Weekend Guide to Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park in Maine is the crown jewel of New England. With rocky ocean shores, pristine lakes, granite peaks, and some of the best fall colors in the country, this park has a lot to offer. It’s no wonder that Acadia finds itself in the top ten most visited National Parks year after year! With so much to see across these islands off the coast of Maine, it’s tough to decide what to fit into a weekend trip. This guide breaks down everything from the best time to visit, where to stay, and the best things to do on your trip to Acadia National Park.
This is your guide to an incredible New England weekend in Acadia National Park.
The Basics
Entrance Fee: $25/vehicle. If you’re planning to visit three or more National Parks this year, be sure to pick up an America the Beautiful Pass to save on entrance fees.
Location: Maine, USA
Hours: 24/7, year-round. Some roads and facilities have seasonal operating hours.
Notable Wildlife: Beavers, foxes, marine life, birds, porcupines, bobcats, black bears (rare), moose (rare).
Pets: Acadia is very pet-friendly! Leashed pets are allowed on many trails and in most areas of the park. Leashes must not exceed six feet in length. Click here for full details.
Getting to Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor Regional Airport (BHB): This county airport is the closest airport to the park, but it isn’t usually the most accessible or cost-effective option.
Bangor International Airport (BGR): The nearest major airport is in Bangor, about an hour’s drive from the park.
Portland International Airport (PWM): Maine’s most populous city is just a three-hour drive from the park. With a historic port, a mouth-watering food scene, and a huge selection of craft breweries, Portland is one of the coolest cities on the east coast. Spend some time exploring the city and then make a road trip of driving the coast up to Acadia.
Read More: 7 Can’t-Miss Stops on a Maine Coast Road Trip
Boston Logan Airport (BOS): Depending on where you’re departing from, flights into Maine aren’t always very cost-effective and usually require a layover or two. Another great option is to fly into Boston Logan Airport and then make the 4.5-hour road trip to the park.
The Lay of the Land
Acadia National Park is located on the Atlantic Coast and spreads across several peninsulas and islands in Maine. The bulk of the park’s attractions are found on the east side of Mt. Desert Island (pronounced dessert, despite the spelling), with the coastal town of Bar Harbor being the gateway to this area of the park. This is where you’ll find popular spots like Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountain, and the scenic Park Loop Road.
The west side of Mt. Desert Island is what is referred to as “The Quiet Side”. Here you’ll find far fewer tourists and hikers, with the exception of the popular Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to drive from the east side of Mt. Desert Island to the west side.
If you’re only here for a few days, I recommend sticking to Mt. Desert Island where you’ll get the most value for your time.
An even more secluded area of the park is the Schoodic Peninsula. It’s only a stone’s throw by water from Mt. Desert Island, but the drive between peninsulas takes over an hour. There’s a six-mile one-way scenic road that traverses this portion of the park along with several hiking and bike trails.
Isle au Haut is another area of the park that receives few visitors. This part of the park is only accessible by a year-round ferry that leaves from Stonington, Maine. It takes approximately an hour and a half to get from Bar Harbor to Stonington. There are also several other outer islands managed by the park; however, most are closed to the public. The few that aren’t closed are only accessible by personal boat.
Getting Around Acadia National Park
Shuttle: Acadia’s Island Explorer is a convenient way to get around during the high season. Routes service most of the areas you’ll want to visit, including the town of Bar Harbor. Parking lots fill up fast throughout the summer and fall, so the shuttle can help you avoid this hassle.
Car: Having a car will give you more flexibility during your stay. If you plan to visit Cadillac Mountain, you’ll likely want a car since the shuttle doesn’t operate on that road (you could also bike or hike to the summit, but that’s a bit more…intense.).
Bike: Bring your own bike or rent one in Bar Harbor. The carriage roads are easily explored by novice bikers. Cycling other areas of the park, such as Cadillac Mountain or Park Loop Road, is more challenging and should only be attempted by seasoned bikers.
When to Visit Acadia National Park
Summer in Maine is beautiful, making it a popular time to visit Acadia National Park. While you’ll encounter nearly perfect weather from June through August, you’ll also be battling crowds and traffic. If you want summer-like temperatures without as many crowds, visit in early September after Labor Day.
The summer weather is fantastic, but this park is absolutely magical come autumn. Acadia is well-known for being one of the best spots in the country for fall colors! Because of this, late September through early October is also an incredibly busy time of year in the park. Despite the crowds, autumn really is the most scenic time to visit. If you want to time your trip around peak colors, be sure to check out this fall foliage tracker.
