Road Listings:
This is a list of all of the roads on the island. The best part of Hermit Island is that each road is different. Some are in the dunes, others on rocky bluffs, while others are deep in the woods, crawling up hills, or stretching down scenic routes. You can be driving, and one minute you are in the dunes, the next you are on a rocky bluff overlooking Casco Bay, the next you are in a deep, enchanted forest. That is the beauty of Hermit Island. Each listing contains a description of the road, where it is located, and what are the best sites to stay in on the road. The island will give you the choice of what road you want to stay on, and that choice is key to a pleasant stay on Hermit Island.
1. Apple Bowl: A very short dead end street located off of Island Road. Apple Bowl is a great place to camp because there is absolutely no traffic on the street due to the short length of it. There are six sites on Apple Bowl, all of which are value sites. It is also a very shady street, with a lot of overhead cover provided by the trees. To get to Apple Bowl, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then go about half the way down; it is located just before the second entrance to Harbor Grove, on the right. The best sites on the street are numbers 2 and 3 Apple Bowl. see campsites
2. Bayberry: A very hilly street that connects Lee Side Way with Island Road. This is also a very hard road for campers and bikes, because there is a giant, steep hill in the middle of the road. Even so, it is somewhat shady, with most of the sites being more wooded. Also, all of the five sites on the road are choice sites. To get to Bayberry, take Lee Side Way out and then take your second right. The best sites on Bayberry are numbers 21 and 22. see campsites
3. Bowline Knot: Bowline Knot is a small, narrow road that connects Western Reach to Cross Island. It also contains an unnamed, small dead end street which is part of Bowline Knot. The road is very shady, as it is deep in the woods. Due to the dead end, it is a great place for peace and quiet because there are no cars passing by. Also, all of the sites on the road are value sites. To get to Bowline Knot, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a right on Cross Island/Haul. Then take your first right. The best sites on the road are numbers 6 and 8 Bowline Knot. see campsites
4. Boxhaul: Boxhaul is a circle street that winds around and back onto Western Reach. Even so, there is extremely limited traffic on the road. The best part about the street is it is very open and sunny. The street has eight sites, all of which are choice sites. There is also a path to the left of 5 Boxhaul that leads out to Dune Way. To get to Boxhaul, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then a left on Western Reach, bear left at the fork, finally followed by taking your first left onto Boxhaul. The best sites on the street are numbers 1 and 8 Boxhaul. see campsites
5. Branch: Branch is a waterfront road which runs between Island Road and Harbor Grove. It runs parallel to the ocean, actually the harbor. The fifteen sites on Branch are mostly choice sites which all are waterfront, but there are some value sites on the opposite side of the road. Even though the road is waterfront, the road and the sites on it are mostly shady and wooded. Branch is also very close to the middle Island Road showers and bathroom. To get to Branch, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, and then finally take a right, right after the left turn onto Western Reach, onto Branch. The best sites on the street are numbers 4 and 5. see campsites
6. Channel: Channel is an extension of Landfall that runs up into Topside Way. It is the northern most road on the island, and is also extremely wooded. It is also very hilly, as it runs through the forest. Channel contains six sites, all of which are value sites. The road also contains a pit toilet. A hiking trail leads from Channel all the way to Spring Beach, so it is great for easy hiking access. To get to Channel, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, take a left onto Cross Island/Haul, your first right onto Landfall, then continue up to Channel. The best sites on the road are numbers 1 and C Channel. see campsites
7. Circle: Circle is the name for a small circular road that crosses Island Road twice near the start of it. It is a great place for groups, as the sites are very close to one another. The road itself is also very close to the first flush toilet on Island Road. Circle contains eleven sites, with half of them being prime and the other half being choice. The prime sites all of partial views of Casco Bay. Overall though, the road is mostly wooded. To get to Circle, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then follow signs for Circle. The best sites on the road are 24 and 25 Circle. see campsites
