The Basecamping Field Guide · Acadia

Find your basecamp in Acadia

Blackwoods for the Park Loop, Seawall for the quiet side, Schoodic when you want an electric site. Every park campsite is reserved ahead. There is no winter camping.

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Acadia coastlinePhoto: Basecamping / Higgsfield · Generated editorial artUpdated Nov 6, 2026

Where should you camp?

Acadia’s campgrounds are on two pieces of the park plus one very small island camp. Pick the side of the island, the peninsula, or a hookup campground in town.

Schematic, not a navigation chart. Blackwoods and Seawall are on Mount Desert Island. Schoodic Woods is on the mainland peninsula. 2026 dates are from the NPS hours page updated October 31, 2026.

1Blackwoods & the east sideThe campground next to the park’s busy side

Blackwoods is the east-side campground, close to the Park Loop Road and Bar Harbor. Most sites are for tents. Some RV sites on Recreation.gov are marked up to 35 feet. There are flush toilets, running water, and a dump station, and no showers or hookups. In 2026 it is open May 1 through October 19 at 10 am.

East side of Mount Desert Island · 2026 season: May 1–October 19

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2Seawall & the quiet sideA smaller coast, harder for large RVs

Seawall sits on the west side of the island near the coast. Recreation.gov says some sites take RVs up to 35 feet, and also that the campground was not designed for large RVs or trailers and that maneuvering can be difficult. Flush toilets, water, and a dump station are in the campground. Showers are not; fee showers are about a mile away. The 2026 season is May 20 through October 12.

Southwest side, toward Bass Harbor · 2026 season: May 20–October 12

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3Schoodic PeninsulaElectric sites, and a quieter peninsula

Schoodic Woods is the mainland campground, about 1.5 miles from Winter Harbor and roughly an hour from Bar Harbor. Recreation.gov says sites other than group and hike-in sites have electric, and B-Loop sites have electric and water. There is a dump station and no showers in camp. RV sites are listed up to 25 feet, and vehicles larger than 21 feet cannot continue on the Schoodic Loop Road past the campground. The 2026 season is May 20 through October 12.

About 60–70 minutes from Bar Harbor; no park shuttle between the two · 2026 season: May 20–October 12

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4Outside the park, on Mount DesertFull hookups and a longer rig

Park campgrounds do not offer the hookups a large RV wants, and Blackwoods and Seawall are a poor fit for one. Hadley’s Point and Bar Harbor Campground, both on our Campspot listings, are the on-island backup: you drive into the park each day, and you can be here when the six-month release is gone.

North end of Mount Desert Island · Private seasons differ from the park’s

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Reservation rules: NPS Acadia camping, updated July 7, 2025. 2026 open and close dates: NPS hours and seasons, updated October 31, 2026. Site details: Recreation.gov pages for Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods.

Choose your Acadia campground

Three park campgrounds and one private campground with full hookups. Duck Harbor, five lean-tos on Isle au Haut, is in the booking table rather than here — it is reached by mail boat and has no potable water.

NPS / Recreation.gov

East side · Mount Desert Island

Blackwoods Campground

For the Park Loop Road

The east-side campground, with paved roads, flush toilets, running water, and a dump station. Most sites are tents. Some are RV sites. Choose this if… You want the shortest camping base for the Park Loop Road and Bar Harbor, and your RV fits the site you actually reserve.

2026: May 1–Oct 19Closes at 10 am on the last day
Some RV sites to 35 ftMost sites are tents
No hookups or showersDump station in the campground
East side of the islandNear the Park Loop Road

Worth knowing: There is no winter camping anywhere in Acadia, including here. Our catalog page is thin because the listing has no map point; Recreation.gov is the page with the site lengths.

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NPS / Recreation.gov

Southwest Mount Desert Island

Seawall Campground

For the quiet side of the island

A family campground on the west side near the coast. Flush toilets, running water, a dump station, and paved roads. No showers in camp.

2026: May 20–Oct 12Closes at 10 am on the last day
Some sites to 35 ftNot designed for large RVs
No showers in campFee showers about a mile away

Worth knowing: Recreation.gov says maneuvering an RV here can be very difficult and that accommodations will not be made if the rig does not fit the reserved site. Portable showers are prohibited.

