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Greenlaw's RV Park & Campground's pet-friendly sites include both wooded and open areas, with campsites spaced well apart for privacy. Dog-friendly camping near Vinalhaven ranges from full-hookup RV sites at this quiet Stonington park to free primitive tent camping on Maine Island Trail islands. The campground maintains walking paths with ample space for dog exercise without disturbing neighboring campers. Maine Island Trail Association's island camping spots also welcome pets, with locations like Nathan Island, Shivers Island, and Buckle Island offering tent camping opportunities for adventurous dog owners. Sites are first-come, first-served and completely free for MITA members. The upper campsite areas at Greenlaw's offer excellent night sky viewing for stargazing with your pet companion.
Camden Hills State Park Campground and Megunticook Campground provide pet-friendly accommodations within driving distance of Vinalhaven. Dogs must be kept on leash at these mainland parks, where designated walking paths accommodate daily pet exercise. Sea kayakers with dogs can access numerous island camping options through the Maine Island Trail, though proper planning is essential when bringing pets to remote locations. The Deer Isle Archipelago features primitive camping sites on various islands where pet owners must pack out all waste using wag bags rather than digging holes. Weather considerations include fog that can roll in suddenly, requiring marine radios and proper navigational equipment for safety when island camping with pets. Lobster boats starting early in the morning may disturb light-sleeping dogs, so appropriate planning helps ensure a peaceful experience.
"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."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"The campsites start level with the main road and then tier downwards towards the water. Campsites on the southside have less trees while campsites in the north are a little more rocky."
"**The location of this campground is outstanding. Conveniently situated between Camden and Rockport off of Route One, the views of the Penobscot Bay are drop dead gorgeous."
from $32 - $58 / night
Check Availability"The campground is perfectly located between Camden and Rockland Maine. For a private campground the sites are a decent size with some trees. There is a beautiful overlook to the ocean."
"Lovely campground near the beautiful lake. Great fishing and boating! There’s quite a few hiking trails located in the town around the campground."
"And it is pet friendly. Located near Stonington, it is near the harbor, restaurants, a sand beach and the ferry to Isle au Haut."
"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."
"Our family of four plus one pet was impressed with the transportation system provided by Acadia in partnership with L.L Bean. Free buses are pet-friendly which allowed for maximum exploration."
"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"The campsites are primitive (no electricity, water or sewer) and there are no showers on site - there is a pay shower close by outside the park."
"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."
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Even had a cookie for the dog. There were some items for sale as well as a few books about the history of the camp and the owners. We were in spot 24."
"The price was incredible given the proximity to the water. The only negative was that the RVs were pretty loud."
"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!"
from $29 - $39 / night
Check Availability"This weekend, we did some sea kayak camping and hiking on the islands in the Gulf of Maine."
ScoutThis 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.
Legend**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. Hadley’s Point is a large private campground that has tent, water& electric RV, and full hook up sites, as well as Cabins. The campground is broke up in to multiple loops (campground map can be found in my pictures) with some loops in open areas with little shade and sites close together, and other loops have more wooded sites that have some shade and privacy. All style sites include a picnic table and fire ring.
Reservations are site type, not site specific, so a little bit of a gamble. We were assigned site B27 on this visit. This site was partially shade depending on the time of day and very close to our neighbors. Other sites in the B loop did have more trees and more private, but they were full on this stay. Check-in was easy and the staff was very helpful in providing info and answering questions about the area. A host guides you to your site and assist you in positioning if needed.
The bathroom on B-loop does not have showers so we had to hike to other loops to shower. The Bathrooms and showers were very clean. The showers are metered and cost $0.50 per 7 minutes, so don’t forget your quarters!
Firewood and limited supplies were available at the office. There is a full grocery store about 10 minutes away.
We found good cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The campground did not have wi-fi.
The campground also has a heated pool, playground, and laundry.
With Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park close by, there is so much to do and see in the area. One of the best benefits of the area is that there is a free shuttle with multiple routes around the island, so you can leave the car and parking hassles behind and just shuttle everywhere. The Shuttle has a stop right on the campground and is dog friendly (on leash and if your dog is friendly).
Speaking of dog friendly, I’ve never been to an area that is so dog friendly. The campground staff was very forthcoming with dog friendly info and I have to mention Bark Harbor in downtown Bar Harbor. Bark Harbor is a pet store that bakes their own treats, has toys and gifts, and tons of info on dog friendly areas on the island. They have pre-printed lists of dog friendly hotels, restaurants, on and off leash hiking trails, and dog parks. Super friendly crew that keyed us into an off leash hiking area that our dogs loved!
Pro Tip: A short ¼ mile walk from the campground is an off leash dog friendly beach that you can also launch your kayak or canoe from or have a sunset beach campfire. We really enjoys this beach after a long day of hiking all around the national park.
With all the outdoor activities of the national park, kayak and boat cruises in the ocean, lobster, lobster, lobster, you’ll need a full week to explore this island. Hadley’s Point made it a perfect place for us to take it all in.
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**Product Review: **
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I tested the Morsel Spork. This spork from Morel is very handy to have in your gear list. We are teardrop campers, so our space is limited. Everything has to have a purpose and be compact. Items like the Morsel Spork, that serves multiple functions, fit right into our needs. We purchased both the mini and the XL. Both are the same (spork on one end, spoon/scraper on the other end), but the XL is a little longer. We found this very functional for regular eating from plates or bowls, or eating directly from food packets. I also found the scraper spoon side useful in cleaning out our french press carafe. Easy to clean, easy to use, comes in multiple colors, and happy to have it a part of our camping equipment.
GuideWe stayed at this campground unexpectedly as two places I was looking at would not accept reservations less than 24 hours in advance. They had availability, offered wooded tent spots, and were affordable as some campgrounds anymore are charging an arm and leg to camp. When we arrived, the girls in the office were super sweet. They had the essentials needed if you are in a pinch, a cute gift shop for the Bass Harbor Lighthhouse (bring your lighthouse passport with you to get stamped here), have coffee/muffins in the morning, washrooms were very clean, laundry, dog park, dog run, small rec center, and pool. Tent sites are nicely wooded and spaced out, so you are not on top of one another. Quiet hours are between 10 PM and 7 AM, and it was so nice to camp in peace and quiet with others wanting the same thing. 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. We could hear the bouy ding from our campsite. There are two beautiful hiking trails .7 miles away from the campgrounds: Ship Harbor and Wonderland, that bring you to beautiful ocean views. One of the Acadia Park entrances is 5 minutes away. Southwest Harbor is a short ride away to grab an ice cream or a nice dinner. There is a brand new mini golf center further down the road that is amazing!! The Acadia Mountain trail is not far nor is the Cranberry Island Ferry. This was a prime location to see another side of Bar Harbor, see beautiful sites and avoid the crowds of downtown Bar Harbor. So happy I stumbled across this campground by accident. I would highly recommend and will definitely return!
LegendOverall, this is a great little private RV park with awesome views (from some sites) and great access to the ocean. The park is conveniently located just a few miles from downtown Belfast (a sweet little Maine town) which offers plenty to do and see. Plus, you are just five miles from the cute town of Searsport which houses the wonderful Penobscot Marine Museum and two miles from Moose Point State Park with hiking trails, picnic areas, and more gorgeous views.
The park offers a variety of sites (44 total) depending on if you want oceanfront, ocean view, or a pull-thru. All sites have electric (50 or 30 amp), water, cable and wifi. The five pull-thru sites also include sewer. A mobile sewer pump-out service is available for guests staying one week or longer and there is a dump station. Roads and sites are gravel with grass patios and level. All sites have a fire ring and picnic table. Our Verizon 4G phone and Hotspot worked great but we mostly used the free wifi which worked very well.