8. Cross Island: Cross Island is the second largest road on the island, heading all the way from the western shore to the eastern shore of the island. It is also associated with Haul, which is part of Cross Island. Cross Island starts in the west atop a rocky bluff known as Osprey Point, overlooking the bay, as it heads down through the forest, and out to the eastern shore overlooking the harbor. For most of the road, Cross Island is wooded. It also contains many pit toilets, and the eastern end is close to a flush toilet on Island Road. Cross Island contains twenty two sites, ranging from ocean prime to prime to choice to even value sites. The main trail starting point for the island’s hiking trails is also on Cross Island. To get to Cross Island, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a left onto Cross Island/Haul. The best sites on the road are numbers 1 and 2 Cross Island, as they both have amazing views. see campsites
9. Dune Way: As you can guess from the name, Dune Way runs through the dunes on the southern shore of the island. The dunes are a great place to camp in due to the small amount of bugs and the proximity to the beach. Dune Way itself is very sunny with a lot of scrabbly vegetation. The road contains twenty six sites, being either prime or choice sites. It also has a flush toilet near the northern end and a path to Sand Dune Beach to the right of 40 Dune Way. There is also a small cul-de-sac off Dune Way, with sites that are great for groups. To get to Dune Way, take Lee Side Way out, then take your third right onto Dune Way. The best sites on the street are numbers 33W and 40 due to the proximity to the beach. see campsites
10. East Tack Way: East Tack Way (not East Track Way) is a short street that dips down to the coast from Island Road. The road runs parallel to the harbor, providing many waterfront choice sites. Even though it is waterfront, the road and surrounding sites are still all wooded, with plenty of shade. Out of the eight sites on the road, five are choice sites while the other three are value sites. (Note: Sites 7 and 7S are on Island Road even though they have an East Tack Way address.) The sites on the road are great for kayaks and canoes, due to the close proximity to the water. To get to East Tack Way, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a right onto one of the two entrances to the road. The best sites on East Tack Way are numbers 4 and 6. see campsites
11. Fairlead: Fairlead is a small road that runs from West Dune Way to Western Reach. It is both open and wooded, and it also has a large hill near the northern end of the road. Most of the road goes along the lily pond though, so do not try to pass during heavy rain as the road floods easily. Fairlead has five sites, all of which are wooded and choice sites. To get to Fairlead, take Lee Side Way to Dune Way, then take a left onto West Dune Way, followed by a right onto Fairlead. The best sites on the street are 5 and 6 Fairlead. On a final note, Fairlead is within walking distance of Sand Dune Beach. see campsites
12. Half Hitch: Half Hitch is a short road that connects Western Reach with Cross Island (the road is actually an extension of Shelter Valley). Half Hitch is extremely wooded, as it is located in the heart of the island. The road only has three sites, all of which are value sites. A great road for people who want to escape to the peace and quiet of Hermit Island’s thick forest. To get to Half Hitch, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a left on Western Reach. Head down Western Reach for a while, then take a right onto Half Hitch, right after the right on Jibboom. The best sites on the road are 1 and 2 Half Hitch. see campsites
13. Harbor Grove: Harbor Grove is an very long road that runs next to the harbor on the eastern shore of the island. Harbor Grove has forty sites, with about half being choice sites which are oceanfront, and the other ones being value sites with partial ocean views. Even though the road is waterfront, the sites on the road and the road as well are all wooded. Harbor Grove is very close to two flush toilets/shower houses on Island Road. The road also contains the yardarm, where there is a boat ramp available for free as well as docking. There is a lot of parking available at the yardarm, and this is also where the Yankee tours take off. This is great road for the balance between woods and ocean. To get to Harbor Grove, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a right onto one of the three road entrances. The best sites on the road are the choice sites on the ocean, as they are great for relaxing by the water. see campsites
