RV Camping in Acadia National Park: The Best Campground!
Our top picks for RV campgrounds around Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is the perfect place for a summer time camping trip. Our guide will help you find the best RV campground in Acadia National Park.
Located on Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park feels remote and very difficult to access. However, it’s just a short drive from many great places to visit like Boston, New Hampshire, and Vermont!
Acadia National Park is very accessible to nearly 20% of the United States population. As an easily accessible national park, it’s easy to see why Acadia attracts so many RV campers each season, especially during the summer months when the weather is perfect for outdoor adventures!
According to RV Life, there are 15 RV campgrounds within 40 miles of Bar Harbor, Maine. Bar Harbor is this “gateway” town for Acadia National Park.
Whether you’re pulling up in an RV or pitching a tent, Acadia National Park has camping options for every style! With some of the best campgrounds in the region, you can find a spot that suits your needs.
Our guide to RV Camping in Acadia National Park ranks the 15 campgrounds near Acadia based on campground amenities and shuttle service.
Pro Tip: Convenient AND frequent shuttle stops at the campground is a premium if you want to navigate Acadia via the Island Express shuttles (FREE Shuttle).
Use our comprehensive review to find the perfect base camp for your adventure, uncover the best times to visit, and learn what essential items to bring along to enhance your outdoor experience.
What We Look for In Campgrounds
Under “normal” circumstances, selecting an RV campground can be challenging. Add in the element of visiting a major destination like Acadia National Park, and the stress level goes up a notch or ten! Right!?!
Choosing a campground and campsite can make you the hero or the zero of the trip. With so many best places to choose from, selecting the right one is crucial.
Let’s face it, we’ve all booked a campsite based on the pictures and then we get there and it looks like if the ground caves in we’re going to hell.
Yup, I’m looking at you Tin Cup.
Don’t RISK your dream RV trip on bad information!
TL;DR
- Discover the best RV campgrounds near Acadia National Park.
- Find top-rated RV parks and charming wooded sites.
- Learn about essential amenities and shuttle services.
- Get tips for booking the perfect campsite.
- Plan your unforgettable Acadia adventure.
- Make amazing memories in one of America’s most breathtaking national parks!
Top 3 Campgrounds Near Acadia National Park
1. Bar Harbor Campground
- Location: 7 minutes from Hulls Cove Visitor Center.
- Features: Accommodates all campers with full hookups, ocean views, a heated pool, a playground, and hot showers.
- Pro Tip: Book early – reservations open on January 1st or 2nd.
2. Hadley’s Point Campground
- Location: Set back from Bar Harbor Road with a shuttle service every 20 minutes.
- Features: Mix of back-in and pull-through sites, cabins for non-RVers, heated pool, playground, and affordable hot showers.
- Pro Tip: Ideal for larger parties with both RV and cabin options.
3. Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort
- Location: Part of the Thousand Trails system, 20 minutes from Hulls Cove.
- Features: Swimming pool, game room, playground, social activities like ice cream socials and magic shows.
- Pro Tip: Membership status affects pricing; offers scenic views and proximity to Acadia.
These campgrounds offer a variety of amenities and are strategically located to enhance your Acadia National Park adventure.
Quick Hits of Must Have’s to be the Best RV Campgrounds
Location, Location, Location: We can’t overstate how important location is at Acadia. Choosing a spot with full hookups and good shuttle service can greatly enhance your stay.
More important, being on the “right” Island Explorer shuttle line either makes your day easy or a giant pain in the butt! Our top campgrounds are about 5 miles away, but 20 minutes to the Acadia Visitor’s Center via shuttle!
Ambiance of the Campground: We want the campground to have good, positive energy. We like the campground to be clean and well maintained. On a trip to a major destination like Acadia, we don’t spend much time at the campground. So, for us we want SAFE and CLEAN.
Safe for us means no long-term, unkept, sketchy campsites…you know the ones. They make everyone walk a little faster past those sites!
Pet Friendly: Finn, our dog, is a member of our family. Many RV campers enjoy the benefits of bringing their dog on their trips. Naturally, we want our four-legged friends to feel welcome!
