Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine (with Map & Photos)

Acadia National Park is a beautiful wilderness in the United States, located on Mount Desert Island in Maine. From this park you can have the best views of the New England coast, in addition to doing many outdoor activities.

Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park

Acadia has it all, you can enjoy beaches and camping in the sand, or go deep into the dense forests that will take you to lakes and high mountains on the northeast coast. If you are interested in these types of adventures, we share everything you need to know about Acadia National Park.

Acadia National Park: History


Originally, this park was christened Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916. Then, in 1919, it was renamed Lafayette National Park in honor of the Marquis de La Fayette, a Frenchman who supported the revolution in the United States. 10 years later, in 1929, it was given the name under which we now know it, Acadia National Park.

In this park you will find the town of Bar Harbor, which is located on the northeast side of the island and is charming for visitors. However, most tourists go with the intention of visiting Cadillac Mountain, which is an emblematic point for being one of the first sunrise places in the United States.

Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park

The park is entirely lined with trails through which visitors can hike and observe trees, landscapes, birds, and more.

Acadia is one of the smallest national parks in the United States, however, it has a diversity of landscapes that easily make it compete with the larger natural enclosures. To date, Acadia receives up to 3 million visitors per year due to its fame for its intoxicating beauty.

Why visit Acadia National Park?


Acadia is a must see for wanting to pass through Maine. It has a great diversity of flora, fauna, outdoor activities and offers the beautiful experience of breathing very pure air. If you are still hesitating to visit, here are some compelling reasons to visit Acadia National Park.

  • Adventure Vacation: Each trail in Acadia National Park leads you through rugged, untouched terrain, pure nature, that you can capture with your camera lens. In addition, through the trails you can reach mountains with amazing views and water tanks that are waiting to be discovered by you.
  • Powerful waves: On the coast you can appreciate the power of the sea, with the cobalt waves crashing against the irregular granite slabs crowned by fir trees on the shore.
  • Lookout for seals: You will be able to appreciate the seals that park to sunbathe on the rocks of the coast. You will also see numerous peregrine falcons flying over the island.
  • A Different Dawn: As we already mentioned, Cadillac Mountain is one of the first sunrise places in the United States and the view is deafening.
  • Many activities to choose from: No matter what type of explorer you are, this park is sure to find something to do. There are horseback riding, hiking, biking, rock climbing, kayaking, and a lot you can do to get your adrenaline levels up.
  • Very Affordable Rate: Finally, you can explore 47,000 acres in Acadia for one of the best prices when it comes to national parks in the US. In order to enter a private vehicle you must pay a fee of $ 30. If you go by motorcycle you must pay $ 25. And if you go on foot, you only pay $ 15 per person. Tickets are valid to stay in the park for up to 7 days.

How to get


You can take to this park in various ways depending on your budget. First you can take a bus in Boston that will take 8 hours to get to the park. You can also take the train and the bus, which will also take you about 8 hours on average to reach your destination. Finally, you can go in your car or personal vehicle from Boston, with which the travel time is significantly reduced to 5 hours.

Other places you can visit


When going from another state or country to this national park in Maine, you can take the opportunity to visit other nearby places that attract many tourists alike. These are our recommendations:

  • Boston: You will probably land in Boston and then you will have the wonderful opportunity to know this city of the United States. The city is 8 hours away from Acadia Park, but it is one of the oldest cities in the US. Therefore, it has wonderful architecture, monuments and historical sites.
  • Portland: If you are a lover of artistic expressions, you cannot miss Portland. It is a city recognized in the US as a center of art, culture and commerce. It is home to many artists and has breweries everywhere. The latter has given it the title of the city with the most breweries and microbreweries in the world.
  • Bangor: It is a beautiful Maine city, often mentioned in horror literature, specifically by the renowned writer Stephen King, who particularly resides in it. Outside of this, Bangor is a wonderful entertainment center; There you can find museums, theaters, galleries, bookstores and much more to cultivate yourself.

If you go to Maine, you definitely cannot miss out on a hike in Acadia Park. The rate is accessible and the adventure does not take long in different ways.

Acadia National Park Map