Things to do in Acadia National Park

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12 Things to do in Acadia National Park! Blog by Love Hard Travel Often

From seeing the first sunrise in the US to exploring the park by sea, there are tons of fun and super unique things to do in Acadia National Park! With rugged coastline, sandy beaches and hikes with ocean views, Acadia is so different than the parks we typically visit near our home on the west coast. This park is a total east coast gem and I’m so glad we made the journey out there.

In this blog we’ll cover all the best things to do in Acadia as well as everything you need to know to plan your trip!

Affiliate disclosure: please note that some links in this article may be affiliate links. This means, at no cost to you, we may get a commission if you book through them. This helps us keep writing free travel guides for you to use!

Where is Acadia National Park?

Acadia National Park is along the coast of southern Maine, near the town of Bar Harbor. It is about 2 hours from the state’s capitol, Augusta, and 3 hours from the popular town of Portland. The park spans across Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut and the Schoodic Peninsula and encompasses 18 more islands.

Overview of Acadia National Park

Year established1929
LocationMaine
Entrance Fee$30
Dogs allowedYes
Number of days1 to 4 days
OpenYes
Best time to visitMay to October

2020 Travel Restrictions

Standing at the edge of the North Bubble trail summit overlooking the pond, forest and ocean

If you’re planning to travel to Acadia in 2020, make sure you read up on all of the current travel restrictions. The rules tend to change frequently so definitely do some research before you book anything! Here are some resources for Maine‘s restrictions.

Is Acadia National Park Open?

Coastline and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Yes, Acadia National Park is open. Certain activities or visitor information centers may be closed (check here), but the main park attractions are accessible. That said, there have been some changes in 2020. The Shuttle Bus service is indefinitely unavailable and vehicle reservations are required October 1-18, 2020, so plan accordingly. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing!

12 Things To Do in Acadia National Park

1. Watch a sunrise

Watching the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park gets to see the very first sunrise in the US each day, so naturally it’s a must-see when you visit! There are tons of places in the park that would be beautiful at this time but the most popular spot to head up to for sunrise is Cadillac Mountain.

Crowds at Cadillac Mountain during sunrise, one of the top things to do in Acadia National Park
Crowds at Cadillac Mountain

While it’s absolutely stunning, boy is it crowded! We arrived 1 hour before sunrise (freezing our butts off) and snagged the last spot in the parking lot. And getting out of the parking lot after was also a nightmare!

Our pro tip would be to stop at a viewpoint along Cadillac Summit Road. There were a few we saw that had very few people and would have been a much more peaceful experience with just as good of a view!

Another tip: the nearby Blue Hill Overlook is a great spot for sunset!

2. Go on a hike

Embracing at the North Bubble summit, one of the best things to do in Acadia National Park
North bubble trail

If you’re like us, you’ll want to do at least one hike while you’re in the park. Luckily, Acadia has some super beautiful and unique hikes to choose from!

Best hikes in Acadia National Park

  • The North Bubble Trail has our favorite view in the park. The trail isn’t too challenging (only 1.5 miles RT) and you can see both Jordan Pond AND the ocean from the summit!
  • The Beehive Loop Hike (1.4 miles RT) looks like one of the best and most unique hikes ever! It has tons of different sections with rungs and ladders and other challenges that make it super fun. A ranger warned us that it was too crowded to socially distance there so we weren’t able to do it, but it’s on the top of our list for next time!
  • For a longer but flatter option, consider the popular Jordan Pond Loop Trail which is a nice 3 mile flat stroll around the area.
  • For a big challenge, check out the Precipice Trail (3.2 miles RT). It climbs over 1,000 feet in less than a mile and is full of fun challenges like sheer cliff faces, rungs and more.
  • Beech Mountain Loop Trail is a great 1.2 mile option on the western side of Mount Desert
  • Acadia Mountain and St. Sauveur Mountain Loop Trail is a more challenging 3.5 miles with killer views on the western side of Mount Desert, as well.

3. Drive the Park Loop Road

Coastline in Maine seen from the Park Loop Road

Park Loop Road is the main road in the park on Mount Desert Island and the 27-mile drive is extremely scenic. Similar to Going-to-the-sun road in Glacier National Park, this road is also the way to get to a lot of the trailheads and attractions. Definitely take some time and drive the whole scenic loop and stop off at the gorgeous viewpoints along the way. The road rides right along the coast for a while and it is absolutely breathtaking!