Cost per Night: On major trips like our trip to Yellowstone and Badlands or our current Northeast adventure, finding the cheapest campsite is less important than finding the best campgrounds. While we don’t throw money into the wind, we want to know the utilities will be good, our site is guaranteed, the campground is clean, etc.
We recognize that other RVers may view the lowest price as the highest value, especially when traveling with a small RV. Fortunately, there are options. Acadia National Park has several NPS-operated campgrounds: two on Mt. Desert Island and another on the Schoodic Peninsula, offering wooded sites and various amenities.
Pro Tip: Book early! In popular destinations, these are also super tough to book.
Cost Break Down (per night):
- $ – <$50
- $$ – $50 to $75
- $$$ – $75 to $100
- $$$$ – $100 to $125
- $$$$$ – $125+
Amenities: Amenity levels vary by campground style. A COE campground may have a playground but likely won’t have full hook-ups or a pool. While a private campground may have a pool, game room, campground store, etc. We don’t spend much time in the campground so amenities are nice to have, but not must-haves for our travels!
Connectivity: Despite our branding, the internet is important. As a finance professional, I need reliable internet access. Many campgrounds offer WiFi or claim good cell signals, but these are often substandard for working on the road!
We take Starlink with us and look for clear northern skies!
Scenic Views: Scenic Views always sound great, but we spend little time sitting around the campsite.
If we get a great view like at Rafter J Bar Ranch, then it’s an added bonus. We certainly don’t like the crummy views of being jammed next to our neighbors like at Tin Cup RV Park in Illinois (don’t stay here, YUCK!).
Did we miss some important campground considerations? Stop by our Facebook Page and tell us what you look for when selecting a campground!
Best RV Campground In Acadia
Our research and ranking system calculated Bar Harbor Campground as the best RV parks in Acadia. Hadley’s Point Campground is a very close second place. (We stayed in Hadley’s Point and had an outstanding experience!)
Pro Tip: Acadia National Park does NOT have any backcountry camping.
Ready to learn more about the fantastic campgrounds around Acadia NP? It’s a great place to start planning your next adventure!
Bar Harbor Campground
Estimated Price – $$
Bar Harbor Campground accommodates all campers! From Big Rig RVs that require full-hooks to smaller rigs needing electric and water to tent campers and even RVers looking for a seasonal site. Some sites have ocean views, which makes catching a beautiful sunset possible from the comfort of your campsite or a short walk.
Want to keep the kids busy while you’re relaxing by the campfire or resting from a day of cycling the carriage roads? Bar Harbor has a heated pool and playground that will provide hours of laughter and a lifetime of memories for your kids!
We love the convenience of a quick shower in our Cougar Fifth Wheel, but sometimes, enjoying a longer shower is the perfect recovery from a day of hiking. Bar Harbor has you covered with hot showers with strong water pressure!
Don’t forget about the location…only 7 minutes to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and 17 minutes to Village Green in Bar Harbor!
Pro Tip: Bar Harbor books fast. Plan to make reservations on January 1st or 2nd if you want to book this campground during peak season, which is the best time to secure a spot!
Hadley’s Point Campground
Estimated Price – $$
Hadley’s Point Campground is a fantastic runner-up. Really, I would call them 1B to Bar Harbor’s 1A. Our ranking was really that close!
What makes Hadley’s Point such a great RV campground?
Hadley’s Point is set back from Bar Harbor Road, which reduces the traffic noise. The campground has several distinct sections. We stayed in Section D, which has a mix of back-in and pull-through sites. The main roads are paved, while the sites are packed with gravel. Our site was long and included plenty of space to park our truck.
If you’re traveling with non-RVers, Hadley’s Point offers several small cabins for rent. This is a great way for larger parties to stay together and enjoy the camping experience.
A heated pool and playground are available for campers to enjoy and make memories of their time in Acadia!
The bathhouses were nice. Hot showers will cost fifty cents for 7 minutes, which doesn’t sound like much time—but 7 minutes turned out to be plenty for our crew! I might look into installing a 7-minute timer in our home!
After our whirlwind to see the park in a day experience of watching sunrise and sunset and lots of hiking, this was the best 7-minute shower that fifty cents could buy!
