My husband and I will be making our first trip to Maine in mid-May 2024 and will be at or near Acadia NP for 2 or 3 days. Our focus is on hiking, eating, and seeing nature before the summer crowds. If you have any favorite lodgings in the area, we'd love to hear. No need for fancy but should be clean and nice. Price doesn't matter as much as those things and location. We'll have a car. Thanks!
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2827 posts
Bar Harbor has become a popular stop for cruise ships which can quickly overwhelm the little town when they're visiting... which seems to be most of the time.
We opted to stay across the island in Southwest Harbor, which provided easy access to the park while avoiding the congestion. Plus, there are a number of pretty hikes there that are typically overlooked by most people who are focused on the NP itself.
We used booking.com to find accommodations in the area.
Posted by
765 posts
We stayed in the Carriage House of the Harbour Cottage Inn, and very much enjoyed it, also in Southwest Harbor. The Red Sky Restaurant in town is also quite good. We did not like Bar Harbor at all.
One part of the park that is often overlooked is Schoodic Point, but I highly recommend driving over there. Not only is it a beautiful drive, but you'll get some more quintessential Acadia coastline without the crowds.
Posted by
Indiana
808 posts
We stayed at The Primrose Inn, and I would not recommend it. It is only average, and not worth the the rates that they charge. I can recommend "The Travelin Lobster"! It was an excellent experience on all fronts. Check to make sure they are open, and be sure to arrive before they run out of lobster that day. It is quintessential Maine!
Posted by
464 posts
We did an Acadia National Park visit last fall. Chose not to stay in Bar Harbor. It has become much more touristy and costly than when we were there 23 yrs ago! Stayed nearby in Blue Hill at Barbcastle Inn. Lovely old historic inn in a rural area. Great restaurant. It was near enough to visit Acadia a couple days and some other local coastal villages.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
6323 posts
I also stayed on the Blue Hill peninsula (a bit farther, near Naskeag Point) and loved it. Unfortunately, the B&B I stayed at is no longer in business (it's been awhile since I've been there). Sand Beach at Acadia NP is really lovely. Castine, Maine is another beautiful place with a pretty harbor and really incredible old beautiful homes and a great lighthouse. Another interesting place is Deer Isle/Stonington, which you can only get to over a bridge from the mainland.
Also, if you have any interest in sustainable living, the Good Life farm in Harborside, started by Helen and Scott Nearing, is a wonderful place to visit. It's a model of a wholly sustainable farm, complete with the Nearings' stone house with an extensive library, stone walled gardens, greenhouse, and grounds (including several yurts).
Posted by
Washington, DC
207 posts
Be aware that there were two storms with extraordinarily high tides on December 18 and the first week of January. There was a lot of flooding and much of the waterfront infrastructure was torn up. Some hiking trails may not be available. The high tides uncovered a buried ship wreck on Sand Beach. Seawall also sustained a lot of damage. In July, we are renting a camp on Goose Cove that we have rented several times before. The owner warned us that the stairs down to the water were destroyed and may not be repaired by the time we get there.
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2407 posts
Only a couple of cruise ships scheduled for mid May. Both on the smaller side so I wouldn’t worry about them
Posted by
Walnut Creek, CA
548 posts
We stayed at the Cleftstone manor.
https://www.cleftstone.com
it's just north of town, a short drive to the downtown Bar harbor. We loved this B&B.
We ate dinner at the Chart house, north of town.
Between the Chart house and Cleftstone manor is the NPS Visitors Center. A good place to start and enter into the Acadia NP
You will need advance timed reservations to drive up to Cadillac Summit. Once you are there, parking is OK, since they limit the number of people there per hour. We hiked on the short Cadillac Summit trail taking in the views.
We also hiked around Jordan Pond on the Jordan Pond trail and then had lunch at Jordan Pond House. Google why you should stop and visit here.
Parking was much tougher at the Jordan Pond house, but available.
FYI, Thunder Hole is a waste of time to try to find parking and then walk too. It's crowded and there is nothing to see unless the tide is right. I'd skip it.
Another nice, easy, morning walk is the Bar Harbor Shore Path (check to see if it's open.) Park at Agamont park and walk the short trail from there to the end and back.
Enjoy your trip to Acadia NP and Bar Harbor
Posted by
464 posts
Good advice Derek for siteseeing in Acadia. Lots of people we found were unaware of needing timed reservations for Cadillac mnt road to top. We had trouble finding parking everywhere…but were there in early Oct….leaf peeper season. May is likely less busy.
Just re-read my recommending of Barncastle Inn. (Not Barbcastle?)
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2827 posts
For info, here's the cruise ship schedule for Bar Harbor from the gov't website: Bar Harbor
Posted by
Washington, DC
207 posts
You won’t need reservations to drive up Cadillac until May 22. If you’re there before then you can just drive up any time.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
421 posts
Our Maine trip was great but a long time ago--April of 2002. Started in Ogunquit (great beach walk there), and stayed at Yellow Monkey Guest Houses (could never forget that name). Then made our way up the coast and stopped and walked around in Portland, Freeport, and Camden. Stayed in Bar Harbor and took a drive through Acadia (loved Otter Cliffs area). Drove up to Cadillac Mtn. I don't think it was dawn, but pretty early in the morning--mostly foggy of course! But we were the only ones there.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15810 posts
Karen, you live in our very favorite small city in the U.S. :O)
I don't know if you've made reservations yet (I'm a little late to this thread) but we stayed at the Bar Harbor Motel some years back for nearly a week and loved it.. It's just far enough out of the village center to be removed from the tourist crowds (not that you might be dealing with those) and is an expansive, attractive property. I am pleased to see that it's still getting great reviews! Price was moderate (compared to some in-town accommodations, and 2024 prices are posted on their website) and it was nice to have laundry facilities handy. Free continental breakfast, and a direct trail into the park from their property.