Sample itinerary · Maine

Acadia & Bar Harbor

Four days of granite, tide pools and popovers

Start with day 1
Sunrise over pink granite, red blueberry bushes and a lake in Acadia
Sunrise on Acadia's pink granite

Pink granite headlands, a walk across the ocean floor at low tide, tea and popovers by a mountain pond, and a harbor town made for ice cream. Acadia packs a lot into one island, which means short drives and long days outside.

Great for Small-Town WandererScenic Slow-Roller
  1. Bar Island
  2. Ocean Path
  3. Jordan Pond
  4. Cadillac
  5. Quiet Side

Before you go

Rules and seasons checked October 2026

Entrance fee

$35 per vehicle for 7 days, or $70 for an Acadia annual pass (2026 rates). America the Beautiful passes are accepted.

Cadillac Summit Road

A vehicle reservation is required May 20 to October 25 (2026 season). $6 per vehicle. 30% of slots open 90 days ahead and 70% open 2 days ahead, both at 10 am Eastern.

Island Explorer

The free shuttle ran most routes June 23 to October 12 in 2026. It skips Cadillac.

Jordan Pond House

The restaurant ran May 16 to October 26 in 2026.

Day 1 of 4

Arrive and walk to an island

Settle into Bar Harbor, then time an evening walk across the sandbar with the tide.

  1. Hulls Cove Visitor Center

    Get maps and Junior Ranger books, and check today's low tide time. Open May 1 to October 31 in 2026.

  2. Bar Island land bridge

    A gravel bar about half a mile long appears at low tide. Walk across, then take the half-mile island trail to a meadow looking back at town.

    Alyssa's note You can cross for about 1.5 hours on either side of low tide. The water rises about 12 feet, so set a phone alarm for your walk back.

  3. Dinner and ice cream on Main Street

    Bar Harbor's downtown is compact and walkable. Finish with a stroll on the Shore Path along the harbor.

Day 2 of 4

Ocean Path and popovers

The park's most famous stretch of coast, then lunch on the lawn at Jordan Pond.

  1. Sand Beach to Thunder Hole

    Park early at Sand Beach and follow the Ocean Path along the cliffs. About 1.5 miles round trip to Thunder Hole and back.

    Alyssa's note Thunder Hole booms best on a rising tide with some swell. The beach water is very cold, even in August.

  2. Jordan Pond House

    Popovers and lunch on the lawn facing the two rounded mountains called the Bubbles. Seasonal, so check this year's dates.

  3. Jordan Pond Path

    A flat 3.3-mile loop around the pond with a long boardwalk on the west side. Little legs can do the east side out and back.

    Alyssa's note No swimming or wading. Jordan Pond is a public water supply.

Day 3 of 4

Cadillac and the carriage roads

The summit with your reservation, then the car-free gravel roads by bike or on foot.

  1. Cadillac Summit

    Drive up during your reserved window and walk the short summit loop. Daytime slots are much easier to get than sunrise ones.

    Alyssa's note Sunrise reservations go fast in the 90-day release. If you miss them, the 2-day release is your second chance.

  2. Sieur de Monts

    The nature center and the Wild Gardens of Acadia, with short paths and labeled native plants. The nature center opens mid-June.

  3. Carriage roads

    Acadia has about 45 miles of car-free gravel carriage roads with stone bridges. Rent bikes in Bar Harbor or walk a section near Eagle Lake.

Day 4 of 4

The Quiet Side

Tide pools and a lighthouse on the island's western half, where it's calmer.

  1. Wonderland and Ship Harbor

    Two easy, nearly flat walks to the shore: Wonderland is 1.4 miles round trip and Ship Harbor is a 1.3-mile figure-eight. Both reward low tide with tide pools.

    Alyssa's note Look, then put every creature back exactly where you found it.

  2. Lunch in Southwest Harbor

    A working harbor village with a small Main Street and fewer crowds than Bar Harbor.

  3. Bass Harbor Head Light

    A short path and stairs lead to rocks below the lighthouse. Go at sunset if you're staying another night.

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Kid-tested trails on this trip

Distances are round trip. Times are estimates for a family with kids about 6 to 9; the Trail Finder adjusts them for your crew.

Open in the Trail Finder

Jordan Pond Path

3.3 mi~50 ftAges 5+

Flat all the way around, with a long boardwalk on the west side. Popovers at Jordan Pond House after.

Ocean Path: Sand Beach to Thunder Hole

1.5 mi~50 ftAges 3+

Thunder Hole booms best on a rising tide with some swell.

Bar Island Land Bridge

2.0 mi~100 ftAges 4+

A gravel bar appears at low tide. Cross, then take the island trail to a meadow looking back at Bar Harbor.

Wonderland

1.4 mi~30 ftAges 2+

Nearly flat walk to the shore on the Quiet Side. Go at low tide for tide pools.

Ship Harbor

1.3 mi~30 ftAges 3+

A figure-eight loop to pink granite ledges and tide pools.

Cadillac Summit Loop

0.3 mi~30 ftAny age

A short paved loop on top of Cadillac Mountain.

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Sources

Restaurants, hours, fees and seasons change. Confirm before you go.