Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park protects approximately 49,000 acres of extraordinary coastal and mountain landscape on and around Mount Desert Island (MDI) on the Maine coast, making it one of the most visited national parks in the United States, with nearly 3 million visitors annually. The park preserves the highest mountains on the US Atlantic seaboard north of Rio de Janeiro — Cadillac Mountain at 1,530 feet (466 m) is the tallest — alongside glacially carved fjords, rocky headlands, old-growth forest, freshwater lakes, and some of the most dramatic ocean scenery in the northeastern United States.

The park is unique in its origin story: it was assembled almost entirely from private donations, largely by wealthy families who summered on Mount Desert Island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. John D. Rockefeller Jr. alone donated more than a third of the current park acreage and funded the construction of 80 km (50 miles) of broken-stone carriage roads designed for horse-drawn carriages, now one of the park's most beloved features for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. George Dorr, another donor, became the park's first superintendent and drove its establishment as a National Monument in 1916, upgraded to a National Park in 1919 (the first in the eastern United States).

The main park area is on Mount Desert Island, accessed from Ellsworth via Route 3 through Bar Harbor. A smaller, quieter section occupies the Schoodic Peninsula, about 45 miles (72 km) east of the MDI section by road or accessible by ferry from Bar Harbor. A third section on Isle au Haut, reached by ferry from Stonington, is the most remote.

By Plane

Hancock County–Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) in Trenton (12 miles/19 km from Bar Harbor, the park's main gateway) offers seasonal service to Boston (Cape Air) and Newark. Free Island Explorer bus service connects the airport to Bar Harbor in summer. Bangor International Airport (BGR), 45–60 miles (72–97 km) west, has more extensive connections.

By Train

By Car / Road

The main park entrance on Mount Desert Island is accessed via Route 3 through Bar Harbor, approximately 3–3.5 hours from Portland via I-95 and I-395, or 45–60 minutes from Bangor. The park has no staffed entrance gates in the traditional sense; instead, purchase your entrance pass at one of the park's visitor centers or in advance at Recreation.gov. A 7-day vehicle pass costs $35 (as of 2024).

From June through October, a vehicle reservation system is required for driving to the Cadillac Mountain summit and for parking at Sand Beach (the most popular swimming area). Reservations open 90 days in advance at Recreation.gov and sell out rapidly in peak season. The free Island Explorer bus network (L.L. Bean–sponsored) serves most trailheads, campgrounds, and Bar Harbor village, eliminating the parking problem on the most congested parts of the island.

The Island Explorer bus network is the recommended way to move around Acadia during the summer season (typically June–Columbus Day): it is free, connects most major trailheads, and allows point-to-point hiking without shuttling cars. Buses run on schedule from early morning to evening; routes are well-signed at trailheads.

The Park Loop Road (27 miles/43 km, one-way in sections) is the primary driving circuit through the park, passing Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs, Jordan Pond, and Eagle Lake. Most of the park's iconic sights are accessible from this road.

The carriage road network (80 km/50 miles) is closed to motorized vehicles. Bicycles can be rented in Bar Harbor from Acadia Bike and other outfitters; the carriage roads are the most enjoyable cycling in the park.

Cadillac Mountain — At 1,530 feet (466 m), the highest point on the US Atlantic coast and, between early October and early March, the first place in the contiguous United States where the sun rises. The summit is accessible by the 3.5-mile (5.6 km) South Ridge Trail, the 2.2-mile (3.5 km) North Ridge Trail, or a paved summit road (vehicle reservation required in peak season). 360-degree views encompass Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, Penobscot Bay, and, on clear days, the coast of Nova Scotia.

Sand Beach — A rare sandy beach in otherwise rocky MDI, formed from a mix of quartz and shell fragments. The only designated swimming beach in the park; water temperatures rarely exceed 60°F (16°C) even in August. Parking reservation required in peak season.

Thunder Hole — A narrow inlet in the rocky shore south of Sand Beach where wave action traps and compresses air, producing a booming sound and spray on the right tide and wave conditions (typically two hours before high tide with moderate surf).

Otter Cliffs — 110-foot (34 m) vertical pink granite walls dropping directly into the ocean; one of the most photographed sites in the park. Rock climbing is permitted on designated routes.

Jordan Pond — A glacially carved lake at the center of the island, surrounded by the pair of rounded hills called "The Bubbles." The famous Jordan Pond House restaurant (☏ +1 207 276-3316) has served afternoon tea with popovers on the lawn since the 1870s; outdoor seating with lake views in summer.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse — A working lighthouse on the southwestern tip of MDI, one of the most photogenic in Maine. Best photographed from the rocks below at sunset (accessible via a short trail).

Schoodic Peninsula — The mainland section of Acadia, accessible by ferry from Bar Harbor (Schoodic Ferry operates in summer, approximately 50 minutes) or by car (1 hour drive). Far quieter than MDI, with seabird colonies on Schoodic Head and dramatic wave-lashed granite at Schoodic Point.

