Called the “Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast,” Acadia National Park protects a portion of the rocky coastline of Maine. Hiking its thrilling trails, biking the historic carriage roads, visiting its remote islands, and watching the sunset from the tallest mountain on the Atlantic Coast are among the best things to do in Acadia National Park.
What makes Acadia especially fun to explore is how much you can experience in a relatively small area. Many of the park’s top sights are connected by Park Loop Road, while quieter areas such as Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut reward those who venture farther from Mount Desert Island.
In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Acadia National Park, including the experiences we think are essential on a first visit, our favorite hikes and viewpoints, and several places worth adding if you have more time.
Our Experiences in Acadia National Park: We have visited Acadia on two separate trips and have now explored Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut. On our first trip, Tim and I spent several days hiking and sightseeing during peak fall color, tackling trails such as the Beehive, Precipice, and Dorr Mountain. On a later trip, Kara visited Isle au Haut, where she hiked the rugged southern coast. We are avid hikers and have visited 56 of the 63 U.S. national parks, which gives us a lot to compare Acadia with. Everything in this guide is based on our own experiences, and all of the photos are ours.
Acadia National Park: The Essentials
LOCATION | Maine
ENTRANCE FEE | $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days
CADILLAC MOUNTAIN RESERVATION | A vehicle reservation is required to drive Cadillac Summit Road from May 20 through October 25, 2026. $6 per vehicle.
BEST TIME TO VISIT | May through October. Late September into mid-October is beautiful for fall colors.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED? | Two to three days is ideal for a first visit.
BEST PLACE TO STAY | Bar Harbor
GETTING AROUND | A car gives you the most flexibility, but the fare-free Island Explorer shuttle connects Bar Harbor with many popular destinations in the park during its operating season.
DON’T MISS | Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Acadia’s rocky coastline, and at least one hike.
Acadia Must-Sees: A Quick Overview
If this is your first visit to Acadia National Park, these are the experiences we would prioritize.
| Experience | Best For | Our Take |
| Park Loop Road | First-time visitors, scenery | The best introduction to Acadia and the easiest way to connect many of the park’s top sights. |
| Cadillac Mountain | Views, sunrise & sunset | One of Acadia’s must-see viewpoints. Sunrise is famous, but the views are spectacular throughout the day. |
| Beehive or Precipice Trail | Adventure, hiking | Acadia’s signature hiking experience. The Beehive is the best introduction to the ladder and rung trails; the Precipice is our favorite hike. |
| Jordan Pond | Scenery, walking | One of Acadia’s classic landscapes. Walk the shoreline, hike South Bubble, or pair your visit with popovers at Jordan Pond House. |
| Carriage Roads | Biking, walking | A completely different way to explore Acadia, with miles of historic, car-free roads through the heart of the park. |
| Isle au Haut | Solitude, hiking | Acadia’s most remote experience. It takes more planning to get here, but it’s worth considering if you have an extra day. |
If this is your first visit: Prioritize Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, the coastline around Sand Beach and Thunder Hole, and at least one hike. With additional time, add the carriage roads, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Schoodic Peninsula, or Isle au Haut.
Acadia Vehicle Reservations
In order to drive Cadillac Summit Road between May and October, you will need to make a vehicle reservation in advance.
- 2026 Dates: May 20 through October 25
- Cost: $6 reservation fee
- Purchase Your Ticket: Reservations are made online only at recreation.gov.
30% of the reservations are made 90 days in advance and 70% are released 2 days in advance at 10 am EST. The reservation fee is in addition to the park entrance fee.
There are two reservation types: sunrise reservations and daytime reservations.
The sunrise reservations are timed such that you arrive and park before sunrise. These are the hardest reservations to get so make your reservation as soon as you know your dates of travel.
The daytime reservations have timed entry spots throughout the day. You select the time that you plan to visit Cadillac Mountain, whether it is 10 am or 3 pm. You must enter Cadillac Summit Road within 30 minutes of your daytime reservation.
