Bass Harbor Head Light: An Acadia RV Traveler's Guide
PickRV Editorial
The small team behind PickRV
Bass Harbor Head Light Station sits on a granite headland at the southern tip of Mount Desert Island, within Acadia National Park in Maine. Constructed in 1858, the white tower and keeper's house perch above the rocks where Bass Harbor meets the open sea. The National Park Service formally accepted transfer of the station in 2020, while the U.S. Coast Guard retains the active aid to navigation. It is one of Acadia's most beloved coastal landmarks.
Where is Bass Harbor Head Light and who manages it?
Bass Harbor Head Light stands on the southern end of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park, Maine. The National Park Service has managed the station since a 2020 transfer, while the U.S. Coast Guard maintains the active light. Confirm access and parking on the official NPS Acadia site before visiting.
- ·Built in 1858 on Mount Desert Island
- ·Within Acadia National Park, Maine
- ·Managed by the NPS; active light kept by the Coast Guard
Location
Mount Desert Island, Maine
Constructed
1858
Park
Acadia National Park
Managed by
National Park Service (since 2020)
Tucked at the southern tip of Mount Desert Island, Bass Harbor Head Light has guided vessels along this rugged shore since 1858, its tower rising directly from the pink granite that defines the Acadia coast.
Because it sits on the quieter western side of the island, the station offers a more contemplative counterpoint to Acadia's busier overlooks, with views out over the water toward the Cranberry Isles.
The light makes a natural addition to an Acadia itinerary, rounding out the park's mountains, carriage roads, and shoreline with a piece of working maritime history.
Official sources
Nearby & related
Keep planning Maine
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of Maine trip planning.
- Maine RV rental costFuel · camping · tax, sourced
- Maine RV-friendly campgroundsHookups, rig limits, booking tips
- Campervan & van rentals in MaineVan-life routes, rules & rigs
- Estuary reservesQuiet coastal reserves
- National grasslandsWide-open prairie drives
- Sand dunesDune fields worth the climb
- Deep trip guidesLong-form seasonal playbooks
Planning an RV trip near Bass Harbor Head Light: An Acadia RV Traveler's Guide?
Was this guide helpful?