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NPS / Recreation.gov

Schoodic Peninsula

Schoodic Woods Campground

For electric sites and a quieter peninsula

Wooded sites about a 15-minute walk from the ocean, 1.5 miles from Winter Harbor. Electric on sites other than group and hike-in sites; water as well on B-Loop. Flush toilets, a dump station, and no showers in camp.

2026: May 20–Oct 12Same release rules as the island
RV sites to 25 ftLoop Road past camp: 21 ft
Electric; water on B-LoopNo sewer, no camp showers

Worth knowing: Our listing’s maximum length is longer than Recreation.gov’s 25-foot RV sites. Use 25 feet, and don’t plan to drive a larger vehicle around Schoodic Loop Road past the campground. Hike-in sites cannot have a campfire.

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Hadley's Point Campground / Campspot

Bar Harbor · outside the park

Hadley's Point Campground

For full hookups on Mount Desert Island

A private campground at the north end of the island, a short drive from Bar Harbor and the park. Our listing shows full hookups, pull-through sites, and RVs up to 45 feet.

Full hookupsElectric, water, and sewer
46 sites on our listingRVs to 45 ft
North end of the islandNot a national-park campground

Worth knowing: You drive into Acadia for the day, and you pay a private rate. The park’s camping season and this campground’s season are not the same thing.

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Explore the full directory 24 listed campgrounds within 20 miles of the park

Blackwoods and Seawall may be missing from this list because our catalog has no map point for them. They are the first two profiles above. Distance is straight-line from the park’s mapped center.

Search Acadia-area campgrounds

Seasons from the NPS hours page updated October 31, 2026. Hookups, showers, and RV warnings from Recreation.gov. Hadley’s Point hookups and length are from our listing. Read November 6, 2026.

When to go

The camping year is the campground calendar, not the carriage roads. In 2026 every park campground is closed by mid-October, and NPS does not allow winter camping anywhere in the park.

Late spring · May

Blackwoods opens first

Blackwoods opens May 1. Seawall and Schoodic Woods open May 20. The Cadillac Mountain vehicle-reservation check station also starts May 20. A May 20 arrival was releasable on December 1.

Good fit: Blackwoods in early May, or any of the three after May 20 if you reserved in December.

Summer · June–August

Everything is open, including the demand

Island Explorer shuttles run on Mount Desert and, separately, on the Schoodic Peninsula. They do not connect the two. Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut is open June 17 through October 5 and releases the whole season on April 1.

Good fit: A reservation you made on a first-of-the-month release.

Early fall · September–mid-October

Still camping, until the posted close

Seawall and Schoodic Woods close October 12, 2026, at 10 am. Blackwoods closes October 19 at 10 am. That is the end of the camping year even if the leaves are still the reason you came.

Good fit: Blackwoods if your dates run past October 12. Nothing in the park after October 19.

Winter · Late October–April

The park is open to visit. The campgrounds are not.

NPS forbids winter camping, backcountry camping, and overnight parking. Come for the day, or sleep in town. Do not plan to stay in a closed campground.

Good fit: Lodging or a private campground that is actually open. Not a park site.

When to book

You cannot reserve an Acadia campsite at the campground. Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods release 90 percent of sites six months ahead, on the first of the month at 10 am Eastern, and the rest 14 days ahead at 10 am.

CampgroundReservation releasePlanning note

Blackwoods, Seawall, Schoodic Woods90% on the 1st, six months ahead, 10 am EasternThe other 10% open at 10 am, 14 days before arrival. Example from NPS: a May 20 arrival opens December 1, or May 6 on the second release.

Duck Harbor, Isle au HautEntire season at 10 am on April 1Five lean-tos, mail boat only, no potable water. Same-day reservations are possible online if a site is left. 2026 season: June 17–October 5.

All park campgroundsNo winter seasonNo backcountry camping, no overnight parking, and no winter camping anywhere in Acadia.

Make the Recreation.gov account before release morning. NPS says you need an account before you can reserve. Ten o’clock Eastern is the release, not a suggestion.

Read the RV line on the exact site. A 35-foot label at Seawall still comes with a warning that large rigs do not fit the roads. Schoodic’s RV sites stop at 25 feet.

If the release is gone, leave the park campgrounds. Hadley’s Point and other Bar Harbor listings are the backup. There is no first-come overflow inside Acadia.

Read the NPS camping page

Camping rules from the NPS page updated July 7, 2025. 2026 dates from the hours page updated October 31, 2026. Both read November 6, 2026.

