Located along Maine’s rugged coastline, Acadia National Park is a year-round playground offering stunning scenic drives, short but exposed hikes, paddlesports, swimming, rock climbing, and more. With the charming New England town of Bar Harbor serving as the gateway to the park, word has certainly gotten out about this gem and its popularity has rocketed in recent years.
With nearly 4 million visitors annually, you won’t have the park to yourself, but with an early start and some careful planning it is possible to carve out solitude. We’ll show you how to plan the perfect visit based on our recent experience in September. Adventure on!
Acadia National Park Map
Below is a map of our trip including points of interest, activities, and restaurants. Toggle the sidebar for details.
Note: Acadia National Park charges a fee to enter. The fee is $35 per vehicle and is valid for 7 days. If you’re visiting several national parks within the year, we highly recommend purchasing the $80 America the Beautiful Pass. This pass covers access to all national parks, plus lands managed by the Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, and other agencies.
Day 1 | Park Loop Road
Today is a day spent exploring Park Loop Road, a scenic 27-mile road winding along the coastline and through the heart of Acadia National Park. This itinerary starts with hikes along the northeastern section of the road and works its way around clockwise in order to be the most efficient, as portions of the road are one-way traffic only.
Precipice Trail Loop
Perhaps the most fabled and feared trail in the park is the Precipice Trail. While very short, the trail climbs a vertical route up nearly 1,000 feet of the face of a cliff using a series of iron rungs and ladders. There are plenty of signs at the beginning of the trail to scare potential hikers, but if you are not afraid of heights or exposure, you’ll be just fine on the trail.
Our recommendation is to start early! Put this first on your day’s hiking agenda because the parking lot is small and you’ll want to avoid the getting stuck behind other groups on the ascent. We arrived around 7am and saw only a few other groups during the hike.
For us, the hike was pure fun! Scrambling up the rocks hearing the ocean waves crash below is such a unique experience. We took plenty of time for pictures and to savor the views and the hike. Once at the top, you do not descend the same way, but rather follow a gentle downwards path along the rock. The trail dumps you back out on Park Loop Road, which we chose to walk back to the car for a quicker return. The entire hike took us about 1.5 hours and was 2.2 miles in length.
Need to Know
- Parking: There is a small parking lot at the trailhead for about 15 cars.
- Tips: Travel light. Leave your hiking poles in the car and bring a small backpack with water so you can climb nimbly and hands-free. Start early!
Beehive, Gorham Mountain and Ocean Path Loop
Not even 5 minutes from the Precipice Trailhead is Beehive, another infamous and adventurous hike in the park. By now, this area will likely be swarming with people, so bring your patience.
The climb up Beehive is just as fun and exposed as Precipice. In fact, from where you park you should be able to see hikers making their way up the rungs of the trail along the top. Experiencing delays behind other groups was unavoidable at this point, so we again took our time and lots of pictures along the way. Once at the top, we continued along the trail counterclockwise reaching the scenic Bowl Pond, an unexpected body of water at the top. This is a great place for a rest and a snack.
Continuing on, you’ll reach the summit of Gorham Mountain which for us was practically deserted as compared to Beehive! There are also stunning ocean views.
The trail then continues its descent passing some pretty neat rock formations along the Cadillac Cliff Trail section. The final section is along Ocean Path, so be sure to stop at Thunder Hole and anywhere else that tickles your fancy.
This loop hike clocked in at 4.3 miles and 2.5 hours for us at a leisurely pace and with lots of stops.
Need to Know
- Parking: There is a large parking lot at Sand Beach, along with restrooms. If the lot is full, parking is available along Park Loop Road. Look for the clearly marked signs where roadside parking begins and ends.
- Tips: Travel light. Leave your hiking poles in the car and bring a small backpack with water so you can climb nimbly and hands-free.
Drive the Rest of Park Loop Road
Completing the drive along Park Loop Road is a great way to break up hiking, stop at a scenic overlook, or to have a picnic. You’ll pass Otter Point and then as you approach Jordan Pond traffic will become two-way again.
We had wanted to stop at Jordan Pond for another hike and for the famous popovers at Jordan Pond House but even with several large parking lots no spots were to be found. After circling around for over 15 minutes we gave up. If you arrive around lunchtime like we did, expect this to be the case. We recommend getting here before 10am for a better chance at a spot.
