Plan Your Visit to Acadia National Park
This Acadia National Park travel guide helps you plan a first trip without spending hours figuring out what is actually worth your vacation time. Acadia is packed with rocky coastline, granite cliffs, pine forests, lakes, historic carriage roads, stone bridges, challenging hikes, and some of the best coastal scenery in Maine.
You will find what not to miss, where to stay, when to visit, and the practical details you need before you arrive. I’ve also included the fun stuff that makes an Acadia trip memorable, from watching the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain and hearing the waves crash at Thunder Hole to eating popovers at Jordan Pond House and ending the day with lobster and blueberries in Bar Harbor.
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Acadia National Park at a Glance
Location: Maine coast, primarily on Mount Desert Island
Closest town: Bar Harbor
How many days: 2–3 days for a first visit
Best time to visit: June through October
Best for fall foliage: Late September through mid-October, depending on the year
Don’t miss: Cadillac Mountain, Park Loop Road, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond, and the carriage roads
Best place to stay: Bar Harbor
Getting around: Rental car plus the seasonal Island Explorer shuttle
Book ahead: Hotel, Cadillac Mountain vehicle reservation, campground, and any must-do tours
Good to know: Cadillac Mountain vehicle reservations are separate from your park entrance pass
Top 10 Things to Do in Acadia National Park
1. Watch the sunrise or take in the view from Cadillac Mountain
2. Drive the 27-mile Park Loop Road
3. Time your visit to hear the boom at Thunder Hole
4. Walk along Sand Beach and Ocean Path
5. Photograph the Bubbles across Jordan Pond
6. Eat a popover at Jordan Pond House
7. Walk or bike Acadia’s historic carriage roads
8. Hike to Bubble Rock
9. Hike the Beehive Trail if you’re comfortable with iron rungs and heights
10. Watch the sunset at Bass Harbor Head Light Station
Acadia National Park Travel Guide
Where is Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is located near Bar Harbor Maine on Mount Desert Island. Although Bar Harbor has a small airport, it may be more cost-effective to fly into Portland Maine, or Boston Massachusetts. The park is 3.5 hours north of Portland Maine and 4.5 hours north of Boston. If you do fly into Bar Harbor airport it is not necessary to rent a car, use the shuttle into Bar Harbor then use the park shuttle to explore.
Facts About Acadia National Park
- In 1915 John D Rockefeller donated 11,00 acres and constructed 45 miles of carriage roads.
- Acadia National Park was established in 1919 and is the first national park created from donations of private land.
- It is one of the top 10 most visited US National Parks with over 4 million visitors in 2025.
- This is the only national park in New England.
- There are 26 mountains in Acadia National Park.
- Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the US to see the sunrise and is the highest mountain on the Atlantic Coast.
- 20% of the park is wetlands.
Best Time of Year to Visit Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is open year-round. Winter temperatures range from 15-40 degrees and freezing sleet is common. Many businesses and hiking trails close during winter months but the carriage roads are popular for cross-country skiing. The average temperatures in the summer are in the 80s. Wind and fog are common during the summer months. Summer also brings biting black flies, beware. Fall is an amazing time to visit Acadia to view the fall colors as the leaves change. Spring is off-season. Fog and rain are common and expect muddy trails. Be sure to pack waterproof clothes.
Accommodations at Acadia National Park
There are four campgrounds in Acadia, and reservations are required. There are many more campgrounds surrounding the park. Bar Harbor Maine is the most convenient place to stay and is full of hotels. Also, be sure to check out these Airbnb options in Acadia National Park.
Things to Do in Bar Harbor
- Shop Bar Harbor’s Main Street
- People watch at the Village Green
- Watch the boats in the harbor at Agamont Park
- Grab a treat at the West End Drug Co soda fountain
- Eat at Bar Harbor Inn
- Drink Blueberry Ale at the Atlantic Brewing Company
- Take a walk along the Shore Path
READ Top 10 Things To Do With Kids In Bar Harbor, ME
Things to Do at Acadia National Park
- Hike to Duck Brook Bridge
- Photograph Eagle Lake and Eagle Lake Bridge
- Take a walk through the birch trees along Jessup Path
- Check out the Sieur de Monts Nature Center
- Hike the iron rungs of Beehive Trail
- Drive Park Loop Road, Rockefeller’s Four Million Dollar Road
- Listen to the waves crash at Thunder Hole
- See the sea stack at Monument Cove
- Have a picnic at Boulder Beach
- Climb the Great Chimney at Otter Cliff
- Visit Sand Beach, the Cider House Rules filming location
- Walkthrough the evergreens on Jordan’s Pond Nature Trail
- Photograph the Bubbles across Jordan Pond
- Enjoy afternoon tea and eat popovers at Jordan Pond House
- Bike the Carriage Roads
- Hike to Bubble Rock
- Check out the Deer Brook Bridge
- Photograph Bubble Pond Bridge and Bubble Pond
- Take the stairs down to Little Hunters Beach
- See the nation’s first sunrise from Cadillac Mountain
- Hang out with the seals at Seal Harbor Beach
- Hike to Hadlock Falls and the Waterfall Bridge
- Photograph the Carriage Road Bridges
Things to Do Around Mount Desert Island
- Explore Winter Harbor
- Drive along the Schoodic Point Loop shoreline
- Photograph the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse
- See the blueberry barrens and eat blueberry everything
- Check out the view from the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory
- Watch the Timber Tina Lumberjack Show
- Hike to Man O’War Brook Falls
- Photograph Southwest Harbor’s Pier One
- Eat at Beal’s Lobster Pier
- Take a cruise around Blue Hill Bay
- Eat lobster at Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound or Thurston’s Lobster Pound
- Watch the sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
Tips for Visiting Acadia National Park
- This park gets crowded, consider using the free Island Explorer shuttle from mid-June through mid-October.
- Park Loop Road is one-way and congested during the summer months.
- Pick up free maps of the hiking trails and carriage roads at Hull’s Cove Visitor Center.
- Pick your stops and stay alert for parking entrances.
- Sand Beach, Cadillac Mountain, and the Bubbles parking lots fill quickly.
- Make a vehicle reservation to watch the sunrise on Cadillac Summit Road
- Pets on a leash are allowed on some trails and cannot be left unattended at any time.
- Watch for moose while driving.
- Pack insect repellant for mosquitos and black flies.
- Check a tide chart before tide pooling, the higher the negative number the better the visibility.
- Visit Thunderhole two hours before high tide and be prepared to get wet.
- Visitors are allowed to pick blueberries and can take up to two quarts (July).
- Learn bear safety.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles.
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks.
- Check the Acadia National Park Service website for current events
My Favorite Booking Resources
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- Hostelworld Hostelworld has great inexpensive options.
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