If you want to visit Acadia National Park but aren’t sure where to start, keep reading!
I grew up in Maine, so visiting Acadia National Park was something I did multiple times as a kid. Sadly, I don’t really remember the visits and didn’t really appreciate them at that age. The first time I truly got to experience the park was when I went as an adult, in 2020. It was the second national park Jarrett and I visited together. I’ve been back three more times since then. It’s such a special place and will always be in the top spot of my ranking of the US National Parks. If you want to read about my previous trips to Acadia, you can check them out here and here!
One of my favorite things about Acadia is that the park not only has mountains, but has the ocean as well. The views are some of best. It’s one of the top 10 most visited parks in the country, so expect lots of traffic and tourists. Summer and autumn are the busiest times but the park is stunning no matter when you go. Make sure to make hotel or campground reservations well in advance of your visit too!
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝: multiple times in the 90s, Sept. 2020, June 2023, August 2024
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: February 26, 1919
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Bar Harbor, Maine
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 F𝐞𝐞: $20-$35 or use the America the Beautiful annual pass
Hike Recommendations:
- Easy Hikes
- Jordan Pond Path – This trail is mostly flat with some mild, rocky obstacles for a very short section. About half of the path is wooden bog boards (can be slippery when wet) and the rest is hard packed dirt.
- Click here for AllTrails
- 3.3 miles, 62 ft. elevation gain
- Ship Harbor – This is a short, easy trail, but the views are beautiful. The trail winds through the woods right along the coast so you can see crashing waves, right alongside the pines.
- Click here for AllTrails
- 1.4 miles, 65 ft. elevation gain
- Jesup Path – A flat trail that’s mostly a wooden boardwalk. You’ve probably seen pictures of this all over social media!
- Click here for AllTrails
- 2.1 miles, 75 ft. elevation gain
- Jordan Pond Path – This trail is mostly flat with some mild, rocky obstacles for a very short section. About half of the path is wooden bog boards (can be slippery when wet) and the rest is hard packed dirt.
- Moderate Hikes
- Bar Island – One of the most unique hikes in the park, you need to plan your hike based on the tides.
- Click here for AllTrails
- 1.9 miles, 183 ft. elevation gain
- Dorr Mountain Ladder Trail – Nature’s stair master…there are lots of stone steps and the incline starts quick, but it’s still a fun hike.
- Click here for AllTrails
- 3.1 miles, 1,158 ft. elevation gain
- Bar Island – One of the most unique hikes in the park, you need to plan your hike based on the tides.
- Hard Hikes
- Beehive – while the stats might not make the trail seem hard, the heights might make you think twice. Expect steep drop offs, narrow ledges and iron rungs.
- Click here for AllTrails
- 1.5 miles, 508 ft. elevation gain
- Sargent and Penobscot Mountain – The walk across the summits is gorgeous. Sweeping ocean views lay around you on all sides!
- Click here for AllTrails
- 5.6 miles, 1,289 ft. elevation gain
- Beehive – while the stats might not make the trail seem hard, the heights might make you think twice. Expect steep drop offs, narrow ledges and iron rungs.
- Hikes I want to do but haven’t yet
- Precipice (closed periodically due to nesting birds)
- Cadillac Mountain
- The Bubbles
Things to see and do in the park
- Sand Beach – The beach is worth the stop just to check out the unique sand made up of crushed shells. Pick up a handful and take a close look!
- Thunder Hole – Listen to the waves make a thundering noise against the rocks; its not just waves crashing, it sounds like an actual thunderstorm!
- Jordan Pond House – Stop here after doing the Jordan Pond Path to have one of their famous popovers. Try the blueberry iced tea too!
- Bass Harbor Head Light Station – Walk the short path down to the rocks and carefully scramble along the rocks for dramatic views of the lighthouse standing on the cliffs over the ocean.
- Cadillac Mountain – Drive up the scenic road to the summit of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise. It’s first sunrise on the east coast some of the year! Reservations are required for sunrise during peak season.
- Bike the carriage roads – There are 45 miles of historic carriage roads in the park and they can be explored by bike! You can bring your own or rent them in downtown Bar Harbor.
Lodging suggestions:
- Hadley Point Campground – The campground isn’t far from the park. The tent sites are pretty big. Ours had electrical and potable water, plus a picnic table and fire pit. The bathhouses are nice, with multiple bathroom stalls and showers (coin operated). There is also a pool!
- Salt Cottages – We stayed here before they were renovated (or possibly under new ownership) so I can’t speak for what they are like now, however the location can’t be beat. If you can’t make it to Cadillac mountain for sunrise, just stroll across the street to watch it from Hulls Cove.
- Acadia Inn – Just outside of downtown, this was a very clean, nice hotel. We were able to take a quick Lyft to downtown (less than 10 minutes)
- If none of these peak your interest, there are plenty of other options in downtown Bar Harbor and surrounding areas
the street from Salt Cottages
Suggestions on food/drinks/shop:
- Fogtown Brewing Company – Main location with beer garden and kitchen in Ellsworth and second location in downtown Bar Harbor.
- Bar Harbor Lobster Co. – Laidback seafood joint on the main strip through town with lots of outdoor seating
- McKay’s Public House – Beautiful upscale restaurant was charming outdoor seating and indoor seating in a stately home. The truffled seafood risotto is out of this world
- Bar Harbor Beerworks – Grab a beverage (or two) on the roof deck overlooking downtown
- The Beehive – A gorgeous little store with clothing and gifts. Take a picture with the fun mural on the wall
- Acadia Trading Post – Stop here to pick up souvenirs at a decent price
- Sherman’s Bookstore – Pick up a book by a local author to read on the beach
While the area is very popular and busy, it’s so charming and beautiful that it makes dealing with the crowds worth it. From outdoor activities to shopping and dining, the area has plenty to offer. Acadia National Park is such a special park and is one of the nation’s oldest. If you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend visiting. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions – I’ll do my best to help 🙂
📍I acknowledge the lands mentioned in this post are the ancestral lands of the Passamaquoddy, Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy), N’dakina (Abenaki/Abénaquis) and Penobscot people.
The Adventures of Suze 
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