3 Day Itinerary Acadia National Park

Have you ever dreamt of heading up north to visit the coast of Maine? If you have your sights set on iconic lighthouses, rocky shorelines, towering pines, and steaming, buttery lobster around ever corner, then my 3 day itinerary for Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor should really suit your fancy!

Mount Desert Island is the quintessential picture of Maine as it homes the adorably quaint town of Bar Harbor along with the untamed wilderness of Acadia National Park. “The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast” is perfect for any and every type of traveler with shopping, great dining selections, sightseeing, and over 150 miles of hiking trails for the outdoor enthusiast.

If you only have 2 or 3 days in Acadia National Park, then let’s get started! Follow this complete Acadia National Park itinerary and you’ll be living “the way life should be” in no time.

How to get to Acadia National Park

If you’re coming to Acadia National Park, then it’s very likely you’re coming to Bar Harbor, as it’s the closest town. I flew into Portland and made the approximately 3.5 hour drive over to Mount Desert Island. Once you’re in Bar Harbor, there’s a few options to get to Acadia.

Whether you drove your own wheels or rented some, one way to get around is by car. But you don’t necessarily need one. The main area of Bar Harbor is very walkable, and there’s a free shuttle that circles through Acadia. I enjoyed having my own car when I was in town so I could control my own schedule, especially if you only have 2 or 3 days in Acadia National Park.

How far is Bar Harbor from Acadia National Park?

One of the great things about this region is how there’s so much to do within easy driving distance. Bar Harbor to Acadia National Park (and vice versa) is just a few minutes by car. You’ll be at the entrance to the park very quickly. This is super helpful if you’re the type of person who always forgets something (like me!) and has to run back into town to get it.

Day 1

Whether you flew into town, drove, or hitchhiked on a moose, travel days are always pretty tiring. I would spend your first day exploring the adorable little town of Bar Harbor.

The downtown area is SO cute and will charm your socks off. There’s also a good chance this is where your lodging is, so you can always turn in early for the big weekend ahead. There’s lots of picturesque inns in Bar Harbor, so you can’t go wrong with anywhere you stay, but the Bar Harbor Inn is always a crowd favorite!

Bar Harbor is a quaint and relaxing town, filled with good shopping and yummy food. Spend the evening browsing the different stores, picking up some souvenirs you probably don’t need, and filling your belly to fuel up for tomorrow. I have written a Bar Harbor itinerary for one day in this charming little town, so definitely check that out for all the best restaurant and shop recommendations.

Day 2

Good morning! You came to this post for 3 days in Acadia National Park so maybe for day 2 we should head to Acadia? Let’s go!

Before you enter the park, you will need to buy an entrance pass. Information on where to buy one and the specific prices can be found here. It’s per vehicle, not per person, and a vehicle pass is valid for 1-7 days is $25. That’s not a bad deal at all if you ask me!

If you don’t have a car, the Island Explorer shuttle passes through the park, or you can hop on a narrated bus tour with fellow travelers.

I was already planning a trip to Utah to see the various national parks the next month, so I bought the America the Beautiful Pass. It’s an insanely good deal and will grant you access to over 2000 federal recreation sites, including all the national parks. It’s valid for 12 months, so if you’re planning to visit more than one national park like I was, then you can’t pass up this great deal!

Now that you’ve made your way into the park, make sure you grab your camera because you’re going to see some BEAUTIFUL scenery. Park Loop Road is the way to go, hands down. It’s a 27-mile route that circles a good portion of Mount Desert Island. You can pull over and stop as many times as often as you want because there are lots of pull-off points and parking lots.

Follow this route, and you’ll be seeing views like this:

Sand Beach

Your first stop on the Park Loop Road is at Sand Beach. Now I know what you’re thinking…there’s a beach in MAINE?! Is it even warm enough for that? It was a little chilly when I visited, so I didn’t dare go in the water, but I can’t resist sticking my toes in the sand!

Thunder Hole

Another highlight of your 2 or 3 days in Acadia National Park is seeing, or rather hearing, Thunder Hole. It’s a natural rock formation where you can see a huge splash and hear a thundering boom, hence the name. This depends on the tide, so you’ll have to time it right to catch the thunder!

The best time to visit Thunder Hole is about 2 hours before high tide. This is when the waves are crashing in, making the roar and big splashes most likely. So as not to miss the big boom of this geological wonder, you can check tides here.

Continue along the road for more beautiful sights and great places to stop, including Otter Point. There’s no bad place in Acadia to just stop, relax, and enjoy the views. Acadia National Park is definitely a hotspot, though, so be prepared for crowds, especially in the summer.

Jordan Pond House

No visit to Acadia National Park is complete without visiting Jordan Pond.

Whether you’re coming to hike or just to stop and admire the pond, and Acadia National Park must is to eat at the Jordan Pond House. The restaurant offers a full menu to satisfy most cravings, but they’re famous for their delicious POPOVERS.

