Maine's Acadia National Park is located on a series of islands, including Mount Desert Island and Isle au Haut. The first national park created east of the Mississippi River, Acadia features a dramatic coastline, lighthouses and beautiful colors in the autumn. While there is camping available in the park itself, you may want to camp on the mainland instead.
Types
According to the National Park Service, the weather in and around Acadia is influenced by the ocean. Fog and rain are common in the summer months, while ice storms occur in the winter and early spring. Temperatures average in the 70s during the day in the summer, but sometimes they can reach the 90s. The fall is cooler with temperatures in the 60s and 50s. Winter in the region is quite cold, with temperatures often dipping below freezing.
Identification
Many towns and communities near Acadia National Park offer camping opportunities. These towns include Bar Harbor, Trenton, Ellsworth and Northeast Harbor. However, you may decide to camp on Mount Desert Island, but outside Acadia. One benefit of camping outside of Acadia National Park is you can access the restaurants and shopping in the surrounding towns.
Amenities
Amenities will vary from campsite to campsite. For example, Hadley's Point Campsite in Bar Harbor has hot showers, free wireless Internet and a heated swimming pool. Meanwhile, Whispering Pines Campground between Bucksport and Ellsworth is a smaller site set on a 10-mile lake called Toddy Pond. The campground offers free boats for guests and large, quiet sites.
Activities
Once you pitch your tent or hook up your RV, it's time to start exploring the area. Acadia National Park offers beautiful hiking trails or you may elect to take a scenic coastal drive, stopping to eat lobsters for lunch. In the autumn, leaf peepers from all over the country come to view the beautiful fall colors.
Considerations
Acadia National Park is quite popular in the summer and autumn, and Maine doesn't have the nickname "Vacationland" for nothing. If you are planning on camping out during the high season, you should book your campsite well in advance or face arriving with nowhere to stay. There are also numerous campsites available in the national park itself.
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