DW and I are planning a trip from Alabama to Acadia NP next fall. I have two questions. When do the leaves usually peak? Which campground inside the park is your favorite. We will be in a truck camper.

I use the Foliage Network to look up timing for the East. You can check back 4-5 years to come up with an average, and once things start to turn, they update the current year often.As to a favorite park, I usually stay at Lamoine State Park across the bay. About 17 miles from the National Park.

Definitely use the Foliage Network but you must watch the updates closely. Right now they are estimating we are running about 2 weeks ahead of normal this year.

We stayed in Acadia NP last July. We stayed within the Park at Blackwoods CG, loved it.We woke before sunrise some days, grabbed a coffee and took a short walk down a path to one of many cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean between Little Hunters Beach and Otter Cove. Watched the sunrise.I have heard from others that both CG's are great.Some suggested we split our time between the two. We loved Blackwoods and chose to stay put. After a day we both knew we would go back and try Seawall CG next time, for atleast a couple of days...If you need full hook ups, believe you will need to find a CG outside of the park.Enjoy your trip!

I would recommend the Bar Harbor Campground. It is in the main route up on the top of the hill, just outside of the town of Bar Harbor and the National Park. They have full hookup and if you get a site near the back of the park you will get an incredible view across the bay for miles right from your trailer. I have not seen it in the fall but based on the summer I am betting it would be amazing when the leaves are turning.The downsides:1) cash only2) no reservationsBut we went to Bar Harbor knowing that and made a throwaway reservation at Acadia for the first night just incase. We arrived on the Monday after July 4th after 6pm and got a full hook up, they still had piles electric or no service sites at the time.

Can't answer about the foliage. I will be there in September for the first time, as I have retired from teaching. I always stay in Blackwoods for the real camping experience. If you are a full hookup, resort kind of camper, it wouldn't be for you. You can walk over to the Loop Road from the campground and sit on the rocks above the shore. Nothing like it. Walk the road in either direction and see more beautiful views. Do some of the carraige path hikes and enjoy the natural surroundings. I always do the Eagle Lake loop, and used to hike up Cadillac Mtn, the trail starts right across from the campground on Rt. 3. Acadia is a wonderful place, and especially enjoyable when you are camping!

Questions about Acadia next fall | Good Sam Community

GeoBoy
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
It is best to go before Labor Day, after that the leaves just disappear. I go up after Labor Day to help with fall cleanup.
Just kidding of course, but I am there every year after Labor Day, just me the wife and all the other baby boomers.
See you there.
McDaddy
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
She is still in business. I was there the last week of July this year and enjoyed one of her famous blueberry pies. Had it for dessert and then for breakfast.
Gene_Ginny
Explorer
Aug 23, 2014
Crowe wrote:
... the pie lady comes through daily with homemade blueberry and apple pies along with other goodies. ...
She used to come through Bar Harbor Campground too but I haven't seen her for at least 2 years and there is no longer a sign hanging at the house she used to sell from on some days. She is either retired or ......
Crowe
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
Haven't stayed in the park since my tenting days many moons ago, but I'll second staying at the Oceanside KOA. Definite sticker shock material but the views can't be beat, they cook lobster dinners on-site, and at least through Labor Day the pie lady comes through daily with homemade blueberry and apple pies along with other goodies. We like to kayak and can launch right off the campground property.
ryegatevt
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2014
Seawall is on the quiet side of Acadia, just across the road from the Ocean. We tented there in 1967 & "68: drove through 2 years ago to see if there were any changes. We found our old tent site unchanged and still excellent and private. The drive-in sites looked clean and mostly spacious. Still no hookups in either NP CGs. We've stayed at the Oceanside KOA for the last several years - expensive bur our site is right on the water. Seals and gulls on the rocks right outside of our windows, and we old folks like our electricity and water! It's our annual camping treat. We stay at Acadia at the end of Sept - beginning of Oct.
loggenrock
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
Hi - for a TC I would recommend Blackwoods CG, right in the park. Depending on when you are there - prior to Columbus Day there is a free shuttle bus called the Island Explorer that picks up at the campgrounds and travels all over the park. http://www.exploreacadia.com/ This way you never have to move your rig (or find a parking place). Bus is even pet-friendly! Regarding fall colors, the coast is one of the last regions to change. As others have mentioned, it may be a little earlier than usual this season, as we are all ready experiencing cooler weather here and some of the trees are already starting to show a tinge of yellow in the leaves. We've had good colors at Acadia up until the week after Columbus Day in years past. If you are planning on Columbus Day, make reservations NOW - as it is probably the busiest weekend of the season!!! Yankee Magazine also has a great foliage guide to check, as do most of the individual New England state tourism departments. ST
wxtoad
Explorer
Aug 22, 2014
We usually stay at Seawall in September. It's a little further from the hustle and bustle (a good thing in our minds) and has never been very crowded. Here are some pix and comments about Seawall.

Have a great trip!

Ted H.
AlabamaTraveler
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
We were just there in June..............happy camping.
Gene_Ginny
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
Generally, for the purpose of long range planning, the foliage peaks just before Columbus Day but can vary. My wife and I have gone the last 2 years and saw nice foliage somewhere on the Island. Watch the foliage link given earlier in this thread.

Beware, most campgrounds close on Columbus Day! (or the next morning) I have not stayed IN Acadia NP so can't help there. Both times we stayed at Bar Harbor Campground. Pay for 6 nights, get 7th free. :C We always stay for a week and leave on Tuesday morning. Last year Acadia was closed and the campgrounds in the area were almost empty. Because of the park closing, the owner decided to close a day early but let us, and about 5 others, stay untill Tuesday morning.

Yes, the foliage IN the campgound was excellent. :B
RICKIM
Explorer III
Aug 20, 2014
We just returned from Acadia last week. We go every year and stay at Lamoine State Park.

Very clean campground with larger sites. When you leave in the morning, tell the office how many and what size lobsters you want and Earl the lobsterman will deliver them to your site that night.

We drove thru Blackwoods and Seawall a few years ago and weren't impressed, as your right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the park and the sites are right on top of each other.

Here's the view from our site.

Good luck and happy camping

Rick