- Find a KOA
- The KOA Difference
Why KOA?More
KOA stands out from our competitors in many ways.
- We're Everywhere
- Our Great People
- Our Amenities
- Local Attraction Knowledge
- Size (over 450 locations!)
- Experience
- Campsites & Cabins
Campsites & CabinsMore
UniqueMore
Stay in these unique lodgings and enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind camping experience.
Learn More - Resources
Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA
- 136 County Road
- Bar Harbor, ME 04609
-
Get Directions
Directions
Situated at the head of Mount Desert Island. Follow Rt 1A to Ellsworth and then Rt 3 toward Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Crossing onto the island , keep to the R and turn R at the first intersection onto County Road.
Get Google Directions
-
Reserve(888) 562-5605
-
Info(207) 288-3520
-
Email
Welcome Message
2011 President's Award
KOA President's Award
Awarded to KOAs that meet exceptional quality standards and are recognized by their guests for outstanding service.
KOA Kamp Green Recognition
KOA Kamp Green Recognition
This KOA meets the established criteria to become a greener campground operation and is recognized by the "Kamp Green" icon.
Great Sunsets are our specialty! Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA is the only campground on the west side of our island so come watch the sky melt into sunset pastels from your waterfront site or our beach area. No RV? No problem! Enjoy our waterfront Airstreams, lodges or studio lodges.
Now you can stay in a New Airstream! Come spend the night in an American icon at the Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA! Experience the nostalgia and romance that only an Airstream travel trailer can provide. These special units are fully outfitted and ready for you to enjoy while you experience all that our KOA has to offer. Our Airstream sleeps up to four people, and includes a queen bed and two twin beds. You'll have all of the comforts of home while you stay in the world's most unique and recognizable RV - all just a short stroll to the Atlantic shoreline.
While camping at Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA, watch the sky melt into sunset pastels from your waterfront site. Waterfront sites are perfect for Atlantic shoreline camping. Encompassed by 3,500 feet of Atlantic shoreline along the entrance to Acadia National Park, you’ll also be able to enjoy nature’s beauty from the private, rocky beach. Regular shuttle service allows campers to enjoy all the amenities of the campground and the local area. Whale watching and fishing boats hire out, kayaks are available to rent and restaurant specials include lobster and blueberry pie.
Meet Your Hosts
Bar Harbor Oceanside KOA Kampground manager Ronald Frederick has been a camper since he received his first tent when he was just five years old.
Before becoming a KOA Kampground manager, Ron spent years in both the Human Resources and Marketing departments at the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity cruise lines companies.
He worked at Yellowstone National Park in 2002 and then at campgrounds in North Carolina and Florida. By 2004, he'd camped in KOAs across the country and experienced the wide range of activities and facilities they offer. Ron decided he wanted to be a part of KOA family and take the helm at the Boston/Cape Cod KOA. From there, he's moved up the coast to Bar Harbor.
As a camper and traveler himself, Ron - who has traveled to 49 U.S. states and 37 different countries - loves to make camping easy so guests can effortlessly enjoy all the beauty and fun of the Bar Harbor area.
"I am very proud of the deeply peaceful, some say serene, aspects of our campground, which clearly rests and refreshes the harried contemporary family," says Ron.
"Since our campground has about 3,200 feet of shoreline, our camping experience is very much ocean oriented. Along our shoreline here on Mt. Desert Island, we have extreme tidal changes of as much as 18 feet. I enjoy it when families arrive and set up their camp at high tide, go to bed and then get up looking very surprised to find the ocean has "gone away" at the low tide," says Ron.
"It's also fun to observe our guests enjoying their first-ever Maine lobster dinners. Last summer, some children (who enjoyed hamburgers while their parents devoured their steamed lobsters) were heard saying, "Mom and Dad - we can't believe you had to eat the whole animal!"
Campground Amenities
- Free shuttle between Woodlands & Oceanside and other local attractions.
- KOA Express Fun Train
- Basketball
- Families
- Waterfront sunsets compliments of Mother Nature
- Kayak rentals (available with charge) at waterfront
- Saturday night movies
- RV clubs & rallies
- Discounted Tour Tickets
- Planned activities available
- Playground
- Military clubs
- Morning Cafe
Campground Activities
Recreation
Here at the Bar Harbor KOA, our recreation team has discovered the cure for spring fever: planning summer camping getaways! It's actually part of our job to create a fun experience for our campers-a task we don't take lightly. Whether you're paddling one of our kayaks or unwinding at the Woodlands pool, boredom is not an option.
