Perfect One Day in Acadia National Park Itinerary for First-Timers

Looking to make the most of your day trip to Acadia National Park?

In a region of the US not known for national parks, Acadia is a rare find that delivers more than expected. The park has granite peaks, winding carriage roads, and a coastline pounded by mesmerizing rough seas.

Every corner felt like it held another view worth stopping for. This itinerary breaks down a one day in Acadia national park itinerary, hitting the park’s standout spots without feeling rushed.

The sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, tide pools along the coast, and a loop through the trails pulls in so many return visitors to this corner of Maine.

Sample One Day in Acadia National Park Itinerary

To keep everything in one place, here’s a packed, all-in-one day trip itinerary for Acadia.

If you’d rather let someone else handle the planning, join this top-rated narrated bus tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia!

Join This Tour

• Drive the Park Loop Road for an overview of the park.
• Hike the Beehive Trail, a challenging climb with iron rungs for great ocean views.
• Visit Sand Beach for a quick swim or walk along an iconic stretch of shoreline.
• Hike the Gorham Mountain Trail, a moderate loop with coastline views and distant islands.
• Stop at Thunder Hole to catch the crashing waves at high tide.
• Have lunch at Jordan Pond House, Acadia’s only in-park restaurant for popovers and tea.
• Hike the Jordan Pond Path for views of the Bubbles and the pond.
• Summit Cadillac Mountain, either by hiking the South Ridge Trail or driving to the summit for the highest view in the park.
• Optional: Explore Jordan Cliffs Trail for a challenging, less crowded hike.
• Take a sunset cruise or kayak tour to see the park from the water.
• End the day with dinner in Bar Harbor and stroll the waterfront.

Recommended Places to Stay Near Acadia

📍Bar Harbor, ME: Bar Harbor Motel
📍Bar Harbor, ME: Acadia Inn
📍Bar Harbor, ME: Bar Harbor Inn and Spa

Quick Facts to Visiting Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is the only national park in the Northeast, and it packs a lot into its 47,000 acres, from rocky coastlines to Cadillac Mountain, the first place in the US to catch the sunrise for much of the year.

Millions every year are drawn to its granite peaks, pristine lakes, and over 158 miles of hiking trails. If you visit in late summer, pick bundles of wild blueberries growing along the trails.

Know Before You Go!

• Vehicle Reservation Required for Cadillac Mountain: From late May to mid-October, a timed entry reservation is needed to drive up Cadillac Summit Road. Book in advance on Recreation.gov.
• Park Loop Road Closures: Portions of the Park Loop Road close from December to mid-April, including the section to Cadillac Mountain. Check status.
• Free Shuttle Service: The Island Explorer Shuttle operates from late June through mid-October and connects major park sites and Bar Harbor.
• No Gas Stations Inside the Park: Fill up in Bar Harbor or Ellsworth before entering.
• Bike Rentals and Carriages: Bikes are permitted on the Carriage Roads, but motor vehicles are not.

What to Do in Acadia in One Day

Drive the Park Loop Road

Enter the park via the Hull’s Cove Visitor Center to grab a map, check trail conditions, and purchase a park pass. From here, Park Loop Road winds through Acadia’s key attractions, offering a 27-mile national park drive that connects many of the park’s top spots.

The drive is packed with scenic overlooks, so allow time for quick pull-offs at spots like Sieur de Monts Spring to explore the Wild Gardens of Acadia and Otter Cliff, where waves crash dramatically against granite. This drive sets the stage for everything you’ll see and do later in the day.

The Beehive Trail

• Distance: 1.4 miles roundtrip
• Difficulty: Strenuous

After the scenic drive, park at the Sand Beach parking lot, the starting point for the Beehive Trail. This trail is pretty difficult, with steep sections, narrow ledges, and metal rungs bolted into the granite.

