Vanlife Weekly: Quiet Shores on Maine’s Midcoast

September on the Maine coast feels like an exhale. The summer crowds have thinned, but lobster shacks are still open, the air is salt-crisp, and the nights cool enough to pull a blanket tight. This week I followed Route 1 from Rockland to Acadia, balancing work hours with shoreline walks and harborside sunsets.

Trip Map

Rockland → Camden → Belfast → Ellsworth → Acadia National Park (via Route 1).

Camps & Parking

• Megunticook Campground (Rockport): Private campground with Wi-Fi strong enough for video calls. Pricey, but reliable for remote work.

• Moose Point State Park lot (Belfast): Day-use only, but a beautiful picnic and lunch stop with ocean views.

• Walmart (Ellsworth): One night in the back corner; permitted, with security making rounds.

• Blackwoods Campground (Acadia NP): Reserved ahead, shaded sites, and easy access to the park loop road.

Note: Along Route 1, overnight parking rules are strict—always confirm before settling in.

Daily Rhythm

• Mornings: Coffee brewed on the camp stove, then laptop work from the van with the door cracked open to salt air.

• Midday: Short drives between towns, scouting quiet pullouts for lunch. Often stopped at harbor piers to stretch and watch lobster boats.

• Afternoons: Either another work block (when Wi-Fi or cell signal allowed) or short hikes like Camden Hills’ Mount Battie or Acadia’s Ocean Path.

• Evenings: Seafood dinners, long shoreline walks, journaling, and stargazing when skies cleared. Nights dipped into the low 50s, perfect for sleeping under a quilt.

Meals & Coffee

• Breakfasts: Greek yogurt with granola and wild blueberries bought roadside.

• Lunches: Tuna wraps with cheddar and spinach, eaten at harborside picnic tables.

• Dinners:

  • Rockland: Lobster roll at Claws—market price but worth the splurge.

  • In-camp: Linguine tossed with garlic, olive oil, and mussels bought fresh from a dockside stand.

• Coffee stops: Rock City Coffee (Rockland) and Bell the Cat (Belfast) both offered solid Wi-Fi and friendly atmospheres.

Tip: Buy seafood directly from local wharfs; it’s cheaper and fresher than roadside shacks.

Budget (USD)

• Campgrounds & fees: $92 (3 nights split between private and national park)

• Fuel: $83 (Route 1 is scenic but slow, with stop-and-go traffic)

• Groceries: $55

• Coffee & dining out: $41

• Park entry (Acadia, 7-day pass): $35Total: $306

Gear I Loved

• Portable Wi-Fi booster: Helped stabilize weak campground signals.

• Cast iron skillet: Ideal for searing mussels and reheating leftovers.

• Down quilt: Kept nights cozy without running the heater.

• Compact binoculars: Great for spotting seals and seabirds along the coast.

Lessons Learned

• Plan ahead for campgrounds. September is quieter, but Acadia still books up—reservations are a must.

• Mind the tides. Parking spots near shorelines can flood during high tide; check tide charts before settling in.

• Pack bug spray. Mosquitoes linger even into September, especially near marshy pullouts.

• Signal is patchy. Between Belfast and Ellsworth, cell service drops. Download offline maps and prep work in advance.