KOA Express Fun Train
The KOA Express chugs through camp, with your conductor pointing out campground highlights. All aboard!
Pancake Breakfasts
At our pancake breakfasts we serve up a scrumptious stack of pancakes hot off the griddle. We round out the meal with sausage links, coffee and orange juice. You eat up; we'll clean up!
Top Your Own Sundae
I scream, you scream, we all scream for sundaes! We serve up your favorite toppings such as chocolate syrup and whipped cream, and a chance to mingle with your fellow campers.
KOA Campfire Time
When the sun goes down, campfire time begins. Gather around the fire pit and get acquainted with fellow campers. Campfire time promises all the classics: toasting marshmallows and eating s'mores.
Tie-Dye - Get Groovey!
Bring a piece of your trip home with you: make a t-shirt during craft hour. Your tie-dyed t-shirt will be a wearable memento from your vacation. With a demonstration and all supplies provided, this retro activity satisfies campers of all ages. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to tie dye!
Kayak rentals on site
Paddles, Lifejackets, Safety Equipment Included
Sunset patio available for group picnics or parties
Playground, Basketball, and Saturday Night Movies
We even have a playground for your dogs, Kamp K9.
Private beach - ocean swimming and fishing - boat launch area
Bikes
Low rider bikes to cruise around the campground available everyday by the hour or half day. Tiny Tikes too!
Outpost Kafe
Enjoy sunrise with a Latte! You'll find muffins, hot chocolate, juice, soda, coffee, and tea as well as Whoopie Pies and Ice-cream on the weekend evenings. The Outpost Kafe is located at the Bar Harbor KOA. The Woodland KOA guest is welcome too!
Local Attractions
Acadia National Park
Park Loop Road - Enjoy spectacular coastal views. Park Loop Road winds past some of Acadia's most popular sights. Carriage Roads are for walking, jogging, cycling and horse drawn carriage rides. Hiking/Walking trails are abundant, 120 miles of trails to enjoy! Hike, bike or drive Cadillac Mountain. The fresh water lakes are heaven for canoeing, kayaking and for the swimming enthusiasts. Park wildlife can be seen from land, air and sea. Seal, deer, beaver, squirrel, puffin, osprey, fox, coyote and otter roam free in the park as well as song birds, ducks, shorebirds and birds of prey. Try the Photographer's Paradise - Photo walks daily in July and August led by a Kodak representative. Spectacular sunsets are a regular occurrence.
Sea Kayaking
Kayak, paddle and safety equipment rentals are available right here at the campground. Once you're outfitted with gear, launch your kayak from our private beach and enjoy an afternoon on the water. Check at our KOA tour counter for information.
Brewing Companies
Atlantic Brewing Company
(800) 475-5417
Take a free tour of Bar Harbor's premier microbrewery and sample the beer, which is available for purchase as well.
Bar Harbor Cellars at Sweet Pea's Farm
207-288-3907
Wine enthusiasts will want to stop at Bar Harbor Cellars for a tasting and tour.
Bar Harbor Brewing Company
207-288-4592
Bar Harbor's first microbrewery, just five minutes from downtown Bar Harbor.
Nature Tours
Down East Nature Tours
207-288-8128
Birdwatchers will adore this field trip focusing on migratory birds and native birds, including Bald Eagles, osprey, peregrine falcons, shorebirds, warblers and woodpeckers. Tours can be designed for individuals, small groups, families and couples. This is truly a unique and enjoyable learning experience.
Mount Desert Oceanarium
Mount Desert Oceanarium
207-288-5005
At this Lobster Hatchery and Oceanarium, you will learn all about lobsters. Stop by the Lobster Museum and stroll the Marsh Walk to gain a deeper appreciation of Maine's ecosystem.
Arts, Crafts and Antiques
An enchanting array of shops, galleries, and specialty boutiques offer an unusual and distinctive collection of handcrafted and Maine-made items. Maine painters, several nationally known, are represented in galleries throughout the island. Quaint antique shops appear in almost every town.
Lighthouses
Today all Maine lighthouses are automated. There are five area lighthouses. The Bass Harbor Headlight is one of the most photographed lighthouses on the East Coast. A path to the ocean provides splendid views of the light.
Kebo Valley Golf Club
207-288-3000
Step onto the green of the eighth oldest golf course in the country. Consistently ranked as a top course in New England, Kebo Valley Club borders Acadia National Park, so it is not uncommon to sight soaring eagles or other wildlife. Enjoy a day of golf on this par 70, 18-hole course.
Music
Bar Harbor's Music Festival is "acclaimed as one of the nation's proving grounds for gifted young artists." Band concerts are held on the Bar Harbor Village Green in July and August. One production company presents traditional and ethnic musical entertainment.
Whale Watching
Bar Harbor Whale Watching Tours
207-288-2386
The number one tour guide in the area offers a variety of excursions. They offer daily trips with a naturalist on board; inside and outside seating is available. Ask at our KOA tour counter for discounted tickets and free shuttle service.
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is the largest town on the island. The harbor bustles with sightseeing cruises, windjammers, whale watching cruises, the Nova Scotia Ferry and the constant flow of private vessels. Over 40 cruise lines from around the world drop anchor in Bar Harbor annually. Maine made craft items including baskets, pottery, wood crafted items, jewelry, t-shirts and locally produced food items - fill the shops, boutiques and galleries. For more information, visit the Chamber of Commerce online.
The Quiet Side of the Island
On the quiet side of the island small towns and villages offer the charm and peacefulness of years gone by, each with their own personality, offering a variety of things to do and see. One can tour area lighthouses, dig into a lobster dinner while overlooking a marina, explore the charm of a classic New England village on the National Register of Historic Places or simply rest on a lovely point suspended in time.
Off-shore Islands
The out islands of Great Cranberry and Little Cranberry offer a charm of their own. Great Cranberry is a popular place for cycling while Little Cranberry offers a weaver's and potter's studio.
Acadia Tours
Acadia and Island Tours - Oli's Trolley
207-288-9899
All aboard Oli's Trolley for an historical tour of the days gone by, back to the cottage days of Bar Harbor with whimsical tales of a lost era. Then tour through the highlights of Acadia National Park. This is fun for the whole family. We offer 2 1/2 or one hour trolley tours with stops for walks and pictures. Discounted tickets are available at our front desk.
acadiatours@aol.com
Acadia and Bar Harbor Tours
207-288-0300
Acadia and Bar Harbor Tours includes 2 1/2 hours of the best sights, sounds and stories available with 3 - 15 minute stops in Acadia National Park. Tour includes Bar Harbor, mansions, Cadillac Mtn., Park Loop Rd., Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs, etc. Native naturalists give a thorough and humorous narrative. 50 yrs. of informing and entertaining satisfied customers.
coughdrop@acadia.net
Bikes
Acadia Bike
207-288-9605 or 800-526-8615
Acadia Bike features the largest bicycle rental fleet in New England, so you're sure to get the bike you want. Enjoy Acadia's natural wonders as you pedal the car-free carriage roads or Park Loop Road. All sizes, plus tandems, trailers and kids' bikes.
abckt@prexar.com
Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop
207-288-3886 or 800-824-2453
The Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop has been serving the public for over 25 years with friendly, courteous service, rentals, sales and repairs. Helmets, locks, maps and child seats are included. They also rent tandems, kids' bikes, babypacks, trailers, jogger strollers and packs.
bhbike@acadia.net
Climbing Schools
Atlantic Climbing School
207-288-2521
Learn to rock climb on the spectacular granite seacliffs of Acadia National Park. We offer professional instruction for anyone - complete beginners to advanced climbers of any age or fitness level. Atlantic Climbing School courses are small, personalized and tailored to suit each client. All equipment is provided. Individuals, families and groups are welcome.
acsclimb@acadia.net
Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School
288-8186 or 888-232-9559
Enjoy personalized rock or ice climbing instruction on the scenic seacliffs of Acadia or on a regional or international destination trip. At Acadia Mountain, all instruction is customized to the needs of individuals, families and groups of any ability. Guides have world-wide climbing experience spanning three decades and are individually certified by the American Mountain Guide's Association.
climb@acadiamountainguides.com
Downeast Windjammer Cruises and Bar Harbor Ferry
207-288-4585 or 207-546-2927
Downeast Windjammer and schooner cruises offer ferry service, cruises and 4 hour fishing trips. The Margaret Todd is the only four-masted schooner on the waters of New England! Bring your binoculars and keep a look out for bald eagles, seals and porpoise. Windjammer runs boats daily from June through September. Discounted tickets and shuttle service are available at our front desk.
decruise@midmaine.com
Bar Harbor Ferry
207-288-2984 or 207-546-2927 Enjoy spectacular views as you travel between Bar Harbor and Winter Harbor. You'll pass by lighthouses, mountains, fishing villages, mansions, and lobstermen hauling their traps during the one hour trip. Explore the scenic waterfront and shops. Bike the 12 mile loop around the Schoodic Point section of Acadia National Park. Enjoy Bar Harbor with its shopping, museums, restaurants and more.
Downeast Sailing Adventures
888-405-SAIL (7245)
Step back in time aboard an Acadia Tradition. Sail aboard the schooner Rachel B. Jackson. The Rachel B. Jackson was built in Maine and is a working replica of an 1890's coastal schooner. Experience an authentic vessel of another era as you help set sail and take a turn at the helm. Or you may just wish to sit back and relax on the 2 1/2 hour trip and let your crew make this adventure the highlight of your Bar Harbor Vacation. Visit Downeast Sailing Adventures online for more information.
Lulu Lobster Boat Ride
207-963-2341 or 866-235-2341 (toll free in Maine only)
Discover Bar Harbor's most exclusive, personal and unique sightseeing cruise. Join Captain John on Lulu, a traditional Downeast lobster boat, for a two-hour tour of Frenchman Bay. A maximum of 15 passengers enjoy an up-close demonstration of lobster fishing, fascinating seal watching and breathtaking coastal scenery. Share the Captain's interest in nature and local history and folklore. For more information, visit Lulu Lobster online or email at linfo@lululobsterboat.com
Kid's Corner
MDI is loaded with an assortment of activities for kids from 5 to 75. From the Lobster Hatchery to a round of miniature golf, there is fun for all.
Upcoming Events
Blessing of the Fleet and Seafarer's Memorial Day Festival
Observe the traditional opening of the sailing and boating season. The clergy of the Maine Sea Coast Mission, from aboard their vessel the Sunbeam, bless each boat as it passes by in procession, with a memorial service following.
The Taste of Bar Harbor 2012
The Taste of Bar Harbor 2012 is happening Saturday, May 12 - Saturday, May 19. The festival kicks off with a Pub Crawl at participating restaurants on Saturday, May 12 followed by Sunday (Mother's Day) Brunch. A $20.12 menu will be offered at participating restaurants all week long, but save room for dessert on Thursday, Desert Night. We are bringing back the exclusive Chef's Table on Friday evening and wrapping up the festival with the Merchant's Association Sidewalk Stroll on Saturday, May 19.
Bar Harbor Music Festival Held nightly throughout July in 2012
Critics call the Bar Harbor Music Festival "one of the nation's proving grounds for gifted young artists." With several weekly concerts, from classical to string-quartet jazz and even opera, the music aficionado will not be disappointed.
Bar Harbor Parade and Seafood Festival July 4
Start Independence Day off with blueberry pancakes, followed by an old-fashioned hometown parade. Directly following the parade, the Seafood Festival takes place at the athletic field on the corner of Park and Main. Thousands of people will attend, and hundreds of pounds of lobster, corn-on-the-cob and mussels will be prepared to perfection.
July 7, 2012 Annual Native American Festival and Basketmakers Marke at the College of the Atlantic Campus, Bar Harbor, Maine
The festival is a celebration of Native culture, with events including storytelling, traditional music, wood carving and traditional dancing. Artists from four area tribes (Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot) will demonstrate craft-making and beadwork, with items for sale.
Bar Harbor Jazz Festival
The Bar Harbor Jazz Festival features nine days of jazz with shows all over town. Venues include outdoor cafés, The Criterion Theatre, restaurants, pubs and the Village Green. August 16-19, 2012