Hiking — Acadia has 160 km (100 miles) of maintained trails across all difficulty levels. Highlights:

• Ocean Trail (easy, 4 miles/6.4 km round-trip) — Flat walk along the dramatic rocky shoreline from Sand Beach past Thunder Hole to Otter Cliffs; the most accessible park trail.
• The Beehive (moderate, 1.6 miles/2.6 km round-trip) — Steep climb via iron rungs to a 540-foot summit with views of Sand Beach and Frenchman Bay.
• The Precipice (strenuous, 1.6 miles/2.6 km round-trip) — The most challenging accessible trail, ascending Champlain Mountain via iron ladders; closed in spring when peregrine falcons nest.
• Dorr Mountain / Gorham Mountain — A ridge traverse connecting the southern park area; intermediate difficulty with varied views.
• Carriage Road loop via Eagle Lake — A flat, 5-mile (8 km) circuit around Eagle Lake on the Rockefeller carriage roads; suitable for all fitness levels.

Cycling the carriage roads — The 80 km (50 miles) of broken-stone carriage roads are closed to motorized vehicles and form one of the finest cycling networks in any US national park. Bicycles can be rented in Bar Harbor. The Eagle Lake circuit and the routes around Witch Hole Pond are the most popular; the Amphitheater Bridge is among the most architecturally impressive of the 17 carriage road bridges.

Sea kayaking — Multiple outfitters in Bar Harbor offer guided kayak tours of the western side of MDI and into Somes Sound, the only fjord on the US Atlantic coast. Half-day and full-day tours available; no prior experience required for guided tours.

Rock climbing — Otter Cliffs and South Wall are the premier rock climbing destinations in Acadia. Granite faces with ocean views; bouldering also available near the cliff base. Permits are not required but Leave No Trace principles apply.

Ranger programs — The National Park Service offers free ranger-led programs throughout the summer: sunrise talks on Cadillac Mountain, tide pool walks, evening astronomy programs (the park has relatively dark skies), and geology tours. Check the Acadia Visitor Center for current schedules.

Acadia Night Sky Festival (September) — A multi-day festival of astronomy events, ranger talks, and guided stargazing celebrating the park's relatively dark night skies.

Jordan Pond House (Park Loop Road, ☏ +1 207 276-3316) — The park's iconic in-park dining option, serving afternoon tea with popovers on the lawn overlooking Jordan Pond since the 1870s. Lunch and dinner also available. Moderate–expensive. Outdoor seating in summer; indoor dining year-round (the building is a reconstruction following a 1979 fire). Reservations strongly recommended for the popover tea.

For everything else, Bar Harbor's restaurant scene is 5–15 minutes from most trailheads. Pack a lunch for full-day hikes; the park has excellent picnic areas at Seawall, Fabbri, and Bear Brook.

Water is available at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and at campgrounds; bring your own water or a filter for hiking. The Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond areas have drinking water access. Bar Harbor village has cafés and bars within minutes of the park.

Camping: Acadia has two main campgrounds on MDI:

• Blackwoods (Route 3, 5 miles/8 km south of Bar Harbor) — The larger and more popular campground; open year-round, with reservations required in summer (~$30–35/night). Book via Recreation.gov 6 months in advance for July–August.
• Seawall (Route 102A, Southwest Harbor) — Walk-up sites available on a first-come, first-served basis (some reservable); typically quieter than Blackwoods.
• Duck Harbor (Isle au Haut section) — A primitive, five-site campground on the remote park section; reached by ferry from Stonington. Highly sought after; reservations open in April.

Bar Harbor and the surrounding MDI communities have dozens of inns, B&Bs, and hotels within easy driving distance of the park.

There are no commercial services within Acadia's core park areas beyond the Jordan Pond House. Bar Harbor (the main gateway village) has all necessary supplies: outdoor gear at Cadillac Mountain Sports and Acadia Bike, groceries at local markets, and a full range of souvenirs and artisan goods on Main Street and Cottage Street.

• Bar Harbor village — The main service and restaurant hub, 5–15 minutes from most trailheads; worth an evening of strolling, dining, and whale-watching boat booking.
• Schoodic Peninsula — The quieter mainland section of Acadia, 1 hour by car or 50 minutes by seasonal ferry; no crowds, dramatic coastline.
• Isle au Haut — The remote third section of Acadia, accessible by ferry from Stonington (1.5 hours from MDI by car); primitive camping and rugged hiking without the crowds.
• Ellsworth — 30 minutes northwest; a practical supply town with grocery stores and the Colonel Black Mansion.
• Baxter State Park — 3.5 hours northwest; the other great Maine wilderness park, containing Mount Katahdin (the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail).