Hancock County

Home to Acadia National Park, where Bar Harbor is a classic Maine coast destination for sunrises, hiking and lobster feasts.

Hancock County is on the eastern coast of Maine, with a winding coastline and many islands. The main part of Acadia National Park is on Mount Desert Island, where Cadillac Mountain is a popular spot for watching the sunrise, and the Park Loop Road and carriage roads are good for driving and cycling; Bar Harbor is the hub for lodging, dining and whale-watching trips, while the Schoodic Peninsula is quieter. Fishing villages such as Blue Hill and Stonington have their own charm. Summer to the early-October foliage season is best. The gateway is Hancock County–Bar Harbor Airport, and Bangor International Airport is about an hour's drive away.

Destinations

• Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park

Itineraries

• New England Six-State Loop – A grand loop from Boston covering all six states, including the Maine Coast, White Mountains, Vermont, the Berkshires…
• Maine Coast: Boston to Acadia – Head east from the southern Maine lighthouses, passing through Portland and Camden to Acadia National Park.