Park amenities include private ocean access, horseshoes, playground, laundry, showers/bathrooms, free coffee in the morning, free weekend papers delivered to your site, free donuts on Sunday mornings, and a restaurant on-site. The park organizes a lot of group activities including pot lucks, lobster shore dinners, and free wine and beer during Friday Happy Hours. The laundry has two wash machines/dryers and was clean and tidy.
The Moorings is in a great location. It is just a few miles from downtown Belfast where you will find restaurants, a brewery, boutiques, a movie theater, art galleries, historic museums/sites, and plenty of water-related activities. Grocery stores and fuel stations are within a few miles of the RV Park. Just a mere 20 miles away is the popular coastal town of Camden.
What we liked about this park is the town of Belfast and how close the RV park is to downtown. Also, the parks small size and friendly people make this an enjoyable place to stay. We like the fact that they had social activities (like free happy hour and donuts) that bring people together. The ocean access in this park is great! A short set of stairs takes you down to the water which is great for exploring, launching kayaks, and letting the dog run/swim when the tide is out.
The biggest downside for us was the price and lack of sewer and 50 amp at some sites. Our site was $66/night for a FHU (50 amp) pull-thru on the hill in the front of the park without much in the way of a water view. Premier oceanfront sites (with no sewer and 30 amps) are $72/night during high season. That being said, there are not too many options for campgrounds in the Belfast area and we really did like staying here.
From a dog owners perspective this park gets mixed reviews. The rules ask that dogs be on a 4’ or less lease, you may only have two pets (unless you get prior approval), they must do their business in one small area and are not allowed on most grassy areas throughout the park. We make a consorted effort not too let our dog pee or poop in others yards but we don’t always have control over where that happens. We did like the fact that you could take them down to the ocean to play in the water and on the beach when the tide was out. Within two miles of the RV park is Moose Point State Park with a few miles of hiking trails, picnic area and water access (a daily use fee is charged). Downtown Belfast does have a fenced off-leash 1.4 – acre dog park with water for dogs and benches for owners.
GuideMy family and I stayed at this KOA this past week. It was agreat experience! That staff was awesome and over the top accommodating. We had a pull through site with full hook up right across from the on site Lobster Trap Cafe. The site was spacious and comfortable. The whole campground was neat and clean. Staff members pick up trash throughout the day at all of the sites. The Lobster Trap had a good menu, and great customer service. They are mainly open in the evenings but also appear to serve lunch and breakfast on the weekends.
The camp store was well stocked also. There is also an island shuttle bus stop right at the entrance to the campground. There is a gas station and take out restaurant ( Island Take Out) right across from the entrance as well. There was a nice dog park as well. Cell service with AT&T was great. Cell service with T-Mobile was spotty. We did not try the campground wifi. The only down side to the trip was gnats and mosquitos, but that was all over the island and no fault of the KOA. This was one of the best KOA's we have visited and we will definitely stay there again when we visit Acadia.
GuideWe camped for years and years at Mount Desert Campground with our four children and my Sister-in-Law and her two sons. The kids are all grown now and are taking their own camping trips to this amazing place. It is a family run campground with immaculate grounds and bathroom facilities on Somes Sound in Mt. Desert, Maine which is right next to the fabulous town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Forest. There are so many activities and amenities just minutes from this lovely campground but, if you choose to stay put...you will not be disappointed. There are lovely camp roads to walk, run, or bike. Fresh air to breathe, an epic long dock to catch and release crabs near, kayak or canoe rentals, and so much more. The Camp store has wonderful provisions including homemade bear claws in the am to enjoy with coffee or tea. It is above and beyond a family favorite place to camp in Maine.
TravelerPerfect pet friendly campground near Acadia but far enough away from it all. Friendly staff, peaceful nature setting on the water, and starry nights. Clean bathrooms and large campsites. Couldn’t have asked for more. Great also if you love kayaking or paddling!!