For comfortable temperatures with fewer crowds, visit in early September after Labor Day. For the most scenic views, visit during autumn sometime between late September through early October.
Avoiding the Crowds
As the only national park in the Northeast, it can get pretty crowded at Acadia throughout the summer and fall. Full parking lots, traffic on Park Loop Road, and busy trails are common throughout the day. Arriving before 9 a.m. will do wonders for getting to experience the magic of Acadia without the crowds.
Where to Stay
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is the most popular area to stay in when visiting the park. As the gateway to Acadia, Bar Harbor really caters to visitors with plenty of restaurants, shopping, and hotels. This also means that accommodations book quickly and come with a hefty price tag during the busy seasons. Be sure to book well in advance for the best options.
Read More: Weekend Travel Guide to Bar Harbor, Maine
“The Quiet Side” of the Island
If you’re looking for a break from the crowds in Bar Harbor, book your stay on the west side of Mt. Desert Island. While this will put you about a 30-minute drive from the main park attractions, you’ll enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and more affordable options. Look for hotels or AirBnB rentals in towns like Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor, or Tremont. These towns are right by the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse that you won’t want to miss!
Staying in the Park
There are two campgrounds in the park on Mt. Desert Island – Blackwoods on the Bar Harbor Side and Seawall on the Quiet Side. There are a few others across the various islands and the Schoodic Peninsula, but if you’re only here for a weekend, it’s best to stick to Mt. Desert Island. Reservations are required and can be made up to 60 days in advance.
Food & Drinks
Bar Harbor is where you’ll find most of the dining options near the park. Beyond what Bar Harbor has to offer, there are a couple of spots in the park you should definitely check out.
Jordan Pond House
The historic Jordan Pond House restaurant sits on a hill overlooking the gorgeous Jordan Pond. Come here for lunch or an early dinner, but don’t leave without trying their famous popovers! They’re available on the menu all day and also as an accompaniment to afternoon tea. This is the only restaurant inside the park, so it can get quite busy, particularly in the afternoon. It operates seasonally from mid-May through late October from 11 am – 5 pm.
Thurston’s Lobster Pound
Thurston’s isn’t technically in the park, but it’s one of the best stops over on the Quiet Side of the island. This classic lobster pound is just a short drive from Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. In addition to all the fresh lobster and seafood, I have it on good authority that Martha Stewart once stopped here and said that the blueberry crumb cake was the best she’s ever had. Thurston’s is open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Things to Do on a Weekend Trip to Acadia National Park
Sand Beach
This spot is exactly what it sounds like – a sandy beach on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. You can even swim here from mid-June through early September! Sand Beach is one of the most popular areas of the park, so it tends to fill with people by about 9 a.m. Because of this, I recommend getting here as early as you can. We opted to visit at sunrise and were delighted to find that we had the entire beach to ourselves! This also made it easy to visit the rest of the stops along Park Loop Road without battling crowds or traffic.
Thunder Hole
This is such a fun stop in the park! As waves crash into a naturally carved inlet on the rocky coast, water spouts up as high as 40 feet (12 m) with a loud clap like thunder. To see Thunder Hole really show off, go during high tide. This is when the waves reach their highest (and loudest) point here. If you want a little waterpark action, head down to the viewing deck where you’ll get a splash when the waves are high enough.
Tip: Thunder Hole doesn’t exactly live up to its name when the waters are calm. High winds and high tide make for the best conditions to hear the thunder. Check tide charts and plan to be there at least 1-2 hours before high tide for the best chance at catching the show.
Otter Cliff
This cliff along the coast provides one of the best viewpoints in the park. It towers above the sea, giving you views of the rocky shoreline, evergreen forests, islands, and stretches of the ocean as far as you can see. Unfortunately, there aren’t any actual sea otters here like the name might suggest. You can only find those cuties on the West Coast.
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the eastern seaboard! From over 1500 feet (457 m) up, you really get a sense of the unique landscape that makes up Acadia National Park. Forests, lakes, inlets, islands, and expansive ocean views seem to stretch on forever. It’s also one of the first places in the United States where you can see the sunrise each day. You’ll need to wake up majorly early to do so, but this doesn’t seem to stop most people. Large crowds head up here every morning to see the sun break over the ocean.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: No matter what time of day you plan to visit, you’ll need to reserve a timed entry to drive up to the summit. While a few reservation spots open up 90 days ahead, the vast majority are made available two days before the date. If you want to experience sunrise on top of the mountain, try to make your reservation as early as you can. If you’re visiting later in the day, you likely won’t have trouble finding an opening the day of.
