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Best Campgrounds near Stonington, ME

697 Reviews

The Stonington, Maine area provides camping options ranging from established campgrounds to remote island sites. Greenlaw's RV Park & Campground offers tent and RV sites with full hookups in Stonington proper, while Shivers Island at Settlement Quarry Preserve provides primitive boat-in camping for more adventurous visitors. The region's coastal geography creates unique opportunities for island camping along the Maine Island Trail, a 200-island network accessible primarily by sea kayak. Several campgrounds within an hour's drive include Seawall and Blackwoods in Acadia National Park, offering a mix of tent, RV, and in some cases, cabin accommodations with varying levels of amenities.

Road conditions and seasonal availability significantly impact camping in the Stonington region. Most campgrounds operate from May through October, closing during harsh winter months. As one visitor noted, "This is a wonderful campground with sites with lots of privacy. We stayed for a month and were very happy with our stay." Island camping requires additional planning for tides, which can vary 9-14 vertical feet, potentially making landings impossible at high tide. Cell service varies throughout the area, with stronger reception in established campgrounds and limited to no service on remote islands. Visitors planning to camp on islands should prepare for self-sufficient stays, including carrying in all supplies and water, and using wag bags for human waste as required by land management agencies.

Campers consistently highlight the natural beauty and tranquility of the Stonington area as primary attractions. The working harbor, coastal views, and access to kayaking opportunities receive particular praise in reviews. A visitor to Shivers Island described it as having "a deep, rocky shore, it's the perfect place to make dinner, watch the sunrise or set, and star gaze with no city lights or trees to obstruct your view." Many campgrounds in the region offer water views or direct water access, though these premium sites typically fill quickly during peak season. The proximity to Isle au Haut (part of Acadia National Park) provides additional recreational opportunities for campers based in Stonington, with ferry service available from the harbor. Visitors seeking quieter alternatives to the more crowded Mount Desert Island section of Acadia often prefer camping in this area.

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Best Camping Sites Near Stonington, Maine (114)

    1. Seawall Campground — Acadia National Park

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

    $22 - $60 / night

    "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."

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

    2. Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

    94 Reviews
    Seal Harbor, ME
    25 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."

    "Super short walk down a path to the oceans edge complete with cliffs, rocks and waves!! Just really a lovely place to camp. Close to many other attractions in the park!"

    3. Oceanfront Camping @ Reach Knolls

    11 Reviews
    Sedgwick, ME
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 359-5555

    $29 - $39 / night

    "Beautiful, quiet location with views of the deer isle bridge and access to walking the beach. Owners are so nice and friendly and accommodating. Sites are mostly private and have space. Very clean."

    "Site number 4 was great it was tucked away a bit yet still had a nearby bathroom and a 3 minute walk to the seashore which was beautiful!"

    4. Camden Hills State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Camden, ME
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 236-2498

    $25 - $45 / night

    "Camden Hills SP is a no contest campground if you are visiting Camden and surrounding MidCoast areas. 9 out of 10 times I visit Camden (one of my favorite places in Maine), I stay at this campground."

    " As with all real estate, location, location ! The camp is well situated amongst many Maine towns all of which are worth a visit to."

    5. Greenlaw's RV Park & Campground

    6 Reviews
    Stonington, ME
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (207) 200-1279

    "My boyfriend and I drove all around looking for a camping place in the Bar Harbor area but nothing was open because it was the end of April."

    "Located near Stonington, it is near the harbor, restaurants, a sand beach and the ferry to Isle au Haut. Opportunities for Kayaking, SUP’s and hiking abound here on a quiet island."

    6. Mount Desert Campground

    37 Reviews
    Mount Desert, ME
    22 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)."

    7. Bass Harbor Campground

    18 Reviews
    Bass Harbor, ME
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 327-5857

    "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"

    "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."

    8. Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    36 Reviews
    Salsbury Cove, ME
    24 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."

    9. Smuggler's Den Campground

    20 Reviews
    Southwest Harbor, ME
    19 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."

    10. Shivers Island — Settlement Quarry Preserve

    2 Reviews
    Stonington, ME
    3 miles
    Website

    "Save a step."

