🌄Acadia Park in a One Day Trip 2021 - Maine Terrain

Acadia Park In A One Day Trip

March 2, 2019

Written by Stephen Ondich

One day or 24 hours is a quick day trip on Mount Desert Island. Can Acadia National Park be seen in only one day? Of course not. However, last Fall I had exactly 6 hours to spend with my Dad on Mount Desert Island. I decided to give it a go. The result? We got in a couple of short hikes and drove to the peak of Cadillac Mountain. Overall, it was better than staying home but I left thinking we could do better.

Dad and I on Carriage Trail in Acadia on our one day trip — Dad and I in Acadia Park on a carriage trail in late October 2018 (it was cold!).

Ask Acadia Locals

As I mentioned before, you are not going to see the entire park or even close to it in one day. Most tourists coming to Bar Harbor have questions and spend a while visiting the park.

We live near Disneyland. Years ago my wife and I bought annual passes and figured out a game plan to see as much of the park as possible in only a few hours. Thus, we could meet up after work on Friday and fly around the park. It was pretty fun, now that I think about it.

People who live near or in Bar Harbor surely must take frequent day trips into Acadia. So I asked Mount Desert Island locals how to get the most out of a single day trip to Acadia National Park. Below are some of the best itineraries. The one universal rule of thumb is to get an early start. There is too much ground to cover and too much high season tourist traffic to roll in mid-day and expect to see a lot of the park.

Tina’s Acadia One Day Plan

Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain. Photo by :mrMark licensed for use under Creative Commons 2.0.

Start off by driving to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.Hit this popular spot early to catch the sunrise and while beating the rest of the tourists. By beating, I mean arrival time not actual physical beatings, as tempting as it may be.
Seal Harbor – photo by Mourial, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 unported
Next go down Park Loop Road toward Seal Harbor.It’s a beautiful setting where the rich and famous park their yachts. Also, make time to see Little Long Pond.if you Thanks to lori05871 for her image of Jordan Pond House popovers, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic licence. want to take some spectacular photographs with Cadillac Mountain in the background.
Stop for early lunch at Jordan Pond House. Got to have some popovers.Again, Jordan Pond House is the place to eat in Acadia so try to be there sharp when the open at 11AM.
Walk on one of the shorter carriage roads around the Jordan Pond House. If timed right, you should be hitting the carriage roads just as the crowds are filing into the Jordan Pond House restaurant.
Go to Bass Harbor lighthouse. Take the path over to the tower and lighthouse viewing area. You’ll be rewarded with another great photo opportunity of the harbor with the islands as a backdrop.
Finish off the day with dinner at the Down East Lobster Company in Trenton. Conveniently located as you drive away from the park. It’s not fancy but the seafood is tasty!

Jackie’s Acadia Day Trip With Visitors

Get up early and pack a picnic lunch. This will save you a lot of time rather than waiting in line at Jordan Pond House for lunch.
Our tried and true day trip starts early morning starting on the Park Loop Road. Our first stop is at Schooner Head Overlook. If the tide is low definitely take the stone path down to the water and check out the cave. Be aware that the rocks can be very slippery in the cave area. Only attempt this if you have both good shoes and balance.
Then make a quick stop at Sand Beach. If you look toward Beehive Mountain you’ll be able to see climbers ascending the peak. For dog lovers traveling with your pooch, this is one of a few places on the Island that does not allow dogs during the busy season. Also, the water on this beach pretty much never gets warm, even in the thick of summer. Keep that in mind before you pack your suit. However, there are changing stations on site.
Thanks to DrStew82 licensed for use under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0
Take the ocean side trail to Thunder Hole.As exciting as it sounds, please use caution. The waves are not as predictable as they appear. People have been swept out to sea and have lost their lives in the blink of any eye.
Never Do This! Photo by Ken Lund licensed under Creative Commons 2.0
Next stop, Otter Cliffs. Again, be careful of slippery rocks on the trail. Look out in the sea for “the Spindle,” where French explorer Samuel de Champlain shipwrecked in the late 1500’s. If the crew wasn’t stranded in the area for so long Mount Desert Island may never have had its French flavor.
Make your way over to the cobblestones of Little Hunters Beach with your picnic lunch. If you have kids (or adults) who love to check out rocks. This is the place.
Then continue to Seawall and Bass Harbor Lighthouse on the quiet side.
Drive up to Cadillac Mountain to see the sunset and walk around. Check this site ahead of time so you can know exactly what time the sun rises and sets on the day you’re there. It’s all in the planning!
Inside the Thirsty Whale Tavern. Photo courtesy of Lee Coursey; licensed under Creative Commons 2.0
Then drive over to Bar Harbor for dinner at The Thirsty Whale.It’s our favorite. Be sure to ask the bartender for a mudslide, Jackie sent you! Yum
Then a bit of shopping and Ben and Bills ice cream for desert.Also, some chocolate may be nice.
Then on the way out Rte 3 Pirate’s Cove Mini Golf, they close at 11!!

Kay’s Simple Acadia Day Trip

I would start with an Oli’s Trolley tour. We usually take the 2-1/2 hour tour which does the entire loop. You see lots of the park’s highlights and plenty of photo and restroom breaks.Our trolley drivers have always been friendly and knowledgeable about the park as well as the people who lived there. Once you’re off the trolley in downtown head to the Down East Deli for lobster rolls. There are no tables but you can usually find a bench to sit on. The lobster rolls are large and relatively inexpensive (by lobster standards, anyway!).
Have lunch somewhere fun in Bar Harbor. My suggestion is the West Street Cafe (but it gets busy real fast) or if you get there early enough for brunch, try the awesome blueberry crepes at the Coffee Hound.
Then take the Island Shuttle (did I mention it was free?) back to a few of the places you really liked on the Trolley Tour. Enjoy.

Lauren’s Mount Desert Island Trip Route.

Get up early and enter the park early. There is no time to waste. (Editor’s note – notice a theme here?)
Head straight over to Cadillac Mountain before the crowds show up.
Make a bee line for Summit Trails which will take you to a spectacular sunrise. You’ll see stunning views of Frenchman Bay. Hike down South Ridge Trail to the Bowl. From the Bowl, take the trail over to Sand Beach.
On the way down, check out Sieur de Monts Spring Nature Center to learn about the history of the park. The Spring Canopy was built over a fresh water spring by George Dorr, known as the Father of Acadia.

“Father of Acadia” George Dorr with Charles Eliot, on the shore of Jordan Pond. Under use from National Park Service / uncredited derivative work: User:Maps and stuff [Public domain]
Next, head over to the Wild Gardens of Acadia and the Abbe Museum. The incredible variety of native Maine plant species at the gardens is amazing.
Thunder Hole! Try to time this stop for when the tide is right so you can see some action. When the tide is low it’s not quite the same, in my opinion.
Continue to the west side of Mount Desert Island for Somes Sound. Be aware the winds surrounding the fjord can be blustery. But you have to go. It’s a fjord!
Next stop, Bass Harbor Lighthouse. You can catch the Island Shuttle to drop you off here. Unfortunately, you can’t go inside but it’s still cool to walk around and take pictures from the outside
Finally, conclude the trip with a picnic at Pretty Marsh. It’s a quiet place to get away from the crowds. Take the wooden stairs down to the enjoy the beach.