Bar Harbor Campground

The family-owned Bar Harbor Campground is a lovely piece of waterfront property with picturesque wooded and grassy areas. The grounds are well-maintained and clean (fire pits are regularly cleaned, as are bathrooms and all facilities), but basic, as one would expect from a campground. The office is located in a small wooden cabin, its interiors festooned with souvenirs and camping gear for sale, maps and brochures, and a vending machine with snacks. Firewood and propane are also available for purchase. Credit cards are not accepted, but there is an ATM right by the front desk. The campsite has a lot of rules (quiet hours 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., 10 mph speed limit, no check-ins before 8 a.m.), but these contribute to a quiet and family-friendly atmosphere. The campground has an atypical no reservations policy and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests are free to choose their own campsite instead of being assigned one.

The atmosphere is quiet and family-friendly, and there's a large playground and an outdoor heated pool with gorgeous views over the bay. An abundance of blueberry patches that guests are free to pick are a crowd-pleaser for all ages. There are many lovely wooded areas and trails, as well as large open grassy sites.

The Bar Harbor Campground is located off of Route 3 by Salisbury Cove, and is the closest campground to downtown Bar Harbor, a 10-minute drive away. Acadia National Park is even closer, and takes three minutes to reach by car. Enclosed by woods, the waterfront property has lovely views over Frenchman Bay. Though a bit far from town, there is a restaurant, ice-cream shop, and lobster place right across the street (the Bar Harbor Lobster Pound even delivers directly to the campsites). A free seasonal shuttle goes to downtown Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

The Bar Harbor Campground has 300 tent, RV, and group sites with the choice of waterfront, wooded, or grassy sites. Full hook-ups and either back-in or pull-through sites are available. Ocean-view sites are popular and limited, with lovely views over the bay, and they are located by the pool and playground. Some guests complain that sites are close together, but wooded sites offer a little more seclusion and privacy. There are three bathhouses on the property with basic but clean coin-operated showers. 

The Bar Harbor Campground has a heated outdoor pool with lovely views over Frenchman Bay. There's also a basketball court and a large playground with several swing sets, slides, and jungle gyms. A basic family room is housed in a small wooden cottage that has a bookshelf filled with books and games (guests are free to exchange books), a table surrounded by mismatched chairs, and an old TV  in the corner. There's also a large coin-operated laundry room with several washers and dryers. This is a pet-friendly property and there are several dog walking trails through the woods. Wi-Fi is free, though the signal is weak in some areas. There is no restaurant or store on-site, but there are dining options and an ice cream shop across the street.