Day Guide to Acadia National Park

I was a bit apprehensive about taking a day trip to Acadia National Park when Ricky suggested we make a last minute plan to go. It's a 3 1/2 hour trek up North and I knew we were going to be exhausted by the end of it, but we took the leap. The weather forecast was promising, the summer crowds had not to arrived quite yet, and I couldn't think of an excuse to not do it.

Taking a day trip wasn't ideal for me because there are too many things to explore, but I learned it can be just as memorable. I want to share with you our itinerary and tips for making the most out of your trip.

Not everyone has the time to spare while traveling which is why we always like to make the most of it, even if we are dead tired by the end.

Prioritize: I knew I couldn’t see everything I wanted in just a day so I did some research and narrowed down the top 5 things that were a must do for us and created a rough itinerary. For us this meant time hiking and visiting the well-known spots at the park before peak times for attendance.

Leave Early: Make the most out of your day. Weekends in Acadia get busy during the summer, even more so during the months of July and August. We planned to leave at 4 am so we could peacefully enjoy two spots before the crowds would arrive. This also means less traffic, which made our long drive much easier and efficient. To make things easier for our trip we packed our lunches, snacks, a change of clothes, bug spray and cameras the night before so in the morning we could keep prepping as minimal as we could.

Purchase Pass in Advance: We purchased our parking pass online on the website, it’s $30 for 1-7 days at Acadia. This must be displayed on your windshield otherwise you risk getting fined. I definitely recommend getting it in advance so you don’t have to stop at a visitor center which has limited hours, or wait in the lines at the entrance.

I hope our trip and itinerary give you some ideas and inspiration for visiting the beautiful state of Maine and taking the opportunity to enjoy the splendor that is Acadia National Park.

7:30 AM - Arrive at Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is the highest mountain along the Atlantic Seaboard and the views from the top are stunning. Honestly, pictures don’t do it justice. This popular mountain is a must-do at Acadia and is easily one of the most crowded spots which is why we decided to stop here first. Luckily, the summit can be accessed by car which was a great option for us since we were limited in time but hiking trails are also available. When we arrived there were only two other cars there and we were able to walk around and soak in the views in peace and quiet - it was truly a treat.

8:30 AM - Hike The Bubbles

One of the most famous views at the park is from Jordan Pond looking at The Bubbles, two peaks that have trails taking you to the summit. The trailhead parking in only about 5 minutes away from the bottom of Cadillac Mountain via Park Loop Road. There’s a brown sign that states “Bubbles Trailhead Parking” with a limited amount of parking available, another reason why we wanted to get there early.

The hike up to the South Bubble is fairly easy and will lead you to Bubble Rock, the famous boulder that was moved 40 miles by ancient glaciers and is now perched on the edge of the mountain. To get better views of Bubble Rock you do have to climb down some steeper edges which made me a bit nervous, so I didn’t get too close because I am deathly terrified of heights. There are some views of Jordan Pond, Pemetic Mountain and Penobscot Mountain. This trail is fairly easy and quick, which was perfect for our limited schedule (1.4 miles roundtrip.)

Once we finished, we decided to hike back towards the parking to find the signs leading us to the North Bubble Summit. This hike is moderately strenuous, and more difficult than the South Bubble trail. There were steep inclines, and some footwork was required due to the open granite ledges which were a bit slippery. I definitely recommend having hiking shoes for this sort of trail, just to be on the safe side. The view was spectacular from the top, as you overlooked Jordan Pound, as well as the Pemetic and Sargent Mountains (1.2 miles roundtrip.)

10:45 am, quick stop at Jordan Pond

Once we finished hiking we knew we needed to stop at a restroom and take a little bit of a break. We drove to the Jordan Pond House for parking, then walked down to the pond, soaking in the beautiful hues of the water and the dense trees. There is a trail that takes you around the pond and even up to the Bubbles, but we decided we’d save that for another time along with tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House which was highly recommended to me by my coworkers. Apparently during busy season it gets packed and reservations are highly recommended.

