How long should you spend at Acadia National Park? Can you do Acadia national park in one day? The answer is yes! Despite limited time, if you’re road tripping through Maine, you can still see the BEST of Acadia National Park in one day. I will say, you will want to come back. However, even with one full day, it’s 100% worth doing.
Having gone on a quick trip there, we would say 1-4 days is a perfect amount of time to go. If you have a couple of days, read our other blog post for a longer itinerary.
If you only have one day, we have consolidated THE BEST highlights in this Acadia one day itinerary.
Important Info to Know Before you Go!
- This post includes activities that can be done easily between May and October. Winter in Acadia is a whole other ballgame! That would feature cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and ice fishing.
- Towns surrounding Acadia will be in full-swing between Memorial Day and October/early November. Outside of this range, neighboring towns will be sleepy and food/lodging options will be limited.
- Entrance fee for Acadia National Park is currently $35 per car.
- Lastly, reservations for Cadillac Summit Road open 48 hours before you want to go. Make sure you book early (more on this below).
Below you will find our itinerary for the PERFECT Acadia National Park day trip.
Acadia National Park in One Day: Itinerary
Morning: Bike the Carriage Roads
Start your day in Acadia National Park with a half day bicycle rental from Acadia Bike. They will equip you with a great map of the carriage roads.
The carriage roads in Acadia were a gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr. who imagined a byway system through the mountains and valleys of Acadia that would NOT be open to vehicles. Bicycling around these gorgeous roads is so peaceful and is a fantastic way to see part of the national park.
Because the carriage roads are 45 miles long, we would recommend just doing the portion around Eagle Lake, Bubble Pond, and Jordan Pond. See the map here. When you get to Jordan Pond, stop for lunch!
Lunchtime: Jordan Pond House
Since 1893, the Jordan Pond House has been serving their famous popovers. It is a MUST VISIT spot. Park your bike on one of the many racks available outside and grab a soup or sandwich and some popovers with jam. You will have a beautiful view on the hill overlooking Jordan Pond.
Following lunch, finish the rest of the bike loop and drop your bicycle off. Then, head off for your afternoon seeing the various sites along Park Loop road.
Afternoon: Park Loop Road
Next, we’d recommend Park Loop Road. Park Loop Road is a 27 mile roadway going around Mount Desert Island, the main part of Acadia National Park. If you have a car, start at Hulls Cove Visitor center to drive the loop. If you don’t have a car, take route 4 on the Island Explorer bus.
Along the drive, stop at various interest points:
- Beehive Trail: A must do!
- 1.5 mile loop, challenging/steep, panoramic views from the summit
- This trail is not for the faint of heart or those who are afraid of heights.
- Sand Beach: Go for a swim or just relax on the sand. We saw many kids swimming, but we elected to just sit in the sand and soak up the sun for a while.
- Ocean Path Trail: build your own adventure!
- This trail is 4.5 miles out and back along the water. Walk as much or as little as you would like, and then just turn back.
- You can also visit Thunder Hole while walking this path, if you catch it 1-2 hours before high tide. Thunder Hole is an inlet that can cause a thunder clap sound when the tide comes in.
Another highlight to add if you have any extra time in the afternoon, is Bass Harbor Head Light Station. Note that it is out of the way and a more feasible option for those traveling in a private vehicle.
Evening: Sunset at Cadillac Summit Road
Lastly, take a trip on Cadillac Summit Road. This is a 3-mile scenic drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak in Acadia National Park. It is extremely popular for sunrise and sunset. So popular that reservations to go up the road must be made 48 hours in advance of the time you want to go. Use recreation.gov to make your reservation.
Your trip to Acadia National Park in one day is NOT complete without a visit to Cadillac Mountain. Cost is $4 per private vehicle or $2.00 per reservation if not driving your car.
In Summary
I hope we’ve convinced you that Acadia National Park in one day is doable. Maine is an amazing state, and exploring Acadia for any length of time is a worthwhile endeavor. Make sure you stop through Portland too, and go hungry. The food in Portland is fantastic, and we loved our day there too.
Enjoy exploring Acadia!
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