After three visits to Maine’s crown jewel, Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, we’ve compiled our definitive list of must-do experiences. This unique park, unlike the sprawling wilderness of Yellowstone or Grand Canyon, offers a “Swiss cheese” layout of protected lands interwoven with charming coastal towns—creating an intimate yet diverse adventure destination.
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Start your Acadia adventure with the iconic Park Loop Road, a scenic marvel funded by Rockefeller money and designed specifically for automotive touring. This one-way road offers breathtaking coastal vistas and serves as the perfect introduction to the park’s highlights. We highly recommend using an audio tour app like GuideAlong to enhance the experience with historical context and insider tips you won’t find elsewhere.
Pro tip: Visit in the evening (around 4:30-5:00 PM) when parking is abundant at popular stops like Sand Beach, allowing you to actually get out and explore rather than just drive by.
LL Bean funds this fantastic free bus service that connects the park with surrounding towns. While we recommend driving the Park Loop Road at least once, the Island Explorer is invaluable for accessing crowded spots like Sand Beach and Jordan Pond House without the parking hassles. You can park at the visitor center and bus into Bar Harbor, making your visit much more relaxed.
The coastal perspective is essential to understanding Acadia’s beauty. We’ve consistently chosen Acadian Nature Tours for sunset excursions to Egg Rock Lighthouse (above) and more adventurous puffin-watching trips. The sunset tours offer spectacular views of Bar Harbor’s grand “cottages” (really mansions) and often include wildlife sightings like bald eagles. For the more adventurous, the lighthouse and puffin tour ventures into open ocean—just bring warm layers, as it gets surprisingly cold even in July.
John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s vision included these gravel roads designed specifically for horse-drawn carriages, separate from automobile traffic. Today, you can experience them on foot, by bicycle, or authentically by horse-drawn carriage through Wildwood Stables. The roads feature distinctive stone bridges, each uniquely designed, and offer a genteel way to explore the park’s interior.
This historic tea house at Jordan Pond’s base is famous for its popovers and outdoor dining with views of the Bubble Mountains. While they now accept reservations through Resy (thankfully eliminating the old wait-and-see system), if you choose to dine outside, be prepared for an unusual dining companion: bees. The staff now warns guests about the bee situation when seating outdoor diners, and servers provide specific jam-application instructions to manage the swarms. Despite the buzzing dinner guests, the experience remains quintessentially Acadia.
These unique hiking experiences feature iron rungs and ladders installed into steep rock faces by the Civilian Conservation Corps. While trails like the Beehive and Precipice offer nearly vertical challenges for experienced hikers, more manageable options exist on the quietside. Note that Precipice Trail often closes during summer for Peregrine Falcon nesting.
Two standout lobster pounds deserve your attention: Beals Lobster Pier in Southwest Harbor and Thurston’s in Bernard provide the full whole-lobster experience and also offer Maine’s famous lobster rolls. Yes, prices have risen significantly since 2019, but you still won’t find Maine lobster cheaper anywhere else than in Maine itself. Budget accordingly and consider it a special experience worth the splurge.
The highest peak on the Eastern Seaboard requires advance reservations through Recreation.gov during busy season ($2 fee). Sunrise reservations are extremely limited and released via weekly lottery, while sunset slots are more readily available. Book your sunset slot in peak summer for 7:00 PM entry to ensure you’re positioned before the sun actually sets around 8:00-8:30 PM.
Don’t overlook Acadia’s other units. The Schoodic Peninsula offers rugged coastline and a fascinating history as a former Navy listening station, accessible by ferry from Bar Harbor. The Island Explorer operates there too, making car-free exploration possible. For the truly adventurous, Isle au Haut requires two ferry connections but promises pristine wilderness experiences.
Bar Harbor buzzes with Gilded Age history, shops, and restaurants, but don’t limit yourself to this crowded hub. The “quietside” beyond Somes Sound offers charming communities like Southwest Harbor (our personal favorite), Northeast Harbor, and Bass Harbor. These towns provide respite from crowds while maintaining their authentic Maine character.
Consider camping at Seawall or Blackwoods campgrounds for the full Acadia experience, or try private options like Smugglers Den near Southwest Harbor for amenities. Don’t miss paddling opportunities on Echo Lake or the more challenging but spectacular Jordan Pond. Bring your own kayak or rent locally for a unique perspective on the park’s glacially-carved lakes.
Acadia’s blend of natural beauty, maritime culture, and accessibility makes it perfect for repeat visits. Each trip reveals new layers of this coastal gem that keeps drawing us back to Down East Maine.
Thanks for stopping by! Check out our Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read more about this trip check out the Chasing Summer Road Trip page. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here.
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