump Stations: Know where the dump stations are located. A camper at Hadley's Point Campground mentioned, "The only negative was lack of enough sewer necessitating a $12 pump out."
  • Connectivity: Check cell service availability. One review for Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA noted, "Cell service with AT&T was great. Cell service with T-Mobile was spotty."

Camping near Southwest Harbor, Maine, provides a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, explore beautiful landscapes, and create lasting memories with family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Southwest Harbor, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, Southwest Harbor, ME offers a wide range of camping options, with 112 campgrounds and RV parks near Southwest Harbor, ME and 6 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Southwest Harbor, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Southwest Harbor, ME is Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 97 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Southwest Harbor, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Southwest Harbor, ME.

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