What fun is camping if you can’t bring the whole family? Not a whole lot if you ask us. While Acadia is known to be extremely dog-friendly, it’s not easy to find a more dog-friendly campground near Acadia National Park than Acadia East Campground, 574 U.S. Route 1, Gouldsboro, Maine.
At Acadia East Campground, we believe that pups should be able to enjoy and explore the great outdoors as much as their owners. That’s why we’ve created a campground that is designed to be dog friendly. But what does that mean exactly? Here’s the deal:
Relaxed Dog-Friendly Campground Near Acadia National Park
Traditional campgrounds aren’t typically built with dogs in mind. Campsites are small, close together, in view of other campers, and often surrounded by busy roads and RVs. At Acadia East Campground, we have fewer than 10 campsites (Updated: 12/28/2018), all tenting sites, and each of which is only accessible by hiking up our main campground trail. This means more space per campsite for you and your dog to explore, more space between campsites to reduce noise and distractions from neighboring campers, and more excitement for you and your dog as you walk up and down the trail to your site.
Pick-Your-Own Dog-Friendly Campsite
Most campgrounds don’t allow you to pick your own campsite, in fact, it’s nearly impossible to find a campground near Acadia National Park or Bar Harbor that even allows you to book online; we do both!
It’s important to be able to understand what you’re getting into before you arrive. For those looking for a more tame experience, we have campsites located 50-100 feet from the parking area, keeping you close to your vehicle and having a shorter walk for your family and four-legged companion. We also have sites that are more than 300 feet from the parking area, offering a more private, quiet, and remote experience for those looking for the best backcountry-style dog-friendly campground near Acadia National Park.
Carry-In, Carry-Out Dog Waste
While many of our guests come to Acadia East Campground because of the freedom they have to enjoy with their dogs, not all of our guests bring fur babies; for this reason, we offer doggie waste bags at the main information area in the parking lot entry area with a waste disposal. When dog owners take care of their dogs and dog waste, it protects our ability to allow this freedom for everyone. Please carry-in, carry-out all waste, including dog waste.
Dog-Friendly Hiking and Activities Near Acadia National Park and the Schoodic Peninsula
In addition to all of the adventures you and your dog will have on-site at Acadia East Campground, there are many places to explore with your pup in the surrounding region. Acadia National Park is a wonderful place to hike with your dog, you can learn more about their rules regarding dogs in the national park at https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/pets.htm
One of our favorite dog-friendly beaches and boat landings is at nearby Jones Pond, less than a mile from Acadia East.
The website BringFido has a wonderful directory of dog-friendly places in Maine and the greater Downeast/Acadia region.
If you’re planning a trip to a dog-friendly campground near Acadia National Park this summer, book your stay today at https://acadiaeastcampground.com/
