If you're planning a trip to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, stop what you're doing and check out our 4 day Acadia National Park itinerary! Get ready for days filled with hiking, breathtaking views, and delicious food recommendations.

Each day promises exciting activities and opportunities to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. From indulging in famous blueberry pancakes at Jordans to exploring the quiet side of the island and enjoying lobster rolls at The Travelin' Lobster Pound, your taste buds are in for a treat. Whether you're biking through Acadia, taking in the stunning views from Schoodic peninsula, or savoring lobster nachos at the Bar Harbor Lobster Pound, there's something for everyone on this itinerary. Get ready for an unforgettable experience in Acadia National Park!

Check out my post all about the Beehive Trail, here!

Getting There

Traveling to Bar Harbor offers scenic drives from several key cities. From New York City, the journey is approximately 480 miles and takes around 8-9 hours via I-95 N, passing through picturesque Connecticut and Massachusetts before reaching Maine. From Boston, the drive is shorter, about 280 miles or 5 hours, also primarily on I-95 N, offering a coastal route through New Hampshire and southern Maine.

For those preferring to fly, the nearest major airport to Bar Harbor is Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Portland, Maine. Upon landing, you can rent a car at the airport and embark on a scenic drive to Bar Harbor. The journey from Portland to Bar Harbor is approximately 160 miles and takes around 3 hours.

We flew into Portland and got the rental car at the airport. The process was seamless and we were on the road within 30 minutes of landing (we didn’t bring checked luggage!). If you’re wondering how we traveling without checking our luggage, check out our guide for the best carryon travel luggage!

We knew that taking 95 was the faster route but had heard that the drive taking 1 was prettier and more idealistic. We opted for that and had a ton of fun driving through adorable coastal towns and stopping along the way! It took us about 5 hours total but would have been shorter had we not stopped as often.

Where to Stay

There are tons of great options to stay in Bar Harbor and we were so excited to stay at the Ivy Manor Inn. The Ivy Manor Inn in Bar Harbor, Maine, is a charming retreat known for its cozy, well-appointed rooms, each featuring a fireplace. It could not have felt more cozy.We loved their wonderful outdoor seating area which was perfect for relaxing, offering a serene setting amidst beautifully landscaped gardens. We sat outside by the fire almost every evening, enjoying a glass of Blueberry Ale and relaxing. I highly recommend!

If you’re needing a more affordable option and are looking for more of a home base for your adventure, definitely check out the Main Street Motel. Located right on Main Street, this motel was so cute and simple and had a really comfortable bed. It’s definitely less cozy than the Ivy Manor, but it’s also much cheaper and still in a great location.

Day 1-

Wake up and grab a good breakfast because you have a full day ahead of you! We opted for eating our free hotel breakfast from the Ivy Manor Inn most days to save money! If you’re ready for a delicious breakfast though, head over to Jordans for their famous blueberry pancakes!

After you’re fueled up, spend the morning getting familiar with the town and roaming around some. Also, if you forgot any hiking essentials there are plenty of outdoor shop options to get you ready for your upcoming adventures!

Once you’ve gotten your fill of downtown bar harbor head to your car and get ready to drive to the “quiet side” of the island.

On your way to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse, grab some lunch at Charlotte’s Lobster Pound! We opted for the true Maine experience and got full steamed lobsters but they have tons of options including lobster rolls and more.

Now that you’ve gotten your first lobster fix head to the bass harbor lighthouse! Take the trail down the stairs to the right of the lighthouse for an amazing view of the coast and Bar Harbor Lighthouse. This is a favorite for sunset views but we decided we didn’t want to fight the sunset crowds. If you don’t mind though, head back here after your hike to catch the sunset!

After seeing the Bass Harbor lighthouse, head back to your car and drive just down the road to the ship harbor trailhead. This is a pretty simple and easy hike that will take you on a loop through the woods and to the coast. We had the entire trail almost completely to ourselves. You’ll get idealistic view of the coast and you can even climb out onto the rocks to take it all in. This hike took us about an hour because we took it slow and stopped often! Here are some pictures from the trail so you can see what you can expect!

