Acadia National Park Bike & Hike: 7 Night Travel Itinerary & Guide
- Laura
- Nov 5
- 8 min read
This post may contain affiliate links. To learn more about our affiliate links and cookies policy, see our Terms & Conditions page. Thank you.
Bikers and hikers flock to Acadia National Park to experience its rugged coastline, mountains, and forests. Located in northern Maine, Acadia is best experienced on foot, horse, or two wheels. On sunny days, the views are spectacular in all directions. On foggy days, there is an other-worldly aura that hangs in the air. Our Acadia National Park 7 Day itinerary will bring you to some of the park's most beautiful hiking and biking spots.
Acadia maintains an extensive network of carriage roads and hiking trails (no motorized vehicles except for Class-1 e-bikes allowed). A short distance from any trailhead, human traffic thins. On our hike and bike Acadia itinerary, you will mostly encounter meandering streams, rock cliffs, wild flowers, crashing surf, and the occasional horse dropping.
All of the best things to do in Acadia National Park can done on foot or by bicycle. See Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, Otter Cliffs and more on our Acadia itinerary. Each of the outings is designed to be completed in a 3-4 hours. Enjoy!
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK GUIDED TOURS
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK GUIDE & TIPS
Hulls Cove Visitor Center
Your first stop in Acadia should be at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center (Route 3). Purchase park entrance/vehicle registration(s). Stock up on maps. Learn about the upcoming weather and park alerts.
Entrance Pass & Reservations
Acadia National Park requires an entrance pass (and vehicle registration for the Cadillac Summit Road in-season). Go to recreation.gov to purchase entrance passes or make a vehicle registration.
Getting Around
Most people use a personal vehicle to navigate Acadia. Parking lots fill up fast! In the busy season, the park offers a fare-free Island Explorer bus service running between lodgings and popular park sights.
Bike Rental/Repair
There are several shops in Bar Harbor (and across the island) that will rent bikes for the day or week, or repair bikes. There are also tour companies that offer pedal and electric bike tours. Try these rental companies & tours:
Acadia National Park Weather & Packing
The weather changes frequently on the Maine coast. Summer temps range in the 70's (F); winter in the 40's (F). Dress in breathable layers. Pack bug spray, sunscreen, rain/snow apparel, and a hat on all days - no matter the forecast. Wear sturdy shoes with good tread. Pack first aid supplies/repair kit appropriate to your activity.
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK TOURS
With Acadia's large size (some 50,000 acres) and rugged terrain, a guided tour with a knowledgeable guide can be a fun and efficient way to see the park, and avoid the hassle of parking. Here are a few well-reviewed Acadia National Park tours:
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK MAP
HOTELS NEARBY ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
The resort towns of Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor, Northwest Harbor, and Southwest Harbor are all popular choices for lodgings on Mt. Desert Island near Acadia National Park. We recommend using Bar Harbor as a base. The town has many hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops, bike rentals, and tour operators at varying price points.
Here are a few well-reviewed hotels near Acadia National Park:
Bar Harbor Motel - Family motel with free breakfast and direct Acadia trail access.
Harborside Hotel, Spa, & Marina-Â We stayed at this amazing Bar Harbor Hotel, and loved it!
Bar Harbor Inn - Historic and elegant Bar Harbor Inn, overlooking Frenchman Bay
BIKING IN ACADIA
The bike rides suggested in this Acadia itinerary are on the gravel carriage roads. The Acadia carriage roads are designated-use for hikers, bikers, and horses (see forest service map for details). For electric bikes: only Class-1 e-bikes are allowed (no Class-2 or -3). The roads have some steep portions, but many more long, gentle grades (can be tough for smaller children).
There are directional signs posted at major junctures (we found the signs more confusing than helpful - study your map). You will find paved parking lots throughout the park to access the trails/carriage roads; some have restrooms.
HIKING IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
The trails in Acadia are maintained by the National Park Service. They tend to be well-groomed and signed. You can download trail maps through nps.gov, or pick up maps in person at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. The hikes highlighted in this Acadia itinerary are in the 1-5 mile range, and are of easy to moderate difficulty.
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK ITINERARY 7 DAYS
Day 1: Hull's Cove Visitor Center. Drive Acadia Park Loop Road
Travel day and check-in. Then, take a ride to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Hike up 52 steps to the main building. Purchase park entrance/vehicle registration(s) if you did not buy online. Stock up on carriage road and hiking maps. Learn about the upcoming weather and park alerts.
Leaving Hulls Cove, continue on Acadia Park Look Road toward Sand Beach. Take a drive around the 27 mile road to get on overview of the area.
Day 2: Bike Eagle Lake Carriage Road Loop. Explore Bar Harbor & Shore Path.
Park in the Bubble Pond parking lot. Bike the short connector road to Eagle Lake. Begin the Eagle Lake loop at marker 7. The ride has long, gentle hills. Gorgeous forested trails with some lake views. (About 6.24 miles.)
