How to Make the Most of a Week in Acadia National Park
- Updated: 04/03/2024
- Janice
For years, I had my heart set on visiting Acadia National Park. I knew I would love its hiking trails along dramatic rocky coasts, pine and deciduous forests blanketed in fogs, and its 45-mile network of motor-free carriage roads calling out to be biked. And I was right.
When we finally made it to Acadia National Park for a weeklong family stay in August after an extended weekend in Boston—I loved every minute of our visit.
I share what we did with recommendations for where to book family-friendly activities, places to stay , and where to find the best resources to learn more about the island and its wealth of things to see and do for families.
Table Of Contents
About Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is one of a handful of US National Parks entirely located on an island—Mount Desert Island. This 108 square mile island on the east coast of Maine, and a three-hour drive north of Maine’s largest town, Portland, is shaped like a lopsided lung—with Somes Sound splitting the east and the west halves.
Bar Harbor, on the northeast coast of Mount Desert Island, is its largest town offering the widest selection—and among the most-premium priced—lodging and dining options.
Nearly half of the island—approximately 47 square miles—is dedicated to the stunning natural scenery of Acadia National Park.
How to Get to Acadia National Park: Plane, Train, Car, Bus, or Ferry
To get to Acadia National Park, you will most likely arrive by plane, car, or a combination of train and bus via the causeway that connects mainland Maine to Mount Desert Island.
Here is a list of the closest airports to Acadia National Park that you can fly into on round-trip or one-way tickets:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): Get to Acadia via a five-hour drive, a direct bus from Boston, or a combination of train and bus.
- Bangor International Airport (BGR): This airport is the closest international one to Acadia. Arrive via a one-hour drive, taxi, or bus. View ground transportation options here.
- Portland’s International Jetport (PWM): Get to Acadia via a three-hour drive. View ground transportation options here.
- Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB). This tiny airport is just north of the causeway that connects the mainland to Mount Desert Island. Cape Air and Jet Blue partner to provide direct flights from Boston. View ground transportation options here.
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Amtrak also offers a scenic train service called the Amtrak Downeaster that connects Boston to Portland, Maine. Once in Portland, you can continue to Mount Desert Island via bus on Concord Coachlines. You can also take a bus direct from Boston on Concord.
Or take a ferry. You can arrive at or continue your Acadia adventure via the CAT, a high-speed passenger and vehicle ferry that connects Bar Harbor to (Yarmouth) Nova Scotia, Canada, on a 3.5-hour journey. If you arrive in Bar Harbor without a car, know you can get around for free. Learn more about Mount Desert Island’s free Island Explorer bus system here.
6 Things to Know Before Visiting Acadia National Park
- The best times to visit Acadia National Park are in the summer. July and August are the high season. The next best time to visit Acadia is in the fall, from mid-September through mid-October, to catch the changing autumn colors.
- Plan (way) ahead. Book your Acadia National Park accommodation before you book anything else, including your airfare. If you can, schedule six months in advance. Better yet—book a full 12 months to pick and choose from the best family options.
- You must purchase one of a limited number of National Parks vehicle reservation passes to drive on Cadillac Mountain Road to view its impressive summit with sweeping views. Learn more here. 70% of these day passes are available 48 hours in advance. If you want to view the Cadillac Mountain summit without a vehicle pass, join an organized guided tour, or hike or bike to the top. The Island Explorer bus system does not include the summit road—and it is a long 3.5-mile walk to the top.
- No other vehicle reservations are required in Acadia National Park. However, you need to buy a National Parks vehicle pass or be the holder of an annual National Parks Pass to enter the park by car.
- Mount Desert Island and Acadia Park are serviced by the extensive and completely free Island Explorer Bus system, which links park destinations with nearby village centers. This means you can come to Acadia without a car or leave it behind at your lodging when you do not want to worry about parking.
- The coastal Maine fogs come in quickly and leave nearly as fast. If you are not from the region, this may be an entirely new experience. Be prepared for thick fog to roll in at any time of the day and obstruct your views. Though, if you have the time flexibility, stick around. The fog may roll out as quickly as it came in.
