Lamoine State Park
Basic Information
Overview: Lamoine State Park hugs Frenchman Bay just eight miles southeast of Ellsworth, offering a quiet coastal basecamp minutes from Acadia National Park. The park’s 62 ocean‑view campsites, tidal boat launch, and easy loop trail give visitors front‑row seats to Maine’s famed sunrises and lobster‑boat traffic—without Bar Harbor crowds.
Key Highlights:
- ✅ Direct salt‑water access to Frenchman Bay for sea‑kayaking, sailing, and fishing.
- ✅ 62 wooded campsites (plus two group sites) with hot showers and a playground.
- ✅ Trailered boat launch, floats, and fish‑cleaning station for mackerel, pollock, and striped bass.
- ✅ Easy access to Acadia’s Park Loop Road—25 minutes to the Hulls Cove entrance.
Activities:
- 🚣 Launch a kayak at high tide and paddle to the seabird islands off Mt. Desert.
- 🎣 Cast from the floats at dawn for schooling mackerel and watch harbor seals cruise by.
- 🥾 Stroll the 1.3‑mile Campground Loop Trail for tidal‑pool views and lobster‑boat photo ops.
- ❄️ Off‑season visitors can snowshoe the campground lanes (facilities closed, BYO water).
Amenities:
- Modern restrooms, token showers, potable water spigots, and RV dump station.
- Picnic shelter, kitchen shelter at Group Site A, playground, and firewood sales onsite.
- Trailered boat launch, ADA float system, fish‑cleaning table, and spacious parking.
- No lifeguard—swimming is at your own risk in chilly, tidal water.
Trail Snapshot:
- Campground Loop Trail – 1.3 mi loop, easy, tidal‑shoreline viewpoints
- Marlboro Beach Walk – 2.0 mi out‑and‑back (2 min drive south), easy shell‑hunting stroll
Best Season: Mid‑May – mid‑October for full services and open facilities; late‑September leaf‑peeping features crimson maples reflected in Frenchman Bay.
Insider Tips:
- Reserve waterfront sites (#14–27) as soon as the 11‑month booking window opens.
- Check tide charts—launching or retrieving a boat at extreme low tide can be tricky.
- Maine sea breeze can drop temps 10 °F below Ellsworth—pack an extra layer.
- Leashed pets welcome everywhere except inside buildings.
Nearby Hotspots: Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park (25 min), Schoodic Peninsula scenic drive (35 min), Marlboro Beach for sunset shell‑collecting (5 min), and the Woodlawn Museum & Park in Ellsworth (15 min).
Average Reviews: Travelers on TripAdvisor consistently rate the park about 4.5 / 5, praising its tidy campground, water views, and proximity to Acadia without the bustle.