Bar Harbor/Oceanside Koa Review: Is It Worth Staying Here for an Acadia National Park Trip?
If you’re planning a family trip to Acadia National Park, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is where to stay. While there are hotels and vacation rentals throughout the Bar Harbor area, camping can be a great way to experience coastal Maine—especially when you can find a campground with beautiful views and a convenient location.
During our family trip to Acadia National Park, we spent five nights at Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA Holiday, and it quickly became an important part of our trip.
Located on Mount Desert Island, the campground offers RV sites, tent camping, cabins, waterfront sites and plenty of family-friendly amenities. KOA also promotes the campground as a convenient base for exploring Acadia and the Bar Harbor area. But what is it actually like to stay there?
Here’s our honest review.
Our Stay at Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA
We were camping as a family of five, and we chose the KOA because we wanted to experience Acadia while still having a comfortable home base. One of the biggest advantages of this campground is the location. After spending the day exploring Acadia National Park, hiking, sightseeing and visiting attractions around Mount Desert Island, it was nice to come back to the campground and slow down. And then there was the view.
The Views Are a Major Highlight
If there is one thing that really stands out about this KOA, it's the waterfront setting. The campground sits along the water with views of Mount Desert Narrows, and some campsites give you beautiful views right from your campsite. The campground also has areas where you can sit and watch the sunset. For us, these little moments were some of the best parts of camping. After a busy day of exploring Acadia, we could come back, make dinner, relax around the campsite and enjoy being outside. And the sunsets? Absolutely worth staying for.
If having a water view is important to you, I'd definitely recommend looking carefully at the different campsite options when booking. Waterfront and water-view sites can provide a very different experience from sites farther inside the campground.
The Campsites
There are quite a few different types of campsites at the KOA, which is helpful because not every camper is looking for the same thing.
You can find:
RV sites
Full-hookup sites
Water and electric sites
Waterfront sites
Tent sites
Premium tent sites
Cabins
Some sites are closer to the water, while others are located more centrally within the campground. The campground does offer sites accommodating larger RVs, with some sites listed for rigs up to 70 feet. One thing I'd recommend is looking closely at the individual site descriptions before booking. Site size, location and views can vary, and if you're traveling with a larger RV or want a specific type of experience, the exact site can make a difference.
Family-Friendly Atmosphere
One of the things I really liked about the campground was that it felt very family-friendly. There were kids riding bikes, families hanging around their campsites and plenty of opportunities for kids to burn off some energy after a day in the park. The campground has a playground, jump pad, games, bike rentals and other recreational activities. Seasonal activities can also be offered throughout the camping season. For families visiting Acadia, this is a nice bonus. You don't necessarily want to spend every minute of your vacation driving around sightseeing. Having somewhere the kids can play when you return from the park makes a big difference.
The Dog-Friendly Factor
Another big positive for our family was that the campground is dog friendly.
There's a KampK9 dog park on the property, along with plenty of outdoor space to walk around. If you're planning an Acadia trip with your dog, this is definitely something to consider when comparing accommodations. Acadia itself is also known for being dog-friendly in many areas, so having a campground that welcomes pets can make planning the entire trip much easier.
Bathrooms, Showers and Laundry
If you're camping, campground facilities matter. The KOA has bathhouses, restrooms and laundry facilities, which are especially helpful for families spending several nights at the campground. For us, having access to campground facilities made the camping experience much easier. That said, if you're someone who expects hotel-level bathrooms and amenities, remember that this is still a campground. Your experience can also vary depending on how busy the campground is.
Lobster Trap Cafe
One of the fun conveniences of staying here is having food available right at the campground. The campground has the Lobster Trap Cafe, along with snack and food options. And honestly, having food available without needing to pack up the family and leave the campground is a nice perk. You're in Maine, so of course seafood and lobster are part of the experience!
Getting Around
Another reason we liked using the KOA as our Acadia home base was that we weren't completely isolated from everything else. The campground is positioned to make exploring the Bar Harbor and Acadia area convenient, and it has an Island Explorer shuttle stop. That can be particularly helpful during busy periods when you don't necessarily want to drive everywhere yourself. We spent our days exploring and then came back to the campground in the evenings, which gave us a nice balance between adventure and downtime.
What We Loved
After staying here, these were some of our biggest positives:
✔ Beautiful waterfront setting
The views and sunsets are probably my favorite feature of the campground.
✔ Great base for an Acadia vacation
You're close enough to make exploring Acadia and the surrounding area convenient.
✔ Family friendly
There are plenty of things for kids to do when you're not out exploring.
✔ Dog friendly
A huge bonus if you're bringing your four-legged family member.
✔ Multiple ways to stay
You don't have to own an RV to enjoy the campground. There are tent sites and cabins available as well.
✔ Camping without giving up every convenience
Having bathrooms, showers, laundry, food and other amenities makes a multi-night camping trip much easier.
What You Should Know Before Booking
No campground is perfect, and there are a few things I'd keep in mind.
Don't assume every site is the same.
The campground has a variety of sites, and the experience can change depending on where you're staying. If you're prioritizing views, look at the waterfront and water-view options. The sites are close together as well.
Waterfront comes with a tradeoff.
Those gorgeous views also mean you're exposed to the elements. It can get windy along the water.
It can get busy.
This is a popular campground, particularly during the summer and fall. If you have specific dates or a particular type of campsite in mind, booking early is a good idea.
Don't expect a pool.
This is one thing families with kids may want to know ahead of time. The campground has plenty of other activities, but a traditional swimming pool isn't one of its amenities.
Would We Stay Here Again?
Yes.
For our Acadia trip, the Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA worked really well as a home base. What I liked most wasn't necessarily one specific amenity. It was the combination of location, scenery and the camping experience. We could spend the day exploring Acadia National Park and then come back to a place where we could sit outside, cook dinner, relax and watch the sunset. That's exactly the kind of experience I wanted from a Maine camping trip. And if you're traveling with kids, having a campground where they can ride bikes, play and enjoy some downtime between adventures is a major bonus.
My Final Take
If you're planning an Acadia National Park vacation and you're considering camping, I think the Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA is worth putting on your list.
It's especially appealing for:
Families
RV travelers
Tent campers
People traveling with dogs
Travelers who want waterfront views
Visitors who want a convenient Acadia home base
Anyone who wants a camping experience without completely roughing it
The biggest piece of advice I'd give is to pay attention to the campsite location when you book. If you can get a water-view or waterfront site, that can really elevate the experience. For us, the combination of Acadia adventures during the day and relaxing by the water at the campground in the evening made this a memorable part of our trip.
If you're planning an Acadia vacation and aren't sure whether you should camp, stay in a cabin or book a hotel, the Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA is definitely an option I'd consider.
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