Cost was $10 with golden age. We have never before stayed at this campground in Acadia National Park in Southwest Harbor. This campground is a first come first serve campground and closes September 30. It is in the peaceful area of Acadia National Park and the reason we had never stayed there before is that there is always a waiting line to get in but since we had reservations for Blackwoods the next day we thought we would take a chance that it would not be crowded in September five nights before it closed. We loved the campground. There are about 31 RV sites in loop C which was built just for RV’s. New bathrooms but no showers but they can be found outside the park for a fee. It is a walk away or quick bike ride away from the seawall in a beautiful area. Many of the campers there could not get into Blackwoods campground so came here and decided they would stay because they loved it. Hiking, biking, kayaking and a quick ride to Echo Lake where there is swimming. To get over to the parkway road and Bar Harbor it is about 30 minutes away. The night we were there they were giving away free fire wood because it was the end of the season. Nice campground with Ranger talks and walks and some of the friendliest rangers who will give you complete information about the park, free shuttles, hikes etc. This campground is not as busy in the fall as Blackwoods so the rangers have more time for you! Some campers stopped at the local grocery store in Southwest Harbor where they will steam lobsters for you on the go – our camping neighbors had lobster every night! We camped here in a Motorhome.
We camped at both Seawall and Blackwoods. Seawall doesn't take reservations but we drove in on a Thursday morning and had our choice of spots. The bathrooms here are bigger and more modern than at Blackwoods. The free shuttle takes time but enables you to travel anywhere on the island. The ranger program in the outdoor amphitheater was very good. It was a very quiet stay. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Great wooded sites. No showers located in the park, but there is a great store located down the road that offers showers, camping supplies and a seafood market. Note that electricity is not available and vehicles using generators are restricted to a seperate area of the park. We had a very enjoyable 2 night stay here, and met an interesting couple traveling from England. We camped here in a camper.
One of the nicest parks we've camped in after a year on the road. The park is clean and very well run. Everyone who works there is warm, friendly, and helpful. Cell phone and Wi-Fi reception was good and reliable. After a few tries, we managed to find a decent spot for our satellite dish. Complimentary newspapers were available at the office each day. The free shuttle that runs around the island picks up right by the office. This is one park we'd love to come back to. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We had a great time, Site was large and clean. The pool was heated and only about 200' away. The bathrooms were well maintained and staff was friendly. We are looking forward to a return trip! We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We spent two nights early in June when things were very quiet. The atmosphere was peaceful and we didn't really mind that we were unable to access the WiFi. The host said they don't charge for it since it doesn't always work. The rest rooms were well maintained and clean in spite of the damp. The shuttle doesn't run in the off season, but we enjoyed the park and the restaurant across the highway. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
Stayed here for a week and had a great time. Our site was premium with the cement pad and patio. We were located right across from the store and pool, on a corner site, and although busy it was still relaxing. Store had the bus/shuttle stop, but on the flip side, it also had wifi which reached our site with an excellent signal. The pool was nicely heated and clean. We drove to the nearby harbour town and took the bus to Bar Harbor several times. Great hiking in the immediate area, and fresh lobster in a tank right inside the camp store. We will return again. Also no Sprint/Nextel sevice except for Bar Harbor and Cadillac Mtn. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Smuggler's Den is located on the right side of Mt. Desert Island -- the "quiet side" which is away from hectic, tourist-crammed Bar Harbor. It is also one of the only campgrounds that offers 50 amp service and has room for 40 foot RV's. However, it does not have cable service, and most of the sites cannot pick up satellite. (Bring movies.) Though the island is one of the most scenic places we have ever visited, the campground is not particularly attractive, except in the tent camping areas, which are wooded. However, the swimming pool area is very nice and well kept. Many families with children were camping, and the kids seemed happily occupied. The big rig sites -- mostly back in -- are deep enough, but are too narrow, and we had two neighbors' camp fires that were way too close to our motor home (3 to 4 feet away). During our 10-day stay, we visited other campgrounds on the island to check out options and decided that Smuggler's Den is still the best choice for a big motor home. Only 5 minutes away by car, Southwest Harbor is a delightful small town with nice shops and several good restaurants. The hiking is amazing -- views of mountains and the ocean and so many options. July and August are the "heavy" tourist months when the weather is great. But staying on the quiet side of the island made a big difference. We camped here in a Motorhome.