Seawall Campground: Acadia National Park

Location Of Seawall Campground

Seawall Campground is located on the west side of Acadia National Park’s Mountain Desert Island, near the beautiful coastline. It’s approximately 4 miles south of Southwest Harbor, Maine, on route 102A. While Acadia National Park camping is always a popular activity in the summer months, because Seawall Campground is located on the quieter, less-trafficked side of Acadia National Park, you’ll get a much more private experience here, and an easier time booking a spot during peak months. The one drawback to this is that it takes about a half-hour drive to reach the Bar Harbor area, where most of the main attractions are in Acadia National Park.

Seawall Campground Season

Acadia National Park’s Seawall Campground is generally open from late May through to late September or early October. For example, this past year, it opened between May 26 – October 10. Beyond these dates, the campground is closed, and booking is unavailable. Each year, the booking opens up approximately 2 months in advance of the camping season. 

Pricing/Reservation Information

Reservations can be made online at: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234674

You can book your spot up to two months in advance to maximize the chances of getting your first choice. You have the option to choose between hike-in tent sites, regular drive-up or small RV sites, or group tent sites if you’re traveling in a pack. While Acadia camping in general isn’t the most glamorous, Seawall Campground included, the gorgeous scenery, nearby ocean, and hiking trails more than make up for any loss in technology. For camping purists, there’s no better place to be. Even for those who do prefer a more comfortable experience, there is plenty of room to bring your own tools and make Seawall Campground work for you. 

Here are the going rates for the different sites:

Hike-in Tent Site (primitive): $22.00
Drive-Up Tent/Small RV (20amp): $30.00
Group Tent Sites: $60.00

Seawall Campground Amenities

At Acadia National Park, glamping is not the name of the game. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a great time. Sometimes, reconnecting with nature in the absence of outside interference is just what the doctor ordered. Especially if you get to do it in a place as lovely as Seawall Campground. 

Much like Acadia National Park’s other campgrounds, there is no internet or cellphone reception at Seawall Campground, so make sure you plan in advance and download anything that’s absolutely necessary. 

You’ll also need to bring your own ice and firewood to Seawall Campground as they are not available for sale on-site. In fact, there is no camp store whatsoever at Seawall Campground, so bring absolutely everything you’ll need with you. Planning ahead here is key!

However, Seawall Campground does contain all the bare necessities for any large-scale camping spot. Seasonal trash and recycling bins, as well as a dump station, are all available so that you can properly dispose of any waste, and avoid any unwanted four-legged visitors to your site. Likewise, there is also seasonal portable water at Seawall Campground- as, you know, water is one of those things you just can’t go without, no matter how bare-bones you are when it comes to camping and hiking. With that said, however, there are not any food storage lockers available at Seawall Campground, so plan your meals accordingly.

Unsurprisingly given the scale of the amenities, there is no laundry at Seawall Campground. Pack your clothes (and deodorant) wisely. However, there are seasonal staff on-site to assist you and answer questions if needed, as well as an amphitheater that boasts fun summer activities to enjoy during your stay, such as ranger-led evening programs.

Check out this quick list for a comprehensive guide:

Internet: No
Cellphone Reception: No 
Ice For Sale: No
Firewood For Sale: No
Seasonal Trash: Yes
Laundry: No
Seasonal Recycling: Yes
Seasonal Dump Station: Yes
Food Storage Lockers: No
Seasonal Portable Water: Yes
Camp Store: No
Seasonal Staff On-Site: Yes
Seasonal Amphitheater: Yes 

Fire/Stove Policy

To protect the local species of flora and fauna, do not bring firewood from more than 50 miles away. Acadia National Park requests that all visitors do their part to protect their forests from the spread of hidden, tree-killing insects by obtaining firewood from local vendors near the campground. The nature surrounding Seawall Campground is stunning, and it’s important to preserve it in any way possible so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.

Once you obtain said local firewood, you can put it to good use. Grills and fire rings are available for use at campsites, whether you want to cook a delicious meal, roast marshmallows, or simply warm your feet up by the fire, Seawall Campground has you covered. When camping, almost nothing beats curling up by a cozy fire after a long day of hiking. However, please ensure that you enjoy your fire(s) responsibly- campfires are only allowed in the designated fire rings. Any fire outside of these designated spaces poses a great risk to the nearby forests (and other humans in the vicinity), especially during peak camping season in the summer when it’s more dry than usual. 

Showers

Unfortunately, there are no showers available at Seawall Campground. Pack a sufficient clothing supply and a sufficient supply of deodorant to keep yourself feeling as fresh as possible during your stay. If you’re planning on hiking as well, wet wipes may be a handy item to bring, to wipe off any physical dirt you accumulate during the day. 

Bathrooms

If outhouses aren’t your style, not to worry- there are seasonal flush toilets available at Seawall Campground, which is a huge plus. Despite Acadia National Park’s back-to-basics approach to camping, flush toilets are a very welcome exception to the rule. 

Getting To Seawall Campground

You can access Seawall Campground off route 102A, approximately 4 miles south of Southwest Harbor. While it’s a little more out of the way than other campgrounds in Acadia National Park, the 10-minute walk to a gorgeous, remote ocean view might just make it worth it. It’s approximately 4 miles south of Southwest Harbor, Maine, on route 102A.

If you’re hesitant about making the drive all the way to the campground by yourself, you can also access Seawall Campground by taking the free Island Explorer Shuttle Bus that Acadia National Park offers during tourist season.

Area Activities

Acadia National Park is an activity in and of itself! Beyond your campground, you’ll find plenty of amazing opportunities for hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and more. You can even take the aforementioned Island Explorer Shuttle Bus all around Mountain Desert Island for sightseeing during the day, and then simply drop yourself off back at your campground in the evening! With the amazing scenery, from the ocean, to the forests, and stunning mountain views, you’ll never run out of things to do at Acadia National Park.

Additional Details

Factor it into your budget that you must purchase an entrance pass to Acadia National Park in addition to Seawall Campground’s nightly rate. The entrance pass to the park costs $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per foot passenger.