Acadia National Park is home to scenic coastlines, rugged mountains, and incredible views. You’ll find loads of great hiking options, and while a lot of the trails are difficult, you’ll still manage to find some that won’t destroy your legs. There’s a lot to see and do and with just two days at Acadia National Park, you’ll have to pick and choose to make the most of your time.
For those planning their first visit to Acadia National Park, this is what I would recommend.
Acadia National Park in Two Days
As always, this is not the only way to spend two days at Acadia National Park, but it’s what I recommend. It takes a lot of influence from my own trip to Acadia National Park, but makes a few minor tweaks to take out a strenuous hike and add in some more scenic views instead.
Day One
The first of these two days at Acadia National Park is all about Park Loop Road. You’ll drive along the coast, stop for one of the most iconic hikes, and enjoy plenty of great views.
Note that this itinerary starts at 8:00, but that means you should be at your first destination at 8:00 am. For day one, it’s the Beehive Trail which is very popular and very busy. In high season and on weekends, you may want to consider starting even earlier.
8:00 – Hike the Beehive Trail
The first stop of the day is the Beehive Trail. It’s one of the most popular trails at Acadia National Park, so tackle it first in the hopes that crowds will be lower. That’s no guarantee of course. I arrived at 8:00 am on a Saturday in September and it was very busy (though the next day had nearly half the traffic at the same time).
The Beehive Trail is adventurous and features metal rungs drilled into the rock cliffs to help pull yourself along. I didn’t find this to be too bad (though I wouldn’t call it easy, especially for shorter people like me), but everyone is different. It’s important to properly research the Beehive Trail before you start because the trail has a one way system. Once you start it’s nearly impossible to pass others or turn around.
I logged 1.6 miles and 512 feet of elevation on the Beehive Trail and it took me an hour and 10 minutes. I spent a little bit of time at the top, but not a lot. The views were great, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the impromptu ukulele concert happening at the top of the mountain.
Note that if you don’t want to use the rung ladders and walk along cliff edges, you can still reach the main viewpoint by heading up the Bowl Trail. This takes you up the back way and while you’re sure to pass people who are descending from the Beehive, this section of trail can be hiked in either direction (the main Beehive Trail is one way due to the ladders and metal rungs).
9:30 – Drive the Acadia Park Loop
Now that your first hike is complete, it’s time to visit some of the scenic overlooks along Park Loop Road. This road loops through the park and provides a great sightseeing spine. The only important thing to note is this is a one way road so a few stops are likely behind you since we tackled the Beehive Trail first. Don’t worry. There will be time at the end of the day to circle back to any stops you may have missed.
Before you leave the Beehive Trail, stop at Sand Cove for a sandy view of the coast. Just down the way is Thunder Hole which turns into a big attraction at high tide as the waves hit the rocks and sound like thunder (don’t worry, it’s still cool at other points of the day, it just won’t be as dramatic). The Otter Cliffs and Otter Point are both good options and you can’t go wrong with either. That said, I really liked the views along the pullout near Otter Cove Bridge. A bit further away is Western Point which I also enjoyed.
You’re in no rush to make it to your next stop so climb the rocks along the coast and enjoy the views.
11:00 – Hike Around Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond is another very popular area at Acadia National Park. You’ll find the Jordan Pond House, which has food if you need a lunch break and some great hiking trails. Because of this area’s popularity, parking can be difficult, but have patience and hopefully you’ll manage to find a spot from someone leaving.
So where do you hike at Jordan Pond? In my mind, there’s a handful of options. The easiest trail is the Jordan Pond Path which does a mostly flat loop all around the pond. For those who don’t want a lot of strenuous hiking, this can be a great option. And yes, I do think it’s worth circling the pond because my favorite views can from the very north end of the pond.
