Acadia National Park Itinerary: 2, 3 or 4 Days in the Park!

Last updated on July 23rd, 2026

Acadia National Park is one of the few in the country that has a great mix of hikes and scenic outlooks, coastal views and beaches, mountains, forests and lakes! Plus with Bar Harbor, Maine located just minutes away, there’s shopping and incredible local food too. With so much to do, we created an Acadia National Park Itinerary for 2-4 days depending on how long you will have there.

During 2021 we visited 14 national parks, and agreed that this was our favorite of them all! We did so many things during our trip and can help guide you to the best hikes, things to do and places to eat. Plus we have many helpful tips to share while you are visiting the park!

About Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is located primarily on Maine’s Mount Desert Island. However, 5% of the park lies on the Schoodic Peninsula. Surprisingly, in the whole Northeastern section of the country, it’s the only United States National Park.

The Wabanaki Native Americans lived on this land thousands of years ago. The European settlers arrived later. Eventually the tourism to the area grew to what it is today.

In 1916 Sieur de Monts National Monument was established. The area was then changed to being called Lafayette National Park in 1919. But in 1929 it received its current title of Acadia National Park.

As of 2023, Acadia is the 7th most visited US National Park and we can understand why. You’ll understand soon too!

Want to Learn More as you explore?

We highly suggest downloading the Guide Along – Acadia National Park (totally worth the cost!!) audio tours to navigate you on the road. Even when you don’t have service it knows where you are and provides commentary and history about the area. As well as alerts you when to stop for specific sights. These guides are fun to listen to and the narrator feels like a fun friend in the car with you!

How Many Days Do You Need in Acadia National Park?

As with most places, Acadia National Park deserves as much time as you can devote to it. You could probably spend weeks here exploring the area, but we know that’s not realistic for most people.

We think that you should plan to spend at least 3 to 4 days here to explore different areas of the park and do several hikes. However, if you only have 2 days to devote then we included a 2 day Acadia National Park Itinerary for that as well. 2 days is much better than no days! But be sure to wake up early and pack in as much as possible!

As you can see, there’s a lot of awesome things to do in Acadia. So we put together a list of the best things to do in Acadia National Park if you want to read more details about each stop!

Visiting multiple National Parks? We highly recommend getting the America the Beautiful pass, which costs about $80 per year and gives you free access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including ALL National Parks.

2 Days in Acadia National Park Map

2 Days in Acadia National Park

Day 1

See the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain

Start off your Acadia National Park Itinerary by watching the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain. This spot is 1,530 feet and is the highest peak on the North Atlantic seaboard. Between early October and early March, Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the country to watch the sunrise.

The sunrise is stunning from here, and worth waking up super early for. But be sure to bring a blanket, because it will be cold, even if you visit in the summer! We recommend you also bring coffee and breakfast to enjoy during and after.

But because this is such a great thing to do on the Acadia National Park itinerary, it is very popular. During late May through the end of October, Cadillac Mountain requires reservations, no matter what time of day you visit. Reservations are $6 and need to be made in advance as they do sell out. For more information about it, read our guide to visiting Cadillac Mountain.

Hike to the South Bubble

Next up, hike the Jordan Pond to South Bubble Summit Trail. If you head here right from Cadillac Mountain you should have no issue getting parking.

The trail is flat in the beginning and then leads to an uphill section to get to the summit which does require some scrambling, but it’s not too bad. From the top you’ll get to enjoy views of Jordan Pond, and if you visit in the fall like we did, you’ll love the fall foliage from here!

Once you get to the overlook area, continue on a bit to see the famous Bubble Rock!

Eat popovers at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant

After the hike you’ll likely be pretty hungry. Enjoy popovers and tea (plus any other food items) at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant. This is a must-do thing in Acadia National Park, as the restaurant has been here over 100 years!

Popovers are the popular thing to get here, and they are absolutely delicious. Pair it with a cup of tea and you’ll get the classic Acadia experience.

And we recommend you sit outside for some added beautiful views while you eat!

Hike the Beech Cliff Ladders

Head over to the west side of Mount Desert Island and hike the Beech Cliff Ladders. This is considered one of Acadia’s Iron Rung hikes where you have to climb up the side of cliffs using the iron rungs provided. However, the Beech Cliff Ladders trail is a perfect way to ease your way in, because there’s only 4 sections with iron rungs and the trail is not super steep or scary.