Our Top 10 Things to Do in Acadia National Park for Families
- Hiking & Walking. We hiked the Gorham Mountain Loop, Beech Mountain, and Acadia Mountain trails. Find more Acadia hikes on AllTrails.com. Or read “Ten Days in Acadia: A Kids’ Hiking Guide to Mount Desert Island,” a guidebook full of family-friendly trails. We brought our heavily dog-eared copy of this guide on every hike. We also loved strolling the level Bar Harbor Shore Path, a 1.5-mile level route hugging Frenchman Bay.
Looking for more hikes? Check out this article sharing the top five hikes for families.
- Biking. We rented bikes from centrally located Acadia Bike and used the seasonal free Bike Express Shuttle, covering only a fraction of the park’s extensive carriage road system. I would love to come back one day and bike all the paths. Rent your bikes in advance.
- Experiencing wildlife. We stayed at an inn along Bar Harbor’s Shore Path and could stroll out to its rocky beach to explore tide pools each evening. Also, we booked an ecology tour with a private guide and got tickets for Diver Ed’s Dive-In Theatre boat tour.
- Island hopping. We booked tickets on the Sea Princess out of Northeast Harbor for a narrated tour to Little Cranberry Island and up Somes Sound.
- Kayaking. It is a beautiful experience getting out on the water in Frenchman Bay on a clear sunny day. We could walk to Coastal Kayak for our tour.
- Scenic driving. Driving the scenic park roads and through the charming villages on Mount Desert Island was a joy.
- Playing on the beach. Despite the freezing water, we loved our visit to Sand Beach.
- Picnicking. Pick up your favorite picnic foods in town at the Hannaford and head out to enjoy a picnic. We also loved the premium food options from the small gourmet shop, Peekytoe Provisions. Our favorite picnic spots included Bubble Pond, Echo Lake, and the summit of Gorham Mountain.
- Eating. Are you even on a trip to Maine if you do not eat lobster, Maine blueberries, and ice cream? All of these are must-tries.
- Shopping. The bustling touristy streets of Bar Harbor are full of shops with souvenirs and quality trip mementos. We bought outdoor gear, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and a hand-hewn wooden birdhouse.
Our 7-Day Acadia National Park Itinerary for Families
Here is how we spent our seven days in Acadia National Park. Find a map showing all the places we visited and detail for each day below.
Day 1: Drive up from Boston and arrive in Bar Harbor
Day 2: Hike the Gorham Mountain Loop Trail and lounge at Sand Beach
Day 3: Take a Down East Nature and Ecology tour and bike the carriage roads
Day 4: Shop in Bar Harbor, join a Sea Princess Boat tour, and drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain
Day 5: Hike Beech Mountain and Acadia Mountain trails, picnic at Echo Lake
Day 6: Kayak Frenchman Bay and join a Diver’s Ed Dive-In Theatre tour
Day 7: Fly out of Bangor
How to use this map: In the map header, click the square tab to the left of my logo or click the enlarge frame to the right to view detail. You can save the map to “Your Places” on Google Maps by clicking the star next to the map name. Or you can share it by clicking the share icon.
Day 1: Driving Up from Boston & Arrival
We arrived at Bar Harbor from Boston, where we spent four days staying in the North End and exploring the city. From Boston, we rented a car to make the nearly five-hour drive north to Bar Harbor.
To break up the ride, we stopped just south of Portland, Maine, at Bite Into Maine, an oceanfront lobster roll shack recommended by a friend of my husband, who was born and raised in Portland. He suggested it for its incredible views, tasty lunch, and exploring Fort Williams Park.
Both of our kids loved this stop. While there, each separately announced that they wanted to move to Maine. En route to Bar Harbor, and after our lobster roll lunch, we stopped one more time at a roadside farmstand to pick up more snacks—fresh, flavorful Maine blueberries and homemade chocolate cake. Finally, after just enough car trip stops, sights, and snacks—we arrived!