The Jordan Cliffs are located on the western side of Jordan Pond and are a strenuous adventure trail. Be prepared for a lot of rock scrambling, cliff edges, and a few metal rungs. This trail kicked my butt and gave my quads a serious workout. My only complaint is that there wasn’t one sweeping view of the area. My guess is that if I’d have taken the spur to Penobscot Mountain I’d have gotten an excellent view, but my legs just didn’t have it in them anymore.
From the north end of Jordan Pond, you can connect to the South Bubble. The Bubbles are two mountains nearby and climbing these offer fantastic views of the area. The Jordan Cliffs were nearly empty, but I passed plenty of people along this trail and of the people I talked to, most just hiked the South Bubble. I came up the back and had minimal rock scrambling. I then descended down the front of the South Bubble which definitely had more scrambling involved. As someone who prefers scrambling up to scrambling down, I feel like this is important to mention.
Which trail you do and how much you hike is up to you, but enjoy the views and savor this area.
1:30 – Cadillac Mountain Road (Optional)
This next stop is optional. You will visit Cadillac Mountain for sunrise tomorrow, but as you continue to loop around Park Loop Road, you’ll pass the entrance for the mountain. You will need a reservation to drive to to the top, but I’d consider making two (one for sunrise and one for another time during the day).
Why do I recommend going twice? It means you’re more likely to have better weather. I went for sunrise on Day 2 of my trip to Acadia. Fog rolled in about 20 minutes before sunrise and we couldn’t see a thing. That was a huge bummer. So if I were to do this trip again, I’d get two reservations for Cadillac Mountain: one for the afternoon and one for sunrise the next morning, just to try to guarantee that you’ll eventually get those amazing views.
As you drive up the mountain, you’ll pass plenty of pull outs which give nice views. If you’re here on a foggy day, you may find better views at these viewpoints than from the top of the mountain.
2:30 – Remaining Stops Along Park Loop Road
Finish your day by doing the remaining stops on Park Loop Road. You’ll pass Eagle Lake which has a lovely little pull out.
From there, loop back around to visit some of the stops you likely missed earlier in the day. The Wild Gardens of Acadia are home to numerous native plants and have nice walking paths through the gardens. There’s also a nature center where you can learn more.
Lastly, I want to mention Schooner Head which has a nice view from the parking lot, but if you take the path down to the rocky shores, it’s even better.
3:30 – Return to Bar Harbor
Your one day at Acadia is over. Head to Bar Harbor (or wherever you’re staying for the night) and take some time to relax, get something to eat, and explore the town. My recommendation is to treat yourself to some lobster. You’re in coastal Maine after all.
Day Two
For the second of two days at Acadia National Park, I recommend venturing beyond Park Loop Road. Mostly. Head up Cadillac Mountain for sunrise, but then venture to other areas of the park.
Sunrise – Cadillac Mountain
On a clear day, sunrise at Cadillac Mountain is supposed to be one of the best in the United States. I wouldn’t know because while I got my reservation and drove up the mountain for sunrise, fog rolled in and I couldn’t see much, which was a huge bummer. Still, I recommend trying for it because pictures I’ve seen are gorgeous.
You’ll drive up the mountain in the dark. Even though it’s early and still dark outside, rangers will still be there checking permits, so make sure to pick up your reservation in advance. At the top of the mountain, find a parking spot and then head out onto the granite rock. Find somewhere that looks comfortable and will have a good view and get ready to wait for sunrise.
After you’ve gotten your wonderful sunrise views (my fingers are crossed for you!), it’s time to work your way back down the mountain. There’s a few pullouts you can stop at. If you got that great sunrise, I’m not sure how spectacular those viewpoints will seem, but if you’re like me and your sunrise was covered in fog, those viewpoints offer a chance for you to imagine what you might have seen from the top of the mountain.
Exit Cadillac Mountain and head to your next stop.
9:00 – Hike Beech Mountain Trail/Valley Trail
There’s numerous different hiking trails you can do around Beech Mountain. For people wanting something a bit more adventurous, I’d recommend looking at hiking Beech Mountain via the Canadian Cliffs. This was my original plan but my legs took such a beating at the Jordan Cliffs the day before that I looked in to some easier options.