Dorr Mountain Ladder Trail
Located away from the fray of Park Loop Road, lies an unassuming trailhead just off Route 3. We feel Dorr Mountain Ladder Trail is a bit of a misnomer because there were only two ladders along the whole trail, but an insane amount of steps! In fact, the unrelenting and at times punishing steps climb over 1,000 feet before reaching the summit. It’s not a technical trail, but your heart rate will definitely spike.
Near the top, the trail heads along exposed bald rock to the summit where you’re treated to views of The Tarn lake and Bar Harbor below, with Cadillac Mountain looming behind. The descent is much milder along a well-graded path. The very end of the trail travels along boulders beside the water which was neat and different to other trails we hiked.
The trail loop was 3.2 miles in total and took us about 2 hours to complete. We saw only two other groups while on the hike!
Need to Know
- Parking: Parking is along the shoulder of Route 3 near the trailhead.
- Tips: Travel light. Leave your hiking poles in the car and bring a small backpack with water so you can climb nimbly and hands-free.
Day 2 | Bass Harbor Head Light Station, Carriage Roads & Bar Harbor
Bass Harbor Head Light Station
Bass Harbor Head Light Station is located on the very southwest corner of Mount Desert Island. Constructed in 1858, this historic lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Parking here is very limited (maybe 20 spaces or so) and there is no alternative parking on the road or in the general vicinity. This is why we recommend doing this visit first this in the morning. We were there around 9am on a weekday and had no trouble.
A visit here is a quick one. You can walk around the exterior of the lighthouse along a paved path and also walk down a set of stairs on the other side to get to rocks near the water. Unfortunately to get the best view of the entire structure, you’ll need to be intrepid and walk out on the rocks. Step carefully and avoid high tide.
Bike the Carriage Roads
Acadia boasts an impressive carriage road system spanning 45 miles on Mount Desert Island. John D. Rockefeller Jr. and family had the roads constructed over a period of 25 years and now biking those same roads is one of the most quintessential, and popular, activities in Acadia. They are closed to non-motorized traffic making it a fun and safe way to explore. If you were having trouble parking near Jordan Pond another day, getting there by bike may be just the ticket. There are plentiful bike racks near Jordan Pond House, no parking spot required!
Unfortunately for us, the day we had planned to bike the carriage roads it was predicted to rain over an inch. We definitely have this on our to-do list for our next visit.
Although we didn’t get to use the bikes, we had made an all-day bike rental reservation with Acadia Bike Rentals at Coastal Kayaking Tours. Reserving in advance guaranteed our bikes and we could pick them up any time between 9am-5pm, using them for as long or as little as we liked. Even better? Their generous cancellation policy (by 12pm the day prior) allowed us a full refund when the weather forecast was poor. We plan to book with them again!
Source: National Park Service
Explore Bar Harbor
As the largest community on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor is worth at least one visit for part of the day. Here you can find food and drink galore, do some souvenir shopping, and find local, handmade arts and crafts. You can also walk the Shore Path along Frenchman Bay for more epic coastline views.
Due to the rain, we treated this day as a rest day on our longer trip throughout New England. Some places we stopped at and really enjoyed were:
- Blaze: We stopped at this craft brewery for a pint of beer, which was delicious. Although we didn’t eat, their pizza looked delicious!
- Bar Harbor Lobster Pound: Located along Route 3, this Lobster Pound always had line so we knew there were doing something right! We ordered their House Special lobster rolls (warm lobster tossed in a lemon garlic aioli) which were served with divine homemade crispy-chips. You order at the window, take a number, and find a seat. There is a ton of outdoor seating on picnic benches, as well as a small indoor eating area. We arrived just after noon and didn’t have to wait in line long AND were able to get a seat inside which was key due to the rain. Turnover is pretty frequent.
- Helen’s Restaurant (Ellsworth): We stopped in for a piece of their award-winning blueberry pie to go, as it was on the way to our grocery store outing. The slice was enormous, and tasty!
Day 3 | Southwest Harbor (The Quiet Side)
The western side of Mount Desert Island sees far fewer visitors than areas to the east, near Bar Harbor. If you are looking to escape the crowds and have a truly difference experience, we can’t recommend this area enough!
