Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park is an American national park located in the state of Maine, southwest of Bar Harbor. The park preserves about half of Mount Desert Island, many adjacent smaller islands, and part of the Schoodic Peninsula on the coast of Maine. Acadia was initially designated Sieur de Monts National Monument by proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Sieur de Monts was renamed and redesignated Lafayette National Park by Congress in 1919—the first national park in the United States east of the Mississippi River and the only one in the Northeastern United States. The park was renamed Acadia National Park in 1929. More than 3.5 million people visited the park in 2018.

Camping is one of the best ways to experience Acadia National Park. There are three campgrounds in the park, and roughly a dozen private campgrounds near Acadia National Park.

Blackwoods Campground

Blackwoods is located five miles south of Bar Harbor just off Route 3. Thanks to its prime location—a short distance from Bar Harbor, the Park Loop Road and some of Acadia’s best hiking trails—Blackwoods is Acadia’s most popular campground. It is also the only Acadia campground open year-round.

Blackwoods has 306 campsites, including sites for RVs. During peak season (May through October) reservations are highly recommended. Cost: $30 per site, per night. From June to mid-October, the free Island Explorer Shuttle, which provides transportation to popular destinations around Mount Desert Island, makes regular stops at Blackwoods Campground. All campsites at Blackwoods Campground are wooded, and the ocean is a 10-minute walk from the campground. Each campsite comes with a picnic table and campfire ring. Bathrooms with flush toilets are located nearby.

In April and November, Blackwoods costs $15 per site, per night (weather-permitting). From December through March, a limited number of campsites are available for primitive camping. (Click here for more info on winter camping.)

There are no showers at Blackwoods, but pay showers are offered by a private business in the nearby village of Otter Creek, a half-mile from the campground.

Seawall Campground

Located on the western “quiet side” of Mount Desert Island, Seawall Campground is Acadia National Park’s second-most popular campground. Seawall is located about 4 miles south of Southwest Harbor.

There are roughly 200 wooded campsites, and a beautiful oceanside picnic area is a short walk from the campground. Each campsite comes with a picnic table and campfire ring. Bathrooms with flush toilets are located nearby. There are no showers at Seawall, but pay showers are available one mile from the campground.

Cost: $22 per night for walk-in tent sites, $30 per night for drive-up tent, camper and motorhome sites. Motorhome sites can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length. From June through September, the free Island Explorer Shuttle makes regular stops at Blackwoods Campground.

Seawall Campground is open from the first Wednesday before Memorial day through the end of September. Due to its popularity reservations are highly recommended, especially in late June, July and August.

Schoodic Woods Campground

Acadia’s newest campground, which opened in 2015, is located near Schoodic Peninsula, the only part of Acadia National Park on the mainland. Compared to Blackwoods and Seawall, Schoodic Woods feels spacious and uncramped. Although roughly the same size as Blackwoods, it has about one-third of the campsites. Schoodic Woods Campground is located three miles southeast of Winter Harbor and 43 miles from Bar Harbor.

Schoodic Woods Campground has 94 campsites. Loop A has 37 campsites with parking spaces for cars, vans and campers. Loop B has 30 campsites for RVs. Campsites at both loops have picnic tables and fire rings, and there are washrooms with flush toilets and potable water nearby. There are also nine hike-in campsites, including some with ocean views. Fires are prohibited at hike-in campsites.

From late June to mid-October the Island Explorer Shuttle offers free rides to Schoodic Peninsula and Winter Harbor. There are also 8.5 miles of bike paths near Schoodic Woods Campground, plus a new hiking trail that goes to the top of Schoodic Head, the highest point on Schoodic Peninsula.

Cost: $22 walk-in tent sites, $30 drive up tent/small RV, $36 RV with electric only sites, $40 RV with electric and water.

Open late May to Columbus Day.

Reservations are required for Schoodic Woods Campground. There are no first-come, first-served campsites.

Duck Harbor Campground

Located on Isle au Haut, a rugged island 16 miles southwest of Mount Desert Island, Duck Harbor Campground is Acadia’s most remote campground. It’s also, in my opinion, Acadia’s best campground. Perched on a wooded hill overlooking Duck Harbor, the campground’s five primitive sites offer a terrific combination of peace, quiet and natural beauty. Its location is also perfectly positioned to take advantage of Isle au Haut’s terrific network of hiking trails.

Campsites at Duck Harbor are available from May 15 to October 15 by advance reservation. Camping is limited to one stay per year, for a maximum of three nights, and party size is limited to six persons per site. All campsites include one three-sided, lean-to shelter with a roof and floor. All tents must be set up within the shelter. Each campsite also includes a fire ring, a picnic table and a storage locker for food and toiletries. Duck Harbor Campground has composting toilets, and a hand pump for water is located 0.25 miles from the campground. Click here for more information about Duck Harbor Campground.

 

The original article and other interesting story can read here:

https://jameskaiser.com/acadia-guide/acadia-camping/

Thanks to James Kaiser