The Perfect 3 Day Itinerary for Acadia National Park
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Wonderland Trail Leads you out to the Tidepools
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If you’re looking for a perfect three day itinerary for Acadia National Park, you’re in the right place. I’ve put together three full days of activities that will show you the dramatic coastal vistas, walk you to the top of the Bee Hive, stroll around Jordan Pond, and climb down to see the famous Bass Harbor Lighthouse. There are so many unique things to do in Acadia. I recommend spending several days to fully explore this park, but you can definitely do most of the iconic spots while spending 3 days in Acadia. I’ve added the option to make this a 4 day Itinerary for Acadia if you have extra time. Acadia National Park is the gem of New England and is honestly one of the most loved National Parks in the United States.
Hiking beehive trail is one of the coolest things to do in acadia
Acadia together covers 35,332 acres with mountains and coastlines in the mix. The park’s coastal location makes driving from place to place more complicated and it’s worth it to sit and plan out your trip prior to arrival; this will give you a much better experience with way less time in the car while visiting Acadia National Park.
If you want to know where to stay in Acadia, the best hikes in Acadia National Park, the best time to visit Acadia, and how to get to Acadia National Park, check out my full guide What to do in Acadia National Park. Use this Itinerary for Acadia National Park to help plan each day in the park and use my guide to help figure out the rest! There are so many things to do in Acadia National Park, but also so many things to do near Acadia National Park and my guide will help you decide what is best for your time.
If you’d like a PRINTABLE PDF of this 3 Day Itinerary, all the hikes in Acadia, and extra information on the park, CLICK HERE! This guide is everything you need for planning the perfect trip to Acadia National Park.
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Acadia Naitional Park has their sign at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center
READ NEXT: What to do in Acadia National Park with Kids
Get a Printable Guide!
So many families end up over-scheduling their Acadia trip with pricey tours and all-day activities, but you don’t need to!
You can do a mix of paid adventures in addition to things that don’t cost a penny by using this detailed 3-Day itinerary. (with optional 4th day) These are the same activities my own family did while in Acadia and what I always suggest to my friends. With me as your guide, you’ll get the full experience of Acadia National Park! This 19-page guide is everything you need to plan your trip!
I was surprised by how many islands surround the harbor!
Day 1: What to do in Acadia National Park
Visit Hulls Cove Visitor Center
Before anything, make a stop at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to get a park map, stamp your National Park passport, get a weather update, and info about the park’s road conditions and possible closures. You can also visit HERE to see up-to-date closures and weather. Park Rangers are also a wonderful resource for finding out the parks more off the beaten path spots. The Hulls Cove Visitor Center is located at the start of the Park Loop Road, just north of the town of Bar Harbor. Another option to gather information from park rangers is the Thompson Island Information Center, Blackwoods Campground, Nature Museum, or the Village Green. Click the button above to get a map of Acadia National Park or scroll to the bottom of the article to download the Acadia App.
Hike Jordan Pond Trail
Jordan Pond is the parks most pristine lake. The lake is surrounded by an easy 3.5 mile trail that follows the shoreline and provides iconic views of steep, glacially sculpted mountains and the glacially carved valley that is now Jordan Pond. A lot of people seem to hike the Jordan Pond Loop Trail clockwise, but we chose to do it counterclockwise and really really enjoyed it. Doing the hike counter clockwise, the trail starts as a nice even gravel trail that eventually turns into an elevated log boardwalk. The scenery is amazing and the wildlife is great too. We saw loons and a giant beaver dam.
The bubbles on the other side of Jordan pond - the trail follows the shoreline
Depending on your fitness level, there are several options for more intense hiking right here at Jordan Pond. If I went back, I would add the Bubbles Trail to the Jordan Pond Loop. This short 1.5-mile addition offers views of Jordan Pond and the surrounding mountains from the iconic North Bubble, South Bubble, and Bubble Rock. Bubbles trail does climb up to the peaks, so it can be intense.
Jordan pond is a very popular spot in Acadia, so it may be beneficial to take the park’s free shuttle system called the Island Explorer. To access Jordan Pond, visitors can park at The Bubbles parking area and walk in from the backside of the pond. For access to the main area of the Jordan Pond, visitors can park at the Jordan Pond North parking lot or at the Jordan Pond House parking lot. Again, parking is limited, so it may be beneficial to ride in on the free shuttle.
CHECK OUT MY GUIDE FOR: The Best Hiking Gear for Kids
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The raised boardwalk along jordan pond trail
most of the jordan pond trail is even and paved, but there are some areas of roots and climbing over rocks
Lunch at Jordan Pond House Restaurant
After your morning hike, it’s time to grab some lunch. Conveniently, Jordan Pond House Restaurant is located along the shore of Jordan Pond and overlooks a gorgeous lawn with a direct view of the bubbles. This restaurant and shop have a long tradition within Acadia National Park. The restaurant originally opened in 1893 to serve their famous popovers and tea. While the original building burned down in 1979, the current restaurant was built in 1982. Jordan Pond House is one of the most sought after things to do at Acadia National Park, so make sure it’s on your list!
Every single visitor to Jordan Pond House Restaurant must order the famous popovers, but I also recommend the Lobster Stew and freshly squeezed lemonade. Check out their full menu.
Pro Tip: The wait times can be very very long. I recommend getting in line about 30 minutes prior to opening to get a pager to be seated upon opening. Otherwise, try to visit after 4:30 PM. If the weather is nice, definitely ask to be seated on the lawn.
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The famous lobster stew from jordan pond house
One of the famous popovers!
Explore Acadia's Famous Carriage Roads
Between 1913 and 1940, John D. Rockefeller had over 45 miles of carriage roads built along the landscape of Acadia. Rockefeller was a conservationist who wanted to be able to traverse the landscape on horseback, but not with automobiles. He gifted the park these roads that would preserve the line of hillsides and save trees, align with the contours of the lands, and take advantage of scenic views, but were not accessible to cars. The carriage roads are dotted with 17 gorgeous historic cobblestone arch bridges. These roads have been maintained by the park system and are still in use today.
Some of the carriage roads are accsesible from jordan pond
Visitors can explore these historic carriage roads on foot, on a bicycle, on horseback, or even by carriage rides. Carriage rides are one of the historic attractions in Acadia National Park. In the summer months, Wildwood Stables offers visitors a chance to ride along these carriage trails the way they were intended; by carriage. You can book them through the Wildwood Stables website or by phone.
Day 2 in Acadia National Park
Day two in Acadia National Park will start by experiencing the first Sunrise in America. Then you’ll head down to see the most iconic Lighthouse in the park followed by a short hike to explore the tidepools of Maine. Since there was an early start, the second half the day will be spent at your own pace Bar Harbor to experience Maine’s Lobster Rolls and get your souvenirs.
Sunrise Hike to Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is one of the most popular and best things to do in Acadia National Park. A narrow, two-lane road winds to the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain. This means visitors get a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean with minimal effort. From October to March, this is the first spot in the United States to see the sunrise. Because of the beauty, sunrise at Cadillac Mountain Summit is extremely popular. So popular, in fact, that the National Park Service has created a ticketed system for entry to this area of the park. You can reserve your timed tickets for mid-day entry or snag a ticket for sunrise at recreation.gov — tickets are $6 for each vehicle.
we made it for the sunrise at cadillac mountain
Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Mountain Summit Road from mid-May into mid-October. Vehicle reservations are not required for visitors who enter the area by foot, bike, or taxi. Island Explorer bus does not service Cadillac Mountain.
30% of vehicle reservations are made available 90 days ahead of each date. The remaining 70% are released at 10 am ET two days ahead.
You will have to show your vehicle pass to a Ranger prior to driving on Cadillac’s road. Print or save a digital copy of the vehicle reservation with the confirmation code. Do not rely on cell service.
Bring warm clothing - it gets very very windy up there and can be pretty cold even in the summer months. We had blankets and jackets in July!
Family Tip: We did this at sunrise hike with a 4-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. It was unreal and absolutely gorgeous. If you are going with young toddlers or babies, just wear them in a Toddler Tula or Ergo Baby and keep them safely by your side. There are restrooms located adjacent to the parking lot.
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The kids running around cadillac mountain during sunrise
The clouds resting on the ocean water make is seem like you are above the clouds.
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
This is actually Parker Group, but on the Big Trees trail you will be rewarded with endless Giants
After a sunrise at Cadillac Ranch head over to one of the most iconic spots in the entire park; Bass Harbor Head Light Station. This lighthouse is one of three lights managed by Acadia National Park, including two others on Baker Island and Bear Island. The lighthouse was constructed in 1858 and was added to the National Historic Places registry in 1988.
Bass Harbor Head Light House has a decent sized parking area with restrooms. If you walk down the left side of the parking lot it will take you to the back side of the lighthouse where you can see it up close, but unfortunately, the inside is closed to visitors. If you go down the right side of the parking lot, you’ll climb down some stairs to get
The landmark sits on the southern tip of Mount Desert Island. We left Cadillac Mountain around 06:30 A.M. and were climbing down to the light house around 7:20 A.M. — plan for at least a 40 minute drive to get over to this section of the park.
The key to admiring Bass Harbor Head Light without the crowd is to get here as early as possible. It gets crowded quickly and is extremely popular at sunset. When planning a trip, this lighthouse needs to be on your list of things to see in Acadia National Park.