Kayaking Excursion
Paddling on the water gives a new, unique perspective of Acadia. We booked a morning, 4-hour Aqua-Safari tour with Maine State Sea Kayak and had a fantastic experience. We actually ended up being the only ones on our tour!
At the shop, our enthusiastic guide explained what we could expect, gave a paddling lesson and safety brief, and fitted us with spray skirts and life jackets.
We then piled on to the van that would take us and our gear to the starting point. One of the things we really liked about the tour is that when possible, they do a point-to-point paddle, meaning no backtracking over territory. We covered about 4.5 miles in the Mount Desert Narrows. We saw no other paddlers and just a handful of other boats the entire time. The peacefulness was amazing, but so was the wildlife! We saw loons, cormorants, seals, harbor porpoises, bald eagles, kingfisher, blue heron, and even a stone crab during a brief stop on a beach.
We ended near Seal Cove, pulling out the kayaks and getting back in the van to the starting point. This was one of our favorite activities in Acadia!
Need to Know
- Reservations: Advance reservations are necessary and can be made on Maine State Sea Kayak’s website. We paid $88 per person for our 4-hour tour.
- Tour Types: Different tours of varying length are offered depending on the season. In addition to Southwest Harbor, tours also depart from Bar Harbor. We chose Southwest Harbor in order to be on “the quiet side” and to take advantage of the free parking at their shop (not available in Bar Harbor). Note for our tour we were required to check-in 40 minutes early (at 7:50am) so factor that in when booking.
- Included: In addition to the guide and transportation to/from paddling locations we were given a spray skirt, life jacket, and dry bag to store our belongings. We used a tandem, rudder-steered sea kayak, which is typical of their tours.
- Tips: Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, water, a snack, camera, and binoculars. Make sure to wear stable, waterproof footwear (we wore our Keen sandals) and layers that are not cotton (it can be chilly on the water).
More Lobster!
We enthusiastically recommend eating as much lobster as your stomach and wallet can afford while in Maine! Nearby, we ate lunch at Beal’s Lobster Pier. Operating since 1932, Beal’s is a working fish and lobster pier serving up fresh seafood at their restaurant next door.
We ordered a traditional lobster roll and lobster grilled cheese, both of which came with (bagged) chips. If you haven’t had a blueberry soda in Maine yet, now is the time. We absolutely loved our lunch (we thought the lobster was slightly better than at the Bar Harbor Lobster Pound) and the location alongside the pier was pure magic.
Acadia Mountain and Man O War Trail
This hike heads up the Man O War Trail and over to the summit of Acadia Mountain. At the top, hikers are treated to gorgeous views of Somes Sound. We watched as sailboats cruised through the glittering water below.
This hike had hardly anyone on it and it took us about 1.5 hours to complete the 2.75-mile loop. We recommend going counterclockwise to head up some of the steep scrambles first.
Need to Know
- Parking: There are small parking lots right near the trailhead, and space to park along the road.
- Tips: Travel light. Leave your hiking poles in the car and bring a small backpack with water so you can climb nimbly and hands-free.
Golf of Maine Marine Adventures Miniature Golf
We love playing miniature golf and try to find a course every place we visit. Golf of Maine was so unique and well-manicured. It is well worth a visit while in Acadia! We had a blast playing the Maine-themed course.
Need to Know
- Hours: Hours vary seasonally, so check their website for the most current information.
- Fees: We paid $12 per adult for an 18-hole round of golf. No reservations, just show up!
Day 4 | Nature Cruise & The Schoodic Peninsula
Rounding out a long weekend in Acadia, this day has you hitting the water one last time and venturing out to the Schoodic Peninsula, which we promise is even quieter than Southwest Harbor!
Beech Cliff Ladder and Canada Cliff Loop
Seeking an early-morning activity before our boat cruise, we headed back towards Southwest Harbor to hike the Beech Cliff Ladder and Canada Cliff trails. Departing from Echo Lake Beach, the trail climbs up using a series of really fun (and long!) ladders. The views at the top tower over Echo Lake, but unfortunately it was too foggy on the morning we visited to see much. Nevertheless the 2-mile hike was a great way to start the day in solitude and took us just over an hour to complete.
