The perfect place to get away from it all, Bar Harbor is the quintessential coastal Maine town. A speck on Mount Desert Island, the town is typically the jumping-off point for those visiting Acadia National Park. Summer is high season, when visitors stream into town in search of the perfect lobster roll or frosty ice cream as they stroll along the edge of glittering Frenchman Bay, past art galleries and boutique shops. If you care to avoid the crowds, fall is a gorgeous time to visit, when the foliage explodes in riotous color and the area is more peaceful. Here are our favorite attractions in Bar Harbor, any time of year.
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1. Acadia National Park
Let’s look at Acadia by the numbers: It remains one of the top ten most-visited national parks in the United States. It boasts 27 miles of historic motor roads, making for the perfect scenic drives, plus 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads, ideal for biking. Visitors are attracted to the rugged, rocky Maine coastline, lush forests and mountain peaks, all together creating an epic Northeast natural showpiece. The activities here are countless and fit for all ages – swim, fish, boat, bike, hike, drive, look for wildlife … it’s all available. Among the top attractions in Acadia National Park: Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, the Park Loop Road, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff and Jordan Pond.
Let’s look at Acadia by the numbers: It remains one of the top ten most-visited national parks in the United States. It boasts 27 miles of historic motor roads, making for the perfect scenic drives, plus 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads, ideal for biking. Visitors are attracted to the rugged, rocky Maine coastline, lush forests and mountain peaks, all together creating an epic Northeast natural showpiece. The activities here are countless and fit for all ages – swim, fish, boat, bike, hike, drive, look for wildlife … it’s all available. Among the top attractions in Acadia National Park: Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, the Park Loop Road, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff and Jordan Pond.
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2. Frenchman Bay
Picture-perfect Frenchman Bay is the backdrop for the adorable town of Bar Harbor. You’ll find cruise ships moored in the distance, local boaters coming in and out of the harbor, walking paths along its edges and plenty of spots for fishing, swimming, waterskiing and stand-up paddleboarding. The best views are from Bar Harbor Pier, the Shore Path, Agamont Park, or from atop Cadillac Mountain.
Picture-perfect Frenchman Bay is the backdrop for the adorable town of Bar Harbor. You’ll find cruise ships moored in the distance, local boaters coming in and out of the harbor, walking paths along its edges and plenty of spots for fishing, swimming, waterskiing and stand-up paddleboarding. The best views are from Bar Harbor Pier, the Shore Path, Agamont Park, or from atop Cadillac Mountain.
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3. Cadillac Mountain
Speaking of Cadillac Mountain, this 1,530-foot peak is the queen of Acadia National Park. If you head to the summit at sunrise from early October through the beginning of March, you’ll be one of the first in the nation to see the dawn of the day. You can drive to the top or you can hike the 7.1-mile roundtrip, which should take between two and four hours.
Speaking of Cadillac Mountain, this 1,530-foot peak is the queen of Acadia National Park. If you head to the summit at sunrise from early October through the beginning of March, you’ll be one of the first in the nation to see the dawn of the day. You can drive to the top or you can hike the 7.1-mile roundtrip, which should take between two and four hours.
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4. The Disappearing Bridge to Bar Island
Here today, gone … at high tide. Time your visit right and take the rocky land bridge that connects Bar Harbor to Bar Island. It appears for about three hours at low tide. When it’s there, you can bike, walk or drive across it, then hike the one-mile trail to the highest point of Bar Island for great views of the surrounding area. Pay attention to the time so you don’t get stranded until the next low tide!
Here today, gone … at high tide. Time your visit right and take the rocky land bridge that connects Bar Harbor to Bar Island. It appears for about three hours at low tide. When it’s there, you can bike, walk or drive across it, then hike the one-mile trail to the highest point of Bar Island for great views of the surrounding area. Pay attention to the time so you don’t get stranded until the next low tide!
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5. Abbe Museum
Delve into local history and celebrate the Wabanki people at the Abbe Museum, set along a trailside in Acadia National Park (closed October to May). There are numerous interactive exhibits educating visitors about the art, history and culture of the native people who once lived in the area. There’s a second, more modern location open year-round on Mount Desert Street in downtown Bar Harbor, where you’ll find more exhibits as well as special events, workshops and archaeology classes.
Delve into local history and celebrate the Wabanki people at the Abbe Museum, set along a trailside in Acadia National Park (closed October to May). There are numerous interactive exhibits educating visitors about the art, history and culture of the native people who once lived in the area. There’s a second, more modern location open year-round on Mount Desert Street in downtown Bar Harbor, where you’ll find more exhibits as well as special events, workshops and archaeology classes.
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6. Jordan Pond
Canoe or kayak across the crystal-clear waters of glacially formed Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park. Or, hike the three-mile trail around the pond’s perimeter. Make a reservation for tea at the famous Jordan Pond House – be sure to indulge in a popover, a treat at the tea house since Nellie McIntire, the restaurant’s first owner, served these flaky, buttery treats in 1893.
Canoe or kayak across the crystal-clear waters of glacially formed Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park. Or, hike the three-mile trail around the pond’s perimeter. Make a reservation for tea at the famous Jordan Pond House – be sure to indulge in a popover, a treat at the tea house since Nellie McIntire, the restaurant’s first owner, served these flaky, buttery treats in 1893.
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7. Schoodic Peninsula
Hike the easy Alder Trail or the moderate East Trail or Schoodic Head Trail at this scenic spot in Acadia National Park. Be sure to have your camera handy to snap photos of the headlands and lighthouses. You can also jump on a free Island Explorer bus in the summer or early fall and get a tour of the peninsula.
Hike the easy Alder Trail or the moderate East Trail or Schoodic Head Trail at this scenic spot in Acadia National Park. Be sure to have your camera handy to snap photos of the headlands and lighthouses. You can also jump on a free Island Explorer bus in the summer or early fall and get a tour of the peninsula.
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8. George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History
Dig deeper into the natural history of the area at the George B. Dorr Museum. A family favorite, the museum has an interactive tide pool tank where you’ll find sea stars and hermit crabs. Touch whale bones, furs and skulls or help assemble the skeleton of a minke whale.
Dig deeper into the natural history of the area at the George B. Dorr Museum. A family favorite, the museum has an interactive tide pool tank where you’ll find sea stars and hermit crabs. Touch whale bones, furs and skulls or help assemble the skeleton of a minke whale.
Bar Harbor, Maine FAQ:
Where is Bar Harbor located?
Bar Harbor is located on Mount Desert Island on the Atlantic coast of Maine, 285 miles from Boston and 486 miles from New York City.
Do I need a car to visit Bar Harbor?
Driving is the easiest way to get to Bar Harbor. Amtrak Downeaster service is available between Boston, Massachusetts, and Portland, Freeport and Brunswick, Maine. Once you are on the island, you can use the free shuttle that drives throughout Acadia National Park. The main area of Bar Harbor is walkable.
Driving is the easiest way to get to Bar Harbor. Amtrak Downeaster service is available between Boston, Massachusetts, and Portland, Freeport and Brunswick, Maine. Once you are on the island, you can use the free shuttle that drives throughout Acadia National Park. The main area of Bar Harbor is walkable.
When is the best time to visit Bar Harbor?
This depends on your tolerance for crowds. If you want comfortable temperatures and fewer people, visit during May, September or October. Summer is high season, when the days are longer and warmer, but you will have bigger crowds with which to contend.
This depends on your tolerance for crowds. If you want comfortable temperatures and fewer people, visit during May, September or October. Summer is high season, when the days are longer and warmer, but you will have bigger crowds with which to contend.