In 2017, Acadia National Park was the 7th most visited national park in the entire National Park Service. More than 3.5 million visitors travel to coastal Maine to experience everything the park has to offer. At just under 50,000 acres, Acadia National Park is also one of the smaller national parks. With lots of visitors in a small space, knowing what to see and where to stay can be important to having an enjoyable trip. Camping in Acadia National Park is one of the most popular ways to experience Acadia, especially the Blackwoods Campground.
Camping in Acadia National Park
Located at the southern tip of the park, Blackwoods Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds in Acadia National Park. Roughly 6 miles south of the gateway town of Bar Harbor, Blackwoods is open year-round with primitive camping available December-March. Multiple hiking trails depart from the campground including a popular routes up Cadillac Mountain and to Little Hunter’s Beach.
Blackwoods Campground has roughly 200 non-electric tent sites and 60 non-electric RV sites. Sites are divided in two loops with tents in one and RVs and tents in the other. Both loops are wooded with most sites in partial or full shade.
The campground has flush toilets and running water but no showers. There is a coin-operated shower house 1/2 mile east of the campground on Route 3. Nothing glamorous, but closer than going into Bar Harbor for a hot shower.
Directions and Reservations for Blackwoods Campground
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
44.30972, -68.20806
44°18’35″N, 68°12’29″W
The entrance to Blackwoods Campground is off of State Highway 3, six miles south of Bar Harbor. There is no entrance to the campground from Acadia National Park’s Park Loop Rd.
The campground fills very quickly, even in shoulder seasons. Reservations are available on Recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance and are HIGHLY recommended. Do not expect to find a site without a reservation. The other options for camping in Acadia National Park (Schoodic Woods and Duck Harbor) are a long distance from Blackwoods and fill quickly. Some private campgrounds options are available near Bar Harbor but may also be full in the busy season.
Our Travel Notes:
- With such a large number of visitors it can be difficult to feel “remote” while camping in Acadia National Park. We recommend choosing a site on one of the outer loops of the road to mitigate through traffic and noise.
- Acadia National Park is a terrific stop on a full road trip to all of Maine’s National Parks. Here are two itineraries you might enjoy:
- We visited Acadia National Park in the peak of fall color season. October brings cooler temperatures, fewer cars, and gorgeous views to the entire Maine coast. We highly encourage everyone to choose a fall or spring trip and avoid the congestion of the busy summer months.
- Cell phone service was variable in parts of Blackwoods Campground but otherwise quite good around Acadia. Plan accordingly (or spend a few days unplugged!)
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