Smuggler's Den Campground

Perfect if you want to camp Acadia but can’t get into the official sites. Honestly, probably better than the official sites because the bathrooms are the nicest I’ve seen - especially for a campground. Can’t speak to the rest of the amenities but it was quiet all around us (we had a tent site in the trees) and 20 mins to Acadia / Bar Harbor each day.

We recently stayed at the Smuggler’s Den in Southwest Harbor and had a mix of positive and negative experiences. Highlights: - Every single employee that my group interacted with was so genuinely kind. - The campground offers a huge playground for kids, as well as a wide open grassy area for them to play in. - The walking path to Echo Lake Beach was beautiful and a highlight of our trip. - The entire place is very clean and well-maintained, which we appreciated. - The pool and kiddie pool were great amenities, especially for families with young children. - Some tent sites come with electricity, which was a nice convenience. - We enjoyed the occasional live music, which added to the atmosphere. Things to Consider: - The campground seemed a bit overstaffed. Employees were frequently driving by on carts every ten minutes or so which felt a little excessive. - Early morning maintenance, like mowing and leaf blowing, started at 8 AM on Saturday. Which is fine on paper as quiet hours are from 10 PM to 8 AM, but kind of an abrasive way to start the day. - We had an issue during our stay, and while the manager was polite and kind, the response didn’t really address the problem. - The campsites are quite close together with minimal trees between, offering little privacy, which might not suit everyone. - A significant downside was the lack of cell service, making it difficult to stay connected. (However, free wifi was offered) Overall, the Smuggler’s Den has some great amenities and is a clean, well-maintained campground, but the lack of privacy and constant activity around the sites made it less relaxing than we had hoped. Ideal for families with children, not ideal for someone looking for peace and quiet.

One of our favorite campgrounds we've stayed at! Pros: Brand new showers & bathrooms at the Lower Bathhouse were incredible. Great little camp store with excellent hours. Employees/the family who owns it were always kind and accommodating. They clean their bathrooms every single day and it shows. Our Pop Up camper spot was nestled in a wooded area with plenty of room. There is a little trail from their campground that takes you to Echo Lake! Cons: I can't think of any! Just know you're about 20-30 minutes from parts of the Eastern part of Acadia like Sand Beach and Ocean Path. But very close to everything Southwest Harbor & Quietside.

Great spot to use as Base camp to see Acadia and surrounding sights. Quiet and somewhat private sights. Lots of kids in August and pool was busy. Restrooms are clean. Office Staff were so nice and friendly and helpful for Sightseeing tips. Free bus comes right in front of the office. Very busy! Smart if you want to hike different areas. No need to double up parking for drop off and pick up locations.

I was camping with a group and heard several complaints about the camp ground. They told people who called for reservations that the campground was full so that some group members could not come to the camping event. They refused to tell people if someone had reserved a site. They made campers go to the office when they chose to change their campsite to confirm the change. One camper told us they flat out yelled at him for being on the wrong site and sarcastically told him how houses are numbered on street for the postal service and said the campground was the same. They were very rude to him. More importantly, the campground is NOT handicap accessible. A total ADA violation. The store has steps on both sides and there is a step up to get into the restroom buildings, including the new building at the far end of the camp ground away from all the camp sites. Anyone using a wheel chair can not get into the restrooms nor showers nor can they get in to the store. I can not in any good conscience recommend this camp ground to anyone. Expensive because they are "on the island", rudeness towards customers (including yelling at them), and the total lack of handicap accessibility.