14. Haul: Haul is actually part of Cross Island, running as the eastern end of Cross Island. The road is fully wooded, and is very close to the middle flush toilet/shower house on Island Road. The road itself contains only six sites, all of which are value sites. Haul ends down at Harbor Grove. Please note that all the sites on Haul are listed under a Cross Island address. To get to Haul, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a right or left onto Cross Island/Haul right after the middle shower house on Island Road. The best sites on Haul would have to be numbers 17 and 17N Cross Island. see campsites
15. Iris Downs: Iris Downs is the best place to camp if you are bringing a camper or tent trailer. All of the sites are open and very flat. Even so, there is no privacy whatsoever, as all of the sites are right next to each other and only separated by a fence. Iris Downs is a sunny loop road right in the dunes. The road connects Dune Way with Fairlead, and runs right next to West Dune Way. All of the five sites are choice sites, and all are close to the flush toilet on Dune Way. Again, this is the best place to camp for campers or tent trailers, and is great for large groups who need to rent multiple sites. To get to Iris Downs, take Lee Side Way to Dune Way, then take a left onto Iris Downs. The best site on the street is 9 Iris Downs. Finally, Iris Downs is within short walking distance to Sand Dune Beach. see campsites
16. Island Road: Island Road is the longest road on Hermit Island, running from the southern shore to the northern shore. Please note that the funny part though is that the road technically contains only two campsites, both of which are located at the southern end of the road. This is because the other sites that are actually on the road are listed under other nearby roads, so if you have a campsite on Island Road, the campsite may be listed under another road for it’s address. Island Road is mostly wooded, but the very tip of the northern curve is in the dunes. Island Road is also the only road to use to access the northern part of the island, including the northern beaches of Sailboat Beach, Bounty Cove Beach, and Sand Dollar Beach, as well as the island marina and various hiking trails. Each of the beaches, as well as the first white trail off of island road, have a parking lot. Island Road also has three flush toilet and shower facilities on it, as well as a boat trailer lot for extra trailer parking. The two best campsites on it are the only ones, 17 and 20E, with 17 being an ocean prime and 20E being a choice site. To access Island Road, take Lee Side Way, then take you’re first right next to the anchor onto Island Road. Overall, Island Road is the best road on the island for a day of sightseeing on the beaches, the bluffs, the hiking trails, and the various tide pools, that are close to the road. see campsites
17. Jibboom: This is a short road that connects Western Reach with Cross Island. The road is completely wooded, and there is very minimal traffic on the road, if the island had any traffic at all. There is a very small driveway off of Jibboom, which leads to sites 3 and 4. Overall, Jibboom only has five sites in total, all of which are value sites. The best sites on the road would have to be 3 and 4 Jibboom, which have a private driveway. Even so, all of the sites are fairly private and have plenty of shade. Jibboom is very close to both toilet and portable water facilities. To get to Jibboom, first take Lee Side Way to Island Road. Then take a left onto Haul/Cross Island a fair distance down Island Road. Finally, take your second left onto Jibboom off of Cross Island. see campsites
18. Jibe Way: Jibe Way is a curvy road on the southern part of the island. Jibe Way itself connects West Dune Way with Western Reach, while also containing a branch off to Shelter Valley. Jibe Way is mostly wooded, and is also very hilly as the road basically runs downhill to Western Reach. All of the five sites on the road are choice sites, but one of the advantages of staying on Jibe Way is that you are very close to both flush toilet and shower facilities as well as portable water facilities. The best sites on the road are 4 and 5 Jibe Way because of their view of the Lily Pond. On a final note, Jibe Way is within short walking distance of both Lagoon Beach and West Dune Beach. To access Jibe Way take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a left onto Western Reach right after East Track Way, bear left at the fork, then finally you’re third left onto Jibe Way. see campsites