***If you can’t get tickets to Cadillac Mountain for sunrise, this is an amazing spot to witness it with fewer crowds.
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the back side of the bass harbor head lighthouse is just as gorgeous as the front!
Wonderland Trail
The actual trail is gorgeous and very easy! It’s appropriate for all ages!
After experiencing the Bass Harbor Head Light, head over to hike the very easy Wonderland Trail. This easy 1.3 mile out and back coastal trail leads down a gorgeous path to some of Acadia’s best tide pools. Tide pooling is one of the classic Acadia National Park activities!
This trail follows an old gravel fire road and through a spruce forest before it opens up to the Atlantic Ocean. From the shore, visitors can look out and have views of the Duck Islands to the southeast and Great Cranberry Island to the northeast.
We spent over an hour finding all kinds of hermit crabs, hunting for starfish, and climbing over the rocks. If you do find any wildlife - please be responsible and gentle. Do not lift any living animal out of the water.
***This trail is best done at low tide — during our visit in August, low tide was in the morning and the timing was absolutely perfect to pair with the lighthouse. This trail is extremely popular, so the earlier you arrive, the better. We arrived around 7:45 and had the beach to ourselves for a bit, but by the time we headed back to the car the crowds were coming in.
CHECK OUT MY GUIDE FOR: The Best Hiking Gear for Kids
The kids exploring the tide pools at the end of wonderland trail
Lunch at Bar Harbor Lobster Co
After an early morning and a hike, it’s time to recharge. It’s time to indulge in of most iconic things to do in Bar Harbor: eat Lobster Rolls.
Over our four days in the area, we ate a lobster rolls almost every day. Hands down, Bar Harbor Lobster Rolls had the most lobster, the best tasting lobster, and a really enjoyable atmosphere. You can choose between a standard size lobster roll with 5oz of fresh lobster meat or go for the Big Roll where there is 10oz! Here at Bar Harbor Lobster roll, you can sit on their heated outdoor patio or dine inside. Anyone looking for things to do around Acadia National Park need to experience a lobster roll!
If you have a sweet tooth - definitely try the ice cream cookie! You won’t be disappointed!
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The lobster rolls at bar harbor lobster co are the best in town imo
I camped in my minivan in Acadia National Park - read my guide on how to turn your minivan into a campervan with NO BUILDING!
Explore Downtown Bar Harbor
Downtown Bar harbor is, in itself, a museum and a must-visit for anyone heading to acadia
Bar Harbor Lobster Co is conveniently located at the end of the Shore path, so after lunch, you can take a stroll down the 1.5-mile coastal path or take the sidewalk into downtown bar harbor for some souvenir shopping!
For the best National Park t-shirts and paraphernalia in town, I recommend The Acadia Shop or Acadia Trading Post.
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downtown bar harbor is beautiful. we sat at the park for a long time to let he kids play after shopping
You can walk down the piers to see the harbor. This spot - Stewmans - is a waterfront restaurant.
Day Three in Acadia National Park
This day is all about the Coast and History of Acadia. Today you’ll experince some of Acadia’s most iconic trails and coastline. While the summer season is short, there is plenty of summer sunshine to be had. Get a good workout in, relax on the beach, and immerse yourself in the origins of the park on this final day in Acadia.
Hike Beehive Trail
hiking along the front of beehive trail There are no guard rails
Beehive trail is one of Acadia’s famous rung and ladder trails. While it is a short 1.4-mile trail, it is also one of Acadia’s more difficult trails. The Beehive trail ascends a 450-foot cliff with exposed edges. There are no railings and parts of the trail need to be climbed or rung ladders are laid flat for crossing. Hikers must wear appropriate shoes and be prepared for a steep climb.
My stepdad (63) and I (34) did the Beehive Trail with no issues. I didn’t find it particularly difficult, but I would not bring children up the front. The views from the top are amazing, so it’s worth climbing up the back with children to get the full view of the Park.
If you’re looking for a more intense rung and ladder trail, check out Acadia’s Precipice Trail!
Family Tip: The front trail is not suitable for children, but the summit is accessible from the back (AKA “The Bowl”). If you’re hiking with small children, walk the trail clockwise to head up the back way. It is a gradual climb with no drop-offs.
Pro Tip: If you have any fear of heights, take the route from the bowl - do not attempt the front of this trail.
Pro Tip: DO NOT attempt the front climb in inclement weather as the rung and ladders, as well as the cliff walls, become very slippery.
READ NEXT: What to do in New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
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Families should keep going straight at the intersection for beehive trail and the bowl. climbers should take the beehive route.
the Rung and ladder climb up the front of beehive trail
the views from the summit of behive trail are gorgeous! i loved seeing the beaches down below.
Afternoon on Sand Beach
We didnt have a clear sunny day, but the kids loved running along sand beach. The water is absolutely gorgeous!
