TPG’s complete guide to Acadia National Park in Maine

The putting, craggy shoreline of Maine’s Acadia Nationwide Park has been an attractive vacation spot for vacationers because it was first declared a nationwide park in the summertime of 1916. On Mount Desert Island, three hours up the coast from Portland, deep cobalt waters crash in foamy waves towards granite cliffs and mist-shrouded seashores. The nice northern woods roll down hillsides to satisfy the Atlantic Ocean on the easternmost attain of america.

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All the great thing about Maine’s wilderness comes collectively in Acadia Nationwide Park: Historical coniferous forests, rugged mountains, wildlife and the untamed Atlantic marry in a means that makes the realm really feel untouched and unexplored, regardless of its unsurprising reputation.

Attending to Acadia Nationwide Park

One of the best airports close to Acadia Nationwide Park

To succeed in Acadia Nationwide Park, you may fly into Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) through American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, Southwest and United, after which catch a direct flight to Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB), served by Cape Air, Silver Airways, JetBlue and United Airways. BHB is only a brief 10-minute drive from the park.

After all, if you happen to fly proper into Bar Harbor Airport, you will miss the meandering drive up Maine’s coastal Route 1, which could be a few six-hour street journey from Boston by a lot of Maine’s most picturesque coastal cities, relying on what number of stops you make.

Moreover, Bangor Worldwide Airport (BGR) is about an hour inland from Mount Desert Island and Acadia Nationwide Park. There are a restricted variety of airways serving BGR, however the present listing contains American Airways, United, Allegiant Air, Delta and Breeze.

Portland Worldwide Jetport (PWM) is one more chance, particularly if you wish to additionally discover Maine’s largest metropolis. This airport is roughly three hours by automotive south of Acadia Nationwide Park. Airways serving this airport embody American Airways, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Solar Nation, Breeze and United.

Renting a automotive close to Acadia Nationwide Park

Whether or not you fly into Boston, Bar Harbor, Bangor or Portland, you will positively wish to lease a automotive in your journey to Acadia Nationwide Park.

For automotive leases from any of those airports, anticipate to pay wherever between $120-$250 per day. The roads in Acadia are well-paved and simply accessible, with a modest complete elevation achieve of 1,530 toes. Whereas Acadia will not be as demanding in your automobile as different nationwide parks, having 4-wheel drive as an possibility can present added peace of thoughts, particularly if you happen to’re touring in wet or snowy climate situations. A midsize SUV is right.

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The present customary entrance move into Acadia National Park is $35 per non-public automobile and $30 for bikes. For people with out a automobile, the usual move is $20. These passes are legitimate for seven days from the acquisition date. There’s an annual Acadia Nationwide Park move ($70) legitimate for one yr from buy date, and if you happen to’re touring to a minimum of one different nationwide park this yr, you would possibly wish to take into account the annual America the Beautiful pass, which prices $80 and grants you and everybody in your automobile free entry to all of the nationwide parks, in addition to nationwide wildlife refuges, nationwide forests and grasslands and lands managed by the Bureau of Land Administration, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Military Corps of Engineers.

One of the best time to go to Acadia Nationwide Park

My favourite time of yr to go to Acadia is late September into October: The swarms of vacationers have dramatically decreased, the mosquitoes are gone and daytime temperatures are usually nonetheless nice sufficient for mountaineering and beachcombing.

In fact, I have been to this space in all seasons and there’s something to be mentioned for every. Winter affords uncooked, icy landscapes and a desolate, deserted ambiance. In spring, a joyful temper takes over within the type of tree buds and wildflowers. Summer time brings heat, vacationing households and favourite pastimes in Bar Harbor’s historic downtown. Fall has its smattering of vibrant foliage, sunny days and cozier temperatures within the evenings.

The place to remain

For those who’ve seen that Acadia Nationwide Park, Mount Desert Island and Bar Harbor are used considerably interchangeably right here, it is as a result of Mount Desert Island is house to Acadia Nationwide Park and Bar Harbor. A go to to any a type of locations means you will probably discover all three. The island is simply sufficiently big to accommodate a (small) array of resorts, mattress and breakfasts, Airbnbs, campgrounds and different lodgings. Nevertheless it’s sufficiently small that, irrespective of the place you keep, you can discover the entire space.

Greatest factors resorts close to Acadia Nationwide Park

For those who’re utilizing factors in your resort keep, there aren’t loads of choices, however the unbelievable setting is compensation, no matter the place you are staying. Hampton Inn Bar Harbor is inside strolling distance of downtown Bar Harbor and a three-minute drive from the resort to the doorway of the nationwide park. It has each indoor and outside swimming swimming pools, free hot breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Charges begin at 67,000 Hilton Honors factors.

