The largest section of Acadia National Park is located on Mount Desert Island. It’s a national park unlike most others as much of the park is designated as chunks of land around the island – from one end to the other. This makes touring Acadia National Park an even more enjoyable experience because it creates an interesting mix of natural features, great hikes, superb sightseeing and rugged coastline that you would expect from a park. But there is the bonus of many fascinating places, working harbor towns, historical sites, manicured gardens and great little towns and surprises.
Since our travels will take us all over Mount Desert Island, we’ve created the tour with two separate loop routes. Both start and finish near Bar Harbor. Our advice is to spend one day on each loop if you have the time. If you are trying to do the whole island in one day, do the Park Loop Road first, and then finish your day on the Mount Desert Island Loop. And try to get started early!
Thompson Island Visitor Center, Hulls Cove Visitor Center or Bar Harbor.
At least two full days is recommended.
Approx. 90 miles.
Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road for peak season dates. Visit nps.gov for details and reservations.