End the day in Bar Harbor!

Finish off the first day of the Acadia National Park itinerary with dinner in Bar Harbor. There’s plenty of great places to eat in town.

Day 2

Do an iron rung hike

Head to the park right before sunrise and hike either the Precipice Trail or Beehive Trail. These are two of the best hikes at Acadia National Park! You will want to get an early start to ensure you have time to enjoy it without lots of people! However, we do recommend starting once there is a little bit of light, since you’ll want to be able to see these trails well. They are two of the iron rung trails in the park and are definitely harder than the one you did yesterday.

The Beehive Trail is the most popular trail in the park which means more people! But it is slightly less difficult than the Precipice Trail.

We did the Precipice Trail and while it was difficult, it was so much fun and the views were epic! However, it’s important to note that due to Peregrine falcon nesting, the Precipice Loop is closed between March 15 and August 15. Read our guide to hiking the Precipice Trail before you go!

Relax at Sand Beach

After a difficult hike, head to Sand Beach and enjoy a picnic brunch and relax on the sand. This beach is only dog friendly during specific months of the year. From mid June to early September, dogs are NOT allowed. 

Go on a coastal hike

Once you’ve regained some energy, hike the Great Head Trail. It’s only 1.6 miles round trip and has 301 feet of elevation gain. And if you brought your pup along, this is a great trail for dogs too!

Continue onto the Ocean Path and then up to Gorham Mountain for an awesome loop!

Spend the afternoon in Bar Harbor

Spend the rest of the day in Bar Harbor, grabbing dinner and walking around town. Be sure to stop at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream for delicious ice cream! You can also go to the Bar Island if the tides work in your favor! 

3 Days in Acadia National Park Map

3 Days in Acadia National Park

Days 1 & 2

Follow the 2 day itinerary above!

Day 3

Start the day with a hike

Day 3 of the Acadia National Park Itinerary starts off with a morning hike of the St. Sauveur and Acadia Mountain Loop or the Dorr Mountain Ladder Trail.

The St. Sauveur and Acadia Mountain Loop trail is 4 miles long and is located on the quieter side of the island near Beech Cliffs. With this hike you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the ocean and the island!

Dorr Mountain Ladder Trail is 2.7 miles and has 1,131 feet of elevation gain. And despite the name, it’s more of stairs than ladders.

Eat lobster for lunch

If you need lunch, head to The Travelin Lobster, which is located on the northern side of Mount Desert Island. But it’s important to note that it’s only open during the season, so check their Facebook page first!

Bike the Carriage Roads

Spend the afternoon biking some of the Carriage Roads. The one around Eagle Lake looks beautiful!

The 45 miles of Carriage Roads around the park are only accessible by foot, bike or horse! It’s a unique way to explore the park without cars around.

Watch the sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

End the third day of the Acadia National Park itinerary with sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. Try to get there early to ensure you can get a parking spot!

4 Days in Acadia National Park Map

4 Days in Acadia National Park

Days 1-3

Follow the 3 day itinerary above!

Day 4

Spend the day at the Schoodic Peninsula

The 5% of the park that is not located on Mount Desert Island is on the Schoodic Peninsula. It might look close to Mount Desert Island, but getting there requires an hour drive. So be sure to make the day out of it and explore this area well!

On the peninsula there are several viewpoints to drive to, like Schoodic Point and Frazer Point.

Another great stop is Raven’s Nest to see the granite cliffs!

For hiking, a great trail option is Schoodic Head Overlook and Anvil Loop Trail wish is 2.6 miles and has 482 feet of elevation gain.

Free time

With any extra time you have, enjoy your final day in the area by spending more time in Bar Harbor or hiking any trails you didn’t have time for before.

Printable Acadia National Park Itinerary

When to Visit Acadia National Park

Although the park is open year-round, your Acadia National Park itinerary will vary depending on the season that you visit. The winter will see some road and trail closures. Some of our favorite hikes and activities in this Acadia National Park itinerary will not be accessible or safe. However, if you’re looking for solitude and to go snowshoeing around the carriage roads, this might be a great time for you!

In the spring months, most trails will be open but you’ll see less visitors than the busy summer season. But snow may be melting, so the trails will possibly be wet and dangerous.

