Visiting Acadia National Park requires a different sort of planning that nearly any other park. This is the East coast, and endless miles of camping options just don’t exist here. Complicating matters further is the fact that this park lies intermingled with communities, private estates and public roadways.
Despite the complexities that surround visiting Acadia, there is a nostalgic nautical charm here that will likely lure you into a lifelong affair with this unique park. I’m sure I’ll be back in the not-distant future.
Guide to Acadia
Location of Acadia
The majority of Acadia National Park is located on Mount Desert Island, a rocky, mountainous island that is situated about two-thirds of the way up the Maine Coast. Locals refer to this area of the state as “Down East”.
The park lies about 160 miles north of Portland, and about 50 miles southeast of Bangor, where traffic will depart the I95 corridor to travel southward toward the park. Traffic here can be heavy.
Mount Desert Island
Boasting 108 square miles, Mount Desert Island is the second largest island on the eastern seaboard, the 6th largest in the contiguous 48 states, and the 52nd largest in the U.S. The island’s highest elevation is 1,530 feet atop Cadillac Mountain and the population is just over 10,000.
MOREMount Desert is home to Bar Harbor, a small tourist town which serves as the gateway to the park. Although it is a quaint little harbor town, summer is a busy scene.
Lodging and restaurants book up and parking can be an absolute nightmare. You’ll want to plan ahead and if you’re booking scheduled activities in the Bar Harbor area, an early arrival is essential in order to find parking.
The quieter and smaller town of Southwest Harbor is located in the southwest-central part of the island and offers a few of the same services that are found in Bar Harbor, however options here are far more limited.
There are abundant lodging options available on MDI, and a number of campgrounds. The park service operates two campgrounds, the Blackwoods Campground, which is near the more park’s popular areas, and the Seawall Campground, located south of Southwest Harbor.
Some 60% of the park is found on MDI, but there are other areas of the park that are never visited by the more than 2 million tourists who flock to the park’s central location each year.
The Schoodic Peninsula and the Isla au Haut are excellent destinations for those who wish to escape the crowds of MDI.
Schoodic Peninsula
A mere one in ten visitors to Acadia make the journey to the Schoodic Peninsula. True, a trip to this destination takes a little effort, but once you arrive you’ll instantly find yourself removed from the hustle and bustle of the park’s more popular areas. And hey, the drive’s nice too.
MOREThis section of the park offers two restrooms, a picnic area and a campground. The Maine attraction (pun intended) here is the incredibly scenic one-way loop that hugs the rocky Maine coastline for six miles before it returns to Maine Hwy 186.
There are a small number of short hiking options near the point of the peninsula and an opportunity to summit Schoodic Head, the peninsula’s highest elevation at 440 feet above sea level. A small gravel road offers auto access to this point for the non-hiking folk.
The Schoodic Woods Campground offers accommodations here with both tent and RV sites, and is open from May until Columbus Day each year.
The town of Winter Harbor is just north of Schoodic, and has a few small restaurants and a couple of bed and breakfast options.
Getting to Schoodic Peninsula requires a 45-mile drive around Frenchman Bay north from Bar Harbor. During the summer months, Downeast Windjammer Cruises operates a passenger ferry that will shuttle you from Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor. From there, the Island Explorer Shuttle can provide your transport to and from the peninsula.
Bikes are welcome on the ferry, and guests can travel from the Winter Harbor to the Schoodic by bike as well. Check with the ferry service to ensure that the shuttle service is operating during the time you’ll be visiting Acadia.
Isle au Haut
This small rugged island is situated quite a ways from the its fellow park lands. Located about 5 miles south of Stoneington, Maine, this quiet getaway may offer the perfect destination for those who desire a truly unique Acadia experience. A visit to the Haut will take more than a day trip from Bar Harbor, making this place a destination all in its own.
MORENamed by Samuel de Champlain in 1604, Isle au Haut, or “high island”, is a mix of private and park land. Some 5 square miles of the island belongs to Acadia National Park, while the other 12.7 square miles is home to a population of less than 100 people, and a year-round fishing village.
During the summer, the local population usually triples to 300 residents, and the island will welcome more than 6,000 tourists and 500 campers.
Most visitors arrive by The Mail Boat, a year-round passenger, mail and freight service between Stoneington and the island. This service, which has been in operation for more than 60 years, only offers access to Duck Harbor Landing during the summer months, as its main purpose is to service the residents that call the island home.
The island offers great hiking, with 18 miles of trail and there are 5 primitive campsites in the Duck Harbor Campground, each with a comfortable lean-to provided. Reservations are required for campsites.
Travelers who visit the island should obviously bring their essentials, but there is a small store on the island which may have some toothpaste if you somehow left it behind. Yep, they have beer too…
Entrance Fee in Acadia
As a Park Junkie, you already have the National Parks Pass, aka the Interagency Pass. It’s only $80 and is one of the best purchases you’ll make this year. It grants entrance to more than 400 national park service units and is an economic necessity for those who make it a practice to visit multiple parks in a calendar year.
