The Perfect One Day in Acadia National Park Itinerary
Acadia National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks, offering ocean and mountain views. It has a uniqueness not found anywhere else in Maine, which is why it is one of the most visited national parks in the US.
I have visited Acadia National Park many times throughout my life since I grew up in New England, and I have explored everything the park has to offer. Now I can provide you with this helpful guide with everything you need to know to spend one day in Acadia National Park!
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Tips for Spending One Day in Acadia National Park
Start your day early. Acadia National Park is among the most visited national parks in the US and has over 2.5 million visitors each year. The peak seasons to visit Acadia National Park are the summer and fall. When it becomes crowded, the park entrances will stop traffic from entering the park. I highly recommend starting your day early because it will allow you to enjoy the popular areas without most crowds, and you won’t experience high traffic until later in the day. It will also give you the most time to explore the park, especially if you are hiking in Acadia National Park.
Pack food and water. Although there are a few towns near Acadia National Park with restaurants, I recommend packing the food and water you will need for the day. It will allow you to not deal with traffic to come back into the park, especially during the peak seasons.
Use the Island Explorer Shuttle. When the park is busy, you have the option of riding Acadia’s Island Explorer Shuttle, so you don’t have to deal with traffic or parking. The Island Explorer Shuttle is free, runs from late June to early October, and brings you to most of the must-see sights in Acadia National Park.
Part of the Park Loop Road closes in the winter. If you visit Acadia National Park in the off-season, you need to know that part of the Park Loop Road will be closed. Some of the must-see sights aren't easily accessible because of the road closure.
Buy your vehicle reservations for Cadillac Summit Road in advance. Beginning in 2021, Acadia National Park is implementing a vehicle reservation system to drive Cadillac Summit Road. The road leads you to Cadillac Summit, the most iconic place to watch the sunrise and sunset in the park. The reservation has a small cost and is available to purchase in advance. You can read more about the reservation system here.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Where to Stay For One Day in Acadia National Park
It is always good to be in an area where restaurants, grocery stores, ice cream shops (who does not love a good ice cream cone), and everything else you need is nearby. Bar Harbor is the perfect place to find a place to stay when you visit Acadia National Park because it has everything conveniently located nearby, including the entrance to Acadia National Park. There are also many nearby towns offer cheaper accommodations.
Note: Many accommodations in Bar Harbor book up as far as a year in advance. Once you create your Acadia National Park itinerary, I highly recommend booking the Acadia National Park hotels as soon as possible.
Bar Harbor Hotels and Campgrounds:
What to Pack for One Day in Acadia National Park
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
The Best One Day in Acadia National Park Itinerary
Watch the Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is the iconic place to watch the sunrise in Acadia National Park, so it will be the first thing you do in your one day in Acadia National Park! Cadillac Mountain is the tallest mountain in the park and is one of three places in Maine that sees the sunrise first in the entire US during certain times of the year!
The 3.5-mile road is open in the summer and fall and brings you to the top of the mountain. There is a short 0.5-mile paved path that leads you around the top, where you can take in the beautiful views! It is easily one of my favorite spots to watch the sunrise in the park.
Because it is iconic, Cadillac Mountain is the most popular place to watch the sunrise. You will want to make sure to make your vehicle reservation system before you go!
Stop at Blue Hill Overlook
On the drive down from Cadillac Mountain, make sure to stop at Blue Hill Overlook! The overlook offers stunning views of the ocean. If Cadillac Mountain is very crowded, Blue Hill Overlook is a great alternative to watch the sunrise.
Explore Schooner Head Overlook
Once you watch the sunrise, it is time to begin the beautiful scenic Park Loop Road drive. Schooner Head is one of the first overlooks and offers views of the ocean and the Egg Rock Lighthouse.
I highly recommend walking down the path from the parking lot to the rocky coast! The views are some of my favorites.
Visit Sand Beach
Sand Beach is one of the most popular areas in Acadia National Park, and for good reasons. The scenic beach surrounded by cliffs is the perfect place to have a picnic, swim, or relax. Because Sand Beach is popular, it always has crowds. Since you are visiting in the morning, you should be able to enjoy it with fewer crowds.
From the Sand Beach parking lot, you follow a path down a set of stairs to the shores of the beach. If you are up for an easy hike, you can hike the Great Head Trail. The 1.6-mile trail begins on the east side of Sand Beach and loops around the peninsula, providing beautiful views! I love hiking the Great Head Trail because it allows you to escape the crowds.
Visit the Iconic Thunder Hole
Thunder Hole is the next stop on Park Loop Road and is an iconic spot in Acadia National Park. It is a small area carved out of the rocks naturally and has a thunder sound when waves crash in it. If the ocean is calm, you will not hear the loud sound, but on a day when the waves are big, especially after a storm, you will be impressed by the sound!
Thunder Hole is an easy and short walk from the parking lot and offers beautiful views of the surrounding area. I still visit Thunder Hole when I visit Acadia National Park because hearing the thunder sound is always fun!
Walk to Otter Cliff
As you continue the drive on Park Loop Road, there will be many small overlooks that I highly recommend stopping at if you have time in your one day in Acadia National Park! Otter Cliff is one of the most popular cliffs in the park and offers beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding cliffs.
Otter Cliff sits 110 feet tall and is one of the highest headlamps north of Rio de Janeiro! You can take in the views from the cliffs or enjoy a walk along the Ocean Path Trail. The Ocean Path Trail is one of my favorite trails because the views are incredible as it follows along the coast.