11:15 am, Ocean Path Trail

One of my favorite parts about Maine is the coast line, and I couldn’t wait to see pink granite formations this part of Acadia is known for. The trail starts at Sand Beach, which easily gets crowded, but we opted to park at Thunder Hole and walk the trail all the way to Otter Cliff, taking time to stop by Monument Cove and Boulder Beach along the way.

This is a very easy hike, with little to no incline on a paved path and runs right along Park Loop Road. I highly suggest walking it since there are many places to stop for pictures and captivating views. We pulled aside on one of the granite formations to relax and enjoy our picnic. We spent most of our trip along this trail, taking our time to really enjoy the beauty around us. The trail in total is 2 miles one-way, and takes about 2-3 hours. You also have the option to do as much of the trail as you want, since there are several designated parking areas along the trail.

2:15 pm, Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is the major town in Mount Desert Island and it has a rich long history starting with the Abernaki People. It was officially settled in 1796, but in the 1850’s it began attracting wealthy artists and families from New York, Boston and Philadelphia including the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts. Now this coastal town is one of the most popular destinations in Maine.

Parking is fairly limited and I can imagine during the summer months it gets a bit crazy. We found parking close to the Downtown Area for only a couple of bucks and wandered around. There are shops, restaurants, a pier, museums and a brewery. Some things that came highly recommended to me: Mount Desert Island Ice Cream, Choco-Latte, Side Street Cafe, or one of the many Blueberry options such as beer or soda. Ricky and I walked around Main Street, walking into shops, then along the pier before heading to our next destination.

3:00pm, Beal’s Lobster

Beal’s was recommended to me by a friend and I honestly couldn't have thought of a better place to enjoy the weather, overlooking the waterfront eating a fresh lobster roll. They are located in the Southwest Harbor which is about 20 minutes away for Bar Harbor, but only 10 minutes away from the Bass Harbor lighthouse. I devoured a lobster roll burger and Ricky had a traditional lobster roll with butter - it was perfect! Their menu is expansive, offering seafood platters, burgers, fish, salads and the most delicious looking clam chowder soup. If you’re extra lucky you get to watch lobsterman unload the catch of the day.

4:00pm, Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Our last stop of the day is one of the most iconic lighthouses in Maine, located on the southernmost tip of Mount Desert Island. The lighthouse is not accessible, but the grounds are free and parking is available on site. We walked along a small boardwalk and down the steps, to the pink rock cliffs where you can get views of the lighthouse. At the time we arrived, this spot was over crowded and it was hard to get down on the rocks due to the amount of people. We were able to catch a glimpse of the lighthouse.

4:30pm, Nap Time at Thompson’s Island

After our long day, we had a 3 ½ hour ride home, so we decided to stop at Thompson’s Island, a small island that leads you in and out of Mount Desert Island. There are bathrooms and picnic tables along, and a very peaceful atmosphere. We took a power nap in our cars to recharge after our long day. I looked at our health app and we had completed over 8 miles of walking, 15,000+ steps and more than 47 flights of stairs.

5:30pm, on the Road with a stop in Belfast for Dinner

There are many beautiful towns and state parks as you drive from Portland to Acadia. One of the towns that was highly recommended to us is Belfast, a small coastal town. We walked the Historic Downtown Area and down towards the shipyard. At this point we were hungry again and we ended up eating at Meanwhile in Belfast because we couldn’t say no when we saw a sign for authentic sourdough Neapolitan Pizzas. It was a little bit more on the pricey side but we sat outside with Thor and watched the sunset over a tasty dinner, it was the perfect way to end our excursion. I highly recommend stopping in Belfast, everyone was so friendly and the historic area is beautiful.

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There are many things I would like to see in Acadia and maybe one day have the courage to hike Beehive Trail, but I am so thankful that Ricky and I chose to drive up to Acadia on a whim because the weather was truly spectacular along with the views. Oh and in the fall it's going to be spectacular with all the colors.

Have you been to Acadia National Park, and if so what have you loved doing the most?