Places to Visit from Acadia National Park
From the lively town of Bar Harbor to the quieter streets of Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor, you’ll find plenty of places near Acadia National Park to grab a bite to eat, hunt for regional antiques, and browse the work of the area’s artists and craftspeople.
To learn more about the area’s cultural history, you can visit the Abbe Museum at Sieur de Monts Spring in the park. Founded in 1927 by Dr. Robert Abbe, the museum's collection illuminates the past 10,000 years of the area's history with carefully preserved artifacts from the area’s early inhabitants.
You can learn more about the area's attractions at the park’s main visitor center, located at the beginning of the Park Loop Road off Route 3 near Hull’s Cove. You can also sign up for ranger-led activities and get recommendations from staff members on places to visit.
Your choices include:
- Park Loop Road: You'll find plenty of places to stop and enjoy the view along this 27-mile road.
- Cadillac Mountain: On clear a morning, you can join the early risers who gather at the top of the mountain to see the sun rise—before anyone else in the nation. From May 26 through Oct 19, vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road between sunrise and sunset.
- Sand Beach: You can brave a swim in the 50-degree ocean water or relax on the sand.
- Blackwoods and Seawall Campgrounds: Both of these national park campgrounds are a 10-minute walk from the ocean.
- Thunder Hole: If you catch this natural spectacle at the right point in the tide, you’ll quickly appreciate its name. Check with park information for best viewing times—and be sure to observe barriers and warnings.
- Bass Harbor Lighthouse: You can join the many photographers who have taken pictures of this lighthouse. Built in 1858, it sits 58 feet above high water.
- Otter Cliffs: You can view the Atlantic from atop these 110-foot-tall pink granite cliffs.
- Jordan Pond: This inland pond is best viewed from the famous Jordan Pond House, known as much for its popovers as for its spectacular views. You can reach the pond by hiking or biking along the carriage trails or by driving along the park road.
- Pretty Marsh: You can stroll around this moss-covered marsh, punctuated by towering firs, and have a picnic at one of the tables.
Businesses & Organizations
Retrieving results.
Related Articles
Retrieving results.
