1 day itinerary

Wanting to fit in a day in Acadia as part of a longer road trip? This one day itinerary is ideal to get the most out of this beautiful park, nestled on the wonderful Maine coast.

The main focus of the day is the one way Park Loop Road around Mount Desert Island, providing plenty of opportunities to stop off and appreciate the force of the Atlantic Ocean. Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs are a couple of the main attractions. Make sure you rise to the challenge of either the Beehive or Precipice Trails. These trails are crucial components in Acadia's unique nature, which involve some scrambling and climbing up metal rungs that lead you to panoramic ocean vistas!

Jordan Pond is also located on the loop and is an area well worth checking out. There are plenty of hikes available from here if the scrambling and heights of Beehive and Precipice aren't for you! Some of the options are long and challenging, with the best of the bunch probably the Jordan Cliffs Loop. But shorter hikes are also found, such as in the form of the Jordan Pond Path. Lunch is deservingly available at nearby Jordan Pond House.

For the afternoon, head out to the southwest of the park, where the

picturesque Bass Harbor Lighthouse resides - dating back to 1858! A short walk includes traversing a series of rocks that will take you to the viewpoint, where you can capture one of Acadia's quintessential photos. Echo Lake and the delightful Southwest Harbor are also worth checking out if you have time!

To conclude your day, choose the order of these two depending on the time of year and timings! Grab dinner in Bar Harbor, especially for lobster fans - it is one of Maine's best exports after all! Then head up to Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in the park, to enjoy sunset. Depending on the time of year, you might need to switch these timings around. As one of the northernmost national parks in the US, the seasons are more prominent than in many parks. The changing colours of sunset should scatter the light across the multiple islands of Frenchman Bay. Then turn your attention and gaze out west, directly towards the setting sun, with Jordan Pond in the foreground. A perfect way to end the day in one of the Northeast's finest settings!

If you want to check out more that Acadia has to offer, then look over our complete Acadia National Park guide! Or if you'd like to visit Maine as part of a larger road trip, then feel free to get in touch and we can design you your own custom itinerary!