MOREYou may also access the park with a Military Pass, Annual 4th Grade Pass, a Senior Pass, an Access Pass or a Volunteer Pass.
These passes can be obtained at the gate to most national park units and can also be ordered online at https://store.usgs.gov/pass.
If this idea doesn’t turn you on, prepare to spend $30 to enter the park. It should be stated, that park junkie writes fortune cookies on his days off, and he predicts this fee will certainly increase, much like postal rates and taxes…
In addition to the entrance fee, Acadia now restricts vehicular traffic on the Park Loop Road and the Cadillac Mountain Road. You must obtain a reservation from those fine folks over at Rec dot gov and pay a non-refundable $2.00 fee. Reservations are limited to one reservation per 7 days on Cadillac Mountain and 2 reservations per 7 days on the Park Loop Road.
So much for a hassle free visit to Acadia…
Rec.gov – Acadia Driving Reservations
Driving in Acadia
A nice drive through Acadia is simply wonderful. The Park Loop Road offers a perfect way to cruise through the park and take in the scenery from your very own metal coffin. In addition to the loop road, a drive up Cadillac Mountain will provide access to the park’s highest point and an unforgettable view of the surrounding scenery at Mount Desert Island.
ALERT! As of 2021, RESERVATIONS are required for driving the Cadillac Mountain Road or the Park Loop Road.
MOREUnfortunately, the powers that be are complicating the process for entering Acadia. Gone are the days of simply driving to this park and going wherever you choose, whenever you want. Due to congested roadways and overflowing parking lots, the park has opted to restrict movement in the park and install a reservation system to access the park’s most popular areas.
As of 2021, the park will require advance online reservations through those fine folk over at Rec.gov. There is a $2.00 fee for each reservation. Reservations will be limited to one per 7 day period on Cadillac Mountain, and two per 7 day period on the Park Loop Road.
Seasons in Acadia
Acadia is open year-round although the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, and many of the park’s roads and services, including campgrounds, close during the winter months. The northeastern coastal climate can bring challenging weather any time of year, but winters can be especially harsh.
MOREThis is a wet place and year-round precipitation along Maine’s coast ranks second only to the Pacific Northwest, which is home to a template rainforest. Thus visitors to Acadia should plan to at least carry some form of rain gear and be aware that temps can drop quickly, so carrying layers is a good practice during any time of year.
Spring
Springtime on the Maine coast is often gusty and chilly. Morning fogs are slow to fade and moisture is heavy in the air. Temperatures range from 30-70 F.
Summer
Daytime temps can still remain chilly in the summer here, with averages from 45-90 F. The water temps remain cold as well, with ocean temps hovering in the 50s F and lake temps ranging from 55-70 F.
A perfect morning does not ensure a perfect day, as coastal storms can drench trails at any time and downright cold summer conditions can aggravate even the cheeriest of hikers in Acadia if not properly prepared.
Fall
While the leaves and fall colors can distract from the decrease in fall temperatures, the dog’s frozen water bowl may bring the realization that it gets cold quick up here. Average temps range from 30-70 F.
Winter
Winter is a fabulous time to visit, as the coastal scenery is simply brilliant. However, services can be scant, and most of the park’s roads will be closed. Hiking is still available, and a number of winter activities, such as ice fishing are popular. Temps get frigid, with daytime highs reaching the mid 30s.
During the winter months, the Hulls Cove Visitor Center is closed, but park information can be attained in downtown Bar Harbor at the Chamber of Commerce, located at 2 Cottage Street.
Visitor Centers in Acadia
The Hulls Cove Visitor Center is Acadia’s only true visitor center. Located just off of Route 3 about a mile east of Bar Harbor, this is often the first stop for eager visitors to Maine’s national park.
MOREDuring the winter months, Hulls Cove shutters its doors and the park service stations a ranger or two at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at 2 Cottage Street in downtown Bar Harbor.
Another option for park visitors is the Thompson Island Information Center, which is open from mid May through mid October. This is sort of a greeting station for MDI, and is not an official NPS site. It is located on a small island between the mainland and MDI.
The park service often stations a ranger here, but available staff should be able to provide basic information.
Shuttles in Acadia
Acadia has a shuttle system that visitors should seriously consider utilizing, given that finding a parking space on the island is a lesson in frustration.
The Island Explorer Shuttle operates daily mid-June through mid-October and services most of the island, and they have a second shuttle which provides transportation on Schoodic Peninsula.
MOREThere are ten shuttle routes that connect numerous lodging locations in Bar Harbor and neighboring communities to popular attractions in the park. The shuttle is free and the busses are equipped with bike racks that carry up to six bikes.
While the shuttle does not provide any narration or guided tours, it is still a great way to just sit back and enjoy the scenery without the hassle of dealing with traffic and parking when visiting Acadia.