The hike begins with a steady uphill climb through the pine forest before hitting the first iron rungs. From here, it’s a hands-on ascent up exposed cliffs with nothing but open air to one side and views of the Atlantic Ocean and Sand Beach below.

At the summit, the trail levels out, giving views of Great Head and the surrounding coastline. The descent follows the Bowl Trail, a less intense path that loops you back to the starting point.

Walk Along Sand Beach

Back at the base of the Beehive, cross the parking lot to Sand Beach, a small but picturesque crescent of soft sand between steep cliffs. This is one of the few sandy beaches in Maine, and the water is shockingly cold, even in summer.

If you’re brave, take a quick dip. Otherwise, walk the length of the beach, watching for seabirds and sea glass.

Hike the Gorham Mountain Trail

• Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip
• Difficulty: Moderate

The trailhead for Gorham Mountain Trail is just across the road from Sand Beach. This loop hike is a great way to keep the momentum going with more coastal scenery.

The ascent is steady, with granite steps and boulder scrambles leading up to the summit of Gorham Mountain. Look for spur trails leading to the Cadillac Cliffs, where massive boulders and rock formations create a dramatic backdrop.

At the top, you can see Otter Cliff, Sand Beach, and the open Atlantic. The descent follows a rocky path back to the trailhead, completing the loop.

Stop at Thunder Hole

Continue along Park Loop Road to the Thunder Hole parking area, a quick 5-minute drive from Gorham Mountain. This natural rock inlet is famous for the loud, booming sound created when waves crash against the rocks and force air through a small cavern.

The best time to visit is 1–2 hours before high tide when the waves are at their most powerful. Stand on the viewing platform and watch as water shoots up from the blowhole, sometimes reaching 40 feet in the air. Expect to get wet if you’re close to the railings.

Lunch at Jordan Pond House

Drive to Jordan Pond House, Acadia’s only in-park restaurant and a longtime tradition for popovers and tea.

Grab a seat on the lawn overlooking Jordan Pond and the twin Bubbles, two round hills that rise up from the water. The restaurant’s famous popovers are served warm with butter and jam.

Hike the Jordan Pond Path

• Distance: 3.3 miles loop
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

After lunch, walk the Jordan Pond Path, a loop trail that circles the perimeter of Jordan Pond. The trail starts as a flat gravel path but becomes rockier and more uneven along the western shore, with some sections of wooden boardwalks.

Along the way, you’ll get postcard-worthy views of the Bubbles reflecting in the water and dense forests hugging the shoreline. This is a perfect cool-down hike with plenty of spots to enjoy the scenery.

Summit Cadillac Mountain

To end the day, head up to Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the East Coast and the first place to see sunrise in the US for much of the year. You probably won’t have time to do this hike on a day trip, but you can drive to the summit and explore the short paved loop trail for views of Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor, and the surrounding islands.

Hike Info (South Ridge Trail):

• Distance: 7.1 miles roundtrip
• Difficulty: Strenuous

If you’re a big hiker, take the South Ridge Trail, which starts near the Blackwoods Campground and climbs steadily through rocky terrain and open granite ledges. At the top, the 360° views are well worth the effort, with colorful sunsets casting a warm glow over the landscape.

Optional: Explore Jordan Cliffs Trail

• Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
• Difficulty: Strenuous

If you still have time and energy, tackle the Jordan Cliffs Trail, a more remote and challenging national park hike that connects to the Jordan Pond area. This trail includes narrow ledges, iron rungs, and steep drops, making it less crowded but also more technical.

You’ll ascend along rocky cliffs, with views down to Jordan Pond and across to Penobscot Mountain.

Take a Sunset Cruise or Kayak Tour

Before returning to the outdoorsy town, Bar Harbor, take a sunset cruise or rent a kayak to see the park from the water. Local tours paddle around Bar Island and the Porcupine Islands, where you can spot seals, porpoises, or bald eagles.

End the Day in Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor, Acadia’s gateway town, is a great place to grab dinner. Walk the waterfront and stop for fresh lobster at a dockside restaurant.

