Favorite Maine Campgrounds

[Steve_B_]

I'm looking for recommendations for Maine campgrounds for a trip I'm planning in September. I'll head to Scarborough night 1 (Wild Duck) then to Camden (state park) then on to Bar Harbor (Blackwoods). I'll be heading north after that, visiting friends in Addison. Then, I need help - north to Calais then along 1 to Presque Isle. Will return down Rt. 11 and all of that is unknown territory for me. Eventually back through NH to visit friends and then back to NYS. I love quiet, wooded campgrounds, scenic, no need for activities or kid friendly setups. I like to have electric hookup but can go without for a few days at a time. I imagine anyplace will be quiet in September anyway. First trip in retirement, can't wait to get on the road! Thanks for any suggestions!

[ryegatevt]

Never stayed at Blackwoods, but we tent camped at Seawall almost 50 years ago. Now that we have an RV we like our hookups, and have camped for several years at a waterfront site at the Bar Harbor KOA, which we really enjoy. Last year we decided to tour Seawall, thinking like everything else it would have changed greatly. To our utter amazement, we found our old campsite. It looked like we had just left it in 1968 - just as pristine as it was then! The CG was beautifully kept up, any occupied sites were clean and neat, and the rest rooms still well kept. If we were still tenters Seawall would be our choice. In 1968 I would drive the MG roadster into SW Harbor and buy lobsters right at the dock. When I got back Bev would have water from the ocean and seaweed boiling on the campfire and we would have a feast! Never had any better lobster - and you could still do it! BTW, we much prefer the "Quiet Side" of Acadia to the crowds in Bar Harbor...

[Steve_B_]

Joe-Mary looks really interesting but it's only open until Sept. 12. That will have to be a summer trip. I'm doing my first fall retirement trip, after 30 years of teaching. Thanks for the other suggestions as well!

[GaryInMaine]

Steve B. wrote:
When I head to Acadia, I always stay at Blackwoods. Love being able to walk over to the ocean and walk along the park loop road. The trail up Cadillac Mtn. is right across the street, although I might be able to do that anymore. I appreciate everyone's input. Any ideas for my return trip down Rt. 11 and into the interior of the state are welcome as well!

Maybe I can help! Let's start with Presque Isle, Arndt's Nice quiet campground with a real nice view.

Near Millinocket I would suggest Wilderness Edge Campground There are a few others but they are more "family" locations (noisy). If you are up for a little adventure I would recommend Joe-Mary Campground. Located between Millinocket and Brownsville. They are about 4 miles off Rt 11 on a well maintained dirt road.

A good resource is Camp Maine. I am not sure how far south you plan to take Rt 11 but may I suggest picking up Rt 2 from the Bangor area south. Hope this is a good start.

[Steve_B_]

When I head to Acadia, I always stay at Blackwoods. Love being able to walk over to the ocean and walk along the park loop road. The trail up Cadillac Mtn. is right across the street, although I might be able to do that anymore. I appreciate everyone's input. Any ideas for my return trip down Rt. 11 and into the interior of the state are welcome as well!

[donut_dave]

x 2 on lobster buoy

we also liked bar harbor campground except that there was no access
to the water

[tegu69]

x2 on Seawall campground. Not far from there we enjoyed the Seafood Ketch mmm.

[Steve_B_]

Lobster Buoy looks right up my alley. Thanks! I hadn't see that one before. I am planning on the state park in Camden. I always drive past it on my way to Acadia and I think it's time to stop and see the area.

[wxtoad]

Ah....Maine in September - it doesn't get much better than that. We head Down East nearly every year after Labor Day. The summer crowds are gone, the weather is fantastic and reservations are unnecessary.

Here are some of our favorite campgrounds:

Lobster Buoy CG in Thomaston.

Camden Hills State Park

Winslow Memorial Park in Freeport

Recompense Shores Campsites also in Freeport. It's a neat place with sites overlooking the rockbound coast, but it has gotten rather pricey, so we don't go there anymore.

No trip to Maine is complete without a stop at LL Bean in Freeport. In addition to the two campgrounds mentioned above, you can also park overnight right in town, down across Main Street from the Bean complex.

Up in the Bar Harbor area we prefer Seawall Campground down at the south end of Acadia NP.

On your way to Bah Haabah, a great stop is the The Big Chicken Barn Bookstore on Route 1 between Bucksport and Ellsworth. You cannot leave empty-handed!

Have a great trip!

Ted H.

[soricobob]

Chewonki in Wiscasset.

[vairman]

Our favorite is The Moorings in Belfast. Sites right on the bay. Very few amenities but the nature more than makes up for it.

The Moorings

[Steve_B_]

I stayed at Sunset Point on my last trip up there. Loved it. My favorite place, Ocean Wood, is gone now. Won't be another like it. I really got to like the Schoodic area.

[JohnnyT]

Our favorite in the Bar Harbor area is Smugglers Den In Southeast Harbor...

There are miles of wooded trails adjacent to the campground.. Southeast harbor is about 15 minutes from Bar Harbor... There are some amazing scenic opportunities...

If you are into beer and Barbeque visit the Atlanta Brewing Company

JohnnyT

[tegu69]

Sunset Point campground, GS park in Harrington. We would definitely stay there again.
We left our fw there for a day trip into Canada last year. After coming out of Acadia np.

[Big_Katuna]

We really liked Wild Duck. Stay away from Bayley's in Scarbourough.

We liked Libby$. We stayed at Mt. Desert Narrows near BH. Nice off season, probably would not like it during high season.