There actually are five National Park Service-run campgrounds in Acadia National Park. The two best-known are Blackwoods, five miles south of Bar Harbor, and Seawall, four miles south of Southwest Harbor. Both are wooded, consisting of mostly tent sites with similar facilities (flush toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, disposal station), near to but not directly on the ocean. Neither location has electric or water hookups available.

Blackwoods, with just over 300 sites, is open all year, although from December through March, the campground only is available for primitive, walk-in winter camping. Reservations are required from May through October. Seawall, with some 200 sites, operates from late May through the end of September on a first come, first served basis.

Backcountry camping is not allowed anywhere in Acadia, because of its small size and fragility. The park does maintain a wilderness campground, consisting of five lean-to shelters with pit toilets and hand-pumped water, from mid-May through mid-October at Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut. Reservations must be made by mail, after April 1^st; there is a maximum stay of five days (three days from mid-June through mid-September). Duck Harbor is not accessible by car; Isle au Haut is reached only by mailboat from the mainland town of Stonington.

The newest Acadia National Park campground is called the Schoodic Woods Campground and is located on the Schoodic Peninsula. This campground is 3 miles southeast of Winter Harbor. It is open from late May through Columbus Day. Reservations are recommended.

Finally, a special campground at the Wildwood Stables is open only for people visiting the area with their stock.

For specific fees and current regulations see the Acadia National Park website. There also, of course, are many private campgrounds elsewhere on Mount Desert Island.

Fun Fact: Many people believe the name ‘Blackwoods’ comes from the area being burned over during the Fire of ’47. In reality, the fire never got this far south on the island; the name refers to how the trees, thickly clustered together, block out sunlight.