Looking for a gorgeous weekend getaway on the East Coast? Acadia National Park, one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States, is an excellent choice for a New England getaway.

Spread out across the coast of Maine, just southwest of Bar Harbor, it can be a little unclear exactly where the park’s boundaries are as it spreads across islands, shores, and mountains.

Acadia Park is home to a variety of landscapes, from islands to rocky headlands, high mountains, and Atlantic beaches.

Autumn is one of the best times to visit Maine for the outstanding fall foliage and Acadia National Park is one of the best national parks to visit in fall.

Whether you are spending a weekend at Acadia or doing a day trip to the park you’ll have lots of great photo opportunities.

Acadia National Park also encompasses quaint fishing villages with a rich culture and history. If you want to find out more about the Wabanaki people who call this land home, visit the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor.

Here are 8 awesome things to do in Acadia National Park.

 

 

Things to Do in Acadia National Park 

Sand Beach

On the east side of Mount Desert Island there is a sandy beach with turquoise waters.

The views in every direction are stunning, as the beach is surrounded by a mix of sea and forest. You can get to Sand Beach by taking the Park Loop Road from Bar Harbor.

This beach is the perfect place to come and relax for the day, search the shores for pretty shells, and watch the ocean waves.

Tired of just relaxing? Go to the Ocean Path Trail that starts at the end of Sand Beach and hike the 4-mile round trip.

 

 

Thunder Hole

Thunder Hole is a small inlet with a deep cavern naturally carved by the passing waves over thousands of years.

If you come on a calm day you might wonder about its dramatic name, but when the sea is rough it’s not hard to see (and hear) why!

The ocean waves come thundering into the cavern and get flung high up into the air; the water can reach up to 40 feet!

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Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

This lighthouse in Tremont is one of the most picturesque destinations in Acadia Park, and there’s often a crowd of people there to prove it.

Be sure to arrive early on if you want to find parking, especially at sunset.

The quaint lighthouse on the rocky shores of the Atlantic coast was built in 1858.

At that time there was just the lighthouse, with its 37-foot tower. As time went by more buildings were added to the site, like the Bell House and Oil House.

Bass Harbour Head Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. You’ll definitely leave with lots of Instagram worthy pictures.

 

 

Acadia Carriage Roads

The old Carriage Roads around Mount Desert Island run through stunning landscapes, and cross over picture-perfect bridges.

It’s the perfect place to come for an easy stroll or a relaxing cycling trip. You can also explore the Carriage Roads on a horse drawn carriage.

Acadia Carriage Roads don’t allow any motorized vehicles on the path, so it’s always quiet and peaceful.

That said, you can easily access a lot of the most popular points, like Jordan Pond, Eagle Lake, and Duck Brook, along Carriage Roads from the Park Loop Road (which you can drive on).

 

 

Jordan Pond (and Jordan Pond House)

Despite its name, Jordan Pond is a lake. The crystal clear waters and surrounding mountains covered in forest make it one of the must-see spots in the Acadia National Park.

You can enjoy some time along the water with a 3.4 miles (5.5 km) hike around Jordan Pond.

The views are particularly pleasing in autumn when the orange and red color foliage on the mountains contrasts beautifully with the lake – especially on sunny days when the blue sky is reflecting from Jordan Pond.

Another reason tourists come to the pond is to go to Jordan Pond House, a restaurant and shop on a well-kept lawn that overlooks the stunning Jordan Pond.

Make sure you try their popovers (along with a cup of tea or coffee), which are a tasty part of the venue’s history. Their lobster stew is delicious too.

The story began when Nellie McIntire started selling her freshly baked popovers out of the restaurant as far back as 1893. Sadly, the original building burned down in 1979. The new building went up in 1982.

 

 

Cadillac Mountain

From the summit of Cadillac Mountain, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the sea, the tiny islands in the Gulf of Maine, mountains, forests, views of the Frenchman Bay and Porcupine Islands, and Cranberry Isles.

The views in every direction are so stunning that you’ll struggle to decide which vista is your favorite.

The mountain is 1,530 feet tall, making it the highest peak in the park and on the East Coast of the US for that matter.

You can hike to the summit along the Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail or drive up and park near the top.

Note that from May 25 to October 31, 2022 a reservation is required to drive Cadillac Mountain summit road – get more info about reservations.

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Acadia Park Loop Road

The Park Loop Road was built between 1921 and 1958. It’s thanks to this modern road that you can get to the park’s most popular spots by car, as the old carriage roads in the park are only for non-motorized traffic.

You’ll get to see the best of the Mount Desert Island landscapes along this scenic 27-mile-long drive. It’s got it all – lakes, sea, and mountains.

Allow time to stop along the way at some of the tourist hot-spots, like Sieur de Monts, Sand Beach, Otter Point, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain.

Hiking Trails at Acadia

Acadia National Park offers lots of fantastic hiking opportunities. The most well-known is the hike up to the summit of Cadillac mountain, or the picturesque strolls around Jordan Pond or along the Carriage Roads.

But there are other wonderful trails too, like the Gorham Mountain Trail. The mountain’s 525-foot summit offers views of the ocean, mountains and exposed granite rocks.

Another cool hike at Acadia is the Bubbles Divide Trail, connecting Jordan Pond and Eagle Pond. It’s only .5 miles so it’s a short easy trail at Acadia.

If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, head to the 1.4 mile Bee Hive Trail. This hike takes you over the exposed cliffs, iron rungs, and granite staircases.

The reward? Views over Sand Beach, the Gulf of Maine, and Thunder Hole. But get to Bee Hive trailhead early, or plan to wait in line to do the hike, it’s that popular!

LEARN MORE: 11 Best East Coast National Parks

 

 

Final Thoughts Things to Do Acadia National Park

America’s most northeasterly national park is a wonderland of stunning landscapes for you to explore. With a variety of things to do at Acadia you’ll have an amazing trip on the Maine coast with scenic drives, beautiful coastal trails, and spectacular sunsets. It’s no wonder Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the US!