I selected an inn just south of the core commercial district in Bar Harbor, two short blocks from the Village Green and adjacent to the Bar Harbor Shore Path that runs along the coast.
Although and sadly, our lovely family-friendly inn, formerly the Shore Path Cottage, recently converted to a large group rental—which I highly recommend—there are plenty of other wonderful family-friendly places to stay. I share several of them here.
After checking in, we stepped out the gate from the front yard of our inn to explore the tidal pools on the rocky coast next to the Shore Path. For dinner, we walked into town, choosing from one of several area restaurants.
Day 2: Hike the Gorham Mountain Loop Trail & Relax on Sand Beach
On day two, we woke to clouds and misty rain, a common occurrence in coastal Maine.
While we waited for the rain to clear, we made the most of our time. We took advantage of the delicious breakfast offered by our inn before heading out to collect picnic supplies from the local Hannaford, the main in-town grocery store, and stopping by the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to talk to the Acadia National Park rangers to get their advice on the best hikes and biking paths for kids.
With lunch and a plan for the next several days, we continued along the park roads south to Sand Beach, luckily scoring a hard-to-get parking spot. With our backpacks on and our lunches stashed inside, we left our car to walk clockwise along the 3.0-mile Gorham Mountain Loop trail.
This loop begins from the Sand Beach parking area and encompasses a section of the Ocean Path Trail, passing by Thunder Hole, a natural rock inlet that amplifies the spray and sound of waves at high tides. The Ocean Path trail eventually intersects with the Gorham Mountain (and Beehive) trails, looping back to the Sand Beach parking lot.
Our kids were ages nine and twelve when we did this hike, and they had little problem keeping up. Upon reaching the summit, we stopped to enjoy lunch and the beautiful coastal views. Our hard work paid off even more, while when eating lunch, we were treated to the phenomenon of a thick fog rolling in to hug the coast below and marveled at being at a high enough elevation to look down at it.
Once we completed the loop, descended past the parking lot, and onto Sand Beach, we removed our shoes to stick our feet in the cold ocean. By now, the fog had mostly lifted. So, after splashing around, we settled down on the sand to rest, relax, and enjoy the view. We watched the waves and breathed in the fresh salty air as the late afternoon light began to turn golden.
Wrapping up beach time, we headed back to the car and returned to the inn to clean up and spend another early evening exploring the tidal pools along the Shore Path. For dinner, we walked to nearby upscale Salt & Steel to sit at an upstairs table overlooking its pretty courtyard to enjoy seafood and pasta specialties such as clams, lobster bisque, and lobster carbonara.
Day 3: Down East Nature & Ecology Tour & Biking to Jordan Pond
We started today early, getting picked up at 7:30A by Michael, the owner and guide at Down East Nature Tours, for a privately booked Wetland Ecology tour to Three Pines Bird Sanctuary and the Wild Gardens of Acadia.
It was a perfect misty morning for a wetland tour. Wearing our raincoats and hiking boots, we enjoyed our guided walk in the woods to view native birds and wildlife, where Michael taught us more about the local habitat.
After we visited the Sanctuary, we extended our tour with a stop at the coast. Michael taught us more about tidal pools, geology, and local marine life. He was a great teacher, and we all enjoyed the experience.
Back at our inn by mid-morning, we rested and then picked up picnic supplies at gourmet Peekytoe Provisions before walking into town to rent bikes from Acadia Bike. Once we had our bikes, we transported them on the seasonal and free Bike Express Shuttle, taking the bus to the top of Eagle Lake to begin our ride along Acadia National Park’s carriage roads.
Since our visit, the seasonal Bike Express Shuttle has changed its route, picking up from Kids Corner instead of at the Village Green. Before any bike trip, confirm the latest dates of operation, schedule, and route map of the shuttle.
It is a bike-lovers dream to ride on this well-maintained motor-free path system that snakes its way up and down and around the contours of the park and its most beautiful features.