After your hike, cool off with a swim at the famous Sand Beach. This is the only place in Acadia where the beach is soft sand instead of the rugged rocky coast. The beach is 290-yards of soft sand and cool Atlantic waters.
Sand Beach is conveniently located across the road from the trailhead to Beehive Trail. It also has direct access to the Great Head Trail and the Ocean Path. I recommend trying to snag a parking spot in the Sand Beach parking area. It is very limited, so arrive early or have patience. Pack a cooler of food and drinks to enjoy down by the beach. There are no concessions, but there is a restroom co-located with the parking area.
Some things to make your day on the beach enjoyable:
On sunny days, sand beach is the absolute perfect place to spend the afternoon
Make a stop at Thunder Hole
After a few hours enjoying the sunshine, soft sand, and cool waters of Sand Beach, it’s time to load up and walk down to Acadia’s famous Thunder Hole. This is one of the most unique things about Acadia National Park!
Thunder Hole is a place to experience the force of the Atlantic Ocean waves. This small inlet is where the Atlantic ocean crashes into the rocky Maine Coast. At the end of the inlet is a small cavern where the water recedes, the air is let into the cave. As the water rushes back in, the air is forced out creating a loud clap that sounds similar to a roar of thunder. During a storm, water may spray as high as 40 feet into the air.
The absolute best time to witness Thunderhole is about two hours before high tide when the seas are about three to six feet. A few brave souls head out during a storm to hear this phenomenon at it’s peak sound, but if you choose to do this - please use due diligence to be safe.
The water coming in to thunder hole in acadia
Visit Sieur de Monts Nature Center
The views from the falls are incredible.
After a day full of mountain vista views and salty sea air on the coast, it’s time to dig into the science and history of this amazing coastal park. Sieur de Monts serves as a memorial to George Durr and his work in preserving the National Park and serving as its first superintendent from 1916-1944. Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours in this area.
The Sieur Du Monts area includes the Abbe Museum, Nature Center, historic memorial paths, Wild Gardens of Acadia, and the Sieur Du Monts Spring. The area is often referred to as “The Heart of Acadia”
We started in the Nature Center where the kids finished up their Junior Ranger books (yes, the museum is staffed with Park Rangers), then we meandered through the Gardens of Acadia before we hit the trail on the Wild Garden Path. This path led us down to a pond where we found a massive beaver dam. If you want to see the beavers in action, arrive just at dawn or sunset as they are crepuscular.
The day we visited, the Abbe Museum was unfortunately closed. However, if it’s open, do not miss this museum. It is one of Maine’s only Smithsonian affiliated museums and takes visitors through the history of the indigenous peoples of Acadia and Maine, especially the Wabanaki, the People of the Dawn.
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there are several short trails around the Sieur de Monts nature center in acadia national park
Optional Day 4 in Acadia National Park
Explore the Schoodic Peninsula
Acadia National Park is broken up into a few different parts. The main area of the park is actually on an island and that is the area you’ve explored the past 3 days. The Schoodic Peninsula is the only area of Acadia National Park that is actually a part of mainland Maine. This area covers approximately 2,366 acres and offers access to rugged scenery, thick forest, and weathered red granite formations along the coast, the crashing sea beyond. This area of the park is much more secluded and has significantly fewer visitors than the main area of Acadia.
On the Peninsula, there are 7 different hiking trails ranging from 0.5 to 3.2 miles long. Here visitors will also find over 8 miles of biking trails that offer spectacular views of the park. The Schoodic Peninsula also has a 6 mile (10 km), one-way loop road around Schoodic Peninsula which includes turnouts and stops to view lighthouses, seabirds, and forested islands.
Add a stop at the Schoodic Institute which is part of a community vision for a revitalized Schoodic Peninsula that includes a focus on the arts, science, and education. They offer different nature classes and activities.
After a day of secluded nature, stop for dinner at one of the nearby fishing villages which are rich in history and culture and offer fresh, Maine caught seafood.
TIP: It will take about 1 hour, 15 minutes on way to drive from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center out to the Schoodic Peninsula, so pack a lunch and plan to spend the entire day out there.
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READ NEXT: What to do in Congaree National Park with Kids (South Carolina)
Acadia App
It’s worth noting that cell phone service is limited inside the park. Be sure to download the FREE NPS app that allows you to download maps for access while visiting the parks. Search for NPS and download the app from the Apple App or the Google Play store before you arrive at the parks. You can save the information for use offline.
This three-day itinerary for Acadia National Park will take you on an adventure you’ll not soon forget. From a thundering coastal cave to popovers and tea, to the first sunrise in the United States, your trip to Acadia will make everyone in the family happy.
READ NEXT: “What to do in Acadia National Park with Kids” which will has details on how to get to the park, where to stay, which hikes are appropriate for what age/ability and additional items to see along the way!
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