For more information, visit the National Park Service website.
Acadia National Park is one of eight US National Parks that require an advance reservation. For the full list, read our guide to the US National Parks that Require an Advance Reservation.
Interactive Map of Acadia National Park
How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left corner of the map to see a list of the points of interest and to turn layers on/off. Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Best Things to Do in Acadia National Park
1. Drive Park Loop Road
Park Loop Road is a 27-mile loop through Mount Desert Island. This very scenic road connects several of Acadia’s popular spots, such as Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, and the carriage roads.
Park Loop Road
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Most this road is one-way. Starting in the north near Bar Harbor and traveling clockwise, the Park Loop Road is one-way until you reach Jordan Pond. The section between Jordan Pond and Cadillac Mountain is a two-way road.
Starting in Bar Harbor, drive the Park Loop Road clockwise. As you head down along the coast, you will pass the trailheads for the Precipice Trail and the Beehive Trail, and then come to Sand Beach, Ocean Path, and Thunder Hole. Park Loop Road continues around Otter Point and then heads inland towards Jordan Pond. As you head north, you will pass the turn off to Cadillac Mountain and then arrive back at Bar Harbor.
2. Watch the Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain
Due to its location and height, Cadillac Mountain is one of the first spots in the United States to view the sunrise, making this Acadia National Park’s most popular sunrise spot.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you want to view the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, get here bright and early. Despite a painfully early wake up time, this is an extremely popular thing to do in Acadia. Between the end of May and the end of October, you will have to make a vehicle reservation in advance.
Of course, if getting up early is not your thing, you can skip sunrise and go any time of day. I have heard that sunset is a nice time to be here, as well.
Cadillac Mountain
We missed seeing the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain because each morning of our visit, the sky was completely cloud covered. Our visit was midday, which is still a nice time to visit. We walked the Cadillac Mountain Summit Loop, a 0.3 mile trail that took about 30 minutes of our time, with great views over the coastline and small islands.
Getting Here: No hiking necessary, although there are hiking trails that get you to the peak of Cadillac Mountain. You can simply drive to the top, park, and have fun exploring the summit.
Important!! Don’t forget that a vehicle reservations is required to drive up Cadillac Mountain if your visit will be between late May and mid-October. Get the full details on the National Park Service website.
3. Hike Acadia’s Best Trails
Acadia National Park is filled with an amazing variety of hiking trails. From easy strolls along coastal paths to summit climbs to thrilling cliff walks, there is something here for everyone.
One of the things that makes Acadia so unique, and so exciting, is the large number of trails with ladders and metal rungs. Similar to a via ferrata, you can hike along narrow ledges and climb up sheer rock faces with the aid of these metal rungs.
Hikes that feature iron rungs and cliff walks include the Precipice Trail, the Beehive Trail, the Jordan Cliffs Trail, and the Beech Cliff Ladder Trail.
Beehive Trail
Precipice Trail
For a short, easy strolls, hike Ocean Path or the loop trail around Jordan Pond. The Cadillac Summit Loop Trail is a short, easy hike on Cadillac Mountain that offers some of the best views in the park.
View from Ocean Path
South Bubble was one of our favorite hikes, with its great views of Jordan Pond.
Jordan Pond from South Bubble
For a longer list of hikes in Acadia, plus how to choose the best ones for your trip, don’t miss our Acadia Hiking Guide ↓
11 Best Hikes in Acadia: From Easy Walks to Thrilling Ladder Trails
Top 10 hikes in Acadia, ranging from short, easy trails to thrilling climbs.4. Take in the Views at Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond is one of Acadia’s most recognizable landscapes. The clear lake sits in a glacial valley surrounded by mountains, with the rounded peaks of North and South Bubble rising beyond the far end of the water.
At a minimum, stop at the viewpoint near Jordan Pond House for the classic view across the lake. If you have more time, hike the 3.3-mile Jordan Pond Path, which loops around the shoreline. The eastern side is relatively easy, while the western side is rougher, with rocks, boardwalks, and uneven terrain.
You can also use Jordan Pond as the starting point for several excellent hikes. South Bubble is one of our favorites and gives you a beautiful view looking down over the pond.
The view of Jordan Pond from South Bubble
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Jordan Pond is extremely popular and parking can be challenging during the middle of the day. Arrive early or use the Island Explorer during its operating season.
5. Jordan Pond House
After seeing Jordan Pond, stop at Jordan Pond House, a tradition in Acadia for more than a century. It is best known for its popovers, typically served warm with butter and jam, and its location overlooking Jordan Pond makes it the park’s most iconic dining experience. These are delicious and the perfect way to refuel after a morning hike.
Jordan Pond House makes an easy addition before or after walking the Jordan Pond Path, hiking South Bubble, or exploring the nearby carriage roads.
This is also one of the busiest places in Acadia. On our visit, we couldn’t even find a parking space around midday and had to return later. If eating here is high on your list, plan ahead and avoid showing up at peak lunchtime without a backup plan.
6. Walk Along the Coast on Ocean Path
Ocean Path is one of the best ways to experience Acadia’s rugged coastline without doing a strenuous hike. The trail starts near Sand Beach and follows the coast past Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs to Otter Point, with frequent opportunities to step out onto the granite rocks for ocean views.
The entire trail is 2.2 miles one way, but you don’t have to walk all of it. Sand Beach to Thunder Hole is just 0.7 miles, making this an easy addition to a drive along Park Loop Road. For more coastal scenery, continue toward Otter Cliffs and Otter Point.
We think the views along Ocean Path are one of the highlights of Acadia. In fact, we enjoyed the coastline itself more than Thunder Hole, especially on our October visit when the fall colors were at their peak.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Parking along this stretch of Park Loop Road can be difficult. One option is to park at Sand Beach and walk Ocean Path rather than trying to move your car between Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and the other coastal viewpoints.
7. Spend Some Time on Sand Beach
Located on Park Loop Road, this pretty beach is worth a quick stop. There are also lots of great walks to do from here.
Sand Beach
Walk the Great Head Trail or cross Park Loop Road and hike the thrilling Beehive Trail. From Sand Beach, it is a 2-mile round trip walk on Ocean Path to get to Thunder Hole. Along the way, you can make quick detours and hike out onto the rocky coastal cliffs.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: The parking lot at Sand Beach is one of the largest in the park. If you want to explore Sand Beach, hike the Beehive Trail, walk Ocean Path to Thunder Hole, or walk Great Head Trail, this is the best place to park. Just get here early (before 10 am, even earlier in July and August) because it does fill up fast.
8. Watch the Waves at Thunder Hole
Thunder Hole is a small inlet where the waves roll up against the rocks, creating a thunderous sound. The water can spray up to 40 feet in the air.
Thunder Hole
This is one of Acadia’s landmarks so expect big crowds here. There is a parking lot across the street or you can walk here from Sand Beach (2 miles round trip).
I read that the best time to visit Thunder Hole is two hours before high tide, if you want to hear the thunder clap that the waves create. If you are here on a calm day or during low tide, you will not get the full experience.
This is a beautiful stretch of coastline. I personally liked the coastal views more than watching the waves hit the rocks (I took the cover photo for this article here).
9. Bike or Walk the Carriage Roads
Forty-five miles of historic carriage roads wind through the mountains and forests of Mount Desert Island. Built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his family between 1913 and 1940, these wide, crushed-stone roads were designed for horse-drawn carriages and are closed to automobiles.
Today, you can explore them on foot, by bike, or by horse-drawn carriage. The routes pass lakes, forests, mountain scenery, and beautiful stone bridges, offering a completely different experience from hiking Acadia’s rocky summit trails.
If you enjoy cycling, this is one of the most unique things to do in Acadia. You can choose anything from a short ride to a much longer loop, with popular routes around Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond.
Even if you don’t have time for a long bike ride or walk, it is worth seeing at least one of the historic stone bridges. There are 17 throughout the carriage road system, and each has its own design.
Deer Brook Bridge, a historic carriage road bridge.
10. Photograph Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse at Sunset
This photogenic spot is very popular with photographers. A gorgeous view of a lighthouse perched along the rocky coastline…this is iconic Maine.
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
This is another very popular place to visit in Acadia and the parking lot is tiny. Which is a good thing…a larger parking lot would make these cliffs even more crowded.
We visited mid-afternoon on a Sunday and park rangers were turning people away. It gets that crowded.
If you have hopes to watch the sunset here, you are going to have to get here very early. How early depends upon the time of year, but I have read that people arrive as much as 3 hours before sunset to get a parking space (and the perfect tripod location).
From Bar Harbor, it takes over 30 minutes to drive here. Along the way, you will pass Echo Lake (worth the stop!!) and Seawall (nice coastal views but the views along Ocean Path and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse are better).
11. Explore Acadia by Boat
There are numerous companies offering tours of the islands and coastline of Acadia National Park. Take a sightseeing cruise, go fishing, cruise past Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, go on a puffin cruise, or take a sunset nature cruise.
Acadian Boat Tours and Bass Harbor Cruises are two highly rated companies offering many different cruising options.
12. Go for a Swim at Echo Lake
Echo Lake is a beautiful lake on Mount Desert Island. It is located west of Park Loop Road, so it doesn’t get the same volume of visitors as Jordan Pond. You can enjoy views of the lake from the small beach, or, if you are looking for a gorgeous hike, hike the Beech Cliff Ladder Trail. The views of Echo Lake are amazing from the cliffs.
Echo Lake
View from the Beech Cliffs Trail
13. Visit Schoodic Point
Schoodic Peninsula sits on the mainland, about an hour from the main section of Acadia on Mount Desert Island. It gets far fewer visitors, making this a great place to go if you want dramatic coastal scenery without the crowds around Sand Beach and Thunder Hole.
Schoodic Point
Schoodic Point is the highlight. Here, broad slabs of granite meet the Atlantic Ocean, and on rough days you can watch waves crash against the rocky coastline. We visited during our first trip to Acadia and loved having another perspective of Maine’s rugged coast.
While you’re here, drive Schoodic Loop Road and stop at the coastal viewpoints along the way. You can also go hiking; we hiked the easy Sundew Trail, which runs through forest with short detours to the water.
Is it worth the drive? If you only have one or two days in Acadia, we would concentrate on Mount Desert Island. With three or more days, Schoodic Peninsula is a worthwhile addition, particularly if you want to escape the busiest areas of the park.
Getting Here: From Bar Harbor, it is an hour and fifteen minute drive to get to Schoodic Point. You can also take the Bar Harbor Ferry from mid-June through mid-September.
14. Escape the Crowds on Isle au Haut
For the most remote Acadia experience, spend a day on Isle au Haut. This island sits well south of Mount Desert Island and is reached by ferry from Stonington. Getting here takes more effort than visiting the rest of Acadia, which is exactly why so few visitors make the trip.
Kara visited Isle au Haut in July and spent the day hiking the southern side of the island. She followed a loop through the forest and along the rugged coastline, passing quiet coves and rocky beaches, and had much of the trail almost entirely to herself.
That solitude is what makes Isle au Haut special. It doesn’t have Cadillac Mountain, Park Loop Road, or Acadia’s famous iron-rung trails. Instead, you get a quieter, wilder version of the park that feels far removed from busy Mount Desert Island.
Visiting Isle au Haut takes most of a day, so we would save it for a longer Acadia itinerary. In summer, one of the best options is to take the ferry to Duck Harbor and hike along the southern coast.
