Marissa, get ready for a fabulous birthday weekend getaway to one of the most stunning spots on the Eastern Coast of the US! Work up an appetite hiking up Acadia’s granite peaks, through lush forests, down to a refreshing dip on rocky shores. Finish it off with Maine lobster rolls and some blueberry pie. Perfection!
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Passes & Maps
Entrance fees, apps, and maps to help you explore the park.
Park Entrance
To enter Acadia NP you’ll need to buy and display a park entrance pass in your car. You can easily do this online and print it out ahead of time. Your best option is a Private Vehicle Pass. It’s $30 and admits the passholder and up to 15 people in one vehicle for 7 days. Click here to buy your pass.
NPS App
Since cell service is limited in the park, you might want to download the National Park Service App before you go. You can save specific parks for offline use, so you’ll always have access to maps & info.
Once in the app, tap “Find Your Park” to find Acadia. Then tap “Explore full park”. Once on the park page, you’ll see a toggle option to “Save this park for offline use.” If you’re in the park with low signal, you’ll still be able to access the park info.
Tip: if you’re in an area of low/ no signal, put your phone in airplane mode to save battery so you can still take pictures!
Other Maps
Here’s a great resource for downloading all sorts of free NPS maps of Acadia: National Park Maps – Acadia.
If you’re like me and prefer a physical map, you can download and print some maps from the site above, or I usually go ahead and order a topo trail map if I’m going to be doing any hiking. Here’s a good one for Acadia: Acadia National Park Waterproof Trail Map
Getting Around
Since you’re visiting Acadia during the busy season (and on a holiday weekend) it might be busy, but then again it might not! Getting up and getting into the park early to nab a parking spot will help, but there’s also an option to ride the free Island Explorer shuttle bus. The shuttles stop at many of the scenic spots along the main Park Loop Road and at trailheads.
You can drive to/park at the Hull Visitor’s Center (1.3 mi from your hotel) and catch the bus from there. They have reduced their routes/ capacity this season due to COVID, but it might still be convenient if it’s really crowded. Check out the routes here.
Hiking
Lots of great hiking in Acadia! (Hikes will be in GREEN on your Google Map).
Hiking Tips:
Check Trail Closures
Unfortunately, a few of the popular trails are closed due to Peregrine Falcon nesting… but there’s still plenty open. Trail closures can change frequently, make sure to check the park’s closure page before you drive to the trailhead. These will also show up in the NPS app when you’re online.
AllTrails App
If you haven’t already downloaded this app, I highly recommend it. Most of the links below will be to that site/app because it really contains the most info for accessing the trails and current conditions via recent reviews of people who have recently hiked the trail. I’ve also created a trail suggestions list for you in AllTrails.
Busy Season
Getting to the trailhead early is your best bet for avoiding crowds. To avoid congested parking areas you can also take the Island Explorer shuttle. Here’s some hike suggestions from the park off the shuttle.
Hikes:
Here’s a small list of suggested hikes. There’s more on your list in Alltrails.
Beehive Loop Trail
An adventurous 1.5 mi loop hike with a spectacular view. Beware if you are afraid of heights! You can expect steep granite staircases, iron rungs, and exposed cliff faces on this short but challenging trail. Rated as one of the park favorites!
Great Head Trail Loop
This trail offers a mix of ocean views, rocky scrambles and forest. You can get to both Great Head & Beehive loop trails from the Sand Beach parking lot.
Cadillac Ridge North Trail & Cadillac Ridge South Trail
Cadillac Ridge is a popular spot for sunrise/ sunset. It is the highest point both at Acadia NP and on the eastern seaboard. Both trails offer sweeping vistas of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Schoodic Peninsula.
You can also drive up to the summit, but must have a timed permit to do so. (Get a permit here, if you want to go that route.)
Jordon Pond Full Loop Trail
A moderate 3.4 mi hike that traverses the shore of Jordan Pond, one of Acadia’s most iconic landscapes. Located in a steep valley carved out by the retreat of glaciers, Jordan Pond is bordered by Penobscot, Pemetic, and two rounded peaks known as the Bubbles.
Bubbles Nubble Loop Trail
A challenging 2.6 mi hike to summit the North Bubble, South Bubble, and Conners Nubble peaks around Jordon Pond. Alternately, you could just summit the Bubbles via this 1.6 mi route. There’re many trails in this area, so lots of routes to choose from.
