We spent an incredible 3 days in Acadia National Park and came away already talking about a return trip. Part of that was the beauty, part was that our trip included a tour of New England and part of it was the weather when we were there.
Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, making it very busy. Be prepared for crowds with patience and alternate plans if you are not able to find parking for the activities you planned for the day. That being said, there are also ways to avoid the crowds for the most part if you are not a fan of crowds.
This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it helps keep this blog running!
3 Unforgettable Days in Acadia National Park
Getting There: Lighthouses, Lobster Rolls, and the Coastal Route
We approached the park after spending a few days visiting Niagara Falls, the Green Mountains in Vermont, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Our first stop in Maine was at the pretty Marshall Point lighthouse in Port Clyde, Maine with eagles soaring overhead. We had a local favorite of lunch at McLoons Lobster Shack where we enjoyed a good lobster roll and a fresh scooped ice cream treat.
From there, we took the scenic route of Highway 1 and as many side roads out to the ocean as was practical. Then we got word that our rental home was ready, so we headed on to Bernard where our rental was located. We loved the property we rented (though the bathroom was not that convenient to the bedrooms). They had kayaks we could use to go explore the bay, as well as what felt like private oceanfront where we walked each day.
WHERE WE STAYED: We booked our Bernard rental through VRBO — searching “Mount Desert Island” or “Bernard, Maine” turns up several waterfront options with kayaks included, which we’d recommend if you want easy bay access without fighting for parking at put-in spots.
Quick Evening Hike: Ship Harbor Trail
Because we arrived early enough and were all tired of the car, we headed to the Ship Harbor trailhead, just down the road from our rental. We brought our pup, Jasper, along. Many trails in Acadia allow dogs, which is unusual for a national park. He was as excited as we were to put some dirt and rocks under our feet.
Little did we know that this beautiful evening at Ship Harbor was the last fully sunny day we’d have during our time in Acadia.
Day 1: Visitor Center, Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole and Otter Point
In our first full day in Acadia we headed on to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center for our morning as we had an afternoon time slot for Cadillac Mountain. We stopped at Sand Beach and Thunder Hole and walked along the trail that runs along the coast (and highway) before continuing to Otter Point and finally stopping at the Jordan Pond House where we had a picnic lunch.
We then headed up Cadillac Mountain where we saw exactly nothing. By that I mean we saw the road, some other people, and a gift shop. At the viewpoints we saw fog and at the top we saw completely different but equally problematic fog. So much for that! When we got back to good cell signal I trolled the website and re-booked for later in our time in the hopes that we would have better visibility on our final day in the park. We spent our evening laughing as we walked through the soft mucky seabed outside our rental house and tried hard not to fall down as our shoes got stuck.
Day 2: Beehive Trail, Jordan Stream Path, and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
Our second full day in Acadia was our big adventure hike. Before we start, I need to say I do not recommend this hike for toddlers or little ones who do not listen well. Nor for those who are afraid of heights and/or are not sure-footed. My dad is afraid of heights and still did it, but I felt like our roles reversed as Kim and the kids made quick work of the hike and I kept an eye on my nearly 70 year old father. I’m proud of him for doing it though as there were many times he could have froze and yet he, and we, did it!
I am, of course, talking about the Beehive trail. It is just 1.4 miles and climbs only 450 feet, but it is how it does it that makes this hike memorable. From iron rungs to ladders, rock cutouts to bridges made of iron rungs, and finally to boulders you need to hug to stay on the trail, this short hike will leave your adrenaline pumping and by the time you reach the summit you will be ready for a rest and snack!
⚠️ Safety note: Sturdy footwear with real grip and a small daypack with water are non-negotiable for the Beehive. Check trail conditions at the visitor center before you go — this one gets dangerous in wet or icy weather.
The way down is simple and I should note that if you are not the adventurous type but want to meet others at the top you can do the hike in and out from the way we exited the loop and avoid the scary part and still see the view. There are no rungs, ladders, or other unusual features on this part of the hike. There is also a nice pond called the Bowl on this section where many ate lunch or a snack.
After the Beehive we returned to the Jordan Pond House where we walked the Jordan Stream path. This was an unexpectedly beautiful hike, with fresh forest smells, babbling streams, views of the stone bridges and QUIET, as this hike was not very populated when we did it. It ended up being one of the highlights in the park for Kim.
After dinner we went to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and despite the tiny parking lot were able to find a spot after some patience. This is a must-see in the park and does require abundant patience!
Day 3: Schoodic Peninsula and Seal Cove Auto Museum
On our final day in the park we said goodbye to my Dad, as his trip headed north to West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and the Cabot Trail while we headed south and on to Cape Cod. Before we headed out, we visited the Schoodic Peninsula area of the park and saw the history at the Schoodic Institute and Welcome Center. The weather was, again, windy and rainy so we stopped at Schoodic Point and returned to the campground and visitor center.
After returning back to Mount Desert Island, we stopped at something we had seen the sign for many times in our time here. With the poor weather a visit to the Seal Cove Auto Museum was perfect! Even if you are not a car person the variety of historical vehicles here was exceptional and the storytelling around the vehicles was robust. We all enjoyed our time here!
Before heading south towards Boston and the few national park sites we planned to see there, we made one final trip up Cadillac Mountain and were rewarded with a clear and visible day! It is worth being patient and seeing the view from up here.
There you have it – a few quick but exceptional 3 days in Acadia National Park! We will be back as there are other hikes we would like to do and we would like to get out on the water, but the moody weather was fitting for a visit to Acadia.
Things we missed that we’d like to do next time we go:
• Our daughter really wanted to do a carriage ride in the park but there were no appointments left by the time we decided to try it (it is very expensive).
• Precipice Trail – this was closed when we went and closes every year for Peregrine Falcon nesting season.
• Rent or bring our bikes to ride on the carriage roads in Acadia.
Don’t forget to pack these things for Acadia:
• Raincoat
• Bug Spray
• Hiking shoes
Like this post? Don’t forget to pin it for later:
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Leave a Reply