19. Joe’s Head Road: Easily, the most scenic drive on the island, Joe’s Head Road is the main road over the rocky bluff of Joe’s Head. It is a dead end road, but even so, the views are exceptional. Most of the sites are subject to great views of Casco Bay, plus views of Sand Dollar Beach and Head Beach. It is an ideal road to stay on, because on top of having the best views on the island, Joe’s Head Road also has direct beach access onto Head Beach, located before 10 Joe’s Head Road. Joe’s Head Road is up on a hill, and although the first part of the road is completely wooded, one would emerge onto this wide open bluff at the southern end of the road, just try not to get the wooded sites of 8 and 9. Sites also have great access to toilets and potable water facilities, although the toilets on the road can be very smelly. Joe’s Head Road contains six sites, two of which are prime and four of which are ocean prime. One more note is to be careful when staying on the bluff which is the southern part of the road, as these sites can be very windy and have no protection when storms blow through. The best sites on Joe’s Head Road are numbers 10 and 12. Number 10 is the only site on the island with direct beach access to Head Beach, while 12 has great views of Casco Bay. To access Joe’s Head Road, take Lee Side Way and then take your first left onto Joe’s Head Road. If you are not staying on Joe’s Head Road, it is definitely worth the drive!!! see campsites
20. Landfall: Landfall is a very wooded road cutting through the island forest. It runs from Haul/Cross Island, connecting with Channel at the end of the road. Landfall is also one of the two roads that can be taken to access Pennant. All of the nine sites on Landfall are value sites, as they are deep in the woods. Even so, most of fairly shady and fairly private. All of the sites are also close to portable water facilities. The best sites on Landfall are numbers 1 and 6, as they are the most private. To access Landfall, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a left onto Haul/Cross Island, then your first right onto Landfall. Finally, please note if bringing a trailer to Landfall, it is best to come in via Channel as Landfall itself is very hilly. Overall, Landfall is great for people who want to relax in the deep woods of Hermit Island. see campsites
21. Lee Side Way: Lee Side Way is basically the main access road for the entire island, as it is the one you take to get onto Hermit Island. Even though it looks like it has a lot of sites on the map, the road itself contains only five sites, with four being prime and one being ocean prime. Lee Side Way runs along an unnamed marsh, as it provides great views of the wooded section of Joe’s Head. The road starts at the intersection of Island Road, and runs all the way to its ending point at Sand Dune Beach, making it a great place to stay for beach goers. Main beach access to Sand Dune Beach is located at the end of the road. The best site is 2 Lee Side Way, as it is actually the most photographed site on Hermit Island due to being right on the beach. The road itself is very open, as it basically runs in the dunes. It also contains two parking areas and beach access for Head Beach as well, located at the beginning of the road. see campsites
22. Luff Lane: Luff Lane is a small dead-end street, making it a great place to stay on due to having no traffic. Luff Lane is a small, wooded road, and is off of Cross Island. All of the four sites on it are value sites, but have the advantage of having no traffic going by them. Being in the woods, all of the sites are mostly shady. Luff Lane is also very close to bathroom and portable water facilities. The best sites on Luff Lane are numbers 3 and 4, as they are at the end of the road, and farthest away from the traffic on Cross Island. To get to Luff Lane, take Lee Side Way to Island Road. Then take a left onto Haul/Cross Island, followed by taking your fifth left onto Luff Lane. see campsites
23. Ocean Sweep: Ocean Sweep is constantly voted as both being the road with the best view on the island, as well as having the most constantly reserved sites. Ocean Sweep is located on Joe’s Head, right off of Joe’s Head Road, and is a very small dirt road that leads directly out to the ocean. It is also located on one of the highest points on the island, so the sites at the end of the road offer astounding views of Casco Bay. Being this, the road and the sites at the end of the road are very dangerous due to being very open, are easy targets for the storms, and are also very close to steep cliffs. There are four sites on the road, three of which are ocean prime, and one is a prime site. The campsites on the road are also close to bathroom and portable water facilities. The best sites on the road are numbers 6 and 6S due to their astounding views. To get to Ocean Sweep, take Lee Side Way to Joe’s Head Road, followed by your first right onto Ocean Sweep. see campsites
