Acadia National Park is located along the coast of Maine on Mount Desert Island. It is the only national park in the northeastern part of the US, and boasts the only fjord and highest mountain along the Atlantic coast! As with so many of the national parks, it offers excellent hiking, cycling, kayaking, sailing as well as stunning natural beauty and wildlife. Beautifully maintained and easily accessible by plane, it’s only an 80-minute flight from Boston’s Logan Airport on Cape Air to Bar Harbor. From there, it is a 15-minute drive to the center of Bar Harbor. Alternatively, you can drive 3 hours from Portland or 5 hours from Boston, depending on traffic. The park ranks #7 out of 61 national parks with over 3,537,575 visitors in 2018
To avoid the crowds, I suggest visiting during the September “shoulder season.”
Now, here are my “7 must-do” travel tips to get the best out of Acadia National Park.
#7 Do Not Miss Jordan Pond House
Jordan Pond House is at the southern tip of the Jordan Pond on the Eagle Lake loop road. It is also the park’s only restaurant – famous for its tea and popovers. Reservations are a must to avoid waiting in line and disappointment. After my bike ride in the rain, I was cold and wet, and the tea and popovers just hit the spot! The views are amazing too!
#6 Explore the Carriage Road Trail by Cycling
The Carriage Roads in Acadia offer 45 miles of road into the park’s interior with stunning views and beautiful lakes and mountains. The crushed-stone surface is excellent for walking, cycling, and horseback riding. There are beautiful bridges constructed of granite, too. This Carriage Road network is spectacular, and you won’t find it anywhere else.
#5 Do Not Drive The Park Loop Road!
Please take Your Bike! Trust me…there is so much more to experience. The loop road is the main artery in the park and covers over 27 miles. It is the gateway to many of the park’s attractions and can get quite congested in the summer months. So be warned! However, no matter when you go, the views are always beautiful.
#4 – 3 Full Days of Exploring (at least!)
There is too much fun and beauty here to do it in less time. There are over 120 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty and length, and they are maintained better than any I’ve hiked. Many of the most exciting hikes are 2-3 hour loops so you could easily do two in one day. There are 45 miles of Carriage Roads in Acadia that are ideal for cycling. The crushed-stone surface is excellent for walking, cycling, and horseback riding. This Carriage Road network is spectacular with beautiful granite bridges that you won’t find anywhere else. There are also many opportunities to paddle and kayak in ponds, lakes, and protected bays. While doing all these activities, the wildlife and scenery are spectacular, and you’ll see Eagles, ospreys, cormorants, Harbor seals, Grey seals, to name a few.
#3 Flying is the Quickest and Most Convenient
I left downtown Toronto early Friday afternoon for Boston and arrived at my Bar Harbor B&B at 6:30 pm. The Cape Air flight to Bar Harbor is a beautiful flight up the coast on an 8-seat plane flying low at app. 5000 ft. and every seat with a window. (I got to sit up front next to the pilot, just like on the seaplane in Dry Tortugas.) The Cape Air-ground personnel met me with the keys to the Hertz rental car, which was parked 50 feet outside the terminal door. Now, that’s convenient!
Despite its first impressions, this tiny puddle jumper lived large and got me rapidly to the park- and in the co-pilot’s seat!
#2 Stay in Bar Harbor
There are other villages, but this is where the action is, and it’s right on the fringe of the national park with easy access. There is no accommodation within the park, but you will find everything you need in Bar Harbor as most amenities are within walking distance.
#1 Plan, Plan, Plan…way in advance
Acadia National Park has nearly the highest visitor volume per acre, which means it is a very popular destination, especially in peak seasons! My best advice is to plan well in advance. To avoid the crowds, go in September’s shoulder season and avoid the weekends if possible. I found three books that were most helpful in my planning, and they are Acadia, The Complete Guide, by James Kaiser, A Walk in the Park by Tom St. Germain, and Carriage Roads of Acadia, A Pocket Guide by Diane Abrett et al.
The First Rays of Morning: I decided this would be the experience with which I’d end this post…
In closing, I’m going to leave you with an image of my “first rays of the morning” experience on Cadillac Mountain. On top of this mountain is where you see the US sunrise begin! It’s a must-do experience while you are in Acadia National Park, sadly, I wasn’t the only person there on a Monday morning, but it wasn’t too crowded. It was, clear but cold and windy so for that you will need a hat and some layers. If you get there a half-hour before the stated sunrise– you’ll be ready to go by a half-hour after. BUT if you go on a crowded weekend, you’ll need to be there at least an hour in advance as parking spots fill up.
Get Out There and Carpe Diem!
Peter
Next Up:
Cycling the Carriage and Park Loop Roads of Acadia National Park
