Acadia’s Secret Side
Schoodic Woods Campground is on the Schoodic Peninsula, the only section of Acadia National Park on the Maine mainland. While millions of visitors crowd Mount Desert Island every summer, the Schoodic side sees a fraction of that traffic. The campground opened in 2015 and is the newest in the park system, with modern facilities, paved bike paths, and something no other Acadia campground offers: electric hookups.
The peninsula sits across Frenchman Bay from Bar Harbor. You can see Mount Desert Island from the shoreline, but it feels like a different world. No gift shops. No traffic jams. No lines at the trailheads. Just granite headlands, crashing waves, and the smell of spruce.
Most visitors never cross the bridge to the Schoodic Peninsula. That is exactly why you should. The campground is newer and better designed than Blackwoods or Seawall, the trails are uncrowded, and Schoodic Point delivers some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the park.
Campground Layout and Best Sites
Schoodic Woods has about 94 sites split across two main loops plus hike-in primitive sites and group camping areas.
A Loop has 47 sites with 20-amp electrical hookups. These sites accommodate rigs under 20 feet. The loop is well-designed with good spacing between sites and thick vegetation for screening. Even with the hookups, it feels more like a forest campground than an RV park.
B Loop has 31 sites and is the premium loop. Sites here have 20, 30, or 50-amp electric plus water hookups. The sites are larger and more widely spaced. B loop is where you want to be if privacy matters.
Hike-In Sites number 9 and offer a primitive backcountry feel without a long approach. You walk your gear in from a parking area. No hookups, no nearby facilities, just trees and quiet.
Group Sites accommodate larger parties with 2 available.
Sites B1, B5, B6, B7, B14-B16, B19, and B20 are the standouts. They sit on the outer edge of the loop with the best tree cover and most distance from neighbors. B19 and B20 in particular feel almost isolated. Book these as soon as the reservation window opens.
The campground is less than a decade old, so everything is in good condition. The restroom buildings are clean and modern. The roads and pads are paved. It does not have the rustic, slightly worn character of Blackwoods, but the trade-off is facilities that actually work well.
Reservations and Logistics
Reservations go through recreation.gov. The system works the same as other Acadia campgrounds: sites open six months in advance on the first of each month.
Rates range from $22 to $40 per night depending on site type. Hike-in primitive sites are cheapest. B loop sites with full hookups are the most expensive. Holders of a Senior Pass or Access Pass get a 50% discount, which brings even the premium B loop sites down to $20.
The 50% Senior/Access Pass discount makes Schoodic Woods one of the best deals in the national park system. A B loop site with electric and water for $20 a night is hard to beat anywhere on the Maine coast.
Check-in is at 2 PM, check-out at noon. There is no camp store. Winter Harbor has a small general store, but for a real grocery run you need to go to Ellsworth, about 45 minutes west. Stock up before you get to the peninsula.
Winter Harbor has limited shopping. The nearest full grocery stores are in Ellsworth, 45 minutes away. Buy all your food, ice, and supplies before driving out to the peninsula. Running out of ice on day three means a 90-minute round trip.
Schoodic vs Mount Desert Island Campgrounds
Choosing Schoodic means choosing a different kind of Acadia experience.
| Feature | Schoodic Woods | Blackwoods | Seawall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Mainland (Schoodic Peninsula) | MDI East Side | MDI West Side |
| Total Sites | ~94 | 241 | ~202 |
| Electric Hookups | Yes (20/30/50 amp) | No | No |
| Water Hookups | Yes (B Loop) | No | No |
| Showers | No | No | No |
| Crowd Level | Low | High | Moderate |
| Bike Path Access | Direct from campground | No | No |
| Distance to Bar Harbor | ~45 min (or ferry) | 10 min | 25 min |
| Best For | Solitude, biking, storms | East-side hiking | Quiet-side exploring |
| Senior/Access Discount | 50% off | 50% off | 50% off |
Schoodic Woods is the right choice if you want the Acadia name without the Acadia crowds. You give up quick access to Sand Beach, the Beehive, and Jordan Pond. You gain a modern campground, electric hookups, a bike path network, and the feeling of having a national park mostly to yourself.
Biking the Schoodic Loop
The biggest perk of Schoodic Woods is the bike path system. Paved paths connect directly from the campground to the Schoodic Loop Road, a 6-mile one-way scenic road that hugs the coastline around the peninsula.
The loop road is open to cars, but traffic is light compared to the Park Loop Road on MDI. Many cyclists ride the full loop from the campground, stopping at Schoodic Point, Blueberry Hill, and various pullouts along the way. The terrain is rolling with no major climbs.
You can also bike to the Schoodic Institute campus, a former Navy base turned research and education center. The campus has its own network of paths and is worth exploring.
Bring your bikes. The paved path from your campsite to Schoodic Loop Road means you can ride the entire peninsula without loading bikes onto a car. The 6-mile one-way loop with ocean views and almost no traffic is one of the best cycling experiences in any national park.
Schoodic Point
This is why people come to the Schoodic Peninsula. Schoodic Point is a massive granite headland that juts into the Atlantic. Waves crash against the pink and gray rock with a force you do not see on the more sheltered Mount Desert Island shoreline.
At high tide or during storms, the spray can shoot 30 feet into the air. The rock is smooth and sloped, making it easy to walk out toward the water. But respect the ocean here. Rogue waves have swept people off the rocks. Stay well back from the edge when surf is running.
On calm days, Schoodic Point is a perfect spot for photography, picnicking, and watching lobster boats work the bay. You can see Mount Desert Island and the Cranberry Isles across Frenchman Bay.
People have been killed by rogue waves at Schoodic Point. Stay off wet rocks near the waterline, especially during storms, high tide, or heavy swells. The views are just as good from 20 feet back. No photograph is worth your life.
Hiking on the Schoodic Peninsula
The peninsula has a small but excellent trail network. None of the hikes are long, but the views rival anything on MDI.
Schoodic Head Trail climbs to the highest point on the peninsula at 440 feet. The summit has 360-degree views of Frenchman Bay, Mount Desert Island, and the open Atlantic. About 1 mile round trip with moderate climbing.
Anvil Trail is a more challenging route to Schoodic Head with some scrambling over rock. Connects to Schoodic Head Trail for a loop option.
Sundew Trail is a flat, easy walk through boggy forest. Good for birding and wildflowers. Not a destination hike, but a pleasant leg-stretcher.
Buck Cove Mountain Trail is a moderate 2-mile loop through forest with some ocean views. Quieter than Schoodic Head.
The Bar Harbor Ferry
You do not have to choose between Schoodic and Mount Desert Island. The Bar Island Ferry runs between Winter Harbor and Bar Harbor, a scenic 45-minute ride across Frenchman Bay. You can leave your car at the campground, take the ferry to Bar Harbor, explore for the day, and ride back.
The ferry connects with the Island Explorer shuttle system on the Bar Harbor side, so you can get to trailheads and attractions without needing a car on MDI.
The Bar Harbor Ferry turns Schoodic into a two-for-one deal. Camp on the quiet side, take the ferry across the bay for a day of east-side hiking, and come back to your peaceful campsite. The ferry ride itself is scenic, with views of the Porcupine Islands and Cadillac Mountain.
Ranger Programs
The campground amphitheater hosts ranger programs throughout the season. Topics range from tidal ecology to night sky presentations. Schoodic’s location away from Bar Harbor’s light pollution makes the stargazing programs particularly good.
The Schoodic Institute also hosts public lectures, workshops, and artist residency open houses. Check their schedule when you arrive.
Food and Supplies
Winter Harbor is a small fishing village with limited services. Here is what you need to know:
Groceries: Buy everything in Ellsworth before you drive out. The Winter Harbor general store has basics and snacks but is not a place to stock a week of camping meals.
Lobster: Buy it direct from the local docks. Fishermen sell fresh-caught lobster for around $5 per pound. This is significantly cheaper than any restaurant. Boil it back at your campsite.
Restaurants: Winter Harbor has a few options. J.M. Gerrish is a classic general store. The Pickled Wrinkle does pub food with harbor views. For more variety, take the ferry to Bar Harbor.
Buying lobster straight off the boat at the Winter Harbor docks is one of the best deals on the Maine coast. Bring a pot, and you are eating fresh lobster at your campsite for a fraction of restaurant prices. Ask at the general store which docks are selling that day.
When to Go
Spring
Campground opens late May. Cool and buggy but almost empty. Good for solitude seekers.
Summer
Full services, ferry running, ranger programs. Still uncrowded compared to MDI. Bring bug spray through July.
Fall
Foliage, empty trails, no bugs. The campground stays open through Columbus Day. September and early October are peak.
Winter
Campground closes after Columbus Day. The Schoodic Loop Road stays open for day visits year-round.
September and early October are the sweet spot. The summer campers are gone, the bugs are dead, and the foliage starts popping by late September. Schoodic Point during a fall storm, with the leaves turning and waves hammering the granite, is one of the most dramatic scenes in Acadia.
Camping Packing List
Schoodic Woods Packing List
- Tent with solid rain fly (coastal storms are common)
- Sleeping bag (40F rated for summer, 20F for fall)
- Sleeping pad
- Bike and helmet (the peninsula paths are too good to skip)
- Binoculars (seabirds, harbor seals, the MDI skyline)
- Camp stove and fuel
- Cooler with extra ice (Ellsworth is 45 minutes away)
- Large pot for lobster boil
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Rain jacket and layers
- Bug spray (June-July)
- Camera (Schoodic Point at high tide is spectacular)
For a full gear breakdown, see our best camping gear for Maine guide.
Getting There
Schoodic Woods is on the Schoodic Peninsula, the only section of Acadia National Park on the Maine mainland. From Bangor, take Route 1A east to Ellsworth, then US Route 1 north for about 17 miles to the junction with Route 186. Turn right on Route 186 and drive 6.5 miles toward Winter Harbor. From Winter Harbor, follow signs for the Schoodic Loop Road. The campground is about 1.5 miles southeast of Winter Harbor off the loop road.
From Portland, the drive runs about 4.5 hours total. Take I-95 north to Augusta, Route 3 east through Belfast to Ellsworth, then continue on Route 1 north to the Route 186 turn. Total driving time from Bangor is about 1.75 hours.
The campground is open late May through Columbus Day. Reservations go through recreation.gov six months in advance. Holders of an America the Beautiful Senior or Access Pass receive a 50% discount, which makes B Loop hookup sites one of the better national park camping values on the Maine coast. Cell service is spotty. Stock up in Ellsworth before the 45-minute drive out to the peninsula. The Winter Harbor general store has basics, but the nearest full supermarket is in Ellsworth. The seasonal Bar Harbor Ferry connects Winter Harbor to Bar Harbor across Frenchman Bay for day trips without moving camp.
FAQ
Does Schoodic Woods have electric hookups?
Yes. Schoodic Woods is the only campground in Acadia National Park with electric hookups. A loop has 20-amp service, and B loop has 20, 30, and 50-amp plus water hookups.
Are there showers at Schoodic Woods?
No. The campground has flush toilets and running water at restroom buildings but no showers. The nearest showers are in Winter Harbor.
Which are the best sites at Schoodic Woods?
B loop is the premium loop. Sites B1, B5, B6, B7, B14-B16, B19, and B20 are the most private, with the best tree screening and spacing. For tent campers who want a primitive feel, the 9 hike-in sites are excellent.
Can I take the ferry to Bar Harbor from Schoodic?
Yes. The Bar Island Ferry runs between Winter Harbor and Bar Harbor, about a 45-minute scenic ride across Frenchman Bay. It connects with the Island Explorer shuttle on the Bar Harbor side. Check the schedule for seasonal hours.
Is Schoodic Woods less crowded than Blackwoods?
Significantly. Schoodic Woods has 94 sites compared to Blackwoods' 241, and the Schoodic Peninsula sees far fewer visitors than Mount Desert Island. Even in peak summer, trails and roads on the peninsula are uncrowded.
Do I get a discount with a Senior or Access Pass?
Yes. Holders of an America the Beautiful Senior Pass or Access Pass receive a 50% discount on camping fees at Schoodic Woods. This applies to all site types.
