The Insider’s Acadia Base Camp
Lamoine State Park is the campground that locals use when they want to visit Acadia without dealing with Acadia’s campgrounds. It sits on 55 acres along the eastern shore of Frenchman Bay, directly across the water from Mount Desert Island. From the waterfront sites, you look out at Cadillac Mountain, the Porcupine Islands, and the full silhouette of MDI.
Here is the thing that most visitors do not realize: Acadia’s own campgrounds, Blackwoods and Seawall, are in the woods. You cannot see the ocean from them. Lamoine gives you what Acadia cannot, actual ocean views from your campsite, with the mountains of Acadia as the backdrop.
The park has 62 sites with no hookups. Dry camping only. But you get flush toilets, hot showers, a dump station, a playground, and an all-tide boat launch. It is a full-service campground without the electricity, and for tent campers, that tradeoff is easy to make.
Best Sites
The waterfront sites are the reason to come here, and three of them stand above the rest.
Sites 58, 59, and 60 sit directly on the water with unobstructed views across Frenchman Bay to Mount Desert Island. You will watch the sun set behind the mountains of Acadia from your picnic table. These are among the best campsite views in the entire Maine state park system.
The park also has two non-reservable, first-come-first-served waterfront sites. These cannot be booked online. You get them by showing up and checking availability at the gate. They are a long shot on summer weekends but realistic on weekdays and after Labor Day.
Upper sites are grassier and get more sun. Good for drying out a tent and catching a breeze. They lack the ocean views but tend to be more open and spacious.
Waterfront sites have more shade from tree cover and are slightly cooler. The tradeoff is they can feel a bit damper in the morning fog.
Reservations open on campwithme.com on February 5th. Waterfront sites for July 4th weekend have historically booked within TWO MINUTES of the reservation window opening. If you want sites 58, 59, or 60 for a summer holiday weekend, be logged in and ready to click the instant the window opens.
Why Lamoine Over Acadia’s Campgrounds
This is the comparison most people want to see.
| Feature | Lamoine | Blackwoods (Acadia) | Seawall (Acadia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Views from Site | Yes (waterfront sites) | No | No |
| Showers | Yes (hot, included) | No | No |
| Hookups | No | No | No |
| Cost per Night | $20-30 | $30 | $30 |
| Drive to Acadia | 25-30 min | You are in the park | You are in the park |
| Drive to Bar Harbor | 30 min | 10 min | 25 min |
| Boat Launch | Yes (all-tide) | No | No |
| Crowds | Low to moderate | Very high | Moderate to high |
| Reservation Difficulty | Moderate | Very hard | Hard |
| Total Sites | 62 | 241 | 198 |
Lamoine wins on ocean views, showers, cost, and crowd level. Blackwoods and Seawall win on proximity to trailheads. If you plan to hike all day and just need a place to sleep, Acadia’s campgrounds make sense. If the campsite itself is part of the experience and you want to actually see the ocean, Lamoine is the better choice.
Avoid driving into Bar Harbor on cruise ship days. When a large ship is in port, the town floods with thousands of day-trippers and traffic crawls. Check the cruise ship schedule online before planning a Bar Harbor day. On ship-free days, the town is pleasant and walkable.
The Water
Lamoine sits on a pebble and rocky beach. It is not a sand beach, but it works for wading, launching kayaks, and watching the tide move. The rocky shore has its own appeal, especially at low tide when you can pick through tide pools.
If you want sand, Lamoine Beach (the town beach, not the state park) is a five-minute drive away. It has a sandy bottom and shallow water that warms up more than the open bay. Good for kids.
The all-tide boat launch at the park is one of the best on Frenchman Bay. Kayaking from here puts you on the water with the Porcupine Islands, seals, and the MDI coastline in front of you. Experienced paddlers can cross to Bar Island at low tide or explore the shoreline of Mount Desert Island.
Swimming in Frenchman Bay peaks at about 57 degrees Fahrenheit in August. That is cold. It is doable for a quick swim on a hot day, but do not expect to linger. The rocky bottom also means water shoes are a good idea.