To get to Stonington (the location of the Isle au Haut ferry) from Bar Harbor, it is an hour and a half drive. From Stonington, ride the ferry to Isle au Haut (45 minutes to Isle au Haut town, 1 hour 15 minutes to Duck Harbor).
Once on Isle au Haut, you can go hiking, biking, or camping. In the summer months, we recommend taking the ferry to Duck Harbor and hiking the loop along rugged coastal cliffs. Learn more in our Guide to Isle au Haut ↓
Isle au Haut Day Trip: Things to Do & How to Get Here
How to plan a day trip to Isle au Haut.
Squeaker Cove, Isle au Haut
Robinson Point Lighthouse, Isle au Haut
Bonus! Explore Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is not inside Acadia National Park, but most visitors will spend some time here. Located just outside the park on Mount Desert Island, it is the main hub for hotels, restaurants, shops, and boat tours.
Bar Harbor
We think Bar Harbor works best as a complement to your time in Acadia rather than as a major sightseeing destination on its own. Spend your day hiking and exploring the park, then come into town for dinner, ice cream, shopping, or a walk along the waterfront.
If you have extra time, walk the Shore Path, which follows the waterfront and offers views across Frenchman Bay. Bar Harbor is also the departure point for many sightseeing and wildlife cruises.
For most first-time visitors, Bar Harbor is the most convenient place to stay, particularly if you like having plenty of restaurants and things to do within walking distance at the end of the day.
Plan Your Visit
Cost: $30, valid for 7 days; non-US residents 16 years or older pay an additional $100 fee
Hours: Acadia National Park is open year round, however, roads and visitor centers close from late fall to spring. Click here for updated hours.
Acadia’s fare-free Island Explorer shuttle connects Bar Harbor with many destinations throughout the park, including trailheads, carriage road entrances, Sand Beach, Jordan Pond, Hulls Cove Visitor Center, and Schoodic Peninsula. It’s a great option if you are traveling without a car or want to avoid the hassle of finding parking at busy locations.
In 2026, limited spring service begins May 20, with the full seasonal network operating from June 23 through October 12. Routes and schedules vary throughout the season, so check the current timetable before your visit. Visit the Island Explorer website for routes and schedules.
Important!! Vehicle reservations are required to drive up Cadillac Mountain between late May and mid-October. Get the full details on the National Park Service website.
Best Time to Visit Acadia National Park
Peak season is July and August. Expect big crowds, full parking lots, and lots of hikers on the most popular trails.
Autumn is another popular season, since this is a gorgeous place to see fall colors. For coastal Maine, including Acadia National Park, early to mid-October is generally when fall colors are at their peak. However, this does vary from year to year, based on weather conditions. For the past five years, fall colors were at their peak anywhere from October 8 to October 21.
The graphs below depict the average monthly temperature and precipitation for the nearby town of Bar Harbor, which will help you plan your trip to Acadia National Park.
We visited Acadia National Park in October 2019. Tim and I spent three full days in the park, from October 11 to 13. During our visit, the fall colors were considered to be “high,” with 50 to 70% of the trees displaying fall colors. This is based on the fall foliage report on the Maine Foliage website.
In winter, most of Park Loop Road is closed. Hiking trails can be treacherous due to snow and ice. However, the carriage trails are open and a great place to go snowshoeing or skiing.
Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor comes out of hibernation in April. This is a quiet time of year to visit the park, before the summer crowds arrive.
Acadia National Park makes our best US national parks to visit list for the months of June, September, and October. For more suggestions about the best parks to visit month by month, check out our guide Best National Parks by Season. It includes the full list of US national parks and the best months to visit them, based on weather, road closures, and crowd levels.
Seasonal Road Closures in Acadia National Park
Many of the park roads are closed during the winter months due to snow. Park Loop Road is closed from December 1 through mid-April and unpaved roads are closed from mid-November through mid-May. Get updates on the National Park Service website.
