Schoodic Woods Campground, Acadia National Park

Location Of Schoodic Woods Campground

The Schoodic Woods Campground is located about three miles southeast of Winter Harbor. It is named so as it sits on the Schoodic Peninsula. This campground is part of Acadia National Park – one of the best national parks in Maine. To get here from the main entrance (Bar Harbor), it’s just over an hour by car.

Schoodic Woods Campground Hours

The campgrounds are open 24 hours a day during the open season. Rangers are available from 8 am to 8 pm each day, depending on staff availability.

Open season is from May 26 to October 10 each year. Schoodic Woods Campground is closed for most holidays except for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.

Pricing/reservations

Pricing varies depending on which type of campsite you occupy. There are multiple options, including primitive, RV sites, and larger group camping areas. Most available Schoodic Woods campsites are intended for those with tents. The below lists out pricing for each. Keep in mind this is a per night cost and is additional to the park entrance fee.

Hike-in Tent Site (primitive): $22.00
Drive Up Tent/Small RV (20amp): $30.00
RV With Electric Only Sites (20/30/50amp): $36.00
RV With Electric & Water (20/30/50amp): $40.00
Group Tent Sites: $60.00

Make your reservations online at recreation.gov.

Schoodic Woods Campground Amenities

This campground is a great place to get off the grid for a bit as there is no cell phone reception. Internet is available depending on the season, so don’t expect to get much work done during your Acadia Camping trip. 

The tent and group campsites here work well for those who have done backcountry camping before as not many amenities are included. Expect to bring your firewood, ice, food storage container, and supplies or hunt for a store before arriving here. 

An amphitheater is in the campgrounds and is open for use seasonally. If you’re planning on camping in an RV, dump stations are available in-season.

Below is a list of each available amenity for you to peruse.
Internet Connectivity: Yes, Only Seasonally
Trash/Recycling Collection: Yes, Seasonally
Staff On Site: Yes, Seasonally
Amphitheater: Yes, Seasonally
Dump Station: Yes, Seasonally
Potable Water: Yes, Seasonally
Cell Phone Reception: No
Food Storage Lockers: No
Camp Store: No
Ice For Sale: No
Firewood For Sale: No, can be found near the campground
Laundry: No

Dog Friendliness

Bring your dogs! Ensure your dog(s) are always leashed or in crates/cages and always with a person. Leashes can be a maximum of six feet long. They are allowed throughout the Acadia National Park Camping areas. Now you can avoid the sad puppy dog eyes and bring them on the trip with you. If you want to hike with your dog here are some great tips!

Shower Availability

None. Yes- really. However, there are available showers nearby that are only a quick drive away. These are provided by private sources and not affiliated with the campgrounds at all. It’s best to plan for your stay here.

More Details On Reservations

Make sure to book your reservations ahead of time online (see above link) as camping space fills up quickly. If you head here without reserving a spot beforehand, there’s a very real possibility you will be turned away. Most often, the camping areas are full or almost at capacity each day, June through September.

If you’re planning on spending a night or a few nights in May or October, there’s a higher possibility of catching an opening with reservations as these are the slowest weeks during the open season.

As a side note, you can call the ranger station for questions on available space. Reservations can not be made over the phone with rangers and need to be made online. 

You can make reservations up to two months ahead of time. There are 89 camping areas available to the public. Having a reservation guarantees you a specific campsite, and you’ll be assigned a number that you’ll head to once you’ve checked in.

Tip: Place your phone calls to the rangers in the afternoon concerning campsite availability. Due to the different number of employees each year, there may not be a ranger to take your call until the afternoon. You’ll have a higher likelihood of catching someone and getting your questions answered if you call after twelve.

Fire/Stove Policy

There are fire rings and grills that can be used – these are already located at the camp. You won’t need to bring your grill unless you prefer to. For those who want to create a campfire, you’re out of luck. It is prohibited to create, build, keep, or use a campfire in any manner. This is true regardless of whether wood or charcoal is used. 

Both stoves and grills are allowed. They must use fuel in the form of liquid propane gas, butane, or white gas. You can still enjoy your cooked meals while camping, just not over a self-made campfire flame.

Bathrooms

There are a few different toilet types available for use during the open season at Schoodic Woods Campground. You’ll find both vault and flush toilets here. 

How To Get To Your Campsite

There are multiple ways to access your campsite, which depends on the site you choose. Some are hike-in sites. You’ll also find spots which can easily be walked to from a nearby parking lot or, in some cases, parked by. Some sites can even be reached by boat/water.

Ensure you request the type of site that fits your needs best. It can be easy to overestimate hiking/camping abilities, especially if traveling with children.

Available Activities

Hiking is, of course, a great activity to partake in while visiting the Schoodic Peninsula. Choose from eight miles of different hiking trails around the area.

For those who brought their mountain bikes, there are plenty of trails to bike around on. Over eight miles, to be exact – and these are additional to the hiking trails.

Drive along the six-mile, one-way road for stunning views of lush green islands, birds, and lighthouses. There are multiple places where you can stop the car to take extra time looking at specific sites. Head to Schoodic point by car for excellent views of Mount Desert Island.

Additional Details

If you’re planning on arriving late at night or after hours, you’ll still be able to check-in. Make sure to notify the rangers ahead of time so you can keep your campsite. Your name will be noted on the Late Arrivals board at the Ranger Station.

For those arriving on time, you’ll need to check in before 10 am with the rangers so you can grab your campsite information. 

Wheelchair users can access all bathrooms and accessible sites.