We set Jordan Pond, with its crystal-clear lake surrounded by mountains, as our destination goal, choosing to ride the carriage roads clockwise to get there. We stopped for a lovely picnic lunch at quiet Bubble Pond before continuing south, past Wildwood Stables, to make our way to Jordan Pond.
Although we did not choose to wait for the busy outdoor tables at the Jordan Pond restaurant, we took time to rest on the lawn and enjoy the coffee, hot chocolates, and snacks we picked up from their store and to-go window. We followed this by skipping rocks at the shore before getting back on our bikes to ride back to our Eagle Lake pick-up point.After catching the shuttle, we returned our bikes and headed to our inn for more snacks and tidal pool exploring.
For dinner, we chose a low-key pizza joint—bustling Rosalie’s Pizza. Our family agreed the pie here was worth the wait. Be sure to arrive early to grab a seat. Tables are first come, first serve. And if the downstairs is full, try upstairs. We loved this affordable and family-friendly dinner option.
Day 4: Bar Harbor Shopping, Sea Princess Boat Tour & Cadillac Mountain
Since our first two days were so active, we kept the schedule lighter today. We began the day with a slow morning of souvenir shopping in Bar Harbor, buying outdoor gear, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and a hand-hewn wooden birdhouse.
Next, we headed to Northeast Harbor for a delicious lunch at Milk and Honey Kitchen before catching our Sea Princess cruise to nearby Islesford, the fishing community on Little Cranberry Island.
The morning’s rain gave way to heavy fog as we boarded our boat. Through a thick soup of gray mist, we listened while our guide shared about the history and ecology of the area. As we made our way over the calm waters of Somes Sound, we could see little beyond our boat and could only hear the fog horns and the occasional splash of water over our guide’s narration.
Once at Islesford, we disembarked on the wooden pier appreciating how the colors and sights of Little Cranberry Island emerged from the fog. In addition to exploring the Islesford Historical Museum, we hung out by the water skipping rocks and drinking warm drinks before reboarding our boat for the return trip. Fortunately, on the ride back, the fog lifted, the sun emerged, and we had the chance to see the harbor framed by picturesque rocky green hills.
After the boat tour, we treated ourselves to ice cream in Northeast Harbor, took advantage of the clear skies, and drove straight to Cadillac Mountain—the highest point in Acadia.
Luckily, we quickly got a parking spot at the congested summit lot and began exploring. Walking around the rocky mountain top, we marveled at the sweeping views down the coast, of the surrounding islands, and below into Bar Harbor in the golden light of late afternoon.
Since our visit, Acadia National Park has instituted a vehicle reservation pass system to drive on Cadillac Mountain Road to reduce congestion. Learn more about it here. 70% of these day passes are available 48 hours in advance.
If you want to visit the Cadillac Mountain summit without a vehicle pass, join an organized guided tour, or hike or bike to the top. The Island Explorer bus system does not provide service up the summit road, and it is a long and windy 3.5-mile walk to the summit.
Returning to our inn, we repeated our evening ritual of snacks and tidal pool exploring before heading to nearby Bar Harbor Lobster Co. to don some bibbs and try lobster for dinner. Growing up on the East Coast, my husband had eaten lobster several times. The rest of us had not.
We gamely ordered our crustaceans, watched a YouTube video on how to eat them, and dug in. With lots of laughing, butter-dipping, and shell-cracking, we got the hang of it and decided it was a fun experience.
Day 5: Hike Beech Mountain & Acadia Mountain, & Picnic at Echo Lake
Day five was all about hiking! We started our morning with a hike on the 1.2-mile moderately challenging Beech Mountain Trail, a highly rated loop route just north of Southwest Harbor that offers a beautiful view at the summit, that is, if you do not ascend just as thick fog rolls in like we did.
Although we tried to stick around for the view to clear, we decided walking down and driving the short distance to Echo Lake for a picnic was the better move.
We joined several other families already set up for a day of play on the rocky beach to enjoy our picnic lunch, followed by a quick splash in the cold lake. Although the water was not nearly as frigid as the waves on Sand Beach, it still was a refreshing chill and great for trail-sore toes.