See what’s open for your trip

Choose dates to compare these Acadia campgrounds. We only mark a campground available when the provider feed confirms sites for the whole stay.

Start with your datesYou can also add RV length and party details.

East side · Mount Desert Island · Recreation.gov

Blackwoods Campground

Add dates to check which individual sites are open for the full stay.

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Southwest Mount Desert Island · Recreation.gov

Seawall Campground

Add dates to check which individual sites are open for the full stay.

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Schoodic Peninsula · Recreation.gov

Schoodic Woods Campground

Add dates to check which individual sites are open for the full stay.

View campground

View all matching campsites

Blackwoods and Seawall have sparse pages in our catalog. If the live check is blank, open Recreation.gov. Search covers a wider radius than these four profiles. Taxes and fees are not in the nightly price.

Arrive and pick up your RV

Fly in and rent an RV

Bangor is the usual Acadia airport. Portland is the busier one, farther down the coast. Listings below are examples from our rental feed near those airports. The distance is straight-line, not a drive time, and a large motorhome still has to fit a 25- or 35-foot park site.

Bangor International (BGR)BangorCloser airport to Bar Harbor

The closer airport to Mount Desert Island

Pick up around Bangor and drive to the island. Spend the arrival day on the transfer. The campground reservation is a separate task you already finished months ago.

1BGRArrive

2RV pickupBangor

3CampYour basecamp

Pick up your RV near Bangor: Straight-line miles from the airport reference point to the listing. It is not the drive to Bar Harbor, and the host does not meet the flight unless the listing says so.
Suggested campground areas: Blackwoods · Hadley’s Point
Sample itinerary: Land, pick up, and reach the island before dark. Use the next day for the Park Loop.

Route details

We are not publishing a drive time from Bangor or Portland. The campground rules are the constraint that matters: 35 feet at some Blackwoods and Seawall sites, 25 feet at Schoodic, and no park camping after the October close dates.

Compact campervan

Outdoorsy

2022 Winnebago Solis 59 PX

21 ft · Sleeps 4 · 4 belted seats

A campervan is the Acadia rental that can actually use a park site. Schoodic stops at 25 feet.

Straight-line from Bangor International 4 mi

$348 / night listed, before fees

View on Outdoorsy

Compare Bangor RV rentals

Drivable rental

RVshare

Barry's Motorhome

30 ft · Sleeps 6 · 6 belted seats

If the motorhome is over 35 feet, plan on a private campground such as Hadley’s Point, not Blackwoods or Seawall.

Straight-line from Bangor International 4 mi

$260 / night listed, before fees

View on RVshare

Compare Bangor RV rentals

Filter by length and belted seats. The park site, not the sleeping capacity, decides whether the rental can camp inside Acadia.

Portland International Jetport (PWM)PortlandFarther down the coast

More flights, and a longer coastal drive

Portland works when the fare or the schedule is better. It is not a same-evening arrival at Seawall. Break the drive.

1PWMArrive

2RV pickupPortland

3CampYour basecamp

Pick up your RV near Portland: Straight-line miles from the airport reference point to the listing. It is not the drive to Bar Harbor, and the host does not meet the flight unless the listing says so.
Suggested campground areas: Hadley’s Point on arrival night · a park site you already reserved
Sample itinerary: Do not hold a first-night Schoodic reservation if you are landing in Portland that afternoon.

Route details

Drivable rental

Outdoorsy

2020 FourWheel Camper Project M

5 ft · Sleeps 4 · 4 belted seats

If the motorhome is over 35 feet, plan on a private campground such as Hadley’s Point, not Blackwoods or Seawall.

Straight-line from Portland International Jetport 0 mi

$164 / night listed, before fees

View on Outdoorsy

Compare Portland RV rentals

Compact campervan

Outdoorsy

Maine Campervan Rentals "The Green One"

16 ft · Sleeps 2 · 2 belted seats

A campervan is the Acadia rental that can actually use a park site. Schoodic stops at 25 feet.

Straight-line from Portland International Jetport 0 mi

$100 / night listed, before fees

View on Outdoorsy

Compare Portland RV rentals

Filter by length and belted seats. The park site, not the sleeping capacity, decides whether the rental can camp inside Acadia.

No hookups at Blackwoods or Seawall.Schoodic has electric, and water on B-Loop, with a 25-foot RV limit. Hadley’s Point is the full-hookup listing in this guide.

The season ends in October.A rental that runs into late October needs a campground that is open. Park sites are not. There is no winter camping in Acadia.

Three ways to spend a few days in Acadia

These assume the campground is inside its 2026 season and the reservation already exists. Carriage-road ideas are day plans, not a reason to skip the release.

Photo from the Recreation.gov listing for Blackwoods Campground

2 nights · Blackwoods

A Park Loop weekend

Stay on the east side so the loop road is the day, not a commute from the quiet side.

Park Loop
One carriage road, then out

View day-by-day plan

Friday · Into Blackwoods
Arrive with the reservation confirmation. There is no campground-office booking.
Planning note: If your dates include the Cadillac summit, that vehicle reservation is separate. The 2026 check station runs May 20–October 25.
Saturday · Park Loop
Use the loop and the Island Explorer. Leave the RV parked if the site is the better place for it.
Planning note: No hookups. Plan water and the dump station.
Sunday · One carriage road, then out
A short ride or walk, then the drive toward Bangor or south.
Planning note: Blackwoods’ 2026 close is October 19 at 10 am.

Start with Blackwoods Campground

Photo from the Recreation.gov listing for Seawall Campground

3 nights · Seawall

The quiet side

Seawall is the choice when Bass Harbor and the southwest shore are the point. Only if the RV really fits.

Bass Harbor and a loop-road day
Morning fog, then the road

View day-by-day plan

Day 1 · Southwest shore
Arrive in daylight and walk the site with the rig before you unhitch.
Planning note: Recreation.gov will not resize the site if you don’t fit.
Day 2 · Bass Harbor and a loop-road day
Go early if you are driving back to the Park Loop. The campground is the quiet part on purpose.
Planning note: Showers are not in camp. Fee showers are about a mile away.
Day 3 · Morning fog, then the road
Pack and leave toward the mainland.
Planning note: 2026 close is October 12 at 10 am.

Start with Seawall Campground

Photo from the Recreation.gov listing for Schoodic Woods Campground

2 nights · Schoodic Woods

A peninsula night with power

Treat Schoodic as its own trip. It is about an hour from Bar Harbor, with no shuttle between them, and the RV has to be 25 feet or under.

Schoodic Loop
Back toward the island or the airport

View day-by-day plan

Day 1 · Winter Harbor
Drive the peninsula in daylight and take an electric site you reserved.
Planning note: Vehicles over 21 feet stay off the loop road past the campground. Oversized parking is at the day-use lot.
Day 2 · Schoodic Loop
Ride the peninsula shuttle or drive only where your vehicle is allowed. The point, the trails, and the bike paths are the day.
Planning note: No showers in camp. Winter Harbor has them.
Day 3 · Back toward the island or the airport
Don’t plan to relocate into Blackwoods without a second reservation.
Planning note: Hike-in sites here cannot have a wood or charcoal fire.

Start with Schoodic Woods Campground

Before you reserve and before you drive

Acadia camping is a reservation, a season, and a vehicle length. The scenery does not change those three.

No walk-up sites

Reservations are only on Recreation.gov. The campground cannot make one for you.

2026 close dates

Seawall and Schoodic Woods: October 12 at 10 am. Blackwoods: October 19 at 10 am. Duck Harbor: October 5. There is no winter camping after that, and none before the spring openers.

Cadillac summit

The vehicle-reservation check station operates May 20–October 25, 2026. A campsite reservation is not a summit reservation.

Schoodic vehicle limits

RV sites up to 25 feet on Recreation.gov. Vehicles larger than 21 feet may not use Schoodic Loop Road beyond the campground. Our listing’s longer maximum is not the rule to follow.

Duck Harbor

Five lean-tos on Isle au Haut, mail boat only, no potable water. The whole season releases at 10 am on April 1. Bring or treat water.

Firewood

NPS asks you to leave firewood at home and buy it locally, because transported wood can carry insects.

Camping · Hours and 2026 seasons · Schoodic Woods on Recreation.gov. Read November 6, 2026.

Sources and latest park information

Reservation rules are from the NPS camping page updated July 7, 2025. The 2026 season dates are from the hours page updated October 31, 2026. Both were read November 6, 2026.

NPS camping · 2026 hours and seasons · Blackwoods · Seawall · Schoodic Woods · Camping with dogs · RV rental costs