24. Pennant: A curved road that connects Channel to Landfall. Pennant runs on the southern side of the island, and is extremely wooded. All of the six sites on the road are value sites, and are extremely shady and partially private. Pennant is also close to portable water facilities. Overall, it is a great place to camp if you are looking for a quiet place deep in the woods. The best sites on the road are 1 and 4 Pennant. To get to Pennant, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take Haul/Cross Island to Landfall. Finally, take your first left on Landfall onto Pennant. see campsites
25. Shelter Valley: Shelter Valley is a wooded road that runs between Jibe Way and Western Reach. Shelter Valley is also close to the flush toilet and shower facility on West Dune Way. There are seven sites on Shelter Valley, all of which are choice sites. Like the name suggests though, Shelter Valley is a very sheltered road, having only moderate traffic, while also the peaceful serenity of the woods. Campsites on Shelter Valley are mostly shady, but do not have much privacy. To get to Shelter Valley, take Lee Side Way to Dune Way, then take your first left onto West Dune Way, followed by your second right onto Jibe Way, then finally take your first left onto Shelter Valley. The best sites on Shelter Valley are numbers 4 and 7. see campsites
26. Skysail: A small, wooded street that runs from Topside to Half Hitch. There are only five sites on Skysail, with three being choice sites and two being value sites. The road is great for people who want little traffic going by their campsite. Some of the sites on the road are mostly shady, while others are more sunny. The best sites on Skysail are numbers 4 and 5 Skysail. To access Skysail, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, followed by a left onto Haul/Cross Island. Then take your third left onto Half Hitch, followed by your first right onto Skysail. see campsites
27. Topside: Topside is more of a connection road, connecting Western Reach and West Dune Way with Cross Island and Channel. There are six sites on Topside, although numbers 5 and 6 are more on Channel rather than Topside (Topside becomes Channel near the end of the road). Two of the campsites on Topside are choice sites, while the other four are value sites. Even so, the road is mostly wooded, but it still is close to a beach access path for Lagoon Beach (located near southern end of the road). Even so, the traffic can be bad on Topside, so be prepared. The best campsites on the road are numbers 1 and 5 Topside. To access Topside, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, then take a left onto Haul/Cross Island, followed by either your forth left onto Topside or your second right onto Topside. see campsites
28. West Dune Way: West Dune Way has constantly been voted as the best road to stay on if you want to stay extremely close to the beach. In fact, most of the sites are either very close to the beach with amazing beach views, or have a private path to the beach. West Dune Way runs parallel to West Dune Beach, and has an access path for the beach located between 64 and 65 West Dune Way. There is also an access path to Sand Dune Beach, located next to 58 West Dune Way. On top of being next to the beach, West Dune Way also runs right next to the Lily Pond. Finally, there is also a path to Lagoon Beach located to the left of 66N West Dune Way. Most of the southern sites on the road have access paths to Sand Dune Beach, while most of the northern sites on the road have access paths to West Dune Beach or Lagoon Beach. To get to West Dune Way, take Lee Side Way to Dune Way, followed by your first left onto West Dune Way. The best campsites on West Dune Way are numbers 62 and 64. see campsites
29. Western Reach: Western Reach is one of the longest roads on Hermit Island, running all the way from Cross Island to Island Road. Even so, the road is full of twists and turns, so be sure to consult a map before camping on Western Reach. The road received its name because it runs from the eastern shore of the island to the western shore of the island. The road itself can be very different. The eastern and middle part of the road is wooded, while the western part sits on a rocky, wooded bluff overlooking the ocean. The road is also close to an access path located at the end of West Dune Way, located to the right of number 70. Most of the seventeen campsites on the road are wooded, and are close to portable water and toilet facilities. The best sites on Western Reach are numbers 12 or 13, because of their amazing views of Casco Bay. To get to Western Reach, take Lee Side Way to Island Road, followed be taking a left onto Western Reach. see campsites