Early afternoon head to Bar Harbor. Park at the Town Pier, and explore the waterfront. Then, locate the Bar Harbor Shore Path in front of Agamont Park. Follow the half-mile path past inns, cottages, and the dramatic eastern shore.
Next, discover downtown Bar Harbor. This thriving seaside town seems to always be hopping. There are great bakeries and coffee shops, bars, restaurants, souvenirs, and stores offering high quality wares. Go to our Bar Harbor Getaway and Restaurant Guide post for more info on Bar Harbor.
Day 3: Bike Jordan Pond / Bubble Pond Carriage Road Loop. Sunset at Cadillac Mountain
Park in the Jordan Pond House parking lot. Bike the loop that passes by Jordan Pond and Bubble Pond. Be prepared for long up and down hill intermediate grades. You will pass though woods and by beautiful bridges. There are dramatic vistas and lake/pond views. (About 8 miles.)
Have lunch at the Jordan Pond House restaurant, and enjoy a free afternoon. At sunset, drive to the top of the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. Explore the summit and enjoy the views at sunset (or the eerie stillness of the mountain top while shrouded in fog).
Day 4: Hike the Acadia Ocean Path. Trip to Northeast Harbor. Beachcomb on Bar Island
Leave early, pack a picnic and your camera. Drive to Acadia's Park Loop Road and park in the Sand Beach lot (rest rooms available). Note: There is overflow parking along the right-hand lane of the road. The day begins with a hike of the Acadia Ocean Path (4 mile round trip from Sand Beach to Otter's Point).
The mostly-flat trail follows one of the most scenic portions of the coastline. The path parallels Acadia Park Loop Road. For long portions of the path you can go off-trail to climb across wide expanses of rock that drop off into the crashing surf. Allow around 3 hours for the hike, and the following stops:
Stop 1 - Sand Beach Acadia: Amazing scenery and sandy beach.
Stop 2 - Thunder Hole Acadia: Blow hole where waves crash with a roar.
Stop 3 - Monument Cove Acadia: Pass by a small, rocky stretch of coast with striking granite formations.
Stop 4 - Boulder Beach Acadia: Cove littered with bowling ball sized rocks worn smooth from the surf.
Stop 5 - Otter Cliff Acadia: Dramatic cliffs that are a favorite of rock climbers and rocks to relax on.
After returning to Sand Beach have a picnic lunch and beach time. Then, continue on Park Loop Road. Turn off onto Route 3, and drive to Northeast Harbor. Park in the lot by the marina. Explore the wharf before walking up the hill to the downtown area where you will find an array of interesting shops and cafes.
TRUSTED TRAVEL RESOURCES
Later in the day, drive to Bridge Street in Bar Harbor. At the end of the road, at low tide, water from the bay disappears and there is a natural land bridge leading to Bar Island. If the tides are right, hike to Bar Island. Trek it's rocky perimeter or ascend the hill for spectacular sunset views of Bar Harbor. TIP: The land bridge can be crossed 1.5 hours before/after low tide (or the area floods).
Day 5: Bike the Schoodic Peninsula. Visit Winter Harbor
Drive to Acadia's Schoodic Peninsula. Situated on the mainland, the peninsula is about an hour's drive from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Park at the Visitor's Center and bike the 6 mile, one-way park loop road. You will share the road with motorized vehicles. However, the rocky, windblown landscapes of the Schoodic peninsula are less crowded than Mt. Desert Island.
On the way back to Mt. Desert Island, stop in the fishing village of Winter Harbor. Look back at Bar Harbor from the boat launch at Henry's Cove. There are few small shops, eateries, and a pretty little inn to visit.
Day 6: Hike the Great Head Trail. Picnic at Sand Beach. Late afternoon sail.
Pack a picnic. Drive to Sand Beach and park in the lower lot. At the far eastern edge of Sand Beach find the base of the Great Head Trail (2.2 km). The trail follows the perimeter of the Great Head peninsula. It climbs past pink granite formations for terrific views of Otter Cliffs and Thunder Hole.
When you have finished your hike, enjoy Sand Beach. Find a spot at the end of the beach where the tidal pools gather in the shadow of the Beehive Mountain.
This afternoon/evening get out on the water. There are tours for every taste and ability. You can ride on a lobster boat, spot seals, bird watch, see lighthouses, or set sail on a schooner. Try one of these tours:
Day 7: Bike around the 3 Lakes (Carriage Roads). Evening in Bar Harbor
Last ride! Today, park in the Jordan Pond House parking lot. Bike an extended loop that connects the Eagle Lake and Jordan/Bubble pond loops (About 12 miles.) Glorious landscapes and lots of lake views.
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Spend the evening in Bar Harbor.
Day 8: Travel Day Home
Safe travels home, Laura and Randy
For more information on traveling to the Acadia National Park area read our articles on:
