Lamoine State Park
4.6(490)google
5.0(4)yelp
CampingCoastFamily
Overview
Lamoine State Park is a public recreation area occupying 55 acres (22 ha) on the shore of Frenchman's Bay in the town of Lamoine, Maine. The state park offers broad views of the mountains on Mount Desert Island, the narrow Eastern Bay portion of Frenchman Bay, and Lamoine's working waterfront. It is managed by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-6 hours
Best TimeJune through August is peak season for this hidden gem. Offering an escape from Mount Desert Island's crowds, it is best visited on clear mornings around 10:00 AM, when sunlight beautifully illuminates Frenchman Bay and provides crisp, unobstructed views of Cadillac Mountain's northern slopes. It is also a premier summer campsite with minimal light pollution for stargazing.
Getting ThereSituated on the mainland shore just north of the island. Access is easiest by car: from downtown Ellsworth, take ME-184 South (Lamoine Beach Road) straight south for approximately 8 miles to drive directly through the park gates and shoreline campground. As it is outside the Island Explorer transit zone, non-drivers will need to hire a local taxi service from Ellsworth.
Travel Tips
- Managed independently by the Maine Bureau of Parks, federal NPS passes are invalid here; entry requires purchasing a state daily pass ($6 for non-residents) at the self-service automated kiosk using cards or exact cash.
- This mainland state park serves as a high-utility, cost-saving RV camping alternative to MDI with full waterfront views, dump stations, and hot showers; peak summer weekends mandate online pre-booking via the state portal 2 weeks out.
- The state park features an expansive, unheight-restricted open lot optimized for extra-long trailers; state agricultural statutes enforce a rigid quarantine on firewood, banning all out-of-county logs to stop boring beetle vectors.
Reviews
Positive
- Nestled along Frenchman Bay looking across at Acadia, the mountain visuals are grand; the wild gravel beach delivers pure pristine tranquility.
- The campground and trail infrastructure is highly regulated and mature; freshwater wash-downs and benches are ample, and restrooms stay clean.
- Park rangers display gentle and dedicated New England hospitality; campfire and site caps are managed orderly, ensuring high safety security.
- Charging an incredibly minimal entry fee per vehicle grants access to a quiet wilderness free of massive crowds, offering unbeatable value.
Heads up
- Preserving raw coastal features means the beach is entirely sharp stones and coarse cobblestones, lacking comfortable fine sand for young kids.
- Located in a rural zone away from town hubs, public transit is non-existent; if driving visitors lack cold-chain food, nearby convenience stores are rare.
- During summer and fall weekend peaks, premier waterfront RV lots fill up early, and grass sections become muddy with water puddles after rain.
- Outside of natural strolls and kayaking, it lacks modern digital interactive amenities, making it a bit dull for thrill-seeking youths.