Hike around Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond is one of the most popular areas in Acadia National Park, and for good reasons! It is at the base of North Bubble and South Bubble Mountains that you can see across the pond. You can enjoy a walk around the pond to take in the views.
The Jordan Pond Path is one of my favorite easy hikes in the park. The views are stunning, and it is great for all ages!
If you are hungry, you can enjoy a delicious meal at the Jordan Pond House while taking in the scenic views of Jordan Pond. The restaurant is on the expensive side but is a great place to eat in the park!
Explore the Carriage Roads
Acadia National Park has over 45 miles of carriage roads that are perfect for walking or biking! John D. Rockefeller Jr gifted and built them in the early 1900s. Acadia National Park has taken pride in maintaining the carriage road systems to allow guests to experience their beauty. You can rent or bring bikes and enjoy a beautiful and easy ride through the historic carriage roads.
Watch the Sunset at your favorite spot
It is time to end your fun one day in Acadia National Park by enjoying a beautiful sunset along the ocean! You can choose to watch the sunset from your favorite location in the park. A few great spots are Otter Point, Cadillac Mountain, and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.
I usually always watch the sunset from Otter Cliff because it is stunning. Cadillac Mountain is also one of the best places to watch it if you can get a reservation!
The Best Hikes for One Day in Acadia National Park
Cadillac North Ridge Trail
One of the best ways to start your one day in Acadia National Park is to watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain. Although the most popular way to reach the summit is to drive, there are hiking trails to the mountain as well! The hiking trails will be a lot less crowded than the road, so you can enjoy some peace before watching the sunrise.
Cadillac North Ridge Trail is one of the shortest trails to the summit, making it perfect for a sunrise hike. The 4-mile round trip trail begins on Park Loop Road and gradually ascends to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.
Cadillac North Ridge Trail passes Great Hill and wildflowers and travels near the Cadillac Summit Road. Once you reach Cadillac Mountain, you can hike along the paved path until you find a spot to watch the sunrise. I love hiking this trail because it is stunning and a great way to avoid needing a reservation to get to Cadillac Mountain.
Precipice Trail
The Precipice Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Acadia National Park because it offers incredible views and a fun hike with iron rungs. The trail is very steep and not suitable for small children or anyone who does not like heights.
The Precipice Trail gradually ascends to the trail junction with Orange & Black Path. I recommend hiking the 2-mile loop clockwise, so the trail continues left on the Precipice Trail to the summit of Champlain Mountain. The Precipice Trail becomes very steep and follows along a cliff. There are iron rungs, ladders, and handrails to help you hike along the trail.
Soon enough, the trail reaches Champlain Mountain and offers beautiful views of the surrounding area! The loop continues on the Champlain North Ridge Trail until it turns onto the Orange & Black Path to bring you back to the parking lot.
NOTE: The Precipice Trail is closed from mid-April to August due to falcon nesting.
Beehive Trail
The Beehive Trail is similar to the Precipice Trail because it is steep and travels along a cliff. Because of this, the trail is not suitable for small children or anyone who does not like heights.
The hike begins across the street from the Sand Beach parking lot and travels on the Bowl Trail until it reaches the Beehive Trail junction. The 1.5-mile loop will travel counterclockwise, so you follow the Beehive Trail first. The Beehive Trail is very steep and travels along a cliff with iron rungs to help you along the way. The views are breathtaking along the entire trail!
Once you reach the Beehive, you will have incredible views of the area. The Beehive Trail continues to the Bowl Connector, which offers more beautiful views and loops around to Bowl Trail. The Bowl Trail then loops around back to the parking lot.
North Bubble and South Bubble Hike
North Bubble and South Bubble are two famous mountains along the shores of Jordan Pond, and it is my favorite hike in Acadia National Park. The hike to North Bubble and South Bubble is short and offers some of the best views in the park!
The 1.6-mile roundtrip trail begins on the Bubbles Divide Trail. At about 0.3 miles, the Bubbles Divide Trail diverges. I recommend continuing right to North Bubble first then making your way over to South Bubble, so you gain the most elevation first. Both mountains offer stunning views overlooking Jordan Pond. This short and sweet hike will quickly become one of your favorite hikes!
Six Summits Hike
To end your epic one day in Acadia National Park, you can hike one of the best trails in the park. The Six Summits hike is a strenuous hike that brings you over six summits, which all offer beautiful views. There are many trails off of this loop, so I highly recommend having a map. I also recommend hiking this clockwise so you can watch the sunset on Penobscot Mountain.
The 6-mile loop begins on Route 3 and follows along the Hadlock Brook Trail before turning left onto Bald Peak Trail to the first of the summits, Bald Peak. The trail follows past Bald Peak and turns right onto Parkman Mountain Trail to the summit of Parkman Mountain.
t then turns right onto Grandgent Trail to the summit of Gilmore Peak and Sargent Mountain. The trail will turn right onto Sargent Mountain South Ridge Trail until it reaches the Penobscot Mountain Trail junction, which leads to Penobscot Mountain.
Penobscot Mountain has some of the best views on the hike and will be where you watch the sunset! The trail turns left back onto Sargent South Ridge Trail to Cedar Swamp Mountain and then follows the Amphitheatre Trail to Hadlock Brook Trail back to the parking lot. Six Summits is one of the best hikes in Acadia National Park and will be on the top of your list of favorite hikes, like it is mine!
This guide is the perfect place to start when planning one day in Acadia National Park. I have spent anywhere from one to five days in the park, but you can see many of the must-see attractions in one day in Acadia National Park. If you want to spend more time in the park, you can spread out the must-see sights and plan your hikes for different days.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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