Campground

Duck Harbor Campground

Campground
A park ranger and three other adults stand by a wood wayside with area information and directions

Duck Harbor Campground sits on Isle au Haut, a rugged island off the coast of Stonington, Maine - you get here by mailboat or your own boat, not by car. There are just five sites, each with a lean-to shelter and a fire ring, and every one of them books through Recreation.gov with the whole season released at 10 am on April 1. This is pack-it-in, pack-it-out camping with composting toilets, no showers, and no cell reception. If your family wants real island wilderness and a great launch point for paddling, this is the trip.

Quick facts

Reservation System
Recreation.gov - reservations are required, and camping without a reservation is prohibited.
Reservation Window
Reservations open 7 months in advance, and all reservations for the entire season are released at 10 am on April 1. Be at your computer that morning.
Reservation Tips
All reservations for the entire season release at 10 am on April 1, and bookings open 7 months in advance. With only 5 sites, have your Recreation.gov account logged in and your dates picked before the release.
Fills Up Speed
With only 5 sites for the whole island and the full season releasing at once on April 1, expect prime dates to go quickly.

Reservations & season

Reservation System
Recreation.gov - reservations are required, and camping without a reservation is prohibited.
Reservation Window
Reservations open 7 months in advance, and all reservations for the entire season are released at 10 am on April 1. Be at your computer that morning.
Reservation Tips
All reservations for the entire season release at 10 am on April 1, and bookings open 7 months in advance. With only 5 sites, have your Recreation.gov account logged in and your dates picked before the release.
Fills Up Speed
With only 5 sites for the whole island and the full season releasing at once on April 1, expect prime dates to go quickly.
Per Night Cost
$20.00 per night (Tent/Shelter Non-Electric), maximum 6 people per site.
Extra Vehicle Fees
Not applicable - the island is inaccessible to automobiles, so there is no vehicle parking at camp.

Sites & RV fit

Sites Total
5
Site Types
Walk/boat-to tent sites with lean-to shelters
Site Type Breakdown
5 tent-only, walk/boat-to sites with lean-to shelters; 0 RV, 0 group, 0 electric.
RV Max Length
0 feet - RVs and trailers are not allowed, and the island has no road access for vehicles.
Group Sites Available
0
Group Site Capacity
No group sites - each campsite is limited to six people.
Hookups
None - dry camping only. There are no electrical hookups, and generator use is prohibited.
Site Features
Lean-to shelter (stepped entrance), fire ring at each site, seasonal food storage lockers. Maximum six people per site.
Ground Type
Rocky and uneven ground - each site has a lean-to shelter so you are not fully dependent on finding a flat tent pad.
Site Privacy
With only five sites on a remote, boat-access island, you will not be listening to a neighbor's radio. Expect solitude, not a parking lot.

Facilities

Bathroom Types
Composting toilets, available seasonally.
Showers Available
None - no showers on site. Plan on a wash basin routine or wait until you are back on the mainland.
Potable Water
Yes, seasonally - potable water is available in season, but bring a backup jug or a filter for early and late trips.
Dump Station
No dump station - and no RVs anyway.
Trash Service
No trash or recycling collection - pack it in, pack it out. All trash must be carried off the island.
Camp Store
No camp store at the campground, and no ice for sale. There is a small village near the Isle au Haut Town Landing with a general store, seasonal gift shop, seasonal food shack, and post office.
Firewood Availability
No firewood for sale on site. Dead and downed wood may be collected near the campground. Do not bring your own firewood - it spreads non-native insects.
Cell Service
No cell phone reception and no internet. Download offline maps and tell someone your boat schedule before you leave the mainland.
Nearby Facilities
The village near the Isle au Haut Town Landing has a general store, seasonal gift shop, seasonal food shack, and post office. The ranger station near the landing has the only public restroom in town. Full services are back in Stonington on the mainland.

Access

Road Type
No roads - the campground is walk/boat-to only.
Road Conditions
You are not driving here. Boat in to Duck Harbor or take the Isle au Haut mailboat from Stonington, then travel on foot. Boat transportation may be limited especially at the beginning and end of the season.
Vehicle Restrictions
No vehicles at all - Isle au Haut and Duck Harbor Campground are inaccessible by car, and RVs and trailers are not allowed.
Clearance Needed
Not applicable - no vehicle access.
Gate Hours
No gates - but check-in and check-out time is 11:00 am. If you cannot arrive by 11:00 am the day after your scheduled arrival, call (207) 335-5551 or you will be marked a No Show and incur fees.
Distance From Entrance
Reached by boat from Stonington, Maine (or by private boat directly to Duck Harbor). The ranger station is 4 miles from the campground and 0.3 miles from the Isle au Haut Town Landing.
Nearest Gas Services
Fuel up and buy supplies in Stonington before the boat ride. On the island, the small village near the Town Landing has a general store and a seasonal food shack.
Accessibility
Not wheelchair-accessible. Terrain is rocky and uneven, trails are narrow, and lean-to shelters have a stepped entrance. Facilities are not accessible.
ADA Accessible Sites
None - Duck Harbor Campground and facilities are not accessible. Terrain is rocky and uneven, trails are narrow, and shelters have a stepped entrance.