For me, the easier option meant hiking to the Beech Mountain Fire Tower and along the Valley Trail to the Beech Cliffs. I did this as two separate trails back to back since they both leave from the same parking lot. The Beech Mountain Trail to the Fire Tower was a 1.6 mile loop and offered nice views from the fire tower but also had great views of Long Pond.
I logged 1.7 miles on the Valley Trail. For the most part this trail is easy (though it’s Acadia so there’s uneven ground and a tiny bit of rock scrambling), but adding in the Beech Cliffs takes it ever so slightly into a moderate hike. That said, I would recommend adding in the Beech Cliffs as it was my favorite view along this trail.
11:30 – Hike to Flying Mountain
Flying Mountain is an easier mountain hike at Acadia National Park and it’s where I recommend heading next. You’ll start with a 300 foot climb to the summit, but from there, it’s a pretty easy trail. Enjoy the view at Flying Mountain, but keep hiking. You’ll eventually pass Valley Cove, which is a small beach with mountain views. This was my favorite part of the Flying Mountain Trail, especially because I was able to have the beach to myself for nearly 20 minutes. It’s a great spot for a lunch of snack break.
Note that the parking lot for Flying Mountain is incredibly small. Don’t be surprised if you need to park along the road instead of in the main lot.
1:00 – Hike the Wonderland Trail
I have two more hiking trails for today and both are easy trails. The first is the Wonderland Trail which takes you through a the woods and out to the coast. Once there, you can rock scramble to get closer to the ocean or just take in the views. It’s a nice trail, don’t get me wrong, but I actually think that the Ship Harbor Trail (covered next) is better. If you only have the energy for one more trail, skip the Wonderland Trail and hike the Ship Harbor Trail instead.
I logged 1.5 miles on the Wonderland Trail.
1:45 – Hike the Ship Harbor Trail
Just down the road from the Wonderland Trail is the Ship Harbor Trail. It’s another 1.5 mile trail, but I found the scenery to be more diverse on this trail. It’s a bit more difficult than the Wonderland Trail, but I’d still consider the Ship Harbor Trail an easy trail.
Like the Wonderland Trail, you’ll hike through a forest, out to the coast, and then back through the forest to reach the trail head. But the views are more varied. I felt like there was more time along the water and the trail made a larger loop so there was just more scenery. This is a hike that I really enjoyed at Acadia National Park.
2:45 – Visit Bass Harbor Lighthouse
The Bass Harbor Lighthouse isn’t my favorite lighthouse in Maine (you can’t beat Porthead Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth), but you’re right here, so if you want to add a quick stop to a lighthouse, you’re pretty close to this one.
From the parking lot, you can either head to the right and walk right up to the lighthouse or head to the left and get a few views from the rocky cliffs. My problem with this lighthouse is that it’s hard to get a really nice view of the lighthouse. From the trail to the right, you feel too close and from the rocky cliffs on the left it feels too far away. Unfortunately there’s no happy medium. But if you’re in the area, it’s an easy lighthouse to add to your itinerary.
Note that the parking lot has limited space so you may have to wait for someone to leave before you can park. I had to wait about 15 minutes or so for a spot, so it wasn’t too bad, but its definitely something I wasn’t expecting.
3:15 – Return to Bar Harbor
That’s a wrap on two days at Acadia National Park. Head back to Bar Harbor for dinner, shopping, and relaxing in town.
Is Two Days at Acadia National Park Enough?
I think two days at Acadia National Park is perfect for a first time visitor. It allows you to see the highlights of Park Loop Road and Cadillac Mountain, but it also allows you to venture off into some of the other areas of the park. You can see a lot with one day at Acadia National Park, but I recommend trying to give yourself two days.
