Home Forums Truck Camper Adventure Forum Dispersed camping in Bar Harbor Maine

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    • #44100
      Jay
      Participant

      Has anyone found dispersed camping in Bar harbor Maine or any where near Acadia National park? Going right after Labor day.

    • #44147
      ardvark
      Participant

      Jay,

      We were up there last year starting in early September and it was jammed. From the feedback I have been getting on other sites, it is worse everywhere this year. Last year it did not start to clear out until October. With no cruises going on, Bar Harbor should be less swamped with cruise ship passengers.

      Ardvark

      Steve and Andra
      2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
      Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
      2019 Northstar Laredo SC

    • #44152
      Jay
      Participant

      Did you find any dispersed places to stay near Acadia?

    • #44153
      ardvark
      Participant

      Jay,

      We did not. However, we do not know the area well. I’ll be honest with you. We really were looking forward to our trip to Maine. We were meeting family there for a week, but allowed for ten days ahead of our meeting time and then we were open to staying however long in the Arcadia area afterwards, but for us it was a major disappointment. We came in from Portsmouth and traveled up in basically constant traffic. Trying to travel the coast to see sites along the ocean was a waste of our time.

      If we were to go again, we would most likely go much further North in Maine and come in much further north in New Hampshire. I know there is dispersed camping in that part of the state from prior reading. Here is a link that may be helpful on Maine. https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/expeditions/united-states/free-and-frugal-camping-in-maine/

      Ardvark

      Steve and Andra
      2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
      Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
      2019 Northstar Laredo SC

    • #44227
      Peculierboy
      Participant

      Jay,
      No dispersed camping on the island, sorry. The Park Service is not opening up the campgrounds in Acadia this year either, but the private ones are open and getting spots shouldn’t be an issue, especially after Labor Day. There are a few state parks, Lamoine is 20 minutes away, but the rest are a few hours (Baxter, Cobscook, Camden, etc). Check out https://www.campwithme.com/ State parks are very popular lately, so book early to get a spot.

      No stealth camping in the town is allowed, and Park Rangers actively discourage/patrol and issue tickets freely if they discover campers trying to do so in the park .

      Visitation is down this year, and no cruise ships are coming, but Park traffic is up with day visitors, but not like in years past.

      FWIW, we live in Bar Harbor and my wife work for the park.

      Enjoy your stay here….

      Steve

    • #44228
      Jay
      Participant

      Steve, Thank you for the info. I will look into Lamoine. I see Bass harbor camp ground. Do you know it ? is a good place. Looks close to Acadia.

    • #44229
      Peculierboy
      Participant

      Steve, Thank you for the info. I will look into Lamoine. I see Bass harbor camp ground. Do you know it ? is a good place. Looks close to Acadia.

      Everything on the island is close to Acadia, the park is probably half the island, but it’s only 20-25 minutes from the main park entrance, mostly as you have to drive up Somes Sound and can’t drive over direct. Haven’t stayed there, so no personal knowledge, but looks nice. Bonus you could walk to Bass Harbor Light from there as parking is very limited there.

      Maine still requires a 14 day quarantine for out of state visitors or a recent test, FYI. More info here https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine/keepmainehealthy and https://www.visitbarharbor.com/travel-faq

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