LegendThis campground is so-so but the Camden area of Maine is really pretty with a beautiful harbor, lots of paddling opportunities, and good hiking. This campground is fairly small with a few amenities like a swimming pool, clubhouse, volleyball and basketball courts. The pool is pretty small with some chairs scattered about and tables and umbrellas. The roads are gravel with potholes and campsites are grassy or dirt depending on if you are under a tree or a previous campers patio mat killed the grass. Lots of tall pine trees provide shade but also make it a little difficult to navigate the roads. We had to go pretty slow to avoid hitting tree branches. Parking under the pines also meant a lot of sap on our roof which was a bear to remove.
There are lots of seasonal campers and their sites were pretty tidy. There are a variety of sites from those with no hook-ups to 50 amp full hook-ups and the prices are pretty reasonable for New England, especially in a very popular tourist town. Our site was shady and a pull-thru. Luckily our site was level but some are not very level and would have been a problem for us. It appears the new owners are really trying to upgrade the park and make improvements to roads and sites. Most of the patios are a mix of dirt and grass. There is a$5 pet fee, but it is per pet/stay and not a daily cost.
Wifi was a service you had to pay for which is almost unheard of in todays campgrounds. Most campgrounds offer free wifi (albeit, with varying degrees of usability) but this one only offered the wifi for a fee. We decided not to shell out the money but since we did not get a strong Verizon signal, internet access was pretty much non-existent. The other problem was that we did not get any over-the-air television channels and they did not have cable. Satellite reception was also a problem because of the trees. It is best to have a portable unit but even then, it could be difficult to get reception.
This park is in a great location to Camden and nearby towns. We loved taking the ferry to Vinalhaven Island for the day and picking up prepared food at the Market Basket and eating it along the Rockland Harbor waterfront watching the boats come and go. There is great hiking and beautiful views at the nearby Camden Hills State Park.
GuideHadley's Point is a private campground just outside Acadia National Park. This campground prides itself on being family-friendly and welcoming to pets.
Children are allowed to bike throughout the campground until dusk. While we stayed, there was a campground-wide Fourth of July bike parade. The kids loved it.
Pets are welcome but cannot be abandoned in the motorhome when you leave. Plan to take your pet with you everywhere.
Hadley's Point offers laundry facilities, showers, a heated pool, cornhole, and shuffleboard. While the pool is heated, it is not hot -- or even very warm. But this is Maine we are talking about, and I'm sure that the water was warmer than it would otherwise have been.
The campground is primarily designed to accommodate RVs and motorhomes. The large fields and open lots for RVs provide ample parking and the campground offered electricity as well as other hookups.
Cute cabins offer cozy sleeping (but no running water) for visitors without tents or RVs.
We brought our tent and felt a little like second-class citizens at this RV-focused campground. The tent sites were tiny. Our large van, tent, and screened-in pavilion covered the entire site, leaving very little walking space. Our site also lacked trees for shade and hammocks.
Worse yet, the campground has an infestation of Black-Legged Deer Ticks -- the ticks responsible for Lyme disease. We found two on our son during our stay. I hope they treat for these ticks soon because it poses a huge risk to their campers.
There is a lot of potential for this campground but they need to spray the grounds for ticks and create more comfortable sites. They could be awesome if they shifted their focus from trying to fit as many people as possible to creating a comfortable camping experience for all.
Pros:
- Heated pool
- Bathrooms cleaned regularly
- Laundry
- Good price
- Good location
- Playground
- Kid and pet friendly
- Island Explorer Bus stops at the campground
Cons:
- Cramped sites
- Ticks
- Crowded
Camden Hills State Park Campground serves as the primary mainland camping option when visiting Vinalhaven, located 12 miles from the ferry terminal in Rockland. The park spans 5,700 acres with multiple hiking trails accessible directly from campsites. Night temperatures in summer typically drop to 50-60°F even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s, creating comfortable sleeping conditions in tents and RVs without air conditioning.