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Recent Camping Photos near Stonington, ME

448 Photos of 114 Stonington Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Stonington, ME

697 Reviews of 114 Stonington Campgrounds

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Duck Puddle Campground

    Great waterfront sites!

    We love coming to Duck Puddle in the shoulder season (spring and fall) when it’s quiet. The waterfront sites (61-66) offer direct access to the lake and have trees between the site for a more private feel. Some have a private dock for fishing or sitting, others have a small beach area. The lake is great for swimming and paddling.

    The rest of the campground is more busy and has the sites closer together, which isn’t our scene. Lots of fun stuff for kids to do and evening activities if you like that sort of thing.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Balsam Cove Campground

    Great place!

    We stayed here one night in September in a Tuesday. Quiet, very few people. Had a non electric site without water and paid the same price as the state park in Camden. This place had much nicer showers and bathrooms. Would return!

  • Mindie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    Great stay

    The campground is beautiful. The sunsets amazing. We are so close to all the activities in the area. People are super friendly and the staff is helpful.

  • Jim S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Hadley's Point Campground

    Nice looking park ! clean

    Nice site one of the more expensive campgrounds in the area. Polite staff I asked if I could rinse off the front and back of Airstream as they have dusty roads here. The said no not even without soap. I asked no we are on a well. First time I was told no in two years of travel . Even in upscale parks most let you rinse the bugs off

    Not a real complaint just a note .

  • Snooz H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Acadia Seashore Camping and Cabins

    Beautiful spot but...Meh...🤦🏼‍♀️

    So we got there & was escorted to our spot which seemed nice. It took awhile to get rid of them so we could get set up.

    We got everything set and we have a mat we put down. Well, the grass is like straw & we were not allowed to have the mat on their dead grass??

    In our spot, for 6 nights, we had no shade at all!!! All these nice ocean front ones that were there we assigned to people there for 2-3 days! Wth!!!

    Their honey wagon waa broke down so we had to pull everything in to empty our grey water.

    I went and asked about how much the laundry machines were and 30 mins later it was a little painful. You have to sign up to do laundry and schedule your time. Ok, well I did 2 loads for $14 and my hours was up and one load was not completely dry. She explained that ONE TIME some families got their clothes mixed up as they were all trying to leave at one morning. So, instead of them looking at this as an exception, they put this sign up system in place. So, complete overreaction and changed every other's experience in the future.

    As our neighbor described it as a RIDGED HOA. The kind that worry about everything you do and don't do.

  • M
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Meguniticook by the Sea Campground

    Overpriced!

    Corporations are buying up the private campgrounds and charging ridiculous prices. The three around Campden, ME have 4 day minimums making the most basic RV site $ 225 to $260 per stay.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    Great choice

    The Campground offers basically everything that’s needed for a good experience. There are kids amenities and activities, there’s a shop inside of the campground with a little of everything you might need. We rented a site next to the ocean, and it was great!

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA

    Best camp views of 2025 season

    I’m always appreciative when booking KOA. This site did not disappoint. Tricky parking but wonderful to have the views to myself and one other neighbor. Beach front, able to swim and SUP right from the campsite. Amazing fire pit. Bathrooms are far, and only 3 showers, one was down. But they were clean. Overall will book again.

  • Clean Slate D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Mount Desert Campground

    The best Campground in Maine

    This place is the perfect mix of feeling like you're rustic camping on the water with decent amenities. Not many RV's will fit so, mostly tent camping. Un-level sites have platforms to put your tent on. The office even has hammer and nails for you to use to secure everything. Fresh ground local coffee every morning and local Giffords ice cream at night at their "Gathering Place". Kids ride their bikes everywhere. I'd say kids get to be just the right amount of feral here. It's a safe, quiet and fun park. Best you'll find on MDI and in Maine. It's one of our top in the USA, to be honest.

