Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine

View looking east from Sand Beach

Acadia National Park, located near Bar Harbor, Maine is one of the most popular National Parks in America and it is no wonder why. The area has something for everyone: ocean, mountains, rock formations, lighthouses, history, and spectacular views of coastal Maine, and more. We spent two glorious weeks here and it was not enough to see everything. We did get a chance to see the mainland section of the park (Schoodic Peninsula) and it is worth the trip!

See more photos of Acadia National Park

Season Visited:	Mid-September
Website:	Link to Acadia National Park Website
Biking:	Bring your bikes! We recommend riding within the National Park. Roads in and around Bar Harbor during the peak season are difficult because of heavy traffic and the absence of bike lanes. Where to park:    We found parking at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to be very convenient (get there early – this lot fills up fast).    The green trail starts right at this parking lot. Carriage Roads: Biking within the park is wonderful due to the miles of carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller Jr.  He wanted motor-free roads for his horse and carriage. They were constructed to view the beautiful vistas and to withstand the harsh Maine winters.     There are 45-mile roads with a crushed stone surface, 16 feet wide, and can be very hilly.  It's well worth the effort to ride the entire park.  Be sure to check the website for closings due to mud season (March and April) on their Current Conditions web page. Park Loop Road:    Bicycles are allowed on the road, but there are no bike lanes.  In addition, when the park is crowded, it is very difficult to maneuver through the traffic and parked cars. Cadillac Summit Road:  You can bike up this road to view the stunning summit of Cadillac Mountain.    Caution:  It is very steep with sharp turns and no bike lane.  As with anywhere in the park, vehicle congestion is an issue at any time of the day. More Information: Refer to the park’s Map Bike Map for more information. You may also get a wealth of information and maps from the Acadia Bike website.
Don’t Miss:	Bar Harbor Cadillac Mountain Summit Thunder Hole Sand Beach Jordan Pond – great hike around the lake (although the hike did get quite rocky in some spots).  Finish your hike with a great meal at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant. Any of the hiking trails within the National Park.  The level of difficulty varies. Schoodic Peninsula The towns of Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and Bass Harbor Asticou Azalea Garden – amazing! Hike to Bar Island during low tide (an exposed gravel bar connects the town of Bar Harbor and Bar Island)
Notes:	Acadia National Park requires an entrance pass for all vehicles, including bicycles. There is no timed entry except for the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road.   To make a reservation and pay ($6.00) for your vehicle to enter the Cadillac Summit, go to recreation.gov page and find two options:  Daytime or Sunrise (this option is well worth it – but it sells out fast).  Login to purchase at 10 am (ET) two days in advance (future dates will not be available for the Sunrise option only). For more information – see the National Park’s information page Vehicle Registration.
Our Rating:	10 out of 10 on the “We’re going to miss this place” scale. This is our favorite National Park in the East with so much to see and do.  Bar Harbor and surrounding communities are charming historic towns with excellent dining and shopping.
RV Park:	Timberland Acres RV Park  Review: Beautiful RV Park located in Trenton, ME, 14 miles from the entrance to Acadia National Park.  We were there before the peak of fall foliage, so we did not get to see the stunning colors, their website has a photo with stunning colors.  The lot sizes were generous, their pull-throughs were extra long, and the rates were reasonable.  Very nice people – we highly recommend this RV park!