Following lunch, we drove a very short distance to the Acadia Mountain trailhead to tackle the combo Acadia Mountain and Man O War 2.5-mile loop trail. Since there was no trailhead parking lot, we copied the other cars and parked on the side of the road along the shoulder near the trailhead.
Once parked, we followed the trail in a clockwise direction. Despite the steep ascents and descents that required some scrambling, the kids loved this trail which rewarded our hard work with pretty views of Somes Sound and the surrounding mountains.
For dinner, we headed to a nearby pub for an easy meal and an early return home to rest from our heavy hiking day.
Day 6: Kayak & Diver-Ed’s Dive-In Theatre
Our final full day in Acadia was dedicated to the water. We began the day strolling down the Shore Path from our inn toward Coastal Kayaking Tours next to Acadia Bike, where we had just rented our bikes.
At the office, we got outfitted to join a 2.5-hour harbor tour of Frenchman Bay. Each parent joined a kid in a kayak to follow a guide as we navigated still waters around islands in the bay, catching glimpses of marine life up close.
After the tour, we walked back to our inn, picking up sandwiches from nearby Choc-Latte Cafe to enjoy on the inn’s veranda tables, and took the afternoon off to rest, read, and rock skip at the tidal pools.
In the late afternoon, we drove to northern Bar Harbor and next to the College of the Atlantic to check in for our late afternoon boat ride and show with Diver Ed’s Dive In Theatre.
If you plan to join a Diver Ed tour, book your tickets, these tours will sell out. Currently, Diver Ed offers morning and midday tours. Late afternoon time slots, as we booked, are no longer available.
The tour is high-quality marine life edutainment. You and your kids get to watch a live underwater show from the comfort of a boat while Diver Ed entertains your family with his passion for marine education and his silliness.
Also, if you arrive early for your tour, set aside a few minutes to walk around the fascinating and small-scale George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History with your kids.
On our tour, Ed dove down to 50 feet in a dry suit, videoing his dive and chatting with us from underwater as he showed the animals in their habitats. He brought select animals back up to the boat, where the kids got to touch and examine them at close range. All the happy, laughing, and squealing kids on our tour loved the experience.
Day 7: Fly out of Bangor
After a lovely week in Acadia, we were sad to leave. There were so many trails and bike routes we wanted to do but could not squeeze in. We could have easily filled two weeks if not an entire summer of exploring.
Though, our time in Acadia, like so many good things, had to come to an end. To return home, we flew out of Bangor International Airport, a much shorter one-hour drive from Bar Harbor, versus a five-hour drive back to Boston. Since we had pre-booked a one-way car rental, we returned our vehicle with ease and caught a seasonal and very convenient nonstop flight from Bangor back to Chicago. We hope to return to Acadia soon!
Where to Stay for Families Visiting Acadia National Park
In or Around Bar Harbor
Many families love to stay in the heart of the action and book lodging in busy Bar Harbor as it offers the widest selection of accommodation walkable to excellent dining options, though for the highest prices.
Bar Harbor is where we chose to stay. Though our lovely family-friendly inn, formerly the Shore Path Cottage, converted to a rental, here are four other family-friendly places to consider booking in central Bar Harbor. Be sure to reserve your room(s) early.
Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina. This hotel is my number one pick—for its dream room for families of four—a king bed with a bunk bed in a semi-enclosed space. Offering togetherness with a dash of privacy. And for larger families, the hotel has a Two-Bedroom Kid Suite that sleeps up to six. Book via Expedia or its website.
Bar Harbor Inn, Oceanfront Lodge. Book one of the luxury suites that can accommodate family groups and get a prime oceanfront position. Check it out via Expedia or its website.
West Street Hotel. Luxe West Street Hotel offers two-bedroom suites and connecting rooms and the perk of a rooftop pool.
Balance Rock Inn. I love this hotel for its waterfront location right on the Bar Harbor Shore Path and for being just outside the main hub of activity. Its only two drawbacks are its high price and the fact it only has two rooms that accommodate groups of four. See if you can snag one for your stay with your family.
