Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park

Gateway to a national park on the Maine coast: catch America's earliest sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, then explore granite shores, lighthouses and lobster shacks.

Acadia National Park lies on the central coast of Maine. Most of it is on Mount Desert Island, with additional sections on the mainland Schoodic Peninsula and several outer islands, and it is one of the most popular national parks in the northeastern US. Bar Harbor is the largest town on the island and the hub for lodging, dining and whale-watching cruises. The area breaks down into three parts: the east side of the island, where the Park Loop Road leads to Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, the Ocean Path, Jordan Pond and the carriage roads, is the busiest; the island's "Quiet Side" to the west has Bass Harbor Head Light, Echo Lake, Beech Mountain and the Seawall; around Northeast Harbor you'll find the Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Garden, plus boats to the Cranberry Isles; the Schoodic Peninsula is about an hour's drive away or reachable by seasonal ferry. The best time to visit is June–October; early October brings peak fall foliage but also the biggest crowds. In winter most of the Park Loop Road is closed and many shops in town shut for the season. Getting there: fly into Hancock County–Bar Harbor Airport or Bangor, about an hour's drive away; it's roughly a 5-hour drive from Boston. A park entrance pass is required, and in peak season vehicles need a timed-entry reservation for the Cadillac Summit Road. From 2026, non-US residents may have to pay an additional entrance surcharge—check the NPS website for current details. From late June to mid-October, the free Island Explorer shuttle links the main sights. Plan on 3–4 days.

Top sights

• Cadillac Mountain – The highest peak on the Atlantic coast of the United States, where in autumn and winter you can see the first sunrise in the country, with…
• Thunder Hole – Waves surging into a narrow granite gap produce a thunderous roar and throw up tall spray, making it the most popular stop on the park loop.
• Jordan Pond – A glacial lake that mirrors the twin Bubbles peaks. The afternoon tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House are an Acadia tradition.
• Ocean Path – A gently sloping trail of about 3 km along granite sea cliffs, linking beaches, Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs.
• Sand Beach – A small bay beach nestled between granite cliffs with cold, clear water, a rare sandy stretch along this rocky coastline.
• Bass Harbor Head Light – A white lighthouse built on a rocky cliff in 1858; the lighthouse at sunset, with its coastal ledges, is Acadia's iconic scene.
• Beehive Trail – A beehive-shaped rock beside the beach, climbed by iron rungs and handrails; a short, thrilling hike with views over the beach and bay.
• Schoodic Peninsula – The only part of Acadia on the mainland, with few visitors, granite headlands and distinctive black dike formations.
• Precipice Trail – Acadia's most daunting iron-rung climbing trail, rising almost vertically some 300 meters; for experienced hikers only.
• Bar Island Land Bridge – At low tide you can walk from downtown Bar Harbor across an exposed sandbar to the island opposite, experiencing a tidal causeway.
• Otter Cliff – A pink granite sea cliff about 33 m high, one of the tallest oceanside cliffs on the U.S. Atlantic coast and a popular climbing site.
• Acadia Carriage Roads – About 72 km of gravel carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller Jr., closed to motor vehicles and featuring 17 stone bridges; ideal for c…
• Bubble Rock – A glacial boulder on the summit of South Bubble that looks as though it might tumble off the edge; a short hike reaches it, with views over…
• Bar Harbor Town & Shore Path – The gateway town to the national park, where you can eat lobster, take a whale-watching boat and stroll the coastal path overlooking French…
• Abbe Museum – A museum devoted to the culture of the Wabanaki people of Maine, with basketry, birchbark objects and archaeological finds.
• Echo Lake – A freshwater lake on the island's west side, warmer than the sea for summer swimming, with a cliff trail offering views over the water.
• Somes Sound – A glacial fjord that almost splits Mount Desert Island in two, with steep cliffs on both sides; best explored by boat or on foot along the…
• Asticou Azalea Garden – A Japanese-inspired stroll garden in Northeast Harbor, where azaleas and rhododendrons bloom in late spring, with tranquil dry-sand gardens…
• Thuya Garden – An English-style perennial garden on the hillside above Northeast Harbor, reached from the seaside Asticou landing by a stone-stepped path.
• Sieur de Monts & Wild Gardens of Acadia – The birthplace of Acadia, home to the Spring House, the Wild Gardens and the nature center, with several trails starting here.
• Great Head Trail – A headland loop on the east side of the beach, where granite clifftops overlook the sand and the Beehive; quieter than the popular trails.
• Beech Mountain Fire Tower – An old fire lookout tower on a mountaintop on the island's west side, reached by a short loop trail, with views over Long Pond and Echo Lak…
• Gorham Mountain – A low coastal ridge with moderate trails, offering views of Ocean Path and the beach along the way; family-friendly.
• Seawall – A natural cobblestone seawall on the island's southwest side, with rounded stones piled up by big waves, tide pools, and few people at suns…
• Cranberry Isles – A quiet group of islands off Northeast Harbor, reached by mail boat; bike or stroll through lobster fishing villages and visit a small hist…

Where to eat

• Jordan Pond House – A century-old tea house in Acadia National Park, where you can enjoy the signature popovers with strawberry jam while l…
• Havana – A Latin-inspired fine-dining restaurant that opened in 1999 and was a semifinalist for the 2025 James Beard Award for O…
• Side Street Café – A popular casual restaurant beside Main Street. Its lobster roll was listed among Eater's 16 must-eat lobster rolls in…
• Travelin' Lobster – A roadside lobster shack run by a lobsterman and his wife, serving lobster they catch themselves. Several rankings have…
• Stewman's Lobster Pound (Downtown) – A classic waterfront lobster pound where you can dine on a whole steamed lobster, mussels, corn and blueberry pie with…

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.