Blackwoods Campground: Acadia National Park
Location Of Blackwoods Campground
Tucked away in the picturesque surroundings of Acadia National Park, Blackwoods Campground is a great place for the park’s visitors to settle in during their visit. People travel to Acadia National Park to admire its stunning scenery and lush coastline. The Park has all you could want – mountains, lakes, streams, forests, meadows, and beaches are available for recreational use. The Blackwoods Campground puts you in the perfect location to enjoy all Acadia has to offer, and the campsite itself provides visitors access to wooded campsites and the ocean, which is just a 10-minute walk from camp!
I’m more of a “glamping” gal myself, but sometimes, to fully enjoy the breathtaking beauty on this earth, camping is the way to go. You won’t feel like you’re staying at the Four Seasons during your stay at Blackwoods Campground, but you will be in the perfect location to explore Acadia National Park and all it has to offer.
Campground Season For Blackwoods Campground
Campground reservations can be booked for May 7th – October 17th of each year, but outside those dates, the campground is out of season and booking is unavailable. Individual sites can be booked up to 2 months in advance from the trip start date. Booking for the season opens on March 7th each year since the opening date is May 7th.
Pricing/Reservation Information
Reservations can be made online at recreation.gov up to two months in advance. You can choose between RV sites without hookups or tent sites without hookups. Unfortunately, guests aren’t able to get too fancy with this Acadia National Park camping option, but a great time can still be had without electricity! There are also some awesome camping gadgets that can make you feel like you’re glamping without actually glamping. Who doesn’t love new gadgets?!
There are also a few group sites at Blackwoods Campground if you’re on a group expedition or exploring Acadia National Park with friends. These sites were closed for the 2021 season due to Covid-19, but may open back up in the 2022 season – keep your eyes peeled! Here are the rates:
- RV sites without hookups: $30
- Tent sites without hookups: $30
- Group sites without hookups: $60
Blackwoods Campground Amenities
Simply put, you’ll have all your basics at Blackwoods Campground. This won’t be the place with a five-star spa on-site, or even the place you can stream Netflix at night, but you’ll be so wrapped up in Acadia National Park that you won’t even notice. There is no internet or cell reception at the campground, so make sure you’ve done all your AllTrails planning before you arrive.
If you have never camped without amenities, this is a great place to practice. You’ll need to bring all your own ice and firewood. Did someone say BYOIAF?? Sounds like a fun time! You’ll also need to ensure you have a place to safely store your food and belongings. There is drinking water available seasonally, but I find it’s best to always have enough with you on an adventure, so don’t skip out on bringing a jug or two.
You’ll also be able to use the amphitheater and dump station when the campground is in season. There will also be staff on-site during the season. Since there are staff members on-site, you can be sure of the most important amenity – TOILETS!! Yes, full flush toilets are available when this campground is open. No vault toilet?! Sign me up. For a quick look at all available amenities, here’s a guide:
- Internet: No
- Cell Reception: No
- Trash/Recycling Collection: No
- Food Storage Lockers: No
- Ice For Sale: No
- Firewood For sale: No
- Staff On-Site: Yes, Seasonally
- Amphitheater: Yes, Seasonally
- Dump Station: Yes, Seasonally
- Camp Store: No
- Laundry: No
- Showers: No
- Potable Water: Yes, Seasonally
- Fire Pit: Yes
Fire/Stove Policy
Fire pits are provided but you’ll need to bring your own firewood. Don’t make the mistake of bringing firewood from far away to this campsite. Wood that is from a different region can bring with it tree-killing insects that damage the beautiful park.
Cooking on a camp stove is part of the thrill of camping, so be sure you’re loaded up on propane and yummy food!
Showers
There are no showers at this campground. You’re camping! Don’t be afraid to get dirty! Fine, you caught me…if you’re like me and you don’t like being smelly for days on end, you can find showers just ½ mile from the campground. There’s a small fee but it might be worth it if you’re desperate. I know we all love new gadgets but don’t go buying a portable shower before this trip as they are specifically prohibited from Blackwoods Campground.
Bathrooms
This campground may not have the most lavish amenities, but the fact that it has flush toilets is a gift! Don’t take this for granted; many campgrounds only offer vault toilets, and those, well, they can be a scarring experience.
Getting To Blackwoods Campground
The entrance to Blackwoods Campground is off State Highway 3, just a few miles south of Bar Harbor. There is no entrance to this campground from Acadia’s National Park Loop, so don’t try and go that route or you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Activities In The Area
Let’s face it, you’re not in Acadia National Park for the camping, you’re in Acadia National Park for just that – Acadia National Park! You probably won’t be spending too much time at your campground because you’ll be out hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and exploring. With the vast landscape of the park there is always more to explore, so fill your days with new spots and activities if you can. If you want to explore the park from your car, there is a 27-mile loop road system that does a phenomenal job of featuring the park’s ocean shores, lush forests, and sweeping mountains.
Additional Details
Keep in mind that entrance to Acadia National Park has a separate fee from the campground’s nightly rate. You’ll need an entrance pass to the park while staying at Blackwoods Campground and that will run you $30 per vehicle or $25 per motorcycle.
Only one vehicle is allowed at each campsite and only two tents are allowed within one campsite. Don’t try and squeeze more people than that because it’s against the rules and your campsite fees help keep this place running! I always like to remind myself of that whenever I have to pay to enjoy nature. The money is worth it if generations after us get to enjoy it as well!