After you spend your afternoon at the trail, head back to town (unless you’re trying. To catch the sunset views at bass harbor lighthouse) and head to dinner at Geddy’s. We ordered the lobster roll and the haddock sandwich and both were delicious!

Luckily, right next door to Geddy’s is Jordan Pond ice cream shop! They had our favorite of the all the blueberry ice cream. Grab yourself a scoop (or 2!) and enjoy it a road the street at the grassy hill with an incredible view of the harbor to end your first day!

Day 2

Wake up and head to breakfast at Cafe This Way! We ordered the salmon bagel and the country breakfast. They had good coffee and their jam was insane.

After breakfast walk over to rent your E-bike! We rented ours from Acadia Standup Paddle Boarding. It’s $50/per person for a half day rental for 4 hours! We wished we had done the full day, so if that’s in the budget we highly recommend it.

After you get your bike rented, hop on and drive to the carriage roads in Acadia! Riding the E-bikes through Acadia was easily in our top favorite things we did. There’s something unique about the carriage roads and it feels special to experience it on bike. You can save money by renting non electric bikes but you’ll get to see a lot more and be much less exhausted by renting the E-bike!

Ride to Jordan Pond and stop along the way at the many view points. We were often alone at the viewing points and it felt insane.

Arrive at Jordan Pond House and go check in! Make sure you reserve in advance- we didn’t and waited an hour and a half to be seated. I would definitely recommend you make reservations in advance to make the most of your time! We didn’t mind the wait at all and hung out on the observation deck upstairs and enjoyed a blueberry soda.

If you want to save money and still get the Jordan Pond view- opt for their carry out service where you can order sandwiches and light bites and eat them on the deck! Or save even more money by packing your own lunch to enjoy on the deck. Either way, don’t miss the views and experience that is at Jordan Pond House.

We got the infamous popover service which came with coffee and 2 popovers and enjoyed every bite! We also got lobster rolls here, which were pricey but high and tasted great!

After you return your bike rentals, take it easy in town and grab a blueberry ale outside of the Ivy Manor hotel and enjoy sitting around the fire and listening to music!

Once you’ve worked up an appetite and are ready for dinner, call ahead to Rosalies and order a pizza! We were so surprised at how delicious their pizza was! We grabbed it to go and carried it to the harbor to enjoy. It was the perfect chill way to end a great day~!

Day 3-

To recover from your big day of biking, plan to spend today trekking over to the Schoodic peninsula! It’s a bit of a drive (around an hour) but totally worth it. Grab a light breakfast at Jeannie’s famous breakfast before heading out and hit the road but save some room for the delicious (and affordable) lobster rolls you’ve gotta grab on your way to schoodic!

As you near winter harbor, you’ll see a shack on the side of the road and likely a sweet man in a lobster hat waving at you! How can one NOT stop for a sweet older man in a lobster hat?!

We went ahead and stopped for lunch and are so glad we did!! To save cost, we split a lobster roll ($25) and a hot dog ($5) as well as a slice of incredible blueberry pie. This was one of our favorite rolls of the trip and the most affordable! We sat at chatted with the owner for a while and had a great stop.

We got back in the car and got to Schoodic. We decided to head straight to Schoodic point. We parked and spent almost an hour on the rocks of the point just taking it all in. In fact, I took a short little nap on the rocks and was lulled to sleep by the sound of waves crashing into the rocks.

After a solid nap, we decided to go on a hike! We ended up taking anvil trail and are so glad we did!! It was a fun hike with a little bit of light rock scrambling and took us to an insane view of Schoodic!

After we finished hiking we drove the rest of the loop and stopped at few different view points to take it in.

On our way back to Bar Harbor we stopped at The Wrinkled Pickle for a snack! We ordered the bacon and scallop flat bread and it was delicious. Drizzled with a balsamic glaze and so, so good. We also shared a blueberry cider which was also great! Light and refreshing after spending the day outside was just what we needed.