Hiking at Camden Hills: Camden Hills State Park Campground offers extensive trail networks right from your campsite. "One of the real pluses of this park were the miles and miles of hiking trails just outside our doorstep. Driving the tour road to the summit of Mt. Battie (elevation 800') is a must and the views are spectacular," notes Nancy W. The park provides access to both mountain and coastal trails within a 3-mile radius.
Kayaking to island campsites: Nathan Island provides a remote camping experience accessible only by kayak. "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," explains Shari G. Kayak rentals are available from Old Quarry Ocean Adventures in Stonington for those without equipment.
Stargazing: Upper camping areas allow for exceptional night sky viewing. "The sites are nicely wooded with plenty of space between them. One of the real pluses of this park were the miles and miles of hiking trails just outside our doorstep," says Nancy W. The limited light pollution makes constellation identification possible even without specialized equipment.
Cedar showers: Megunticook by the Sea Campground offers distinctive shower facilities. "The cedar showers are awesome! We've been excited to come back here since we left," shares Chelsea. The showers are cleaned regularly and provide hot water for washing up after ocean activities.
Ocean views: Campers consistently rate the coastal views highly. "Campgrounds on the southside have less trees while campsites in the north are a little more rocky. Decent space in all sites. Down near the water they have a cookout area with picnic tables and a huge open grill for their lobster dinners," reports Erin S. Most ocean-view sites require booking 3-6 months in advance during peak season.
Secluded sites: Oceanfront Camping @ Reach Knolls provides privacy between sites. "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," mentions Jillian B. The campground limits site numbers to maintain natural spacing between campers.
Marine navigation: When island camping, fog presents specific challenges. "The fog can roll in at any minute so come prepared with a chart, compass, bearings between islands/markers and a marine radio," advises Shari G. Cell phone coverage becomes unreliable once beyond sight of the mainland.
Tidal considerations: Access to many islands changes dramatically with tides. "The tide in this area is significant (9-12 vertical feet), so landing at high tide is tricky/impossible on Nathan (and many other islands)," warns an experienced kayaker. Plan water arrivals and departures around tide tables.
Early morning noise: Shivers Island campers should prepare for working boat sounds. "You may get awakened by the sound of lobster boats motors, as they start their day pretty darn early; bring ear plugs if you are light sleeper," suggests a reviewer. Most commercial fishing vessels begin operations between 4-5am.
Beach access sites: Several campgrounds feature shoreline access. "The Campground is large, and most of the sites are on the larger side. They tend to be nestled into the woods with plenty of trees, dividing the sites," reports Missy R. Most beaches consist of rocks and shells rather than sand, so water shoes are recommended for children.
Proximity to towns: Blackwoods Campground provides convenience to amenities. "The campground was clean and beautiful. We were able to walk to the shuttle pickup and ride it to all stops in the park, and to Bar Harbor. It was so convenient," notes Roxanne R. The shuttle system allows families to access restaurants and supplies without moving camp.
Pack-out requirements: Waste management differs from mainland camping. "You are required to use Wag Bags instead of digging hole to dispose of human waste," explains a ranger. Children should be prepared for this different approach to bathroom needs before arriving at island sites.
Site selection by size: When booking, RV site dimensions matter. "We are pop-up campers. We had plenty of room for our camper. Dog friendly. Bathrooms were very clean," explains Jimmy M. Sites accommodating larger RVs (over 35 feet) are limited and should be reserved well in advance.
Utility hookups: Full-service sites require early booking. "Sites and patios are gravel and level with a picnic table and fire pit. Approximately, half the sites have water and 30/50 amp electric and the others are no hookups," explains a camper at Camden Hills State Park Campground. Generator use is restricted in most campgrounds to preserve the natural quiet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Vinalhaven, ME?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Vinalhaven, ME is Camden Hills State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Vinalhaven, ME?
TheDyrt.com has all 72 dog-friendly camping locations near Vinalhaven, ME, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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