A couple of mile from downtown Bar Harbor and a pair extra past that to the doorway of Acadia, Holiday Inn Resort Bar Harbor overlooks Frenchman’s Bay, full with a pool, bay views and 1,000 toes of ocean frontage. Charges begin at 23,000 IHG factors per evening.

Tenting in Acadia Nationwide Park

If you wish to tough it and embrace the outside, there are multiple options for camping inside Acadia Nationwide Park as nicely. The forested Blackwoods Campground, located within the coronary heart of Mount Desert Island, is likely one of the hottest campsites within the park for good cause. It offers nearly each important amenity for a snug keep within the woods, together with flush bogs, operating water and a dump station, together with picnic tables and hearth rings. It is an ideal location for vacationers who wish to hike and climb within the park, and you may simply stroll out of your tent and decide up the favored South Ridge path up Cadillac Mountain.

Seawall Campground additionally affords high quality services, however like Blackwoods, it tends to guide up shortly. Take into account that this web site is a forty five minute drive into the park.

There are additionally fairly a couple of independently owned campgrounds close to Acadia, like Mount Desert Campground. Bar Harbor Campground can be a superb under-the-radar alternative, particularly for last-minute journeys. Positioned only a 25-minute drive from the park, it offers comfort and accessibility regardless of its restricted toilet services in comparison with the opposite websites.

Those that nonetheless wish to be one with nature however would possibly need a extra luxurious expertise ought to take into account glamping choices. The truth is, glamping model Under Canvas recently joined World of Hyatt, following Hyatt’s partnership with Mr and Mrs Smith, and has a stunning outpost near Acadia situated on 100 acres of waterfront property. Options embody spacious tents (that may sleep as much as seven) with elegant furnishings and natural toiletries; facilities like s’mores and hearth pits; complimentary actions like reside music and yoga lessons; and on-site expertise coordinators. Charges begin at 26,000 World of Hyatt factors.

Associated: The best US glamping resorts for an outdoorsy summer getaway

Whereas black bears are current within the space, campers can really feel secure so long as they keep distance and comply with correct meals storage pointers.

Issues to do in Acadia Nationwide Park

Apart from exploring Bar Harbor and the remainder of Mount Desert Island, Acadia itself is filled with outside adventures.

Greatest mountaineering in Acadia Nationwide Park

For a very unforgettable expertise, make a reservation upfront to drive as much as the highest of 1,529-foot Cadillac Mountain — the very best level on the North Atlantic seaboard — and witness the primary dawn within the U.S. Avid hikers might decide to summit the mountain on foot, though an early wake-up name at 3 a.m. is required. One other improbable spot to catch the dawn is Otter Point, the place you may stroll alongside the shoreline and luxuriate in an unobstructed view of the ocean.

Beehive Loop Trail is one in every of Acadia’s hottest rung and ladder climbs. Whereas not for the faint of coronary heart, this 1.9-mile path guarantees a gratifying view on the high. Many hikers select to mix this path with the Precipice Loop, as the one approach to go on the Beehive Loop is up. Simple parking is accessible alongside the road close to Sand Seaside for fast entry to each trails.

For one thing nearer to the shoreline, strive Ocean Path Trail. With its gorgeous landscapes and views of the water, this path affords a few of the most interesting pure surroundings within the area.

Superb for households, the Jordan Pond Path offers a pleasant 3-mile loop that’s appropriate for all ages. Be sure you make a reservation nicely upfront on the Jordan Pond House, an enthralling spot for brunch within the midst of the wilderness. For these in search of extra journey, take into account exploring the North Bubble Loop off this path to ascend Acadia’s iconic mountain vary.

Different actions in Acadia Nationwide Park

Sea kayaking, mountain climbing, wandering round Sand Seaside and stopping at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse are all widespread Acadia actions.

You possibly can’t journey to Bar Harbor with out stopping to listen to the thunderous clap of waves crashing into the rocky inlet often known as Thunder Gap. Do not forget to seize a cheeky memento magnet or hilarious postcard from the close by present store.

And it would not be a go to to a nationwide park with out seeing wildlife. Look ahead to harbor seals, peregrine falcons and different raptors and quite a lot of seabirds, herons, dolphins, whales and different marine mammals. There are additionally smaller, easy-to-miss wildlife, similar to salamanders and different amphibians.

Throughout low tide, you may even stroll out throughout a sand bar from downtown Bar Harbor to Bar Island. Be sure you look ahead to barnacles, scurrying hermit crabs and starfish within the tide swimming pools.

You will even have the prospect to see otters, foxes and, if you happen to’re fortunate, even a moose throughout your journey to Acadia Nationwide Park.