Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park

First sunrise in America — 0.5 miles from the Atlantic

Location: Bar Harbor, ME, ME

Price: From $30 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (1920 reviews)

Elevation: 295 feet

Season: May–Oct

The main campground in Acadia National Park, set in dense spruce-fir forest half a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. Bike to Sand Beach, hike Cadillac Mountain, or drive up before sunrise for the first sunrise in the continental United States. One of the most accessible national park campgrounds in the Northeast.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Picnic Tables, Fire Rings, Dump Station, Camp Store, Showers (seasonal)

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/blackwoods-acadia to be notified when sites open up.

Half a mile from the Atlantic Ocean in dense Maine spruce-fir forest. Bike to Sand Beach on the carriage roads, drive Cadillac Mountain for the first sunrise in America, and eat lobster rolls in Bar Harbor — all within 6 miles of camp.

The Beehive Trail — exposed iron rung ladder climb to a 360° view of Frenchman Bay. Only 1.6 miles but feels like a Via Ferrata. Go on a weekday morning before 8am. ⇒ Water: Echo Lake (7 miles from camp) is the warm freshwater alternative to the cold ocean — reaches 72°F in summer, roped swimming area, lifeguards on duty. Sand Beach (4 miles) has cold ocean swimming (60°F in August). Most locals prefer Echo Lake for actual swimming.

What is new at Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park: 2025: Cadillac Mountain sunrise reservations expanded to April 15–Oct 31. Book weeks in advance. Evening reservations also available and often easier to get.

Wildlife alert: Deer, fox, and the occasional black bear near the campground. Store food properly. Ticks are common in the forest — check daily.

Fire rules: Campfires in fire rings only. Wood fires allowed unless fire restrictions active. Check nps.gov/acad for current restrictions. Firewood available at camp store.

Things to do near Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park: Cadillac Mountain sunrise (reservation required). Carriage road bike loop. Jordan Pond House tea and popovers. Thunder Hole at high tide.

Insider tips for Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park: Island Explorer bus is free with park pass — skip driving and parking entirely Eagle Lake carriage loop (6 miles) is the best flat ride, perfect for families MDI Ice Cream in Bar Harbor: best scoop on the East Coast. Get the wild blueberry.

Skip Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park if: You want hookups. You hate fog and rain. You’re coming in peak July–August without reservations 6 months out.

Best time to visit Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park: Jun — Before summer crowds. Lupine wildflowers along the coast. Perfect 60–70°F temps.. Sep–Oct — Fall foliage, empty trails, best coastal light for photography. October peak color..

Common issues at Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park: Fog and rain common even in summer. Pack rain layers for every hike. Fog often burns off by 10am. The forest smells incredible in the mist. Bar Harbor crowds July–August are intense. Visit Island Explorer bus stops — park and ride from campground. Or bike the carriage roads and skip town entirely. No hookups, 35ft max. Quietside Campground in Southwest Harbor has hookups and less crowding.

What campers say about Blackwoods Campground — Acadia National Park: "Biked the carriage roads for three days. Best cycling in any national park, full stop." — Campendium "Cadillac sunrise with pink fog below us. Worth every dollar and every mile." — Google "September — crowds gone, foliage starting, perfect temps. Book it." — The Dyrt

What are the best sites at Blackwoods Campground Acadia? Sites in loops A and B are closest to the ocean and most private — Loop A in particular has sites that back up to forest with less foot traffic. Loop E is nearest the campground entrance and restrooms but noisiest. Blackwoods is the best-positioned campground in Acadia: 0.5 miles from the Park Loop Road, 2 miles from Thunder Hole, and a short drive from Jordan Pond. It's the only campground on the east side of Mount Desert Island.

How do I book Blackwoods Campground Acadia? Blackwoods reservations open 6 months in advance on Recreation.gov. July and August sell out within hours of release — be ready at 10:00 AM Eastern when reservations open. September is significantly easier to book and fall foliage (late September to mid-October) is spectacular. Note that Acadia also requires a separate vehicle reservation for the Park Loop Road (May–October) — book that at Recreation.gov at the same time.

Does Blackwoods Campground have showers? No — Blackwoods has no showers. Flush toilets and potable water are available. Schoodic Woods Campground on the Schoodic Peninsula has showers if that matters. The closest public showers are in Bar Harbor (10 min drive). Most campers use the ocean or Jordan Pond for washing up. The campground has no hookups for RVs — maximum vehicle length is 35 feet.

Can I see the ocean from Blackwoods Campground? Not directly from camp — the campground is set in forest 0.5 miles from the shoreline. The Park Loop Road and ocean views are a 5-minute drive or 10-minute bike ride. The Island Explorer shuttle stops at the campground and connects to Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Bar Harbor — no car needed once you're set up.

Nearby campgrounds: Seawall Campground (Southwest Harbor, ME), Schoodic Woods Campground (Winter Harbor, ME), Duck Harbor Campground (Bar Harbor, ME).