Campsite A36 at the Schoodic Woods Campground in Acadia National Park

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Schoodic Peninsula Main Page

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GENERAL INFORMATION

The Schoodic Woods Campground is located on the Schoodic Peninsula, the only mainland unit of Acadia National Park. While certainly the campground to stay at if you are visiting the peninsula, it is a one-hour drive to the main unit of the park on Mount Desert Island, so it is not a practical camping option if that is your destination. Instead, stay at Blackwoods Campground or Seawall Campground, the two National Park Service campgrounds on the island, and if they are full, book a site at one of the dozen private campgrounds.

At the entrance to the Schoodic Woods Campground is a Ranger station where guests check in before camping. It is somewhat elaborate for such a facility. Inside is a registration desk, a nice table map of the area, and other information.

Ranger station at the Schoodic Woods Campground, Acadia National Park

Interior of the Ranger station at the Schoodic Woods Campground, Acadia National Park

CAMPING SEASON

Schoodic Woods Campground is typically open from late May through Columbus Day. The exact opening and closing dates change slightly each year, so be sure to get the current schedule on the National Park Service’s Camping web page for Acadia National Park.

TYPE OF CAMPING

Tent campers and RVs are welcome.

CAMPSITES

The Schoodic Woods Campground is divided into two main loops, plus a group camping area and a forested area for hike-in tent camping (park at a common lot and carry your gear to the site). There are 89 campsites in all. There is parking for two vehicles at each site. An overflow parking area for extra vehicles is also available.

All campsites other than the group and hike-in tent sites meet ADA requirements.

Schoodic Woods Campground Map

LOOP A

Loop A of the Schoodic Woods Campground has 47 sites, 35 of which are for tent campers and small RVs, vans, truck-top campers, and pop-ups (the other 12 are for tents only). Campsites in Loop A allow up to six people and two tents, provided that the tents fit on the gravel area or tent pad (if provided). Driveways are all back-in. The ground is fairly level.

Campsite A14 at the Schoodic Woods Campground in Acadia National Park

Campsite A15 at the Schoodic Woods Campground in Acadia National Park

LOOP B

Loop B, which has 31 campsites, is exclusively for larger RVs, and all sites have drive-in or parallel roadside parking. Driveway lengths are listed on the reservation website (see below for reservation information).

Pull-through driveway at Campsite B3 at the Schoodic Woods Campground in Acadia National Park

HIKE-IN CAMPSITES

There are nine hike-in campsites, and each is limited to four campers and one tent per site. This is not a “camp wherever you can find a spot” campground. There are designated camping spots in the forest. No open fires are allowed and no fire rings are provided. Cooking must be done on propane / gas camp stoves. No bio-fuel stoves are permitted.

GROUP CAMPSITE

There are two group campsites at the Schoodic Woods Campground. Group sites allow up to 20 people and as many tents as needed for the group members. Each site has its own parking area that holds three vehicles.

Group Campsite 1 at the Schoodic Woods Campground in Acadia National Park

Group Campsite 2 at the Schoodic Woods Campground in Acadia National Park

AMENITIES

Schoodic Woods Campground opened in 2015, so it was designed using modern standards. It is the only National Park Service campground within Acadia National Park that has electricity at the campsites (excluding the hike-in and group sites). Loop A sites have 20 amp outlets, while those in Loop B have 20/30/50 amp outlets. Furthermore, the RV sites in Loop B have water hook-ups.

All campsites in Loop A and Loop B have a picnic table and fire ring. There is no grill grate on the fire rings, so you must bring your own if you plan to have a cook out. Hike-in campsites have a picnic table only.

The Group campsites have multiple picnic tables plus a grill and fire ring.

Oddly enough, while there are modern restrooms at each campground loop, there are no showers. The closest pay shower is Winter Harbor roughly 2 miles away. I have no idea why a new campground would be designed without showers other than to keep the local vendors in business. Also, portable showers are prohibited.

An on-site dump station is available for RV campers.

From late May through mid-October, the free Island Explorer Shuttle Bus stops at the campground, so you can get around Schoodic Peninsula without your vehicle. The bus does not travel to Mount Desert Island, but it does stop at the Winter Harbor Ferry that has service to the island at Bar Harbor. Keep in mind that vehicles longer than 21 feet are not allowed on the Schoodic Loop Road beyond the turnoff for the campground, making the bus a game saver for those without an appropriate vehicle during the summer. Just don’t show up with only your RV during the off season when the bus does not operate.

RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT

Payment for your campsite does not include an entrance pass for Acadia National Park, which is now required year-round. An entrance pass for Acadia National Park is now required year-round. You can purchase a pass online in advance at Recreation.gov or at the park at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Acadia Gateway Center, Park Loop Road Fee Station, Blackwoods Campground, Schoodic Woods Campground, and the Seawall Campground. There is also an automated fee machine that dispenses passes at the entrance to the Rockefeller Hall Welcome Center on the Schoodic Peninsula and outside the Sieur de Monts Nature Center. Passes can also be purchased from third-party sellers at the Jordon Pond Gift Shop, Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce on Cottage Street, Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce, Mount Desert Chamber of Commerce, and the Southwest Harbor/Tremont Chamber of Commerce.

Reservations are required for all campsites at the Schoodic Woods Campground and can be made online at Recreation.gov. Ninety percent are released six months in advance at the first of the month. For example, campsites for the entire month of August are available March 1st. Ten percent of campsites are held until two weeks out. These are available starting at 10 AM.

Payment cannot be made at the Ranger station. If you show up without a reservation, you must use your phone to visit Recreation.gov. If no cell service is available at the campground, you must drive around until you find a signal.

I checked the reservation site in early and late June just out of curiosity and found that there were dozens of campsites of all types available at the Schoodic Woods Campground before the Fourth of July. Of course, during the week of the Fourth there was almost nothing available, and even after the Fourth everything was pretty much booked except for a campsite here and there, and rarely for more than two days in a row. Most of the open spots were hike-in campsites and sites in Loop A. The B Loop sites for large RVs were booked for the season, including beyond Labor Day. Even after Labor Day it was the hike-in campsites that were mainly available.

CAMPGROUND RULES

• Check-in time is after 12 PM
• Check-out time is by 10 AM
• Quiet hours are from 10 PM to 6 AM
• Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days and 30 days total in a year
• If not arriving on the first day of your reservation, you must call (207) 412-8346 or forfeit the reservation.
• All equipment must fit on the gravel portions of the campsite or tent pad, if provided. Vehicles must park in the driveway only. Two vehicles per site. All other vehicles must park in overflow parking.
• Pets are allowed but must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet, and they cannot be left at the campsite.
• Firewood must be bought locally. You cannot transport fire wood with you or to other parts of the park.

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