Visitors should note, that the shuttle bus does NOT make the trip to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. The propane engines that power the buses simply can’t make the grade. No little train that could here…
Camping in Acadia
Acadia National Park is home to five campgrounds that are located inside the park boundaries, although one is reserved solely for equestrian folk.
There are also a small multitude of campgrounds that are located outside the park. Scroll down to camping in the “outside the park” section below if those interest you.
MOREBlackwoods Campground
This is the main campground inside the park, located only 5 miles south of Bar Harbor on Route 3. Blackwoods is a convenient place to stay, as the majority of Acadia’s most popular attractions are located within a few miles.
The campground is usually open May 1st through mid October and it is extremely difficult to obtain a site without reservations, so you’ll wanna look into that prior to visiting Acadia. Good luck over there at rec.gov…
Rec.gov – Blackwoods Campground
More good info about this campground can be found on the NPPlan website.
NPPlan – Acadia – Blackwoods Campground
Seawall Campground
This is the only other option for campers who want to stay inside the park, on MDI. Seawall is located on the southwestern side of the island, 4 miles south of Southwest Harbor, near Bass Harbor.
Given the distance from Bar Harbor to Seawall, it can take a little time to get back over to the eastern side of the island. Give yourself 30-45 minutes to make that drive. Nevertheless, the campground is really nice and has spaces for both tent and RV.
The campground has five sections offering more than 200 sites. There are group sites, and walk-in tent sites.
Once again, you’ll want reservations here, as it books up too.
More good info about this campground can be found on the NPPlan website.
NPPlan – Acadia – Seawall Campground
Schoodic Woods Campground
For those hoping to camp on Acadia’s only mainland unit while visiting Acadia, you’re in luck. The Schoodic Woods Campground is located 3 miles southeast of Winter Harbor.
Given that the driving time from Schoodic to Bar Harbor is over an hour, this is not the best option for those who wish to spend most of their time on MDI, but it is still an option… but you may just want to stay on the Schoodic.
The campground is relatively modern and has 89 sites for both tents and RVs. There are two loops and a group area, along with a few walk-in sites for tent campers. Loop A is for tent and small rigs, & loop B is for the big rigs.
You may score a site here, but reservations are highly recommended, and you’ll be dealing with your buddies at Rec.gov for that service.
Rec.gov – Schoodic Woods Campground
More good info about this campground can be found on the NPPlan website.
NPPlan – Acadia – Schoodic Woods Campground
Duck Harbor Campground
If you’re visiting Isle au Haut, you should probably just create a memorable experience and camp on the island… you know, do it right.
The Duck Harbor Campground only has 5 sites & is reservation only. The sites have a fire ring, picnic table and a 8’x12.5′ lean-to-shelter. Park Junkie loves watching storms rage from the cozy confines of these shelters when he’s visiting Acadia!
Rec.gov – Duck Harbor Campground
More good info about this campground can be found on the NPPlan website.
NPPlan – Acadia – Duck Harbor Campground
Wildwood Stables
If you’ll be accompanied by your trusty steed when visiting Acadia, you are welcome to call Wildwood Stables your home for a while. The stables provide 10 sites that can accommodate RVs and they provide stalls for horses to boot.
For more information on camping in Acadia, see the park service website.
Lodging in Acadia
Acadia National Park does not offer any lodging options inside the park. Numerous options exist in Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor and neighboring communities.
Eating in Acadia
The only dining facility to be found inside the park boundary is the Jordan Pond House. This scenic restaurant has been a staple of Acadia summers since 1893, and their afternoon tea with popovers is one of the traditions unique to this park.
Outside the Park
All of your lodging and eating will be found outside the park, with the exception of the Jordan Pond House and the campgrounds.
The towns of Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor provide plenty of options for lodging, dining and tours. You would be well-advised to get an early reservation at many of these locations if you’re planning on dining out while visiting Acadia.
Free Camping near Acadia
Park Junkie found no attractive, hassle-free (legal) options for free camping on MDI. If you know of something, let us know, unless you wanna keep it to yourself… we understand.
Camping Outside Acadia
There are more than a dozen private campgrounds in the vicinity of Acadia. Many of these are close to the island’s popular attractions and provide a more budget friendly option than the often pricey hotels in Bar Harbor.
Hipcamp – Acadia – Campgrounds
Lodging near Acadia
Since the park does not provide any lodging options, you’ll need to acquire a humble abode outside the park gates. Here you have a multitude of options, as Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor offer a number of cozy rooms with a view.
Eating near Acadia
Oh man, where do you start with this category! There are some absolutely fabulous meals to be had while visiting Acadia. Fresh lobster and seafood options abound and you can eat far too much in one sitting. Luckily, you can hike those calories off in a jiffy…
Some of the small roadside restaurants in rural settings provide absolutely delicious crab rolls and lobster with a smile. Such dining here is not exactly cheap, cause well, it’s crab and lobster…
Popular dining options in Acadia
Guide to Acadia
Relevant Links
National Park Guides
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