Acadia Mountain and St. Sauveur Mountain Trail Loop
A challenging 4 mi hike that summits two mountain peaks. It offers stunning views of Somes Sound and the surrounding mountains, as well as outlying islands and the ocean. This is a good option for July 4th if you’re trying to avoid the festivities in Bar Harbor since it’s on the other side of the park.
Other Outdoor Activities
Kayaking and biking and boating, oh my! (In BLUE on your Google Map).
Kayaking
There are several kayaking outfitters in the Acadia area. There are options for rent kayaks and go out on your own, or to take a kayaking tour. Depending on your skill level and if your car is equipped to be able to carry kayaks, a tour might be a better option.
Here’s a few suggestions, there seems to still be availability for that weekend, but I’d book your spot now if this is something you want to do.
Swimming
There’s several spots in Acadia where swimming is allowed. Sand Beach is the most popular (ocean swimming) and also Echo Beach for lake swimming. Both of these locations are near trailheads, so they might be good for a refreshing dip after a long hike!
Bike the Carriage Roads
There are 45 miles of old Carriage Roads in Acadia NP. They’re great for biking and offer a great tour of the park! Check out this video for a little preview.
Acadia Bike and Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop both rent bikes in town. The Island Explorer shuttle also allows you to bring bikes, and I believe you may be able to bike to the Carriage Roads from town. Here’s a map of the Carriage Roads. It seems as though there’s lots of bikes available, but you might want to book in advance if you definitely know you want to do this.
Take a boat cruise
Bar Harbor Whale Watching Co offers a variety of boat cruises for whale watching, Puffins & lighthouses, and even a sunset cruise. There’s still availability July 4th weekend for many of their cruises.
Other Things to Do
(In YELLOW on your Google Map).
Visit Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
One of the most photographed lighthouses in New England and a popular spot for sunset. There’s also a short scenic trail to get that iconic view.
Drive the Park Loop Road
While this might be difficult over the holiday weekend if it’s congested, the 27 mile Park Loop Road is a scenic drive around the east side of Mount Desert Island, connecting Acadia’s lakes, mountains, and shoreline.
Visit Jordon Pond House
Guests have been dining overlooking the scenic views of Jordon Pond at this site since 1893 when Nellie McIntire, the first proprietor, started baking and serving her famous popovers out of the restaurant. Ever since then, having popovers and tea at Jordon Pond House is somewhat of a tradition in Acadia NP. Not sure what a popover is? Here’s a good explanation.
Bar Harbor July 4th Celebrations
Bar Harbor’s Fourth of July has been voted the #1 Fourth of July celebration in America by the Today Show, and recognized by National Geographic as one of the top ten in the U.S. Agamont Park seems like it would be a good place to watch the fireworks, but might actually be able to see them well from your hotel. I’d ask them!
Where to Eat
(In ORANGE on your Google Map).
Bar Harbor is known for lobster (duh, this is Maine!) blueberry pie and whoopie pies. It’s recommended that you try all three while in town. Looks like many restaurants there don’t take reservations, but some do! Sometimes the best way to find a restaurant you’ll like is to wander, but here’s some suggestions:
Side Street Café
Popular favorite with locals and tourists, considered to be one of the best restaurants in Bar Harbor. They don’t take reservations but do have an online waitlist that might help!
Stewman’s Lobster Pound
A popular waterfront spot for lobster. Considered by some to be the best lobster in Bar Harbor. Unfortunately, they don’t take reservations.
Rose Eden Lobster
A popular lobster shack outside of town, #1 restaurant in Bar Harbor on Tripadvisor.
Salt & Steel
A chef driven fine dining option specializing in coastal Maine cuisine. A good option for a fancy birthday dinner! And they take reservations!
Thirsty Whale Tavern
Pub fare and lobster rolls with lots of beer on tap featuring local and regional craft beers.
Atlantic Brewing Company
Local brewing company with a tasting room & food in downtown Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor Beer Works
Pub with a large rooftop deck that specializes in Maine-brewed beer and cider
Here’s a couple resources for more extensive restaurant lists in Bar Harbor:
22 Delicious Restaurants in Bar Harbor, Maine
The Best Restaurants in Bar Harbor, Maine
This guy has lots of opinions on the best lobster near Bar Harbor, it’s worth a read:
Your Google Map
All your places in one spot.