If you still have energy, take a quick stroll along the Shore Path, a scenic walkway that hugs the coast for one last view of the Atlantic, before calling it a day.

Where to Stay

Bar Harbor is the best base for the closest access to park entrances, dining, and lodging. You can easily catch the Island Explorer Shuttle, walk to waterfront restaurants, and be within minutes of the Park Loop Road and Cadillac Mountain.

If you’re looking for slightly quieter, less touristy options, nearby Ellsworth and Southwest Harbor feel more local.

Best Hotels near Acadia

📍Bar Harbor, ME: Bar Harbor Motel
📍Bar Harbor, ME: Acadia Inn
📍Bar Harbor, ME: Bar Harbor Inn and Spa

Places to Visit with More Time

• Schoodic Peninsula – Explore the quieter, less-visited side of Acadia.
• Isle au Haut – Take the ferry to this remote island for hiking trails away from the crowds.
• Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse – Visit this iconic lighthouse at sunset for some of the park’s best photo ops.
• Echo Lake Beach – A freshwater alternative to Sand Beach with warmer water.
• Carriage Roads & Stone Bridges – Rent a bike for miles of scenic paths designed by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
• Precipice Trail – One of the most dangerous hikes in the country with a challenging, ladder-assisted climb up sheer cliffs (closed seasonally for peregrine falcon nesting).
• Asticou Azalea Garden – Japanese-inspired gardens near Northeast Harbor.

Day Trips Near Acadia (Within 3 Hours)

• Bangor, ME (1 hr) – Historic riverfront town with the famous Paul Bunyan statue.
• Camden, ME (1.5 hrs) – Beautiful coastal town with harbor views and access to Camden Hills State Park.
• Bar Harbor Whale Watching Tours (30 min) – Take a boat tour to spot humpback whales, puffins, and seals.
• Moosehead Lake (3 hrs) – The largest lake in Maine, perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and spotting moose.
• Lubec, ME (2 hrs 45 min) – Easternmost point in the US, with a lighthouse and views of Canada’s Campobello Island.

Is One Day Enough for Acadia?

One day in Acadia National Park can give you a solid introduction to the park’s highlights, especially if you focus on the Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain, and a couple of short hikes like Beehive Trail or Jordan Pond Path. It’s a busy but doable itinerary to see the most iconic views.

More time is ideal. With two or three days, you can venture to the Schoodic Peninsula, tackle longer trails like the Precipice Trail, and explore the Carriage Roads by bike.

Best Time to Visit Acadia National Park

The best time to visit Acadia is late spring through early fall, when all roads, trails, and campgrounds are open. From mid-June to September, temperatures are mild, wildflowers are in bloom, and the Island Explorer shuttle makes getting around easy. Summer is the most crowded time, but it is also when the park is most fully accessible, including the ladder trails like Beehive and Precipice.

For fewer crowds and cooler weather, early fall (late September to mid-October) is prime time to visit the park’s famous autumn foliage. Winter is the quietest season in Acadia, but many trails and sections of the Park Loop Road close, limiting access to lower elevations and cross-country skiing routes.

How to Get There

Acadia National Park is located on Mount Desert Island in Maine, about 50 miles from Bangor and 175 miles from Portland. The nearest airport is Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB), just 12 miles from the park entrance. Larger airports like Bangor International (BGR) and Portland International Jetport (PWM) require a longer drive.

For those driving, Route 1A connects Bangor to Ellsworth and then to Bar Harbor, where you can enter the park through Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Visitors coming from the south along the coast can take the scenic Route 1, passing through small towns like Camden and Belfast.

Parking is limited within the park, so consider using the Island Explorer Shuttle, which operates seasonally and connects key areas of the park with Bar Harbor and nearby villages.

For rental cars, use DiscoverCars to compare rates, or rent a campervan through Outdoorsy.

Cat Xu

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Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.

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