Hadley’s Point is located on the Bar Harbor Road Island Explorer route and has a shuttle service every 20 minutes. Plan on about 30 minutes to Hulls Cove and 40 minutes to the Village Green!
Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort
Estimated Price – $ to $$$$
Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort is part of the Thousand Trails system. Price per night varies depending on your membership status…I believe members pay a nominal fee, if any, to use the facility, while non-members pay a daily fee.
Amenities at the Narrows include a swimming pool, game room, playground, and fun social activities like ice cream socials and magic shows.
Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort is about 20 minutes from Hulls Cove and 30 minutes from Village Green.
Pro Tip: Keep your computer and mobile devices safe on the free Wifi with your virtual private network (VPN) using NORD VPN [add affiliate link].
Blackwoods Campground (NPS)
Estimated Price – $
Blackwoods Campground is as close to backcountry as you will get in Acadia NP, with easy access to the park loop road for a scenic drive.. The campground is located on the far end of the park near Otter Cove.
As an NPS campground surrounded by the National Park, you have a world of unlimited amenities and scenic views steps away from your RV or tent. As with most NPS campgrounds, sites can be on the smaller side so Big Rigs won’t fit. If you need 50 AMP, pool, laundry, full hook-ups, or pretty much the comforts of home, then Blackwoods is NOT your place.
The Island Explorer has a dedicated bus line (Blackwoods Loop) that services the campground! Front door service. Service is available hourly.
Campers at Blackwoods CG can use the Loop Road 4 schedule to flag a bus down. Keep in mind the Loop Road is one way so you have to circle all the way around to explore the Beehive Trail, Sand Beach or Thunder Hole.
Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA Holiday
Estimated Price – $$$$
Oceanside KOA’s waterfront sites are tough to beat, making it a highly sought-after RV campground. According to the aerial photos on their website, guests staying near the waterfront sites still have views of the water.
KOA Holiday Resorts have all the amenities you expect from the KOA brand including Gaga Ball, Cornhole, Playground, Laundry, Campground Store, etc. This resort does NOT have a pool, which could be a deal breaker if you really want a pool. We found the weather comfortable during our stay in late June. So, a pool may or may not be super useful!
Oceanside’s accommodations include cabins, tent sites, and full hook-up RV campsites.
We wanted to stay here, but the sites were booked very fast. During our visit as we figured out the bus schedule, we discovered the Island Explorer only makes stops at the Village Green from Oceanside. This would have added additional time to take the interior park loop shuttles. And in our view this is a big pain.
If you want to explore the “quiet side” of Mt. Desert Island, visitors can take the Island Explorer to the High School and catch a shuttle towards the Southwest Harbor. Depending on where your exploration takes you, this could be more convenient than going into the Village Green, which takes about 30 minutes to reach via the shuttle.
Narrows Too Campground
Estimated Price – $ to $$$$
The Narrows Too Campground is the second Thousand Trails resort in the Acadia National Park area. While this campground gets reviews ranking it 4 out of 5 stars on RV Life’s Trip Wizard, we wanted to be officially on Mt. Desert Island. Narrows Too is located just across the bridge on the mainland.
The Narrows Too has many important amenities like a playground, pool, laundry, Wi-Fi, and more. And the campground has services you need, like propane refilling, firewood, campground store, dump station, etc.
Similar to the KOA, the Island Explorer does not directly service Hulls Cove Visitor Center. If you want to visit the main visitor center for the park, plan ahead!
Smuggler’s Den Campground
Estimated Price – $$$
Located on the quiet side of Mt. Desert Island Smuggler’s Den is a very highly rated campground by RV Life Trip Wizard. During our evaluation, we liked all the amenities offered (pool, playground, private campsites with picnic table, fire rings, etc.), but decided the campground was too far away from downtown Bar Harbor and Hulls Cove.
In our analysis, this campground lost points due to its location. A remote location away from busy roads is usually very good, but it makes navigating the park more challenging.
The Southwest Island Explorer is the only shuttle service to and from the campground. This shuttle services the campground every two hours, so plan accordingly!
