The First-Come Campground on MDI
Bar Harbor Campground at 409 Maine Route 3 in Salisbury Cove is the campground people end up at when they did not book Acadia six months in advance. Run by the same family that operates Pinecliff Resort, it has roughly 300 sites spread across wooded glens and open hillside on what was historically blueberry barrens, and it runs entirely on a first-come, first-served basis.
No reservations. No website booking system. No credit cards. You drive in, pick a site that has not been claimed, and pay in cash or by check at the office.
This is a real policy, not a quirky preference. The campground takes cash or check only — no credit cards, no debit, no payment apps. Plan to stop at an ATM in Ellsworth or Bar Harbor before checking in. Office hours run from morning through early evening; arriving after dark with no payment will create a problem.
Two Different Site Experiences
The campground splits roughly between wooded sites tucked under spruce and pine and open hillside sites on the former blueberry barrens. The wooded sites give shade and privacy. The open sites give views — on clear days you can see Frenchman Bay through the trees from upper-elevation sites — but they also bake in afternoon sun and offer little wind shelter.
Site types include primitive tent sites, sites with electric and water, and full-hookup RV sites. Pricing increases with hookup level. A seventh consecutive night is free for week-long stays.
When to Show Up
In July and August, plan to arrive by mid-morning on the day you want to camp. Sites turn over in the morning as departing campers leave, and the office assigns new arrivals to vacated spots in roughly the order they show up. By early afternoon on a Friday or Saturday in peak season, the campground may be full.
If you can flex your schedule, arriving Sunday or Monday morning is dramatically easier than Friday or Saturday. Weekend departures clear out the campground and fewer new campers compete for sites.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome, leashed when outside the vehicle, and never left unattended. The campground does not have a dedicated dog area but the wooded loops give plenty of room for walks.
Acadia and Bar Harbor Access
The campground is about 5 miles from downtown Bar Harbor and 3 miles from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, the main entry point for Acadia National Park. The Island Explorer free shuttle stops on Route 3 nearby in summer, which lets you skip Acadia parking battles entirely.
The Salisbury Cove side of MDI gets less attention than Bar Harbor proper, which means the cove itself, Hulls Cove Picnic Area, and the carriage roads near the Eagle Lake side of the park feel quieter than the Park Loop Road. Use the campground as a base and hit the popular sights at first light or after the day-trippers leave.
Getting There
From Portland, take I-95 north to I-395 east to US-1A to Ellsworth, then Route 3 onto Mount Desert Island — about 3 hours 15 minutes total. From Bangor, take I-395 to US-1A to Ellsworth and continue on Route 3, about 1 hour. The campground is on the right at 409 Route 3 about 4 miles after the Trenton bridge onto MDI, between the towns of Hulls Cove and Salisbury Cove.
FAQ
Can you reserve a site at Bar Harbor Campground?
No. The campground operates entirely first-come, first-served. There is no advance reservation option and no online booking.
Does Bar Harbor Campground take credit cards?
No. Cash or check only. There is no credit card, debit, or app payment option.
Is this the same as the KOA?
No. Bar Harbor Campground at 409 Route 3 in Salisbury Cove is a separate, family-owned campground. The Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA is a different property under different ownership.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, leashed and never unattended. The campground does not have a dedicated dog area.
When does it open?
Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, roughly late May through mid-October. Specific dates vary year to year — call ahead in shoulder season.