We headed back to Bar Harbor and grabbed the lobster nachos at the Bar Harbor Lobster Pound! They were big enough for us to share and were wonderful. There is also an ice cream shop attached to the lobster pound so if you’re in the mood for ice cream you can get that there as well!

Day 4-

Your last day in Acadia is a good one, filled with the promise of adventure and stunning views!

The trail offers a mix of excitement and awe-inspiring beauty as you navigate through the rugged terrain. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a novice adventurer, the Beehive Trail will test your limits and reward you with panoramic views that will take your breath away.

Read all about the Beehive Trail and why it’s worth it, here!

I won't lie, after watching videos of the Beehive Trail, I almost bailed but Jackson wouldn't let me and I'm so glad he didn't. There is no denying that it is a challenging and intimidating hike, which include sections with narrow walkways, iron bridges and iron rung ladders which require you to climb and pull yourself up. The Beehive Trail is not a hike that I would recommend for young kids or anyone with a fear of heights. That being said- accomplishing the Beehive Trail hike was a highlight of our trip!

After you knock out what is surely one of the most fun and exhilarating hikes of your life, take a breather heading down the back of the trail for a more causal and leisurely hike. Luckily for us, the base of the trail is right next to Sand Beach and you have to head there before leaving.

The average temperature here is a refreshing (also freezing) 55°F, making it the perfect spot to cool off after a tough hike. The beauty of the water is amazing, with its vibrant hues of blue and the gentle waves lapping against the shore. Take a leisurely stroll along the sandy beach, feel the cool ocean breeze on your skin and marvel at the picturesque views that surround you.

Jackson thought I was insane for getting in the water in my hiking clothes and I thought he was insane for not, but that pretty much sums us up. I have no regrets getting in and I swear it helped with soreness after an active week in Acadia.

After leaving Sand Bech if you're starving like we were, head straight to grab lunch at Stewmans. We had read that Stewmans is a little pricey and overrated but we also knew it had great views of the Bar Harbor bay so we decided it would make a great last day lunch stop. We got the rolls and lobster bisque and it was so perfect. We sat outside while it rained softly, enjoying the view and our lunch and it really was the perfect place to stop on our last day.

Spend the afternoon doing some last minute shopping! We weren't quite full from the lunch at Stewmans so we got some popovers from the Sideline and they lived up to the hype for sure. A perfect snack between lunch and dinner.

Once you're ready for dinner, head over to the Travelin' Lobster for the best lobster roll of the trip. We could not believe how good they were and we loved that they offer 3 different size options- mini, small and large. I got the small and Jackson got the large and I don' think I'll ever stop dreaming of the warm, buttery goodness that were these lobster rolls.

Finish up with your dinner at least an hour and a half before sunset and get ready to head to Cadillac Mountain for your final and most incredible sunset in Acadia!

Sunset at Cadillac mountain is an absolutely awe-worthy experience. Embrace the beauty of nature as the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the landscape. This is the perfect time to take a moment to reflect on your adventures in Acadia and soak in the serenity of the moment. With a sense of accomplishment and gratitude, bid farewell to this stunning destination, knowing that the memories you've created here will stay with you forever. Don't miss the opportunity to capture the essence of Acadia at its most picturesque moment - a sunset at Cadillac Mountain is an experience you won't soon forget.

That's it! 4 incredible days in Acadia National Park. From biking through the carriage roads to tackling the challenging Beehive Trail, each moment has been filled with adventure and wonder. Remember the delicious lobster rolls, the serene moments on the coast, and the warm glow of the sunset at Cadillac Mountain. Acadia has left its mark on you, and the memories you've created here will stay with you forever. So, whether you're a seasoned traveler or a novice adventurer, don't miss the chance to explore this beautiful destination and immerse yourself in the natural wonders it has to offer. Your journey may be ending, but the spirit of Acadia will always live on in your heart. Keep exploring, keep seeking, and keep embracing the beauty of the world around you. Adventure awaits, so go out and create more unforgettable moments wherever your travels may take you!

Acadia Travel Guide: How To Spend 4 Days in Acadia