Rules & safety

Food Storage Requirements
Food storage lockers are available seasonally - use them to keep critters out of your grub.
Fire Restrictions
Fires in the fire ring at each site. Collect only dead and downed wood near the campground, and never bring firewood from home.
Pet Restrictions
No pets allowed in the campground - leave the dog with a sitter for this one.
Generator Hours
Generator use is prohibited.
Quiet Hours
10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Max Stay Limit
Three nights maximum, and campers are limited to one stay per calendar year.
Alcohol Permitted
0

What it is like

Onsite Activities
The campground is a great launch point for paddling excursions, and island trails leave on foot from the Duck Harbor area. Birding on Isle au Haut is a listed park activity.
Trailheads Nearby
Island trails are reached on foot from the campground - terrain is rocky and uneven and trails are narrow, so break in your boots first.
Wildlife Viewing
Isle au Haut is a listed birding destination in Acadia - bring the binoculars for the kids.
Scenic Views
Duck Harbor sits on a rugged island off the Maine coast - harbor and coastal island scenery from the campground area.
Noise Level
Quiet by design - no vehicles on site and generator use is prohibited. Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Best Time To Visit
Mid-season is the safest bet - boat transportation may be limited at the beginning and end of the season, and potable water and toilets are seasonal.
Vibe Check
Remote island wilderness, plain and simple. No vehicles, no generators, no cell signal, and only five sites - expect quiet nights and real solitude rather than a busy campground loop.
Camp Here If Skip If
✅ BOOK IF: Self-sufficient tent campers and paddlers who want a remote, boat-access island with lean-to shelters and true quiet. ❌ SKIP IF: You have an RV or trailer (not allowed), need showers, hookups, or cell service, or are traveling with a dog (no pets).
Tips Advice
- Set an alarm for 10 am on April 1 - the entire season's reservations release at once on Recreation.gov. - Pack it in, pack it out: there is no trash service, so bring sturdy trash bags. - Do not bring firewood - collect dead and downed wood near the campground instead. - No cell service: download offline maps and leave your boat schedule with someone on the mainland. - Check-in and check-out is 11:00 am. Running late? Call (207) 335-5551 so you are not marked a No Show. - Buy supplies in Stonington before the boat - no camp store and no ice on the island.

More details

Park Area
Isle au Haut
Sites Tent Only
5
Family Friendly Notes
A real adventure for capable kids who can handle a boat ride and uneven ground, with a six-person limit per site. No showers, no store, and composting toilets - toddlers and gear-heavy families will find it demanding.
Amphitheater
No amphitheater.
Boat Launch
Duck Harbor itself is the landing - campers may boat in to Duck Harbor or take the Isle au Haut mailboat from Stonington. Check with the Isle au Haut Boat Services for the schedule.
Nearby Attractions
The ranger station (4 miles from camp, 0.3 miles from the Town Landing) is open mid-April to mid-October with maps, reading material, water, and the only public restroom in town. The village near the Town Landing has a general store, seasonal gift shop, seasonal food shack, and post office. The campground is also a passport stamp location.
Terrain Type
Rugged island terrain - rocky and uneven, with narrow trails.
Setup Strategy
There is no driving and no parking - you land by boat and walk in. Each of the five sites has a lean-to shelter with a stepped entrance and a fire ring, so plan gear you can carry from the landing. Ground is rocky and uneven; bring a sleeping pad that can handle it.
Bath Laundry Recon
Composting toilets (seasonal), no showers, and no laundry on site. The nearest public restroom is at the ranger station lobby near the Town Landing, 4 miles away. Plan on a wash basin and biodegradable soap routine.
Review Summary
Campers treat Duck Harbor as the quiet side of Acadia: five lean-to sites, boat-only access, and no crowds. The trade-off is logistics - mailboat schedules, carry-out trash, and no resupply - which is exactly why the people who go keep going back.

Location

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a reservation, or can I just show up?

Reservations are required and camping without one is prohibited. Book on Recreation.gov - reservations open 7 months out, and the entire season is released at 10 am on April 1.

Can I bring my RV or trailer?

No. RVs and trailers are not allowed, and the island is inaccessible by car - Duck Harbor is walk/boat-to tent camping only.

How do I actually get to the campground?

Boat in to Duck Harbor or take the Isle au Haut mailboat from Stonington, Maine. Check the schedule with Isle au Haut Boat Services - boat transportation may be limited at the beginning and end of the season.

Can I bring my dog?

No pets are allowed in the campground, so plan for a sitter.

Is there drinking water and a bathroom?

Potable water and composting toilets are available seasonally. There are no showers, and it is smart to carry a backup water plan for shoulder-season trips.

Can I have a campfire?

Yes - each site has a fire ring. Collect dead and downed wood near the campground, and do not bring your own firewood, which can spread non-native insects.

How long can I stay?

Three nights maximum, six people per site, and one stay per calendar year per camper. Check-in and check-out time is 11:00 am.

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Sources

Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.

Last updated July 2026. Report an issue.