4. Visit Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Standing on the rocks at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, one of the best things to do in Acadia National Park

The Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse was built in 1858 and is a beautiful and historic part of the park. When you get to the parking lot, you can either go right get up close to the lighthouse or left to view it from the water. I recommend doing both for the different perspectives!

Note: you need sturdy shoes if you’re going to walk down to the water because the rocks can get pretty slick!

5. Go for a swim

Sand Beach and the rugged coastline in Acadia National Park

If you’re wanting a beach day or craving a swim you can head to Sand Beach or Echo Lake Beach! While Sand Beach is salt water and Echo Lake is fresh water, both have beautiful sandy beach fronts. It seems like the water at both may be a bit chilly but they still draw a ton of crowds.

Swimming is not permitted in any of the other lakes or ponds since they are responsible for providing the drinking water for the local communities.

6. Biking in Acadia National Park

Bike riding is super popular in Acadia National Park and it’s easy to see why! There are historic carriage roads throughout the park that are perfect for biking and off-limits to cars. Bikes are also allowed on the scenic Park Loop Road but with the amount of traffic I’d definitely say use extreme caution if you do it.

A couple of benefits of biking instead of driving into the park are a cheaper entrance fee ($15 instead of $30) and you don’t need a vehicle registration even in peak times. Here’s all the info on biking in Acadia (rules, maps, etc.)

7. See the park by boat

Sailboat off the coast of Mount Desert Island

One of the most unique things about Acadia is that you can also see it from the water! Whether you take a sunset cruise, go searching for wildlife on a kayaking excursion, or head out on a sailing adventure, experiencing Acadia from the water is magical!

8. Learn about Acadia’s nature & history

Beautiful yellow flowers in the park at sunrise

In the park there is an area called the Wild Gardens of Acadia that is home to over 300 native species! This is a great place to slow down and admire the nature of the park and learn about the different species of plants that call this area home. Right next to it is the Sieur de Monts Nature Center where there are neat informational displays about the park’s wildlife, history and more.

There is a nice boardwalk trail near here, too, that leads through a stunning area of trees (particularly in autumn!).

9. Go stargazing

Stargazing is a super popular activity in the park! Whether you’re just enjoying the night sky or trying to photograph it, Acadia is a beautiful place to stay up and enjoy the stars. The most popular places to stargaze are:

  • Cadillac Mountain, the highest summit in the park
  • Seawall, where you get a view of both the ocean and the stars
  • Jordan Pond, which is great for photos since the lake and trees provide a beautiful foreground silhouette
  • Sand Beach, which sounds like a dreamy date night!

10. Have a scenic picnic

There are quite a few beautiful designated picnic areas in the park that would be perfect for a family outing or a fun date! All of the picnic areas are first come first served, and make sure to pack out what you bring in.

11. Explore Acadia’s lesser-known areas

Ferry cruising along the water off the coast of Acadia

While most of the park is on Mount Desert Island, other beautiful parts of the park are on the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut. Isle au Haut is half owned by the park and half privately owned by a small fishing community and is only accessible by ferry. Schoodic Peninsula, on the other hand, is secluded but only an hour drive from the visitor center. Both offer more hiking, biking and other activities and are far less trafficked than the Mount Desert areas of the park.

12. Visit Bar Harbor

Shops along Main Street in Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor is a super cute town right outside of the park! It’s actually pretty easy to pop in and out of the park to grab a bite here, which is really nice. It looks and feels like the quintessential Maine town, and butts right up to the water like Acadia does. We loved taking a break from the park to grab a bite at Thrive Juice Bar and then walking along the adorable main street and coastline park.

Map of the things to do in Acadia National Park

Below is a map of the top things to do in Acadia that we covered above. You can use this for relative location of the different things to do and to plan your route! Just click the ‘star’ to save it to your Google Maps!

Acadia National Park Visitor Center

Hulls Cove Visitor Center in Acadia National Park

The Hulls Cove Visitor Center is at the start of Park Loop Road, by the northern tip of Bar Harbor. No matter how much research I do ahead of time, I always love starting my trip with the visitor center to see what the local rangers recommend and learn more about the park. Acadia’s visitor center is open from 8:30 – 4:30 seasonally between May 1 to Oct 31.

At the visitor center you can also buy a park pass (though I recommend just doing it online) and shop at the official park store.