I had never even heard of a popover until I visited, so let me shed some light on these perfect little pastries. Popovers are a light, hollow roll made with egg batter, and they’re soooo yummy! It reminded me a bit of a croissant.

Jordan Pond House has been serving popovers and tea since the 1890s, so having one (or two or three!) is a must do on your Acadia National Park itinerary. One order comes with two popovers, which is a good amount for a midday snack. Load them up with butter and strawberry jam, and enjoy!

The Bubbles

Walk behind Jordan Pound House and follow the short trail to the right. You’ll be greeted with a beautiful body of water and a big booty-shaped mountain. These hills are known as the Bubbles. I just wanted the picture, but if time permits you can hike the Bubbles! You can also walk the 3.4 mile Jordan Pond Loop Trail, which is an easy walk that takes you across the pond.

To find this gatehouse that looks just like a fairytale cottage, walk out of Jordan Pound House and go straight across until you find yourself walking along the carriage roads – you’ll know you’re in the right spot if there’s lots of people cycling!

Whale Watching/Nature Cruise

After spending so much time looking out at the sea, you’re probably ready to spend some time on the water! If I had more time in Bar Harbor, taking a whale watching or nature cruise would have been the first thing on my to do list.

Head back into Bar Harbor and take a cruise with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. What you see can change depending on the time of year, so you might see whales, puffins, seals, and seabirds. You can also just opt for a lighthouse tour or a more general nature cruise.

I went whale watching in California a few years back, and it was SO fun and exhilarating waiting to see a huge tail fin breech out of the water, so I highly recommend going whale watching at some point during your life. Why not in Maine?

After your cruise, you might just be looking for a good dinner and a relaxing evening. Check out my post on Bar Harbor for my recommendations on where to eat.

If you’re up for it, you can head out for a sunset hike or drive along Park Loop Road for a different perspective of the park as it begins to quiet down for the night.

Day 3

Rise and shine! Ready to get up SUPER early today?

Surprisingly, you’re not the only one. I usually suggest getting up early to avoid the crowds, but that won’t be possible at the most famous sunrise spot in Maine. Loads of people wake up before the crack of dawn to head to the top of Cadillac Mountain for it’s famous sunrise, which also happens to be the first sunrise in the United States.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to hike to the summit (although you can). A long windy road will take you straight to the top. If you want a parking space in the actual parking lot (which I did not get), come as early as possible. I had to park a ways down the hill, cutting it close on my walk up.

What lots of other bloggers fail to mention is that, despite this being an insanely popular and famous sunrise spot, you might not see the sunrise at all. I got up at 4:30 in the morning for a cloudy, overcast, and insanely foggy day. There was no sun in sight!

I totally wouldn’t blame you if you went back to nap after the sunrise – I wish I would’ve! But, if you’re already on your third cup of coffee, then you’re no doubt ready to take on the rest of the day.

I recommend spending your last day just exploring Acadia National Park and everything it has to offer. So many people flock here for the amazing hikes. Some popular options are the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail, Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail, and the Jordan Pond Loop Trail.

Another fun one is the Beehive Loop Trail, but it’s not for the faint of heart. It takes a few hours to complete, and it should probably be avoided if you have a fear of heights because this trail takes you almost straight up the face of a cliff, forcing you to use railings and handles embedded in the rocks as you make your way up. This is a whole body type of hike, so you’ll be pretty wiped out by the end of it.

Spend time at the summit soaking up the gorgeous scenery, which is especially incredible as the fall foliage bursts into view. You can continue on to another summit called the Bowl, or head back down the Beehive Loop. Don’t worry–you don’t have to go back the way you came! The route down is much more traditional!

If you somehow still have some energy, then good for you! Time permitting, tackle another hike! Travel & Leisure put together a great list of some of the best hiking trails to complete your 3 day itinerary for Acadia National Park.

Bass Harbor Head Light

You can’t visit Maine without stopping by a lighthouse, and The Bass Harbor Head Light is the go-to in Bar Harbor. It’s located on the southwest side of Mount Desert Island and is surrounded by tall pines, teetering on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the sea. It doesn’t get more iconic “Maine” than this.

After your big day of hiking, taking pictures, and dining on popovers, drive over to the other side of the island to visit the Bass Harbor Head Light. This is a prime spot for sunset, so everyone and their mom will be there – making it harder than it already is trying to get a picture on those slippery rocks. If I could do it over again, I would come here for sunrise instead to avoid the crowds. The parking lot isn’t very big either, so you might be waiting awhile for a spot if you come later in the day.

How many days in Acadia National Park?

With almost 50,000 acres of land, there is plenty to see in Acadia and enough hikes and activities that could easily fill up a week, but spending 2 or 3 days in Acadia National Park is the perfect amount of time. That way, you’ll still have time to explore Bar Harbor and maybe even make it over to Portland to see all those gorgeous lighthouses.

How do you like my 3 day itinerary for Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor? Are you ready to head up to the coast of Maine yet?