Mount Desert Campground
Estimated Price – $$$
Centrally located on Mt. Desert Island, Mount Desert Campground is a great option for smaller rigs not requiring full hookups or 50 Amp electrical service. Mount Desert Campground has many amenities like wooded campsites, beautiful sunset views, a pool, hot showers, WiFi, and Cell service.
The campground is located on the Southwest Harbor Island Explorer line so service is less frequent than for Hadley’s Point or Bar Harbor Campground.
HTR Acadia
Estimated Price – $$$
HTR Acadia is smaller campground perfect for smaller rigs, tent campers and cabin campers. HTR’s amenities include waterview and waterfront campsites, a heated swimming pool, picnic tables, fire rings, WiFi, and Cell service.
Campsites include electric service with 20 & 30 AMP connections as well as water. A dump station is available for RV campers.
HTR is located on the quiet side of Mt. Desert Island and on the Southwest Harbor Island Explorer shuttle line. If you are getting up early and driving into Acadia the central location of HTR might be your perfect spot. For us we could not fit our 40 foot fifth wheel into this campground.
Bass Harbor Campground
Estimated Price – $$$
Bass Harbor Campground may be the best place for RV camping if you really want to see the sunset at Bass Harbor. The Bass Harbor Lighthouse is located about 1 mile from the campground and it’s an easy walk to the lighthouse. Traffic and parking get crazy at the lighthouse for sunset, so Bass Harbor Campground is in the best location for sunset views!
In addition to the sunset views, Bass Harbor Campground has all the amenities to keep the family happy, like a heated pool, WiFi, full hookups for the big rigs, hot showers, flush toilets in the bathhouse, laundry, playground, campground store, and more!
Our biggest drawback is the location is nearly a 45 minute shuttle ride to the Village Green and shuttles only run every 2 hours! If you stay here, plan on driving into Acadia National Park and fighting the traffic. Certainly, traffic is manageable if you visit the park early in the morning, before 8 AM, or late, after 6 PM.
Seawall Campground
Estimated Price – $
Seawall Campground is the second NPS campground located on Mt. Desert Island. The location is near the Southwest Harbor and a long way from the Village Green of downtown Bar Harbor. Recently, the road washed out and has not been repaired, making it challenging to get to Bass Harbor Lighthouse and for the shuttle to reach Seawall Campground.
Seawall is an NPS campground with limited amenities. However, it is close to beautiful views and the national park. So, choose your trade-off!
Wild Acadia Camping Resort
Estimated Price – $$$$
Wild Acadia Camping Resort looks like a camping theme park! I’m surprised Jack didn’t get upset when we passed this campground! They have a full on water park, go-karts, mini-golf, climbing wall, jump shot!, and more. Lucky for us Jack was watching his iPad as we drove by!
In our view, the drawbacks to Wild Acadia are (1) it’s not on the Island Explorer shuttle line, and (2) we would have to fight the kids every day to go to Acadia (the whole reason we came to Bar Harbor)! This campground gets 5-star reviews and looks awesome!
Schoodic Woods Campground
Estimated Price – $
Located on the Schoodic Peninsula the Schoodic Woods Campground is perfect for RV campers looking for the quiet side of the park. It’s estimated 0.4% of all Acadia visitors make the trek over to the Schoodic Peninsula. We traveled over and it’s worth the drive.
Pro Tip: From Hadley’s Point, the drive was about 1 hour, which is less time than it took for us to shuttle to Bass Harbor Lighthouse! Don’t skip this hidden gem.
If you want to view the night sky and the heavens above, Schoodic Peninsula is the best place for stargazing! The campground is big rig-friendly and offers 50 AMP electrical service. Since Schoodic Woods Campground is in the park, it’s close to hiking trails!
A separate shuttle line serves Schoodic Woods, which will help you avoid driving around the peninsula. But with almost zero visitors, parking should not be a huge issue like at Sand Beach or Thunder Hole!
West Bay Acadia Campground
Estimated Price – $$$$
West Bay Acadia is a newer campground on the Schoodic Peninsula located just outside the boundary of Acadia National Park. West Bay is big rig friendly with full hookups and 50 AMP electrical service.
