Upon returning from my impromptu year-long round-the-world trip through 30 countries across 3 continents, I decided that it was time to see my own country. As autumn was quickly approaching, we decided to road trip down the East Coast, chasing fall foliage. To begin, we drove the 7+ hours from Connecticut to Maine, in search of the best hikes in Acadia National Park in Maine. Known for its rugged coastline and epic views, Acadia National Park was a must on our road trip!
The viewpoint from one of the best hikes in Acadia National Park!
All photos in this article taken by David M Gallo Photography. This page contains affiliate links, meaning that The Five Foot Traveler may receive a small commission when you purchase any flights or accommodations using the links in this article at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your continued support!
Airport Near Acadia National Park
The closest domestic airport near Acadia National Park is the Hancock County Airport, about 10 miles away. JetBlue and United Airlines both serve Hancock County Airport.
The closest international airport near Acadia National Park is the Bangor International Airport, about one about away. American Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta, and United Airlines, among countless others, fly to this airport.
Find your flights to Acadia National Park here.
Get ready to go hiking in Acadia National Park!
How to get to Acadia National Park (if you don’t want to fly)
If you’re from New England, or on a US road trip, it’s very easy to drive to Acadia National Park… just expect to spend a few hours in your car, as Acadia is in the northernmost region of Maine! Directions to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor Maine (the “maine” town) are quite simple though.
Book your rental car in Bar Harbor, Maine here.
To give you an idea on the time it takes to drive to the area, consider the following:
- Portland, Maine to Bar Harbor, Maine: 2 h 50
- Boston, Massachusetts to Bar Harbor, Maine: 4 hr 40
- Newport, Rhode Island to Bar Harbor, Maine: 5 h 50
- Manhattan, New York to Bar Harbor, Maine: 8 hr 15
So while it’s certainly easy to get there via car, you may want to fly there if you’re short on time.
That's us at our Acadia Campground!
Where to Stay in Acadia National Park
Despite being relatively remote, there are plenty of places to stay near Acadia National Park! First, decide if you’re feeling camping, cabins, or hotels, as that will help narrow down your options.
Acadia National Park camping is definitely the most popular option, and there are a plethora of campgrounds. We stayed at the KOA Bar Harbor, right on the water, and were incredibly happy with our experience there. I would highly recommend it! While we stayed in our trailer, I heard that KOA Bar Harbor also offers some of the best cabins in Acadia National Park too.
Camping and Cabins in Acadia National Park
If “roughing it” isn’t your thing there are, of course, more than enough hotels in Acadia National Park from which to choose too!
Best Hikes in Acadia National Park
1. Beehive Loop Trail
The Beehive Loop Trail is a relatively moderate hike in Acadia National Park, as long as you’re comfortable with heights and narrow ledges. The Beehive Loop is characterized by its rock scrambles and use of iron rungs to help you climb up and over the boulders. The hike itself is only 1.4 miles, and offers fantastic views! It’s a short, fun, and exciting trail — highly recommended!
Beehive Loop Trail – Acadia National Park Hiking
2. The Bowl Trail
When on the Beehive Loop Trail, I recommend extending your hike to visit Bowl Lake. We accidentally detoured the 0.8 miles to Bowl Lake when we visited and were thrilled that we did! The lake had a complete mirror reflection and we spent quite a bit of time soaking it all in. While I recommend adding the Bowl Trail onto the Beehive Loop Trail, it is possible to just do the Bowl Trail on its own; it’s 1.3 miles with about 450ft elevation gain and pretty easy.
Bowl Lake – Hiking in Acadia National Park
3. Acadia National Park’s Ocean Path
You can’t be checking out the trails at Acadia National Park without popping over to the Ocean Path! The Ocean Path is classically Maine, with its rugged coastline and cute lighthouses.. We most enjoyed Boulder Beach, located between Otter Point and Thunder Hole. The rocks have been smoothed and rounded from the ocean waves crashing against them.
Trails at Acadia National Park
If you have the time, continue (driving) another thirty minutes or so along the Park Loop to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. It was a lovely site to see, and so very typical of the Northeast!
Things to do in Acadia National Park
4. Cadillac Mountain
To top off a well-rounded day in Acadia National Park, drive or hike up Cadillac Mountain! If you’re looking for the perfect sunset spot, Cadillac Mountain is just that! It offers sweeping views of the valleys below with the sun slowly setting in the distance. This is a “must do” when hiking in Acadia National Park!
Cadillac Mountain – Best hikes in Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park Map
Now that you know the best hikes in Acadia National Park, and have discovered the many things to do and places to stay, time to figure out your route! I’ve pinned all of the hikes on this Acadia National Park map! As always, feel free to leave any questions below.
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor
Beehive Loop Trail
Bowl Trail
Ocean Path
Cadillac Mountain
Know Before You Go!
Packing For Your Acadia National Park Hiking Trip
Now that you have an Acadia National Park map on hand and have read about the best hikes in Acadia National Park too, make sure you’re prepared! If you’re camping, ensure you have a reliable tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, camping pillow, and a warm coat at absolute minimum, especially if you stay at an Acadia campground. All of the gear I linked to, I own and recommend personally. Of course, there are many more things that I recommend packing for your trip though, and I highly recommend that you check out my “137 Travel Essentials” to pack for your trip to Acadia National Park..
The Best Travel Card
Before you leave for your next trip, I highly recommend opening a free Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account. I know that might sound a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry, you don’t need to be an investor to open an account! This provides you with your own Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card, which offers a ton of benefits both at home and overseas. I’ve been using a Charles Schwab Debit Card since 2011, and it’s honestly the best free travel card out there because you can withdraw from any ATM around the world, and Charles Schwab will reimburse you any ATM fees! They also don’t charge foreign transaction fees either, which is, of course, important when you travel. It is worth noting there there is no minimum balance requirement and that they offer free online transfers between accounts (so it’s totally fine if you have another credit card, debit card, or bank account with another company). Open your Charles Schwab account today – FOR FREE – by following this link.
Purchase Travel Insurance for your Acadia National Park Hiking Trip
I hope you don’t embark without travel insurance! If you do, you better think again. Travel insurance is arguably the most important thing to have on hand (after your passports and visas) for a trip like this. I’ve had to use my travel insurance multiple times on the road, even though I’m healthy. You never know when something might happen; take comfort in knowing that whether your flight gets cancelled or you wind up sick and in the hospital, you will be covered. I recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance for each and every one of you travelers. You can get a free quote here.
Checking out the best hikes in Acadia National Park? Pin It Please!
