West Bay Acadia RV Campground Introduce
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For those of us who cherish Maine's breathtaking coastline and pristine wilderness, finding the perfect camping spot can feel like discovering a hidden gem. West Bay Acadia RV Campground, nestled in Gouldsboro on the tranquil Schoodic Peninsula, is precisely that kind of discovery. It’s a remarkable destination that offers an immersive nature experience without sacrificing the comforts that make a vacation truly relaxing. Unlike the bustling crowds of some popular areas, West Bay Acadia provides a serene escape on what's affectionately known as the "quiet side" of Acadia National Park, allowing for a deeper connection with Maine’s natural beauty.
What makes West Bay Acadia RV Campground particularly appealing to us Mainers is its commitment to providing an upscale yet authentic outdoor experience. This isn't a "theme park" campground with constant noise; it's a place designed for nature lovers seeking peace, stunning views, and a chance to truly unwind. Guests consistently rave about the "gorgeous" grounds, the "killer views" of the bay, and the welcoming hospitality of the owners and hosts, Peggy and Rob. Their genuine warmth and helpfulness create an atmosphere where visitors feel "wanted" and part of the family, making it an inviting option for both short getaways and extended stays for locals.
From the moment you arrive, the emphasis is on enhancing your connection with the environment – from brilliant sunrises and dark night skies free from urban light pollution to the sounds of rustling leaves and singing birds. It’s a place where wildlife, including bald eagles, wild turkeys, deer, and osprey, are regular visitors, adding to the immersive natural experience. West Bay Acadia RV Campground is designed for discerning RV campers who appreciate an elegant simplicity and a first-class experience, making it a standout choice for Mainers looking for a memorable coastal retreat.
West Bay Acadia RV Campground is strategically located at **33 Rainbows End, Gouldsboro, ME 04607, USA**. This address places it on the beautiful Schoodic Peninsula, an often-overlooked yet equally stunning part of Acadia National Park. For Maine residents, this location offers an excellent balance of peaceful seclusion and convenient access to key attractions. Gouldsboro itself is a charming Downeast Maine town, providing a genuine sense of local character.
The **accessibility** of the campground is a significant advantage for us locals. While it feels wonderfully immersed in nature, it’s not isolated. It's approximately nine miles from the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park and about 39 miles from the more bustling Bar Harbor area on Mount Desert Island. This means you can easily explore the quieter, less crowded trails and coastal features of Schoodic, or take a scenic drive or even a ferry from Winter Harbor to access the more popular areas of Acadia National Park. The campground is situated at the beginning of the Schoodic National Scenic Byway and the Downeast Sunrise Trail, providing direct access to scenic drives and recreational paths.
Furthermore, local amenities and necessities are within a reasonable drive. Charming local restaurants for fresh lobster rolls and blueberry pie are nearby, as are grocery stores and other services in Ellsworth or Milbridge, ensuring you have everything you need for a comfortable stay. This combination of a tranquil, breathtaking setting and practical accessibility makes West Bay Acadia RV Campground an ideal choice for Maine locals looking to explore the iconic Acadia region from a serene and convenient base.
West Bay Acadia RV Campground offers a range of high-quality services and amenities tailored for a comfortable and immersive RV camping experience:
- Extra Large, Tiered RV Sites: The campground provides spacious RV sites, ranging from 57 to 110 feet long, with generous 22-26 foot firm gravel pads. These sites are arranged in tiers, offering "stadium seating" views of the beautiful West Bay from most spots, ensuring privacy from neighbors.
- Full Hook-ups with High Amperage: All sites boast full hook-ups, including water, sewer, and high-capacity electrical service (30, 50, and even 100 amp power upon advance request). This ensures that even large RVs with multiple appliances have ample power.
- Business Class Broadband Wi-Fi: The campground offers blazing fast, business-class broadband Wi-Fi (with direct Ethernet connections available upon advance request), which is a rare and highly appreciated amenity in remote areas, allowing for streaming and staying connected.
- Pure Well Water: Guests enjoy pure, great-tasting, crystal-clear water from a 400-foot well, ensuring a high-quality water supply throughout their stay.
- Kayak and Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) Access & Rentals: The campground provides direct access to West Bay, a tidal bay perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding. Rentals for kayaks and SUPs are available on-site, or guests can bring their own and leave them at the water's edge.
- Enclosed Dog Park: A good-sized, off-leash dog park is available for furry companions, although all other areas require dogs to be leashed and pet waste disposed of properly in designated containers. Aggressive or loud dogs are not permitted.
- Communal Fire Pits: Provided fire pits with spark-arresting screens are available at each site for wood-burning campfires.
- Garbage Disposal: A large dumpster is provided for trash disposal, ensuring cleanliness. (Note: A previous customer noted no recycling program, even for redeemables, so guests may need to plan to take their recyclables home.)
- Community Garden: A unique feature is the free community garden with a selection of fresh produce, including strawberries, tomatillos, herbs, and more, which guests are welcome to pick and enjoy.
- Outdoor Shower: An outdoor shower is available for rinsing off after water activities, particularly convenient after time in the tidal bay.
- Electric Vehicle Charging: Electric vehicle charging is available upon advance request.
- Welcome Bag: Guests are greeted with a "Welcome Bag" filled with useful information about the area, local attractions, dining options, and details about the night sky and tides.
West Bay Acadia RV Campground offers a plethora of features and highlights that create a memorable experience for Maine locals:
- "Quiet Side" Acadia Experience: Located on the less crowded Schoodic Peninsula, it offers a serene and peaceful alternative to the busier Mount Desert Island side of Acadia National Park, allowing for genuine relaxation and immersion in nature.
- Magnificent Tidal Bay Views: The tiered site design ensures that most RV sites offer stunning, unobstructed views of West Bay, providing a dynamic and beautiful backdrop with the changing tides.
- Dark Sky Environment: The campground enforces a "lights out" policy after dark, creating brilliant dark skies perfect for stargazing, astrophotography, and observing celestial events, free from urban light pollution.
- Abundant Wildlife Sightings: The 33 acres of wilderness provide a home to a multitude of Maine critters, with frequent sightings of bald eagles, wild turkeys, deer, osprey, seals, and other wildlife directly from your campsite.
- Owners' Personal Touch and Hospitality: Guests consistently praise the "very nice & helpful" owners and hosts, Peggy and Rob, who are highly engaged, friendly, and provide "personalized pampering," making visitors feel like family.
- Nature-Focused Design: The campground intentionally avoids a "theme park" feel, focusing instead on natural elements like rocks to climb, coastal shores to walk, and the sounds of nature, creating an authentic "real Maine" experience.
- Proximity to Outdoor Activities: Beyond the bay access for kayaking and paddleboarding, the location offers easy access to numerous hiking and biking trails on the Schoodic Peninsula and in nearby nature preserves.
- Brand New and Well-Maintained Facilities: As a relatively new campground (opened in 2021), the facilities are modern, well-designed, and meticulously maintained, providing a comfortable and pristine environment.
- Community Garden Access: The unique offering of a free community garden allows guests to pick fresh produce, adding a delightful farm-to-table element to their camping trip.
- Peaceful and Quiet Atmosphere: Reviews frequently highlight the peacefulness of the campground, noting it's an ideal spot for those who seek tranquility and wish to escape urban noise.
While specific, publicly advertised "promotions" beyond their standard rates are not always available, West Bay Acadia RV Campground provides transparent pricing and focuses on delivering exceptional value through its high-quality amenities and unique natural setting.
The campground operates seasonally, typically from May 15th to October 15th. Site prices range from $125-$165 per night, depending on the season, with possible additional charges for electricity usage if it exceeds an average of $10 per day (though most campers will not incur this charge). They also offer a **Good Sam Club Discount**, providing a 10% saving on the nightly rate for members, which is a common and valuable perk for many RV enthusiasts.
It's always recommended for Maine locals to contact West Bay Acadia RV Campground directly via phone or their website to inquire about current availability, specific pricing for your desired dates, and any potential long-stay options that might be available. As a boutique campground focused on providing a first-class experience, personalized inquiries can often lead to the best information regarding their offerings and any unadvertised specials for returning guests or extended stays.
For reservations, inquiries, or to learn more about West Bay Acadia RV Campground, you can reach them through the following contact details:
- Address: 33 Rainbows End, Gouldsboro, ME 04607, USA
- Phone: (207) 963-9160
- Mobile Phone: +1 207-963-9160
The owners, Peggy and Rob, are known for their helpfulness and welcoming nature, so do not hesitate to call them directly to discuss your travel plans, inquire about site availability, or ask any specific questions about their unique amenities and local attractions. They are dedicated to ensuring you have a memorable and serene stay on the quiet side of Acadia National Park.
For us Mainers, West Bay Acadia RV Campground truly stands out as an exceptional choice for a coastal getaway. Its prime location on the serene Schoodic Peninsula offers the perfect blend of peaceful immersion in nature and convenient access to the less-traveled, yet equally stunning, "quiet side" of Acadia National Park. This means you can enjoy the iconic beauty of Acadia without the bustling crowds often found on Mount Desert Island.
The campground's commitment to a first-class experience is evident in its spacious, tiered RV sites with magnificent bay views, robust full hook-ups, and blazing-fast Wi-Fi – luxuries that significantly enhance a camping trip. The personal touch of the owners, Peggy and Rob, who are consistently praised for their warmth and helpfulness, transforms a stay into a genuinely welcoming experience. For Maine residents who cherish breathtaking sunrises, brilliant dark skies, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and direct access to tidal bay activities like kayaking, West Bay Acadia RV Campground provides an unparalleled blend of comfort, natural beauty, and a truly authentic Maine coastal adventure. It's a place where you can rejuvenate your soul and create lasting memories right in our beautiful home state.
West Bay Acadia RV Campground Photos










West Bay Acadia RV Campground Location
West Bay Acadia RV Campground
33 Rainbows End, Gouldsboro, ME 04607, USA
West Bay Acadia RV Campground Reviews
This is a wonderful place to stay on the quiet side of Acadia NP. The sites are level and easy to access. The grounds are beautiful. The dog park is good sized. The owners & hosts are very nice & helpful. Lots of restaurants nearby for wonderful lobster rolls, ice cream & blueberry pie. My only disappointment was that there’s no recycling program, even for redeemable bottles & cans (which we decided to bring home to recycle). Other than that, this is a wonderful place to camp. We stayed 5 nights.
Jun 15, 2025 · Elizabeth StoweGorgeous! Next to the bay. Killer views! Very, very, very nice people running the place. The welcoming committee was awesome and made us feel wanted!
Jun 11, 2025 · Jesse GrimmerOne of the best campgrounds we have ever visited to date. The hosts are exceptionally friendly and helpful. The grounds were immaculate and the sites roomy. Fantastic WiFi and Cell Service. Schoodic Peninsula and Acadia NP are absolutely stunning but I can honestly say there were times we just wanted to stay back at the campground. We had a wonderful, quiet, and relaxing stay. We are already talking about our next visit. Thank you!
Sep 18, 2024 · Rosemarie Eldridge MeissnerThis is one of the best RV Camps we’ve stayed in! The owners (Rob& Peggy) and the 2 couples of camp helpers are the best, rated 10+!!! The camp is beautiful with a rustic but all the most up to date convenience. Rob put a lot of thought, heart and hard work into the design and construction of this camp! Location, staff, night views of the constellations and camaraderie of all the guests are so great! Besides the helpfulness. Rob the owner dropped everything he was doing to help me fix a problem I had with my RV. The welcome bag delivered by Peggy upon arrival was incredible. It included lists with color photos of places to see, things to do and places to eat and shop locally which they recommend based on their personal visits and patronage. They support local businesses by this effort. They also revisit to insure quality is maintained!If you want to stay in a very unique, beautiful spot on the coast of a great harbor that feels like a family compound, West Bay is your place! I’d stay for a month if we could!Also, for us, this side of Acadia was the best, centrally located to see and visit all that Bar Harbor and Acadia has to offer, without the crowds!
Sep 02, 2024 · Steve ZepfWonderful place and even better hosts! We thoroughly enjoyed our time here. It’s peaceful with a sense of “family” when it comes to Rob, Peggy and the other hosts. During our time we enjoyed the educational lobster dinner followed by some music, kayaked on the bay, wildlife watching, star gazing and my personal favorite…daily pickings from the garden. Highly recommend staying here!
Aug 12, 2024 · Angie Tilden
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