An Acadia National Park itinerary in the summer means great weather, lush, green trees, and clear trails. It’s by far the most popular and busiest time to visit. But, that’s because it’s the best season to hike in Acadia. Just be sure to start your days super early to beat the rush and get parking!

Fall is the best time to enjoy this Acadia National Park itinerary in our opinion because the weather is gorgeous, the crowds have died down and the fall foliage is stunning.

We were in Acadia in the third week of October, so the pictures you see on this blog are from that time! Each year the foliage will peak at slightly different times, so use this foliage tracker to plan your trip!

During the fall season, weekdays are much less busy than weekends, so plan around that if you are able. And also try to visit before the end of October if you can, as many stores and restaurants start to close for the season in mid October and into November.

How to Get to Acadia National Park

Getting to Acadia National Park can be tricky as it is not close to any major airports. The closest airport is Bangor International Airport (BGR) which only offers flights to a handful of cities for high ticket prices.

Instead, we recommend flying into either Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Portland, Maine or Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston, Massachusetts. These are a bit further away, but have many more flight options and can be great options if you turn this into a larger New England Road Trip!

How to Get Around in Acadia National Park

We highly recommend renting a car to enjoy this Acadia National Park itinerary. You will have the most flexibility if you have a car!

It’s important to note that there are some roads in Acadia that prohibit RVs and buses, including the road up to Cadillac Mountain. Be sure to check the park maps and plan accordingly.

During the busiest times of the year, summer and peak fall foliage time in the fall, parking can get very difficult. So if you’re worried about parking then there is another option. From late June to early October, there is a FREE park shuttle called the Island Explorer. This shuttle runs throughout the park and to surrounding towns including stops at campsites and nearby hotels.

The shuttle can take you to many trailheads on this Acadia National Park itinerary, and you can see the schedule and stops here.

Where to Stay in and Near Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor is the most popular place to stay when enjoying this Acadia National Park itinerary because it’s only 10 minutes from the park and is a super cute quaint town. The town has plenty of restaurants, shops, parks, and places to stay.

Ellsworth, a larger city than Bar Harbor, is less than 30 minutes from the park and has more hotel options, dining options and grocery stores. It is also a more affordable option.

Hotels 

Bar Harbor

Atlantic Oceanside Hotel
The West Street Hotel
The Inn on Mount Desert
Hampton Inn Bar Harbor
Best Western Acadia Park Inn

Ellsworth

Hampton Inn Ellsworth
Comfort Inn Ellsworth

Vacation Rentals

Bar Harbor

Secluded Hilltop Home (3 bedrooms, 2+ bathrooms)
Renovated downtown Bar Harbor apartment (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom)
Heart of Downtown Bar Harbor (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)
Physicians Flat Condo (3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom)
Steps to Restaurants (3 bedrooms, 1+ bathrooms)
Amazing Ocean Front View (3 bedrooms, 2+ bathrooms)

Ellsworth

Hidden Gem (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom)
Brand new Apt (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Beautiful and modern cape style cottage (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Cottage with a View of Acadia (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Acadian Rose Apartment (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Charming home with stunning bay views (4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)

Camping

You’ll find a few camping options in and around the park that offer sites for tents and/or RVs. However, most campgrounds are open mid-May to mid-October.

In Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park has two campgrounds on Mount Desert Island, Blackwoods and Seawall. These do not have electric hookups. The price ranges from $22-$30 a night and reservations can be made two months in advance.

Outside the Park

A few that have come highly recommended to us are Bar Harbor Campground, Mount Desert Campground (no RVs over 20 feet or dogs), Smuggler’s Den Campground, and the KOA Bar Harbor/Oceanside Holiday.

Boondocking

The Walmart in Ellsworth allows overnight RV parking and we stayed here before exploring the park. It was by far the most amount of vans and RVs we have ever seen at a Walmart and we felt safe.

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This article was written by Tori, one of our Adventures of A+K team members. Learn a bit about her below!

Hi, I’m Tori! I live in Nashville, TN with my husband and two daughters. We travel as much as possible throughout the year, around a 9-5 schedule and with babies in tow! My travel blog, Tori Pines Travels, aims to help people plan action-packed and culture-rich vacations around their busy jobs, fitting in as much exploring as possible. When I’m not working for Adam and Kathryn or entertaining my little ones, I’m writing, cooking, crafting or exploring Music City!