If you have more than two days at Acadia National Park, there are more things to see. However, I would recommend spending your time elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, Acadia is beautiful, but so is much of Maine. There’s so much more to see beyond just Acadia National Park.
Entrance Fees for Acadia National Park
Entrance to Acadia National Park costs $35 per vehicle and your pass will be valid for seven consecutive days. Annual passes, such as the America the Beautiful pass are also accepted.
Note that visiting Cadillac Mountain Road comes with an additional fee. To visit Cadillac Mountain Road, you’ll need to pick up a reservation which comes with a timed entry. You can stay as long as you want, but you must have a valid entrance ticket in order to be permitted to drive up the mountain. Reservations cost $6 per vehicle.
Getting Around Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park surprised me with its transit system. While many national parks through the United States force visitors to have their own form of transportation, Acadia is different. You can bring your own vehicle, but if you don’t have a vehicle, you can still get to most places in the park.
A handy shuttle service connects Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Then within park, additional shuttles help to move visitors around. In total, there’s 11 lines that take visitors to all of the main sights throughout Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. And the best part? This shuttle is completely free thanks to a massive donation that LL Bean makes to Acadia National Park each year.
Where to Stay at Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor is the closest town and sits right outside Acadia National Park. This is where most visitors stay as it’s the most convenient. You’ll have about a 15 to 20 minute drive to the popular Park Loop Road. That said, prices for hotels in Bar Harbor are understandably high. Make sure to budget accordingly.
I travel on a budget so my accommodation situation looked a little different. I spent the night in Bangor, which is about an hour and a half away from Acadia National Park. I left Bangor early in the morning and spent the day exploring Acadia National Park. Then I spent one night in Bar Harbor since I had tickets for sunrise at Cadillac Mountain the next morning. After a second day of exploring Acadia National Park, I drove back to Bangor where hotels were cheaper.
When to Visit Acadia National Park
Acadia is best visited from May through October as this is when the top sights are open. During the winter months, you can still visit Acadia National Park, but some roads close and the hiking can become dangerous.
In summer, you’ll have the warmest weather, but you can also expect a decent amount of tourists. Normally as it gets later in the season, crowds thin out, but this is New England which is famous for its fall foliage. In late September and October, you can expect big crowds who come not just to see Acadia National Park, but also to see all the bright fall colors.
I visited in mid September and had really great weather. The trees had barely started to turn colors so if it’s important to you that you see the fall colors, I’d recommend early October. That said, there’s no guarantee when you’ll get peak colors as it changes slightly every year based on weather.
Final Thoughts
With just two days at Acadia National Park, you have enough time to explore the highlights and get a little off the beaten track (though with this itinerary, you’ll still find plenty of other visitors). I think this is the perfect way for a first time visitor to spend their time at Acadia.
Continue Your Adventure
Acadia National Park: Tackle the popular Beehive Trail or simply hike around Jordan Pond. While much of Acadia National Park is rocky, here’s my favorite easy hikes. And don’t miss the highlights of Park Loop Road.
Maine: In Portland, cruise the islands on a Mail Boat Tour. Nearby Portland is Cape Elizabeth which is home to the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. Learn more in my Maine Travel Guide where you’ll also find my five day Maine itinerary.
Maine: In Portland, cruise the islands on a Mail Boat Tour. Nearby Portland is Cape Elizabeth which is home to the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. Learn more in my Maine Travel Guide.
More in New England: Maine is just the beginning of adventures in New England. In Rhode Island, tour the over the top mansions in Newport. In Connecticut, visit the historic fishing village of Mystic or one of its many state parks. Take a quick detour through New York to visit Albany. And don’t miss out on Stowe, Vermont – it’s a favorite among many travelers. Loop together these highlights in a great itinerary in either 10 days or one week.
US National Parks: Start planning your national park vacation with my US National Park Travel Guide. You’ll find information about each park, photos, itineraries, budget tips, advice for non-hikers, and more. Plus, don’t forget to book your timed entry reservations in advance!