The best more affordable, but by no means inexpensive, family-friendly lodging options closest to Bar Harbor, but not centrally in it, include:
Find other options by expanding your search to include a few miles outside town. Or look for rental properties near Bar Harbor.
For large family groups that want to stay in Bar Harbor, you will not go wrong renting the former Shore Path Cottage, where we stayed when it still was an inn and sleeps 16+. It continues to be owned and operated by the same family who ran the highly-rated inn. Just be sure to plan ahead, as this property books out well over a year in advance.
Outside of Bar Harbor (& the Rest of Mount Desert Island)
Are the Bar Harbor hotel options too pricey? If you plan to drive, consider staying elsewhere on Mount Desert Island in a place that better meets your needs, wants, and budget. Booking lodging outside of expensive Bar Harbor will give you more options and space for less money.
Top alternatives to Bar Harbor include Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and Bass Harbor. Or expand your search to include all of Mount Desert Island.
Prefer to stay in rentals vs. hotels? Search for places to stay on VRBO all over Mount Desert Island. Adjust search parameters for your group size.
For outdoor loving families, you can save a bundle, and be in the best locations by camping at one of the two National Park campgrounds on Mount Desert Island—the Seawall or Blackwoods campground. Both can be reserved two months in advance.
Or, for families who want to get out into nature but do not want to do all the work of lugging camping equipment with them, consider a stay at a glamping spot like Terramor Outdoor Resort close to the causeway. Or at the family-friendly Acadia Yurts and Wellness Center close to Southwest Harbor.
How to Get Around Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island
If you are renting a car or driving your own, Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park are straightforward to navigate. However, depending on your carrier, be prepared for poor cell coverage, particularly within the park. So, unless you have GPS navigation, I highly recommend downloading a Google Map of the area when connected to Wi-Fi. Here is my quick video on how to do this.
Though, if you plan to visit Acadia without a vehicle or do not want to drive to a crowded trailhead with little parking—you have options! You can take full advantage of the free Island Explorer bus system. This bus system offers 13 routes and stops at campgrounds, trailheads, and village centers and will pick up passengers that flag the driver down from a safe shoulder area. Learn more about the system and view its route maps here.
Related Reading
If you are traveling to Acadia, check out my “Maine & Acadia National Park: The Best Books to Read Before a Trip” booklist below to get an Acadia reading list.
Or consider picking up my two favorite guidebooks—” Acadia: The Complete Guide: Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island” by James Kaiser and the family-friendly hiking guide we brought with us on every hike, “Ten Days in Acadia: A Kids’ Hiking Guide to Mount Desert Island,” by Hope Rowan.
Additionally, if your family loves national parks, be sure to check my guides on Glacier National Park and this ultimate guide to 20 national parks for families.
Additional Trip Planning Resources
To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below.
Google Flights. My first research stop for affordable flights for every trip. Learn why here.
Google Hotels. Use its “Where to stay” button to discover the best neighborhoods to base your visit.
Booking.com. For hotel and rental bookings, I appreciate its flexible cancellation, candid user reviews, discounts, loyalty program, and easy-to-use interface.
Viator, Get Your Guide, & Airbnb Experiences. Quickly find and book highly-rated tours and activities on these sites.
Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps. Find more things to do in your destination on Google Travel, then record where you want to visit on a custom Google Maps list.
AllTrails. Love to hike? Me too. I religiously use AllTrails to discover hiking and biking trails and download its offline maps to manage my hikes.
Guide Along. 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible for US road trips and national parks. We loved the Glacier National Park tour.
Insure My Trip. I never travel internationally without trip insurance. Learn why here. My preferred place to shop and compare policies is InsureMyTrip.com.
Plus, check out the 15 travel apps I use on trips, my preferred guidebooks, and my free customizable travel itinerary template, downloadable in four file formats.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. Check out her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter to get her latest travel recommendations and how-to’s.
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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.
Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, an experienced traveler to over 50 countries and a travel writer, book lover, and blogger. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me.
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