How to Spend 5 Nights in Maine: Acadia National Park Travel Guide & Tips
My mom and I love a good road trip, so on our tour de force of the northeast and Canada, we planned for 5 nights in Maine. I’m a big national parks gal, so a visit to Acadia National Park on our way to explore Canada was a must.
The more I see the northeast of the United States, the more I love it. Those cool, cool breezes in the summer? Absolute heaven. It would have me if it weren’t for the harsh winters and minimal diversity.
I’ll be honest, before this, I’d never been to Maine, and after having explored nearly 20 national parks in the U.S., I wasn’t truly expecting much from my visit to Acadia. I was happily wrong.
Acadia mannnn… It’s so lush. Plus, the surrounding areas are both beautiful and charming.
If you visit any of these spots, tag @accentgolden and let me know your favorites!
Is 5 Nights in Maine Enough?
5 nights in Maine is more than enough to get a taste for the area and explore Acadia National Park. You can divide your time as I did below, across the park, Bar Harbor, and neighboring towns, or devote more time to one area and less (or maybe none at all) to another.
How to Plan a 5-Night Trip to Maine
Best Time of Year to Visit Maine
Maine is located in New England, which means long and cold winters that most of us are not up for exploring. Since tourist activity is low and weather conditions are potentially more hazardous, many things in and around the park are closed in the off-season. Rightly so.
If you’re planning a trip to Maine, I would recommend booking between May and October for the best weather and open activities. To avoid some of those larger crowds, aim closer to the start and end of this window (outside of those summer vacation months).
How to Get Around Maine and Acadia
Exploring Maine by car is likely the most common tactic. It will make it easier to book a stay farther out, since you can commute in on your own.
Visiting Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor by car does require a little upfront planning. Since parking spaces are limited and, depending on where you plan to explore, certain park reservations are required for individual transport.
That being said, you can easily avoid the need for a car since Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are right nextdoor. Explore the area on foot, by bike, or via the free Island Explorer Shuttle.
Where to Stay Near Acadia National Park
If you’re visiting by car, I would recommend staying within a 15-20 minute drive of the National Park. While being farther out can be cheaper, time is money, and planning to beat crowds may make for longer days in the car than you wish.
If you want to get into the park really early, I’d recommend staying as close to (or within) Bar Harbor as possible. Accommodations book out fast, so plan your visit many months in advance at a minimum, to secure the best ones.
What to See in Acadia National Park
You don’t have to be an extreme hiker to see beautiful views in Acadia National Park. Whether you love a moderate hike or prefer something less strenuous, Acadia provides many easy paths and easy-to-moderate trails to see the sights.
Scenic Drives, Viewpoints, and Easy to Moderate Hikes
Ocean Path – A simple walk along the street edge, towards the start of the park, that leads to/from Sand Beach. Offers side paths down to cliff edges for beautiful views.
Cadillac Summit Loop Trail – Pretty, almost 360-degree viewpoints and an easy spot to walk around for an hour or so. FYI, you’ll need reservations if visiting by car!
Jordan Pond Trail – The walk makes for an easy loop around the lake, though be warned that there are some boulders to climb over in spots. Walk clockwise for better views at the start.
Gorham Mountain Trail – The perfect moderate hike in my opinion. A good climb with pretty viewpoints, that can be accomplished within 2 hours.
Otter Cove Trail – Feels like a delightfully secret trail. Cuts through some pretty brush before offering some beautiful and unique views of Otter Cove.
Things to Do in and Around Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is such a cute little town with tons of restaurants, shops, and spots to sit and people-watch. Not to mention pretty water views and envious boat watching (or maybe that’s just me).
You could easily spend a day here, and it’s the perfect respite between hiking days in the park, to enjoy those fresh Maine breezes.
Some of my favorite eats…
Is the Schoodic Peninsula Worth Visiting?
We took a drive out to Schoodic Point, and even though our weather was a bit dreary, the rocky edge with some nearby paths was incredibly cool to see. The water slams into the rocks, giving a somewhat eerie vibe – at least on a cloudy day – but also grants a massive appreciation (and slight fear) of nature.Â
Practical Tips for Spending 5 Nights in Maine
Check If You Need Reservations – You don’t need one to enter the park, but if you’re driving, you will need a reservation to visit Cadilac Summit Road. You can easily grab a reservation here! Reservations are usually required during busy seasons so if you’re going before May and after October, you might not need one.
Plan Out Your Day to Avoid Backtracking – Acadia National Park is mainly a loop, so I’d highly recommend mapping out stops you want to make and any hikes you want to complete in advance.
Explore the Neighboring Areas – Outside of Acadia, there are other parks and viewpoints to explore. There are also a ton of local shops, bakeries, antique stores, and more along the drive outside of the park.
Pack Food & Water – The park itself is small, but once you’re in it, there really isn’t much to be found to eat or drink. Having extra water and prepped snacks/meals will prevent hangry behavior.
The majority of Acadia National Park is a one-way drive. If you miss a turn, plan to park and walk back or drive around the park again…
FAQs About Spending 5 Nights in Maine
What is the best way to spend 5 nights in Maine?
I wanted to explore Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, and leave myself open for any roadside stops along the way. If you’re the same, I’d build a loose itinerary that dedicates one full day to the park, one to Bar Harbor, and one to those unique shops and spots.
Depending on how you’re getting into and out of town, this could also leave you with a half day at the start and end of your trip to fill in any missing “musts.”
Do you need a car to visit Acadia National Park?
You do not need a car to visit Acadia National Park. Walk, bike, or grab the Island Explorers Shuttle for free drop-off and pick-up around the park and Bar Harbor.
How many days should you spend in Acadia National Park?
This depends strongly on your activity level and what you want to do. Collectively, I’d say give yourself at least two days’ worth of time across your trip, at a minimum.
Is Bar Harbor worth visiting?
Absolutely! It’s a charming New England town right on the water, with loads of cute shops, spots to grab a bite to eat, and coastal water views.
Ready for a road trip?
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