If you want dark skies, this is an excellent choice. According to several RV Life reviews, the campground has a no-light policy after dark, which minimizes light pollution!
The downsides to West Bay are that it’s not on a shuttle line and that the price is high.
Lamoine State Park
Estimated Price – $
We did not formally review this campground because, on the map, accessing Acadia from this campground looks to be a headache. We don’t like to create headaches for ourselves when we travel!
Best Things To Do Near Acadia National Park: Attractions and Activities
Acadia National Park reminded us of so many national parks rolled into one. In Acadia, we saw glimpses of the Snake River of Grand Teton, the amazing cedar forest and McDonald Lake of Glacier, the amazing blue and green waters of Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore, the lush green forest of Great Smoky Mountains, and more!
Acadia has unique features, like the carriage roads, unlike any other national park we’ve visited. This park is a special place and should be explored!
If you want a break from hiking in Acadia, here are a few must-do activities!
- Enjoy a Lobshter Roll at Tracy’s Seafood near Schoodic
- Check out the ice cream at Me & Ben’s Dairy Creme just outside Schoodic Peninsula
- Rent bikes and explore the Carriage Roads
- Enjoy Pop Overs on the Jordan Pond lawn!
- Take a scenic flight over Acadia National Park!
- Sea kayak on the bay
- Explore downtown Bar Harbor.
Acadia is located about 5 hours from Boston, so schedule a day or two to explore Boston. The Freedom Trail is a great National Park. If you go, we recommend taking a tour or using the Action Guide Tour (self-guided). The NPS self-guided tour sucks!
Planning Your RV Camping Trip to Acadia National Park
Reserving Your Camp Site
Reserving a campsite can require a bit of luck and persistence. The harsh winter means campgrounds are seasonal, so trying to book in the fall is nearly impossible. Most campgrounds accept reservations starting in January.
Shake off your New Year’s hangover and get on the phone to make your reservations.
Here’s your quick link guide for reservations for each of our recommendations:
- Bar Harbor Campground
- Hadley’s Point Campound
- Mt. Desert Narrows Camping (Thousand Trails)
- Blackwoods Campground (NPS)
- Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA
- Narrows Too Campground (Thousand Trails)
- Smugglers Den Campground
- Mount Desert Campground
- HTR Acadia
- Bass Harbor Campground
- Seawall Campground (NPS)
- Wild Acadia Camping Resort
- Schoodic Woods Campground (NPS)
- West Bay Acadia RV Campground
Reservation policies vary by campground, so be sure to confirm specific policies when reserving your campsite.
Camping Essentials and Tips
Packing for camping trips depends on the style of camping you are doing. Our RV Camping pretty much brings everything, including the kitchen sink, with us.
While we could drone on about what exactly to pack, we won’t because the must-have items for our family are different from your must-have items. Share your must-have items with us on our Facebook page.
We want to highlight a couple of items about packing.
- We love campfires. While throwing some firewood from home in the back of the truck is easy, don’t! Firewood quarantines are important to protecting the local ecosystem. The Emerald Ash Borer is transported via firewood. So, help protect the forest, and don’t transport firewood!
- Lately, we have found our propane firepit a nice addition to our camping experience. The fire heats up quickly, is easy to extinguish, and doesn’t smell like a campfire when we head back inside! If you choose to burn a wood campfire, please keep your fire contained inside the fire rings.
- Finally, packing everything you packed in is important. Please practice the Leave No Trace Principles.
Island Explorer (Acadia’s Free Park Shuttle) Overview
The Island Explorer operates 12 routes serving Acadia National Park. Island Explorer shuttles are FREE to use and transport visitors from lodging (e.g., RV campgrounds and hotels) to central locations where you can access a network of shuttles within the park!
Island Express Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- Do I need to use the shuttle? Island Explorer shuttles are the easiest way to get around Acadia NP. Let someone else handle the driving! No parking nightmares!
- What are the benefits of using Island Explorer? Getting dropped off at the exact location you want to explore. Want to explore Sand Beach? No problem! Island Explorer will drop you off in the parking lot. Same for Thunder Hole or Jordan Pond!
