Acadia National Park is the premier park in the Atlantic northeast. Set on several islands and peninsulas, it features wooded hills surrounded by water and rocky shorelines.
Visiting Acadia National Park is full of adventure and amazing scenery. There is great hiking and cycling; sailing and kayaking; and swimming and sightseeing. You can visit historic lighthouses and local lobster fishing villages; eat fresh lobster and delicious popovers; and see sea lions and eagles.
It easily makes the list of the best national parks in the United States.
Table of Contents
Acadia National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Maine
⭐ Main attractions: Wooded hills, islands, rocky coastlines, iron-rung hikes, lobster & popovers
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Itineraries for Acadia National Park
*** Available for purchase ***
These are not your average blogger itineraries, which tend to be short summaries of things that they did on their one visit there. These itineraries are all about YOU and helping you have the best time.
They will take away the overwhelm that often accompanies planning a trip to Acadia National Park. They’re a combination detailed hour-by-hour itinerary (with options for different activity levels), guidebook, hiking guide, driving directions, travel tips, and more. You’ll need nothing else to plan your trip – it’s all done for you (but you still have choices).
One-day, two-day, three-day or four-day detailed itineraries for Acadia National Park available for purchase:
EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT WITH ACADIA NATIONAL PARK ITINERARIES
Acadia National Park Travel Guide
How to Plan a Trip to Acadia National Park
Planning a trip to Acadia National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this Acadia National Park guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and get answers to your questions.
Make planning easier with this step-by-step guide to all you need to think about and do when planning a trip to Acadia.
Read More: HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO ACADIA
There is a timed entry system for the drive up to the top of Cadillac Mountain most of the year. This guide breaks it all down for you.
Read More: CADILLAC MOUNTAIN RESERVATIONS
7 things you should AVOID doing when planning your Acadia National Park vacation!
Read More: 7 MISTAKES TO AVOID IN ACADIA
Travel Tips for Acadia National Park
My top three tip for visiting Acadia are:
‼️ Have a plan. Avoid spending your vacation driving around parking lots looking for a space to park. Get one of my detailed itineraries – they tell you when and where to go to have the least chance of getting caught in traffic and the best chance of being in the right place at the right time to enjoy the trails and take the best photos. Get the 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day itineraries here.
‼️ Get an early start each day. This is the best way to beat the crowds and have the best light for photos.
‼️ Don’t just stick to Mount Desert Island. The Schoodic Peninsula is much less crowded and equally beautiful.
This guide will help you answer your concerns about what to expect and how exactly to plan your Acadia trip.
Read More: Tips For Visiting Acadia National Park
Entrance Fee for Acadia National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Acadia this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes standard entrance at all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers. The pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to four adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here.
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Acadia National Park Entrances
Acadia National Park is spread over part of Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula, and the small Isle Au Haut.
There are multiple roads that go in and out of the Mount Desert Island sections of Acadia. There are four entrances to the popular Park Loop Road section of Acadia on Mount Desert Island:
🎫 Hulls Cove Entrance: Located on Route 3 in the northern part of Bar Harbor
🎫 Cadillac Mountain Entrance: Located on Route 233
🎫 Sieur de Monts Entrance: Located on Route 3 south of Bar Harbor
🎫 Stanley Brook Entrance: Located on Route 3 in the town of Seal Harbor
The Schoodic Peninsula section of the park is located near the town of Winter Harbor off Route 186.
Isle au Haut is reached by mail boat from the village of Stonington on Mount Desert Island.
Acadia National Park Visitor Center
The main Visitor Center is at Hull’s Cove. See the NPS website for opening hours, as they change seasonally.
Best Tours of Acadia National Park
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Acadia National Park
Things to Do in Acadia National Park
There is no shortage of things to do and see in Acadia National Park.
Read More: BEST THINGS TO IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is a highlight of any trip to Acadia National Park and not to be missed.
Read More: BASS HARBOR HEAD LIGHTHOUSE GUIDE
Hikes in Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park has miles of trails and carriage roads. It’s famous the legendary iron-rung trails, which are not suitable for those with a fear of heights, but there are trails for all comfort levels.
This guide describes the top hikes. It includes trail details so you can choose the best hikes for you.
Read More: BEST HIKES IN ACADIA
From coastal walks to woodland paths, these beginner-friendly hikes pack in all the stunning scenery that makes Acadia famous.
Read More: 7 BEST EASY HIKES IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Places To Inside Acadia National Park
There are no lodges inside the park, but there are several campgrounds.
Read More: ACADIA CAMPING GUIDE
Where to Stay Near Acadia National Park
The nearest town for Mount Desert Island is Bar Harbor.
➡️ Find a hotel in Bar Harbor on Expedia.
➡️ Find more vacation rentals in or near Bar Harbor on VRBO.
For the Schoodic Peninsula, the nearest town is Winter Harbor.
➡️ Find a hotel in Winter Harbor on Expedia.
➡️ Find more vacation rentals in or near Winter Harbor on VRBO.
If you’d prefer to stay in a house, cabin or apartment in Bar Harbor, my guide to the best vacation rentals in Bar Harbor has some top pick suggestions.
Read More: BEST RENTALS IN BAR HARBOR
If you’d prefer to stay in a house, cabin or apartment near Acadia but not in Bar Harbor itself, my guide to the best vacation rentals near Acadia has some top pick suggestions.
Read More: BEST RENTALS NEAR ACADIA
There are plenty of campgrounds all around – and inside – Acadia National Park. Here is a definitive list to help you find the best campground for your trip.
Read More: ACADIA CAMPING GUIDE
How to Get To Acadia National Park
The most common ways to get to Acadia National Park are to drive or fly into one of the nearby airports and pick up a rental car there. However, there are other options. This guide has all the ways to get to Acadia National Park.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO ACADIA
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Best Airports for Acadia National Park
There are several airports near Acadia that you can fly into/ out of. This guide gives you the full lowdown on all the nearby airports and the pros and cons of using each of them.
Read More: BEST AIRPORTS FOR ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Cut straight to the chase and see which airport is nearest the national park.
Read More: THE AIRPORT NEAREST ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Acadia National Park
You can always drive around Acadia – and some places like Cadillac Mountain are only accessible by car. If you drive, though, go early to secure a coveted parking spot.
🚗 You can find a rental car here.
The other option is to take the Island Explorer shuttle bus. Operating in the high season, the free shuttle bus has multiple routes all around and near Mount Desert Island, as well a route around the Schoodic Peninsula that connects with the ferry between Bar Harbor and Winter Harbor.
The Best Time to Visit Acadia National Park
In general, the best times to go to Acadia National Park are early – mid-June (between the muddy spring season and the crowded summer season); early-mid September (between the crowded summer and the chilly late fall); and mid-October – early November (for the spectacular fall foliage). However, this isn’t the only good time to go.
Read this quick summary of the best times to visit Acadia National Park to help you decide when to go.
Read More: BEST TIME TO VISIT ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Read detailed information on every season, so you can make the most informed decision for your own trip.
Read More: VISITING ACADIA NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Acadia National Park
How many days you should go to Acadia for depends on when you have time off, how much time off you have, your budget, and your interests. I recommend at least four days to see all the main areas of the park, do some hikes, and enjoy other don’t-miss activities.
If you have less or more time, and want to see what you can realistically expect to see and do in that time, this guide has a breakdown for you.
Read More: HOW MANY DAYS IN ACADIA
Travel Insurance for Acadia National Park
In addition to using this travel guide, Acadia National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
Books about Acadia National Park
Books to read before you go, while you’re there or after you come back.
Read More: Best Books About Acadia National Park
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.