Trail Closures Due to Peregrine Falcon Nesting
From early March through late summer, the Jordan Cliffs Trail, Precipice Trail, Valley Cove Trail and a portion of the Orange and Black Path temporarily close for peregrine falcon nesting.
How Much Time Do You Need in Acadia National Park?
For a first visit, 2 to 3 days is ideal. This gives you enough time to drive Park Loop Road, visit Cadillac Mountain and Jordan Pond, explore the coastline, and do several hikes without feeling rushed.
With one day, focus on the highlights of Mount Desert Island. With two days, you can add more hiking, the carriage roads, Echo Lake, or Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. With three or more days, consider visiting Schoodic Peninsula or spending a day on Isle au Haut.
For a day-by-day plan that puts all of these sights together efficiently, see our Acadia National Park Itinerary, with options for one, two, and three days.
The Perfect Acadia National Park Itinerary
Suggestions on how to plan your visit, from a quick visit to a long weekend getaway.Where to Stay
All of these properties are located in Bar Harbor.
Bar Harbor Grand Hotel. Located in central Bar Harbor, this is one of the highest rated properties in town. Rooms can accommodate up to six people and this hotel has a pool, hot tub, and fitness center.
Bar Harbor Inn and Spa. This is a big property with a beautiful setting right on the coast. From the Bar Harbor Inn, it is less than a five-minute walk to the shops and restaurants in the center of town. If you book a room with a view, you can look out at the harbor or the islands that sit just off the coast. The Bar Harbor Inn also has a spa, heated outdoor pool with hot tub, and one of the highest rated restaurants in town, The Reading Room. This is where we stayed and we had a great experience.
Bar Harbor Inn
The Elmhurst Inn. This bed and breakfast also gets glowing reviews and is a great value for the money. Rooms can accommodate up to two people and guests rave about the breakfast.
Bar Harbor Motel. If you are looking for a cheaper stay, this property gets rave reviews and it is one of the highest rated properties in Bar Harbor on Booking.com. This motel is located north of town, so you will have to drive and park in town if you want to eat or shop here. But this motel can accommodate up to six people in one room so it is also a great pick for families.
Where to Eat
There are limited dining options inside Acadia National Park. Jordan Pond House is the best-known option and is famous for its popovers, but for most meals you’ll find a much larger selection of restaurants in Bar Harbor.
During our visits, these were some of our favorite places to eat in Bar Harbor:
Café This Way. Yum! We had breakfast here and it was awesome. This popular restaurant is open in the morning for breakfast and the evening for dinner.
Side Street Café. This is another popular restaurant in Bar Harbor and they are famous for their lobster rolls. We ate dinner here and the wait time was very long. However, you can shorten your wait by checking in online on their website.
Where to Go for Maine Lobster
If you want to eat a whole Maine lobster, there are two highly-rated lobster shacks just outside of Bar Harbor. Rose Eden Lobster and C-Ray Lobster offer the best quality lobsters at affordable prices.
A dinner for two comes with two lobsters, clams or mussels, and corn on the cob. You sit outside at a picnic bench and eat your freshly steamed lobster. It is ridiculously delicious and lots of fun.
We ate at both lobster shacks and Rose Eden was our favorite. The host was very friendly and outgoing and Tim paid a little extra for one of her largest lobsters.
Before You Go
Visit the National Park Service website for updates in the park and to check trail and/or road closures.
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
Plan Your Trip to Acadia National Park
- Need help planning the whole trip? → Start with our Acadia National Park Travel Guide for practical planning tips, maps, transportation, and an overview of the park.
- Putting together your days? → Our Acadia National Park Itinerary shows you how to spend one, two, or three days in the park.
- Looking for the best trails? → See our Best Hikes in Acadia National Park for everything from easy walks to challenging summit hikes.
- Have an extra day? → Consider visiting Isle au Haut for a quieter, more remote side of Acadia.
If you have any questions about the best things to do in Acadia National Park, let us know in the comment section below.
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