The Best Places to Camp in the US: Acadia National Park

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As the first area of land east of the Mississippi to be designated a national park, Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, provides some of the most spectacular camping along the Atlantic coast. Acadia is home to two major campground areas, with each site situated in a wooded area only a ten minute walk from the ocean, making it an enjoyable, scenic experience for all campers.

About Acadia National Park
Comprised of a cluster of islands along coastal Maine, Acadia National Park is rich with history. Many of the more than 120 miles of hiking trails that exist within the park today were forged by pioneers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Even some of the original stonework that bordered this popular trail is visible today.

A 20-mile loop encircles Acadia National Park, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, mountains, and forests. In addition to the loop road, the park houses a 45-mile carriage road system that was built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. One of the oldest examples of broken stone road in the United States, horse-drawn carriages offer park tours, while hikers and bikers are also encouraged to explore the park via this road. Guided trail hikes, ranger-led boat tours, and amphitheater programs are also available in the park during the busy summer season.

Though Acadia National Park is open year round, there are many areas of the park that close during the frigid winter months. Parts of the road, including the section that leads to Cadillac Mountain are also unavailable to winter visitors.

Camping in Acadia National Park
There are two primary camping areas within the park, and one smaller camping area on Isle au Haut for those who wish to partake in primitive camping. A fourth camping area, the Wildwood Stables Campground is open only to visitors who have stock animals with them on the property.

Blackwoods Campground and Seawall Campground are located in the main section of Acadia National Park known as Mount Desert Island. While many of the campsites are designated for tent camping, there are other sites which can accommodate travel trailers, pop-ups, and motorhomes up to 35′ in length.

Both the Blackwoods Campground and the Seawall Campground offer modern amenities, including cold running water, comfort stations, flushable toilets, picnic tables and dumping stations. However firewood from areas outside of the park is not welcome, due to concerns over invasive, non-native species. As such, local firewood is also for sale within the Blackwoods and Seawall campgrounds.

The Duck Harbor Campground
Comprised of only five primitive sites on the Isle au Haut, the Duck Harbor Campground within Acadia National Park is only accessible via boat. Campers who wish to stay in this remote area on the coast of Stonington, Maine, need to make reservations prior to their arrival. Camping is available in Duck Harbor from May 15 through October 15, and campers are only allowed one stay per calendar year.

Offering truly primitive camping, the Duck Harbor campground provides only the basic of services on the island. Composting toilets, fire rings, lean-to shelters, and a hand pump for water are the only amenities at this Acadia campground. Duck Harbor is as primitive as camping can be in Acadia National Park, as backcountry camping is not allowed within its boundaries.

Other Information About Acadia National Park
In addition to the camping facilities within the park, Acadia also features the Jordan Pond House, an onsite restaurant. The restaurant is operated by the Acadia Corporation, a local Maine business that works with the National Park Service to provide dining and merchandising within the park. From the middle of may to mid-October, the Jordan Pond House serves up lunch, tea, and dinner for park guests. While other dining facilities exist outside of the park, this restaurant is the only option within the park itself.

Pets are welcome in many areas of Acadia National Park, including on more than 100 miles of scenic hiking trails and the popular carriage stone roads. Because some of the hiking trails within the park require hikers to climb ladders, there are several trails that are off limits to pets. Pets must be restrained with a leash no shorter than six feet in length, however, and they are not welcome in any of the lakes or on the public Pets are permitted within the two primary camping areas of Blackwoods and Seawall, but they are only allowed on the Isle au Haut for day trips.

With its many breathtaking views of a variety of terrain, Acadia National Park is one of the most scenic places to camp in the eastern United States. More than 2 million visitors enter the park each year to enjoy camping, hiking, bird watching, fishing, whale watching, climbing, and other outdoor activities. Anyone planning to camp inside Acadia will not be disappointed with all it has to offer.

Resource by AnnaBelle

Annalise Kaylor is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant specializing in search engine optimized content for the web. As a writer, her work has appeared across the United States in print ads for Whirlpool, Maytag, Home Depot, and Lowe's, among others. As a consultant, she has worked primarily in the education sector, helping universities increase their web visibility and construct and implement social media strategy. Annalise is an avid reader, knitter, organic gardener and baker, as well as the author of the popular baking blog, Knead To Be Loaved. Annalise enjoys fly fishing, camping, and hiking.

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