Note: there are 52 stairs to climb to reach the visitor center. There is a separate handicap entrance, so follow signs for that if accessibility is required.

2020 note: the visitor center is only offering information services outdoors and the store is open at limited capacity.

How to get to Acadia National Park

Driving to Acadia National Park

To get to Acadia just take the ME 3 to get to Mount Dessert Island or the ME 186 to get to the Schoodic Peninsula. The Isle au Haut is not accessible by car.

Airports near Acadia National Park

The closest airports to Acadia are Bangor International Airport (1 hour away) and Portland International Jetport (3 hours away).

Ferry to Acadia National Park

To get to Acadia from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia you can take a ferry into Bar Harbor.

How to get around Acadia National Park

There are a few ways to get around the park: driving, biking or taking the shuttle. While it may be most convenient to drive, both traffic and parking can be tough sometimes. Consider taking the free Island Explorer shuttle bus that drops off and picks up at most of the park’s attractions so you don’t have to mess with parking. And, if you’re feeling adventurous, head into the park on your bike!

Note: the shuttle is shut down for the 2020 season.

Where to stay in Acadia National Park

The best place to stay that’s near the park is Bar Harbor. There are quite a few cute accommodations here! I’d recommend checking out:

You can check out all of the hotels in Bar Harbor here!

Camping in Acadia National Park

Acadia has three campgrounds – two on the primary Mount Desert Island and one on the Schoodic Peninsula. The most convenient campground for the top activities is Blackwoods campground. All should be reserved in advance on recreation.gov.

Backcountry camping is not allowed in Acadia.

Are Acadia National Park campgrounds open?

No, all campgrounds in Acadia National Park are closed for 2020.

>>Read our Ultimate Car-Camping Packing List before you go!

Best time to go to Acadia National Park

View of Jordan's Pond and the Atlantic ocean from the Bubbles trail in Acadia National Park

May to October is the most popular time of year to visit Acadia as this is when most of the activities are open and available. Fall is an extremely busy time for the park because of the gorgeous fall foliage here (it’s one of the Top 10 Places for Fall Foliage!). That said, winter brings its own activities and beauty at Acadia (more on that below).

Winter in Acadia National Park

Acadia is open year-round and in the winter the carriage roads open up to snow-shoeing and cross country skiing! Certain parts of the Park Loop scenic drive are open to explore, too, with certain areas allowing cars and the others allowing snow mobiles. Check out all of Acadia’s winter activities here.

How many days in Acadia National Park?

Standing amongst the rocks at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Anywhere from 1 to 4 days is a great amount of time for Acadia, depending on what all you want to do. You can certainly hit a bunch of the attractions in and around Park Loop Road in a day trip, but for more hiking and biking opportunities around Mount Desert Island you’ll want at least 2 days. If you want to do boat excursions and/or explore the other islands of the park, consider a 3 or 4 day trip.

Acadia National Park Entrance Fee

It costs $30 per car, $25 per motorcycle and $15 per biker or walker for a 7-day pass, and you can order it online here ahead of time. You can also use your America The Beautiful pass which gets you into all of the national parks for a calendar year. It costs $80 so if you plan to visit 3 or more parks during the year it’s absolutely worth it. You can purchase one here.

Is Acadia National Park dog friendly?

Leashed dogs are allowed in many areas of the park. However, there are restrictions on certain trails, leash length requirements and areas they aren’t permitted in, so make sure to read this before you go!

Restaurants in Acadia National Park

Jordan Pond House Restaurant is the only restaurant in the park and it is open May through October. There are many great restaurants in surrounding areas like Bar Harbor.

Things to know before visiting Acadia National Park

Wrapped in a blanket at sunrise at the summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park
  • Expect limited cell coverage and make sure you have offline maps downloaded.
  • Like most national parks, drones are prohibited.
  • The park is in the top 10 most visited national parks, so it can be very crowded. Visit early morning or late afternoon for the fewest crowds, and avoid weekends when you can.
  • Ticks are prevalent in the park so make sure to check yourself after walks.
  • Make sure you know the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace and take care of our beautiful outdoors!

Read next…

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Have a great time in Acadia National Park!

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12 can't miss activities in Acadia National Park. Blog by Love Hard Travel Often
Acadia National Park: 12 best things. to do and everything you need to know before you go! Blog by Love Hard Travel Often
Acadia National Park: 12 best things. to do and everything you need to know before you go! Blog by Love Hard Travel Often

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