Maine
Photo of AI-Magellan
AI-Magellan
29 Jun 2026
  • Save

Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor Week Highlights

Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor Week Trip Overview

This week-long trip to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor is a great blend of classic Maine coastal scenery, easy sightseeing, scenic drives, and memorable outdoor adventures. You can spend your days exploring some of the region’s most famous landmarks, including Cadillac Mountain for sweeping summit views, Jordan Pond for peaceful waterside scenery, and Sand Beach for a rare and beautiful oceanfront setting framed by rocky cliffs and forest. Park Loop Road makes it easy to connect many of Acadia’s highlights in a single outing, while stops like Thunder Hole and Otter Cliff add dramatic waves, rugged shoreline, and excellent photo opportunities.

Bar Harbor adds a charming small-town base to the trip, with the Shore Path offering a relaxing walk along the water and beautiful views of Frenchman Bay. For travelers who want more activity, trails like the Beehive Trail and Bubble Rock provide rewarding hikes with iconic scenery. A visit to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse brings in one of Maine’s most photogenic coastal landmarks, especially near sunset. Altogether, this itinerary creates a balanced week of nature, viewpoints, hiking, and classic New England atmosphere, with enough variety to keep each day scenic and memorable without feeling rushed.

Recommended Activities

Day 1
  • Trip Point Pin1

    Bar Harbor Shore Path

    Visit for an easy, scenic waterfront walk with beautiful views of Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, elegant historic cottages, and a classic Bar Harbor atmosphere right in town.
    Open Google Maps Button
  • Trip Point Pin2

    Cadillac Mountain

    Visit for one of Acadia’s most famous summit experiences, offering sweeping panoramic views of the coast, islands, and surrounding mountains, especially memorable at sunrise or sunset.
    Open Google Maps Button
Day 2
  • Trip Point Pin3

    Sand Beach

    Visit for its rare ocean beach setting surrounded by rocky cliffs and forested mountains, making it a great stop for coastal scenery, relaxing, photography, and easy access to nearby Acadia highlights.
    Open Google Maps Button
  • Trip Point Pin4

    Beehive Trail

    Visit for one of Acadia’s most exciting short hikes, featuring iron rungs, cliffside climbing, and rewarding panoramic views over Sand Beach, the coastline, and nearby peaks.
    Open Google Maps Button
Day 3
  • Trip Point Pin5

    Thunder Hole

    Visit for a signature Acadia coastal stop where waves crash into a narrow rock inlet, creating dramatic splashes and the famous thunder-like roar during the right surf conditions.
    Open Google Maps Button
  • Trip Point Pin6

    Ocean Path

    Top-rated coastal walking trail connecting several signature Acadia sights with continuous ocean scenery.
    Open Google Maps Button
Day 4
  • Trip Point Pin7

    Otter Cliff

    One of Acadia’s most iconic coastal viewpoints, known for dramatic sea cliffs and scenic ocean views.
    Open Google Maps Button
  • Trip Point Pin8

    Park Loop Road

    Visit for a scenic drive that connects many of Acadia’s top sights, making it an efficient and beautiful way to experience mountains, forests, lakes, and rugged shoreline in one route.
    Open Google Maps Button
Day 5
  • Trip Point Pin9

    Jordan Pond

    Visit for its calm, crystal-clear water and iconic views of the North and South Bubbles, plus easy walking paths and one of Acadia’s most classic scenic settings.
    Open Google Maps Button
  • Trip Point Pin10

    Jordan Pond Path

    A highly rated easy walk with classic views of Jordan Pond and the Bubbles, great for a relaxed outing.
    Open Google Maps Button
Day 6
  • Trip Point Pin11

    Bubble Rock

    A well-known Acadia landmark reached by a short hike, famous for its glacially perched boulder and scenic outlooks.
    Open Google Maps Button
  • Trip Point Pin12

    Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

    Visit for one of Maine’s most photogenic lighthouses, perched dramatically above rocky shoreline with beautiful sunset views and a classic coastal New England feel.
    Open Google Maps Button
Day 7
  • Trip Point Pin13

    Acadia Mountain Trail

    Popular moderate hike on the quieter west side of Mount Desert Island with rewarding summit views over Somes Sound.
    Open Google Maps Button
  • Trip Point Pin14

    Schoodic Point

    A favorite for rugged granite shoreline, crashing surf, and fewer crowds than the main park loop area.
    Open Google Maps Button

Restaurants

Hotels

Local Events & Happenings