Need to Know
- Parking: There is a very large parking area at Echo Lake.
- Tips: Travel light. Leave your hiking poles in the car and bring a small backpack with water so you can climb nimbly and hands-free.
Sightseeing & Nature Cruise
For yet another perspective on the water, and one not under our own paddle power, we booked a 2-hour boat tour with Acadian Nature Cruises. We had a great experience as the cruise was fully-narrated by live guides who provided a history of the area and pointed out areas of interest and wildlife.
We went through Frenchman Bay, taking in cliffside mansions and hugging the shoreline where we had just hiked a few days ago. We reached Thunder Hole and then headed out towards Egg Rock Lighthouse where there were incredible amounts of seals lounging on nearby rocks and fishing in the water. Throughout the tour we also saw nearly half a dozen bald eagles, loons, and pods of harbor porpoises simultaneously jumping out of the water. Even though it was a cloudy and overcast day, we had a great time on this tour and felt it was worthwhile.
Need to Know
- Tour Types: Different tours of varying length are offered throughout the season. There is everything from a sunset tour to fishing to the sightseeing and nature cruise we did. You can browse the offerings and book on their website. We paid $42 a person for our tour.
- Parking: The tour departs from the dock at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel about 1.5 miles from downtown Bar Harbor. There is free parking at the hotel. The parking lot has restrooms, a check-in counter for the cruise, and golf cart ready and waiting to drive you down to the pier.
- Tips: Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to the tour departure, so for a prime seat on the top of the boat, try to arrive at least 20 minutes ahead.
- There is a small (cash only) snack bar onboard, but if you follow this itinerary and want a great coffee to bring aboard, we highly recommend stopping at Coffee Matter on the drive from Echo Lake. Our maple and turmeric lattes were the perfect warm treat!
Schoodic Peninsula
About an hour’s drive from Bar Harbor lies the Schoodic Peninsula, the only part of Acadia National Park on the mainland. Here you’ll truly feel like you’re at the end of the world as you drive the 6-mile one-way loop road. There are a lot of turnouts and picnic areas. At a minimum, we recommend stopping at:
- Frazer Point: Very close to the beginning of the loop road, this is a good place to go tidepooling right near the pier, if you visit during low tide.
- Schoodic Point: An amazing ocean view at the tip of the peninsula. It’s just a short walk from the parking area to out over the rocks. Tread carefully, they can be slippery!
- Blueberry Hill: This is the parking area for a great loop hike up the Anvil Trail to Schoodic Head and an overlook. This 2.75 mile hike took us about 1.5 hours. We loved the climb up and down through the forest, and the view at the top was fantastic. We recommend doing the loop counterclockwise, up the Anvil Trail and down Adler Trail which was a gentler descent.
Once you’ve had your fill, it’s time to head back to town. We think an ice cream stop, for blueberry cones of course, is a great way to end the day. We loved Shanahan’s Sweet Retreat right along US 1.
Where We Stayed
We chose to stay in an Airbnb cottage in Lamoine, Maine. Although this meant a 30-minute drive to many locations within the park, the views of The Narrows and Mount Desert Island from our back porch were worth it. Where we stayed was peaceful and the sky was so dark at night we could see the Milky War with our naked eyes. Wildlife was also right outside our door; we saw a porcupine climbing a tree early one morning.
With More Time
Cadillac Mountain: Seeing the sunrise or sunset from the top of Cadillac Mountain (the tallest in Acadia) is a popular activity. Accessible by car, there is a steep and windy 3.5-mile paved road whose entrance is off Park Loop Road. In 2024, vehicle reservations were required for Cadillac Summit Road from May 22 through October 27 at a cost of $6. Reservations must be made ahead of time, online, at recreation.gov. We chose to forego this activity on this trip wanting to avoid the crowds. It worked out because Cadillac Mountain was hidden in the clouds every morning we were there!
Isle au Haut: Only accessible by ferry, Isle au Haut is a small island and part of Acadia National Park. The remote nature of the island holds appeal for hikers and campers. It is almost a 1.5-hour drive from Bar Harbor to Stonington where the ferry departs, so we did not have time for a visit on our trip.