- Is there a fee for the shuttle? No! L.L. Bean generously supports the Island Explorer and keeps the shuttles free for all park visitors!
Parking in Acadia National Park is limited! As fellow RVers with a large truck we understand the stress of navigating small, crowded spaces in a large vehicle. Use Island Express to enjoy your time in the park!
FWIW – we drove into the park early (e.g., 3 AM for sunrise on Cadillac Mountain) and easily navigated until about 8 AM. The park really gets crowded from about 9 AM to 5 PM. After 6 PM, most visitors head out for dinner. If you want to drive through the park, which we recommend, then go early or late!
Campground Rating Criteria
Overview of Rating System and Why You Can Trust Us.
First, we are not endorsed or paid by any campgrounds on this list. We do this to help other travelers maximize their fun! The biggest payment we could receive is for you to share this post.
Second, we use a weighted average ranking model based on data available on RV Life, including the specific amenities of the campground…see the listing below. User reviews are important because we can’t stay at every place on the list. We have to work to pay for all this fun!
Keep reading if you want to get into the super nerdy details of the calculations.
Detailed Criteria Used for Ranking the Best RV Campgrounds In Acadia National Park
- Distance to Acadia: Proximity to the main attraction affects convenience for visitors.
- RV Life Ranking & Number of RV Life Reviews: Incorporate both the ranking and the volume of reviews to reflect popularity and camper satisfaction.
- Big Rig Friendly: Indicate whether the campground can accommodate large RVs.
- Tents Allowed: Specify if the campground has facilities for tent camping, increasing its appeal to a broader range of campers.
- Cost: Evaluate affordability and value for money.
- Bathrooms & Showers: Quality and availability of essential sanitary facilities.
- Full Hookups: Availability of essential services like water, electricity, and sewer connections for RVs.
- Laundry: Facilities provided for washing clothes, adding convenience for long stays.
- Pool: The presence of a swimming pool as a value-added amenity for relaxation.
- Playground: Important for families with children, adding recreational value.
- Campground Store: A store for basic supplies and conveniences is available.
- Pet Friendly: Accommodations for campers who travel with pets.
- WiFi: Availability and quality of internet service are important for campers who stay connected.
- Cell Service: Cell phone reception quality is crucial for communication and emergency situations.
- Scenic Views: The aesthetic and recreational value of natural surroundings.
Each of the criteria above is rated 1 to 10 for features like price or distance from the best RV campground to Acadia National Park or 1 or 0 for the yes / no type of criteria. Then we apply an importance factor to each criteria meaning certain criteria are ranked higher. Like distance and time to Hulls Cove Visitor Center is worth more points than does the campground have a playground.
Since some of the criteria are subjective, using rankings helps us reach a more fair ranking of each campground. Besides RV Life rating, we did not factor in a true user experience. This would be difficult because we don’t have time or money to stay at each campground and truly “test” each campground.
While this is one more data point for your search for the best RV campground in Acadia National Park, it is more objective and comprehensive than individual user reviews.
Conclusion: Discover the Best Campgrounds In Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor!
Exploring Acadia National Park with your RV opens up a world of adventure and stunning natural beauty. Whether you prefer the convenience of full hookups, the charm of wooded sites, or the amenities of top-rated RV parks, there’s something for everyone. From the bustling hub of Bar Harbor Campground to the tranquil setting of Blackwoods, you can find the perfect base camp for your Acadia experience.
Remember, the best time to visit is during the summer months when the park’s natural splendor is in full bloom. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Island Express shuttle for easy navigation and stress-free exploration. Pack smart, book early, and get ready to make unforgettable memories in one of America’s most breathtaking national parks.
Happy camping and see you on the road!
About Us
We are Mike and Sara, and our kids and dog are exploring the US while camping in our fifth wheel! Since the late 90s we have been exploring the great outdoors one hiking trail at a time. We introduced our kids to hiking while they were young and they love exploring new places. We call Kentucky home and we find ourselves exploring the state parks, national parks, and other wildlands in our area as often as we can!
Our RV camping journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Waking up close to the trails we love hiking was enough for us to get hooked on the camping lifestyle! Thanks for following our adventures!
Happy camping!
