With this complete travel guide for Acadia National Park, discover the breathtaking landscapes and outdoor adventures awaiting you in the middle of Maine’s coast.

Nestled along the rugged coastline of Maine, Acadia National Park stands as a pristine oasis of natural beauty, where soaring granite cliffs meet the Atlantic Ocean in a symphony of breathtaking vistas and serene landscapes.

From lush forests to pristine beaches, Acadia’s diverse terrain offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventure and exploration.

In a rush?

The Details

How to Get to Acadia National Park

The park is easily accessible via major highways, with entrances located off Route 3 and Route 233.

For those flying in, Bangor International Airport is the closest major airport, located about an hour’s drive from the park where you can easily rent a car.

For our October 2023 vacation at Acadia National Park, I chose to fly into Portland, Maine and spend an evening exploring that marine centered town before driving up to Acadia National Park via Highway 1.

Starting our trip a little further south in Portland allowed us to make a stop at one of the most famous lobster roll spots in the state…

By this I mean Red’s Eats in Wiscasset.

However for our weekday stop here, Red’s was actually closed so we stopped across the street at Sprague’s.

Rumor has it Sprague’s is the better lobster roll anyway and the only reason for the long line at Red’s is because they only have one person working in the lobster shack at a time! As in – cashier and cook is the same person ;0.

When to Go and Park Entrance Fees

For those seeking to avoid the crowds and enjoy cooler temperatures, the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) are ideal. During these times, you can witness the park’s stunning foliage transformations, hike its scenic trails in comfortable weather, and experience the tranquility of nature without the summer crowds.

However, if you’re eager to soak up the sunshine and take advantage of the park’s array of outdoor activities, such as swimming, kayaking, and picnicking, then the summer months (July to August) are your best bet. Just be prepared for larger crowds and higher temperatures during this peak tourist season.

Our visit was timed in hopes to hit peak fall foliage on October 17-20, 2023. While we were told we were there in peak foliage, locals also told us all the rain and wind they had been getting for a few weeks before our visit made the 2023 fall season not as spectacular as years past ;0.

Nonetheless, as a southern Californian that does not experience her own fall foliage, I was impressed (and quite happy!).

In October 2023, the entrance fee for Acadia National Park for one vehicle was $35. You can learn more about buying your ticket online in advance here (which is what we did).

How Long to Stay

After driving from Portland, Maine to Bar Harbor, Maine (the gateway town for the park) on a Tuesday in October, we spent all day Wednesday and Thursday exploring the park before heading back to Boston to visit our son for the weekend.

Now mind you, we decided to not do any heavy hiking but instead use this time to unwind and relax so the full two days was the perfect amount of time to see the majority of the park at a leisurely pace.

We did a couple of small (less than 2 miles with minimal elevation gain) walks each day plus had dinner in the small town of Bar Harbor afterwards each day.

If you want to do some more intense hiking, I would add a day or two onto your itinerary (below is a list our hotel gave us of their favorite hikes in the area).

Where to Stay

Bayview Hotel

Located a little over one and a half miles from the town center of Bar Harbor, this hotel is off on it’s own on Frenchman’s Cove.

While I am normally one to stay in a place so that I do not need to use my car to get around for restaurants or town strolling, the fact that rather large cruise ships were anchored at Bar Harbor both days we were visiting, made this away from the crowds spot much more appealing for us (even if the cruise ships were visible to us from our balcony ;0).

Bar Harbor Inn and Spa

Perfectly located on the waterfront at the edge of town, the Bar Harbor Inn and Spa is another great choice for where to rest your head while visiting Acadia National Park.

This hotel is right in the center of things and can get a tad crowded during a busy summer or fall weekend as well as when the cruise ships are docked. But that doesn’t take it off the list of best places to stay while visiting this corner of Maine ;).

Where to Eat

Side Street Cafe

We were hoping to find a place in Bar Harbor that was not a cruise ship passenger tourist trap, so when a local from Bar Harbor told us this cafe off the main drag is her favorite in town, we jumped on it!

And it did not disappoint. The second you walk into this cafe, you can tell – this is where the locals go ;).

Jordan Pond House

Jordan Pond House in the park is famous for its iconic fluffy popovers—a delightful treat enjoyed with breathtaking views of Jordan Pond and the surrounding mountains and is a do not miss for visiting Acadia National Park!

Since it can be hard to predict when you will arrive at Jordan Pond House, even though reservations can be made one month in advance on their website here, you can also put your name on a walk up list and then go on a hike around the pond while you wait.

We had a one hour wait once we added our names to the waitlist, which was just the right amount of time to walk halfway around the Jordan Pond Path (see more below).

We got the extra buttery lobster roll popover and all we can say is – OMG the memory of this deliciousness will not leave your brain any time soon ;0.

Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast

Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast in Bar Harbor, Maine, is famous for its mouthwatering lobster benedict, a delectable twist on the classic breakfast dish that showcases the region’s culinary delights.

If you are up early to see the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, this is the perfect place to come back down to in Bar Harbor afterwards!

Photo courtesy of Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast website

What to Do

Cadillac Mountain

Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road from May 25 through Oct 22. Vehicle reservations must be purchased on Recreation.gov in advance of your visit to Cadillac Mountain. Starting on Feb 25, vehicle reservations are sold on a rolling basis. Thirty percent of vehicle reservations are made available 90 days ahead of each date. The remaining 70 percent are released at 10 am ET two days ahead.

All that to say – I made two reservations for our trip: one for the sunrise and one for a few hours later (with fees, each reservation is only $6 each). Because we are not morning people, I just wasn’t convinced we would wake up to see the sunrise. And I was not wrong ;0.

Once at the top of Cadillac Mountain, you have choices on how much hiking you want to do.

There is an easy .5 mile paved loop trail that will give you panoramic summit views of the area.

Park Loop Road

Park Loop Road offers a 27 mile scenic drive through stunning landscapes, winding past iconic landmarks and breathtaking viewpoints, providing the perfect introduction to the park’s natural beauty along the east side of Mount Desert Island.

This can be a very popular fall foliage drive so plan accordingly.

We did this scenic drive after the Cadillac Summit Path (above) on a Wednesday in mid October and felt the crowds were reasonable every place but the Thunder Hole area which seemed to be packed with people waiting for the spouting water scene the area is notorious for.

I would suggest parking your car at the Sand Beach parking lot and walking to Thunder Hole.

This walk is an easy and picturesque path along the coastline.

Jordan Pond Path

Another popular stop towards the end of the Park Loop Road, Jordan Pond Path is a picturesque trail that winds around the serene Jordan Pond, offering breathtaking views of the crystal-clear waters and the surrounding mountains.

As mentioned above, we put our name on the waitlist for the Jordan Pond House for their famous popovers and then walked for about 45 minutes to an hour along this pond boardwalk.

Bass Harbor Head Light Station

Located on the southwest corner of Mount Desert Island and about a 30 minute drive from Main Street Bar Harbor, we visited this part of Acadia National Park on our second full day in the area.

The lighthouse view is one of the more iconic images of this northeast USA park so going all the way to Maine without seeing it was not an option for us.

Sunset is an EXTREMELY busy time here with literally only about 15-20 parking spots available so you may want to consider visiting during the mid day like we did ;).

You will need to walk down about 50 stairs and then do some climbing over rock boulders to get to the shoreline viewpoint but it is most certainly worth it!

On the other side of the parking lot is a short walkway to the front of the lighthouse which gives a different view of the building – but no entrance inside.

Sargeant Drive

After leaving the lighthouse be sure to drive along the incredibly scenic Sargeant Drive towards the small village of Northeast Harbor.

The views along this drive may very well be some of your favorites on this entire trip ;).

Northeast Harbor

At the end of Sargeant Drive, you will come to the charming town of Northeast Harbor. Stop for a bit to enjoy the handful of shops on Main Street before heading back to Bar Harbor (see the map above for location of this village).

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor serves as the charming gateway to Acadia National Park, offering quaint seaside charm, delightful eateries, and a picturesque harbor.

It is pretty likely that this is where you will be spending most of your time when not in the park – whether for dining options, walking along the shopping streets, or strolling along Shore Path, it is the perfect place to end every day in this Northeast corner of Maine.

Our Full Itinerary in a Nutshell

• Day One: Fly from San Diego to Portland, Maine
• Day Two: Drive to Bar Harbor via Highway 1 with a stop at Sprague’s Lobster Shack (4.5 hours)
• Day Three: Acadia National Park
  • Cadillac Mountain
  • Park Loop Road
  • Jordan Pond
  • Ended day in Bar Harbor
• Day Four: Acadia National Park
  • Bass Harbor Head Light Station
  • Sergeant Drive
  • Northeast Harbor
  • Ended day in Bar Harbor
• Day Five: Drive to Boston with stop in Kennebunk, Maine to visit friends
• Day Six: Visit our son in Boston, MA
• Day Seven: Take evening flight home to San Diego

I hope this complete travel guide for Acadia National Park has provided you with the inspiration and information you need to plan your unforgettable adventure!

Acadia National Park offers a calming escape into the wonders of nature, where unforgettable experiences await around every corner, promising memories to cherish for a lifetime.

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