Acadia National Park is a New England treasure that is noted as the "Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast." The park sits alongside the Atlantic Coastline of Maine and contains 27 miles of driving roads, 158 miles of trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads. When it comes to embarking on a memorable adventure to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine is the ultimate destination for travelers. This charming city, located on the picturesque Mt. Desert Island, stands as the most popular choice for those seeking a relaxing stay while exploring the wonders of the national park.
Bar Harbor seamlessly combines the allure of nature with the comforts of a vibrant town center. Visitors are greeted with a plethora of accommodation options, ranging from cozy hotels to quaint bed-and-breakfasts, ensuring a restful and rejuvenating stay after a day of exploration. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple seeking a romantic getaway, or a family in search of memorable moments, Bar Harbor's hospitality caters to all.
HOW TO GET THERE
Most visitors either fly directly into Bar Harbor, Maine or they'll take the short drive from Portland, Maine (3 hours) or Boston, Massachusetts (5 hours). We opted to fly into Boston and drive from there because of flight and rental car pricing and felt it was a very reasonable drive. Heading up from Boston you'll run into towns in New Hampshire as well which are super cute and make for a nice stop!
BEST PLACES TO STAY
Bar Harbor, ME is the most popular city to stay in when visiting Acadia National Park. Located on Mt. Desert Island, there are hotels, shops, and restaurants in the town center. When we visited, we stayed a bit south in Camden, Maine which was a 1.5-hour drive. It was a relatively quiet seaside town where we were able to sail in the West Penobscot Bay and enjoy a more local area. Honestly, Bar Harbor was expensive and already booked by the time we made our decision, or we may have stayed a bit closer. But, we loved the town.
TIPS FOR VISITING
Stop at the visitor center and familiarize yourself with the National Park Service Park Map.
Plan your visit in advance - there is over 4 million visitors making their way to Acadia National Park each year. The parks can get crowded and parking is limited. Consider the time of day you plan to arrive and the best route to take. Also, there are a fair amount of one-way roads. Take that into consideration when planning your route.
The park is inclusive of visitors of varying physical abilities. The paved roads make it so those utilizing wheelchairs or wagons can easily navigate some of the most popular trails, while there are strenuous hikes for those wanting a physically demanding challenge.
Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road from May 25 through October 22. Purchase vehicle reservations on Recreation.gov before your visit to ensure you're able to make it
WHAT TO DO
Cadillac Summit Road
Drive along the two-lane road leading to Cadillac Summit to enjoy panoramic ocean views. The accessible walkways accommodate all visitors, and at the summit, there's a small parking area for quick stops. This is a popular spot for visitors to watch sunrise and sunset from.
Jordan Pond Loop
One of the more popular spots in Acadia National Park is the Jordan Pond Loop Trail. An approximately 3.3-mile hike around Jordan Pond offers beautiful views of the pond and surrounding landscapes. The trail is clear and relatively wide with little to no steep areas making it great for families.
Bubble Rock
Take the Jordan Pond Trail to the Bubble Rock trailhead and head up approximately 1-mile to reach the large boulder perched on the edge of the mountain. You can also access the trailhead via a small parking lot off the side of the road. This is a relatively steep trail that will get your heart rate moving!
South Bubble
From Bubble Rock, look to your right for impressive views of Jordan Pond looking out into the ocean! This was one of our favorite stops and overlooks while in Acadia National Park.
Bass Harbor Head Light Station
The Bass Harbor Head Light Station is a historic lighthouse located within Acadia National Park that sits atop a rugged cliff overlooking the Gulf of Maine. It was a short walk from the parking lot to reach the lighthouse but was highly populated with visitors, photographers, and general nature enthusiasts. Be prepared for some crowds. Also, we were not able to go inside or up the lighthouse.
Otter Cliff
Alongside the ocean is a picturesque, rocky shoreline that's popular with visitors called Otter Cliff. We were able to park in a small parking lot near Thunder Hole, then take a short, about half-mile, walk to Otter Cliff. We spent some time here just relaxing as there weren't too many visitors!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Our Acadia National Park trip was a spur of the moment decision based on a cancelled Florida vacation, and at the end of the day, we couldn't have been happier with the outcome. The Northeast United States is beautiful with all of the colors from the waters, sunshine, and trees. We truly felt like we were in "Vacationland" during our time in Maine. We were highly impressed with the family-friendly and highly-accessible nature of the park. Absolutely, we'd go back, and we'd recommend this park to anyone who has a family, wants a more calm national park experience, or has simply had the New England area on their bucket list.
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