Maine is America's Vacationland, and the Bar Harbor area is one of its popular vacation destinations. While there are hotels and vacation rentals to choose from, many visitors prefer to camp in a tent or RV during their time in Bar Harbor. The town is located on Mount Desert Island, off Maine's Atlantic coast. The town features restaurants that serve ocean-fresh seafood, a multitude of water activities---including sailing and whale watching---plus miles of hiking and biking trails.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is situated just off the coast of Maine. The park offers two campgrounds: Seawall Campground and Blackwoods Campground. Both campgrounds offer sites for tents and campers or RVs that are less than 35 feet in length. Utilities and hook-ups are not available at either campground. Seawall Campground has 214 sites available from late May through the end of September. Reservations are accepted for roughly half of the sites. The Blackwoods Campground has 306 sites. Restroom facilities are available at this campground, but you must go to a nearby building for a shower. The Blackwoods Campground is open year-round; May 1 through October 31 is the main season when reservations are recommended. During the shoulder months of April and November, you can camp for a reduced fee. During the off season (December 1 through March 31), you can hike in and camp with a free camping permit.
Commercial Campgrounds
From no-frills tent camping to spots for luxurious RVs, Bar Harbor has several privately owned campgrounds available for visitors. The Bar Harbor Campground, a family-owned campground, is closest to Bar Harbor, and lets you choose your own campsite. This campground, however, does not take reservations, and scoring a spot can be difficult during peak season. The Bar Harbor Camping Resort is a large resort-style campground with a full range of amenities. The Bar Harbor KOA Campground offers campers their choice of forest, waterfront or grassy camping sites, and can accommodate RVs up to 60 feet. Hadley's Point Campground is a family-owned campground eight miles outside of Bar Harbor that offers Sunday church services on site.
Additional Activities
The Bar Harbor area is a prime vacation spot for active vacationers. Be sure to include your bike, hiking boots or kayak on your packing list for your camping trip. You can kayak or canoe around Mount Desert Island and explore Frenchman's Bay, hike or bike the miles of carriage roads around Bar Harbor, and hike the 120 miles of trails in Acadia National Park. You can even take a walking tour of downtown Bar Harbor and learn about the city's history.
Considerations
Most campgrounds are open from May through October. Peak season is from mid-June to mid-September, and the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce recommends making camping reservations early. If you want to spend the entire season in one spot, the Bar Harbor Camping Resort offers seasonal rentals.
Weather
The weather on Mount Desert Island often includes precipitation and temperatures that are cooler than those on the mainland. Three to four inches of rain per month is normal for this area, so plan to pack waterproof camping gear. During the peak season, daytime temperatures average in the low to mid-70s Fahrenheit, while nighttime temperatures can dip into the low 50s.
Member Comments