Guide to Stonington

Camping near Stonington, Maine, offers a fantastic mix of natural beauty and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are several campgrounds that cater to different preferences and needs.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the numerous trails in Acadia National Park. Many campers appreciate the proximity to trails like the southern ridge trailhead for Cadillac Mountain, which connects to various paths. One camper noted, “I love that the southern ridge trailhead for Cadillac mountain leaves from the campgrounds and connects to a bunch of other trails” at Blackwoods Campground.
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. Campers have reported seeing deer and even moose near campgrounds like Seawall Campground. One visitor mentioned, “We did see dozens of deer (big and small) in this location; by far the most wildlife of any of the three Acadia campgrounds.”
  • Beach Access: Enjoy the rocky beaches and tidal pools. Campers at Seawall Campground have highlighted the nearby beach for exploring tidal pools, making it a great spot for families.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Mount Desert Campground said, “Restrooms were very clean and there was plenty of hot water for the coin-operated showers.”
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy the spaciousness of sites at places like Schoodic Woods Campground. One reviewer noted, “The sites are carefully designed so that although you might hear your neighbor you likely will not see them.”
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of campground staff. A visitor at Hadley's Point Campground remarked, “Nice staff. Nice size lot clean. And shuttle bus stops on site for Bar Harbor and Acadia.”

What you should know:

  • Reservations: Some campgrounds, like Bar Harbor Campground, operate on a first-come, first-served basis. 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: Depending on the campground, privacy can vary. A camper at 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, providing the illusion of privacy.”
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A visitor at Schoodic Woods Campground noted, “There are no showers onsite so come prepared.”

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and pools. Campers at Smuggler's Den Campground appreciated the “playground was great for the kids. The swimming pool was a highlight as well.”
  • Nature Exploration: Encourage kids to explore nature. One family at Mount Desert Campground enjoyed the “lovely camp roads to walk, run, or bike.”
  • Plan for Quiet Hours: Be mindful of quiet hours to ensure everyone has a good night’s sleep. A camper at Smuggler's Den Campground mentioned, “The only problem was kids running around during quiet hour.”

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to choose a site that fits your RV. A reviewer at Schoodic Woods Campground advised, “Choose your site carefully if you have a large rig.”
  • Electric Hookups: Look for campgrounds that offer electric hookups. Campers at Hadley's Point Campground appreciated the availability of “electric hookups.”
  • Dump Stations: Ensure the campground has a dump station. A visitor at Mt Desert Narrows Camping Resort noted, “Not all campsites had full hookup and we were told that one of the dump stations worked.”

Camping near Stonington, Maine, provides a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking, relaxing by the beach, or enjoying family time, there's something for every camper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Stonington, Maine camping areas?

Camping areas near Stonington offer varying amenities depending on the location. Greenlaw's RV Park & Campground provides private sites with good AT&T reception, well-maintained facilities, and a quiet atmosphere. While amenities are limited in scope, they're thoughtfully designed for a peaceful experience. For those seeking island camping, Saddleback Island on the Maine Island Trail offers free primitive camping spots and beaches maintained by the Maine Island Trail Association. Most campgrounds in the region provide basic facilities like toilets and water access, but amenities tend to be simpler than in more developed areas, emphasizing Stonington's natural beauty and tranquil setting.

What is the best time of year to go camping in Stonington, Maine?

The prime camping season in Stonington runs from late spring through early fall (May-October), with July and August offering the warmest temperatures and busiest conditions. Duck Harbor Campground in nearby Acadia National Park operates during this peak season, with its limited sites requiring advance reservations. Some visitors prefer the shoulder seasons of late May-June or September-early October when Schoodic Woods Campground and other area facilities are less crowded but still operational. Late April can be challenging as many campgrounds haven't opened for the season yet. Fall brings spectacular foliage but cooler temperatures, while winters are generally too harsh for most camping experiences in the region.

Where can I find campgrounds near Stonington, Maine?

Several campgrounds are available within driving distance of Stonington. Mount Desert Campground offers immaculate grounds and bathroom facilities on Somes Sound. For RV travelers, Mainstay Cottages & RV Park in nearby Winter Harbor provides small sites with great views and is close to a ferry that goes to Bar Harbor. For a more primitive experience, coastal islands accessible by kayak offer unique camping opportunities. The Deer Isle archipelago includes numerous camping spots managed by the Maine Island Trail Association. Within a longer but reasonable drive, you can also reach Acadia National Park's campgrounds including Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods.

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