Planning Your Visit Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor

Mount Desert Island is the largest island off the coast of Maine. Mount Desert Island is home to the town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor overlooks Frenchman Bay and Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States.

How To Get There

Every time we fly to New England, we fly into Boston Logan International Airport.  They have the most nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale.  We always stay in Southern Maine and then take short trips from there.  Other airports are closer which may work better for your itinerary, but if time permits, I would recommend flying into Boston and taking your time driving up the coast to Bar Harbor. There are so many beautiful towns to stop in and explore along the way. 

If you have some time to spend in Boston check out my guide Boston: The Ultimate Guide.

Fly Into:

Boston Logan International Airport (280 miles, about 4 hours and 40 minutes to Bar Harbor)

Portland International Jetport (175 miles, about 3 hours to Bar Harbor)

Bangor International Airport (51 miles, about 1 hour and 15 minutes to Bar Harbor)

Where To Stay

There are a lot of accommodation options in the town of Bar Harbor including boutique hotels, Bed & Breakfasts and AirBNBs.  If you’re an adventure seeker you can camp in or around Acadia National Park.  I’m more of a hotel kind of girl myself, so we stayed at an Opal Collection Resort, The West Street Hotel.  It was the perfect location on the corner of West and Main Streets facing the harbor, within walking distance to all the shops and restaurants. Another great option is the charming Bed & Breakfast Yellow House Inn or Ivy Manor Inn which is right on Main Street.

Things To Do

You can easily spend a few days to a week exploring the town of Bar Habor and visiting Acadia National Park. The main reason most people visit Bar Harbor is to explore Acadia National Park.

Best Things To Do In Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is 47,000-acres and includes beautiful woodlands, rocky beaches and 24 freshwater lakes and ponds.  Before you go, always check their website for important information, updates, reservation requirements and closures.  Acadia is beautiful any time of year.  Keep in mind, that it will be more crowded during the summer months as it is a very popular destination for hiking, bicycling, kayaking and swimming.  In the winter, people come to Acadia for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, but some attractions may be closed from October through May.  We went in September which was perfect for us.  There were no crowds and the weather was beautiful.  

You can explore Acadia National Park by car which is what we did. We drove to each of the attractions below. You can also hike, bike, take a shuttle or tour bus. If taking a guided tour of the park check out this Full Day Small Group Tour of Acadia National Park.

Park Look Road

Park Look Road is a 27-mile road scenic drive around the island and takes you to the most popular areas of the park.

Sand Beach

Sand Beach is a gorgeous cove surrounded by lush forest and granite cliffs.  They have parking, restrooms and changing rooms at the beach.

Thunder Hole

Thunder Hole is an inlet where waves crash and make loud thunderous booms.  There are stairs that take you right down to the water so you can see it up close and personal.  There is also a gift shop across the street.

Otter Cliff

Otter Cliff is the most popular rock climbing spot in Maine.  Even if you’re not a rock climber, it’s worth a stop to take in the beautiful views.

Jordan Pond

Jordan Pond covers 187 acres and has 3.6 miles of shoreline.  There is an easy hike that loops around the pond giving beautiful views from every angle.   

Jordan Pond House Restaurant

While you’re there, stop for a bite at Jordan Pond House Restaurant which overlooks the beautiful pond and mountains.  They have been serving tea and popovers there since 1893.  They also have a full lunch and dinner menu. They are open from May to October.   

Go To The Top Of Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is 1530 feet tall and is the highest point on the East Coast of the United States.

Bubble Rock

Bubble Rock is a large boulder sitting on the edge of a cliff.

Best Things To Do In Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a town on Mount Desert Island overlooking Maine’s Frenchman Bay. There are lots of things to do and see in Bar Harbor. If you’d like to get the lay of the land you can take a Guided Walking Tour of Bar Harbor.

The Shore Path

The Shore Path begins at the town pier next to Agamont Park and follows the shoreline along the harbor.  You will pass the Bar Harbor Inn and other beautiful waterfront homes as you take in the beautiful sights of the harbor.  The path is .7 miles and ends on Wayman Street which leads to Main Street or you can go back along the path for a mile and a half walk.

Main Street

There are lots of nice shops and restaurants to explore in the area.

Visit Museums

If Museums are your thing, you might want to check these out.  

The Dorr Museum of Natural History features dioramas of coastal Maine wildlife and a tide pool tank that houses a variety of live sea stars, hermit crabs, snails and other marine creatures. 

The Abbe Museum shares the history and culture of Maine’s Native people.

The Bar Harbor Historical Society which is housed in La Rochelle was built in 1903.  La Rochelle is a forty-one room, 13,000 square foot lavish chateaux which had twenty bedrooms and ten full bathrooms on two acres of land. Today you can tour the chateaux and gardens.

Take a Cruise in the Harbor

If you want to get out on the water, Bar Harbor has nature cruises, lobster fishing tours, seal and whale watching, sunset sailing and kayaking tours right from the pier.

Go on a Walking Tour

Bar Harbor has walking tours that include history tours, beer and food tours and ghost tours.

Whatever you’re into, there is something for everyone in Acadia and Bar Harbor and it’s definitely worth the trip.

Looking for another family-friendly vacation idea? Check out my travel guide to Charleston, SC: The Perfect 3-Day Weekend In Charleston

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