Bar Harbor
The seaside town of Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park. Spend some time ambling downtown where the streets are lined with restaurants, bakeries, taverns, and souvenir shops. Once you’ve explored the town, relax on the lawn with views of the bay at Agamont Park. During low tide, a sandbar is exposed near the park where you can walk out to Bar Island. Just make sure to get back to the mainland before the tide comes back in!
Carriage Roads
Something really unique about this park is the intricate system of carriage roads that weave their way through the landscape. John D. Rockefeller Jr. financed 45 miles of motor-free roads and 16 bridges that follow the natural contours of the land so that he could travel across Mt. Desert Island by horse. Today, these are popular spots to hike or bike. You can rent a bike in Bar Harbor or travel by horse, just like Rockefeller.
These roads cover quite a bit of ground, so be sure to bring a carriage road map with you. If you’re short on time, picking a bridge or two can help you decide which roads to explore. We hiked a portion of road 14 which was right next to Jordan Pond. Speaking of Jordan Pond…
Jordan Pond
This pristine lake is surrounded by mountains – most notably, The Bubbles. Let’s just say The Bubbles are…unique. These distinct mountains reflecting on the calm water are hard to miss. The Bubbles are one of the most iconic views in the park, so you’ll definitely want to check them out! You can walk the full 3.4 miles (5.4 km) loop around the lake, but keep in mind that the east side of the lake requires traversing some rocks and wooden planks while the west side is a flat and much easier path. Several trailheads and carriage roads start around here as well, and it’s also where you’ll find the historic Jordan Pond Restaurant.
Hit the Trails
Hiking opportunities are abundant in Acadia National Park where there are over 150 miles of trails! With so many to choose from, here are some of the hikes I recommend checking out, depending on your skill level.
Ocean Path Trail
2.2 miles (3.5 km) | Out-and-Back | Easy
If you’d rather hike than drive from Sand Beach to Otter Cliff, take the Ocean Path Trail. This hike takes you along the jagged pink granite formations of Acadia’s beautiful coastline. You’ll also pass Thunder Hole along the way.
Great Head Trail
1.3 miles (2.7 km) | Loop | Moderate+
This trail begins at Sand Beach and gradually ascends to provide incredible views of the ocean and coastline. On the descent, the trail travels through forests with occasional views of the ocean. This hike requires a short rock scramble, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes.
Bubbles Trail via Bubbles Divide Trail
1 mile (1.6 km) | Out-and-Back | Moderate
There are several hikes around The Bubbles, but this one has the easiest access to Bubble Rock (a large boulder that appears to be balancing on the edge of the mountain). Reaching the top will give you great views of Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake as well! If you’re here in the summer, keep an eye out for blueberries along the trail. While messing with plant life is typically not cool in national parks, you’re allowed to pick the blueberries in Acadia.
Beehive Loop
1.4 miles (2.3 km) | Loop | Strenuous
Acadia is famous for its iron-rung trails, and this is one of the most popular. Although this trail doesn’t clock a long distance, the challenging piece is the 450 ft. (137 m) cliff ascent. Granite steps, iron rungs, and some rock scrambling will lead you up the exposed cliffside. Reaching the top will reward you with coastal views overlooking Sand Beach.
This hike is not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights.
Beech Cliff Ladders & Canada Cliff Loop
2 miles (3.2 km) | Loop | Strenuous
Beech Cliff is another iron rung trail, but this one is located over on the Quiet Side of the island. It includes a series of iron ladders that lead to the top of Beech Cliff with views of Echo Lake, mountains, and the ocean.
This hike is not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights.
Precipice Loop
2.1 miles (3.4 km) | Loop | Strenuous
Precipice trail is known as the most challenging hike in Acadia National Park. Climbing over 1000 ft. (305 m) in less than a mile, this trail is not for the faint of heart. It’s a non-technical climb, but you’ll need to scale iron rungs and open cliff faces along the way. By embarking on this adventure, you’ll earn a trip to the summit of Champlain Mountain as well as some major bragging rights.
This hike is not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights.
Bass Head Light
Nestled into the rocky cliffside, this is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine (second only to the Portland Head Light). In a park that’s known for its sunrises, this is actually an excellent spot for sunset! Its location on the peninsula has you facing west, so you can watch the sun go down over the ocean. We arrived about an hour before sunset and didn’t have any trouble getting a spot with a good view, but we had to park pretty far away since there are only a handful of parking spots here.
From sunrise to sunset, Acadia National Park is an iconic New England adventure. Whether you time your visit for that perfect coastal summer weather or the magic of the changing leaves, Acadia will deliver.
Have any questions about your trip that I didn’t answer here? Drop a line in the comments below!
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