Sunsets and Fog
The park faces west-southwest across Frenchman Bay, which means the sunsets are directly over the mountains of Mount Desert Island. On a clear evening, the sky goes orange and pink behind the silhouette of Cadillac Mountain and the surrounding peaks. This is the view. This is why people book sites 58 through 60 two minutes after reservations open.
Morning fog is common, especially in July and August. The bay fills with a dense white blanket that muffles sound and hides the island completely. By mid-morning it burns off, often dramatically, with the mountains emerging from the fog like they are being revealed for the first time. Do not let a foggy morning discourage you. The clearing is half the show.
Getting Around
Lamoine is not on Mount Desert Island, so you are driving to Acadia rather than waking up inside the park. Here are the distances:
- Acadia National Park (main entrance): 25-30 minutes
- Bar Harbor: 30 minutes
- Ellsworth (groceries, gas, supplies): 20 minutes
- Cadillac Mountain summit: 40 minutes
- Sand Beach: 35 minutes
The drive is straightforward. Route 3 takes you from Ellsworth onto the island. The 25-30 minute buffer from Bar Harbor is actually an advantage. You skip the traffic and congestion that builds up on the island, and Ellsworth on Route 3 has every store and supply shop you might need.
Ellsworth is 20 minutes from Lamoine and has a Hannaford, Walmart, hardware stores, and gas stations. Stock up here before heading to the park. Bar Harbor has grocery stores too, but they are smaller, more expensive, and crowded with tourists. Ellsworth is where locals shop.
The One-Mile Loop
The park has a one-mile loop trail through the interior. It is flat, easy, and good for a morning walk or an evening stroll after dinner. The trail passes through birch and spruce forest and connects different sections of the campground. It is not a destination hike, but it is a pleasant way to stretch your legs without getting in the car.
When to Go
Spring
Park opens May 15. Cool and often foggy. Fewer campers but also fewer services in the area.
Summer
Warmest weather, all services running. July and August weekends book fast. Waterfront sites are the hardest to get.
Fall
September is the sweet spot. Warm days, cool nights, foliage starting, and the summer crowds have left.
Winter
Park closed October 15 through May 15.
September is the sweet spot for Lamoine, just as it is for Acadia. The summer crowds thin dramatically after Labor Day. The weather stays warm enough for comfortable camping. The foliage begins turning by late September. And the waterfront sites that were impossible to book in July suddenly have openings.
If you can only visit in peak summer, aim for a weekday arrival. Midweek at Lamoine in July is a completely different experience from a Saturday in July.
The park gets quieter and better after Labor Day. If you have any flexibility in your schedule, September camping at Lamoine with day trips to Acadia is one of the best-kept secrets in the region. Acadia itself is less crowded, the Island Explorer shuttle still runs through Columbus Day, and the light is golden.
FAQ
Can I see the ocean from my campsite?
From the waterfront sites (especially 58, 59, and 60), yes. You get direct views across Frenchman Bay to Mount Desert Island and Cadillac Mountain. Upper sites do not have ocean views but are still pleasant, with more sun and open space.
Are there hookups at Lamoine?
No. Lamoine is dry camping only. No electric, water, or sewer hookups at individual sites. There is a dump station for RVs and running water at the restroom buildings.
How far is Lamoine from Acadia?
About 25 to 30 minutes to the main park entrance on Route 3. Bar Harbor is 30 minutes. It is not inside the park, but the drive is easy and you avoid the island congestion.
Is the boat launch usable at all tides?
Yes. Lamoine has an all-tide boat launch, which is unusual on Frenchman Bay. You can launch kayaks, canoes, or motorized boats regardless of the tide level. This makes it a popular launch point for exploring the bay.
When do reservations open?
Reservations on campwithme.com open February 5th. Waterfront sites for peak weekends sell out within minutes. Set a reminder and be ready to book immediately when the window opens.
Is the water warm enough to swim?
Frenchman Bay reaches about 57 degrees Fahrenheit in August. That is cold but swimmable for a quick dip. For warmer water, try Lamoine Beach (the town beach, five minutes away), which has shallower water that warms up more. Water shoes are recommended at both.