How to Get to Acadia National Park from Bar Harbor

Acadia National Park is a natural area with unparalleled scenic beauty: rocky beaches, mountains, lakes, forests and a breathtaking view of the Atlantic coast. It is considered one of the best things to see and do in Bar Harbor.

The park is located on Mount Desert Island in Manie, just minutes from the town of Bar Harbor. During your stay in the city you will find several means of transportation to get there from downtown Bar Harbor. You can join a bus tour, rent a car and drive on your own, use the public transportation service or cab, among other options. Here are all of them.

The bus tour from Bar Harbor to Acadia National Park is a very popular transfer option. You will experience a comfortable and safe scenic ride while enjoying the company of a driver-guide. He or she will tell you the history of the city and destinations as you pass by. You won't have to worry about anything but enjoying the ride.

You'll board the air-conditioned bus in downtown Bar Harbor and, in the company of about 20 people, travel about 10 minutes to Acadia National Park. The best part is that once you are in this important natural lung, you can tour it on the same bus.

With this bus tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, you will be able to visit Cadillac Mountain Peak, which, at less than 1500 meters, is considered the highest peak in the park. You will also see Thunder Hole, which is an inlet carved out by the powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean, and Sieur de Monts Spring, with its stunning scenic beauty.

Information of interest

• Price: the cost of this tour is around 30€ per person.
• Travel time: the transfer from downtown Bar Harbor to Acadia National Park usually takes 7 to 10 minutes. However, the full tour time is about two and a half hours.
• Advantages: with the transfer through this tour you won't have to strain yourself driving or waste time waiting for public transportation. In addition, you will enjoy the transfer back to the city center.
• Disadvantages: Once in the park, you will have to adapt to the route you have been given to explore the tour, that is, it will be more difficult to follow a personalized route.

If you are one of those people who like to travel at your own pace, then a rental car is the most practical option to go to Acadia National Park from Bar Harbor. You will have total control of your trip, being able to make some stops along the way, either to enjoy the views, take pictures or eat.

In the city you will find many car rental companies such as Acadia GEM, Enterprise, Hertz, among many others. You only have to contact them and select the type of car that best suits your needs, depending on the number of people that are with you.

Then, you only have to take the road about 3 kilometers to Acadia National Park. You will have the option of driving along Mt Desert St and Eagle Lake Rd, Main St and Cromwell Harbor Rd or Ledgelawn Ave and Cromwell Harbor Rd.

Once you arrive at your destination, you can take a self-guided driving tour of Bar Harbor Acadia National Park. I recommend downloading an audio app to explore this beautiful natural lung. You can follow the route along the ocean and go to the Egg Rock Overlook, etc.

Information of interest

• Price: the cost of renting a car in Bar Harbor starts at about 40€ per day. This price will depend on the type of car you have selected.
• Travel time: the drive from downtown Bar Harbor to Acadia National Park is about 7 minutes. However, please note that traffic conditions may increase significantly during this time.
• Advantages: You will have full control of your transfer, being able to go directly to the park or make a few stops when you feel it is necessary.
• Disadvantages: driving on your own might be a bit tiring for you, especially if you have just arrived in the city and want to reduce stress on your vacation.

If you plan to go to Acadia National Park from Bar Harbor during the high season, i.e. June through September, you can take advantage of the public bus service operated by Island Explorer. This is a free shuttle option, but it takes longer than other modes of transportation.

You will need to head downtown, specifically Cottage Street. There you will find the bus departure point. The bus runs from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and has other stops along the Bar Harbor - Acadia National Park route.

Once you arrive at the park, you don't have to get off immediately, as the bus offers some routes within this great natural area. For example, from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to the Jordan Pond House Restaurant. In addition, there are stops at places like Parkman Mountain, Bubble Rock, Cadillac North Ridge Trail, etc.

This is a good alternative if you have time and want to enjoy one of the most beautiful natural areas in the United States. Undoubtedly, an experience that you can easily incorporate into your itinerary along with the best tours and excursions in Bar Harbor, such as a Bar Harbor food tour.

Information of interest

• Price: Island Explorer public bus service is free.
• Travel time: The route from the stop in downtown Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park is approximately 15 minutes.
• Advantages: This type of free transfer not only allows you to get to the park from the city, but it is also possible to access some of the destinations of interest within this important natural lung.
• Disadvantages: The bus incorporates some stops and only operates during high season, when traffic conditions are the most difficult. Therefore, the transfer could take time away from your schedule for the visit.

Cab is the best option if you have little time in your itinerary to visit Acadia National Park and therefore need to go directly from downtown Bar Harbor. Also, if you want to avoid the stress of buses or driving on your own. You'll get around town comfortably and quickly.

Taxi transportation is a very flexible alternative, as it is available at any time of the day. All you have to do is contact one of the cab companies in Bar Harbor such as: Y&P Taxi Services, Sunrise2sunset Taxi, among others. They will pick you up at the door of your hotel or you can go to the cab stands on the downtown streets for immediate service.

Taxis are not just for Acadia National Park. It's also convenient to the airport or to the harbor for a sailing trip on the Bar Harbor Windjammer, among other things.

Information of interest

• Price: a cab ride from Bar Harbor to Acadia National Park can cost about $10.
• Travel time: Generally the transfer time is 5 to 7 minutes. However, you should be aware that traffic conditions are unpredictable, so there may be some delays.
• Advantages: You will travel on a direct, non-stop route from downtown to Acadia National Park.
• Disadvantages: If you bring a bicycle with you to explore the park with it, you will have to pay an extra cost in the cab.

Another mode of transportation to Acadia National Park from Bar Harbor is by bicycle. If you enjoy two-wheeled sports, you'll enjoy touring the town at your own pace on this environmentally friendly mode of transportation. You'll have fun, get some exercise and get a different perspective on the road.

You can ride in the direction of Mt Desert St and Eagle Lake Rd, as well as along Mt Desert St and Eagle Lake Rd. It all depends on where you are in the downtown area. Whichever route you take, you'll be heading straight to Acadia National Park.

For bike and riding gear rentals, you'll find several companies in town that provide this service: Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop, Pedego Electric Bikes Bar Harbor, etc. You can connect with them via the web or go to the offices located in Bar Harbor.

The best thing is that in this destination there are many trails to explore by bike. In fact, so popular are these trails that there are often a few bike rental places in Bar Harbor Acadia National Park. In other words, you could ride to the park on another mode of transportation and rent a bike when you arrive.

Information of interest

• Price: the approximate cost of renting a bike in Bar Harbor is $30 per day.
• Travel time: the average bike ride time between Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park is about 20 minutes. This will depend on your riding speed.
• Advantages: You will get around the city and the park in a fun way without polluting the environment.
• Disadvantages: The bike route to the park could be a bit strenuous, especially if you are not in good physical condition.

Getting from Bar Harbor to Acadia National Park is not a complicated task. In the city there are several means of transportation to move along this route of approximately 3 kilometers and, thus, discover the history of this natural lung. However, it is important to take into consideration some basic tips to avoid any inconvenience.

• If you plan to rent a car, you must have a valid driver's license.
• It is necessary to reserve access to the Island Explorer public bus because, although it is free, you will not be able to get on it without having fulfilled this requirement. Also, keep in mind that it only operates between June and September (high season).
• When renting a bicycle, you must be at least 18 years old.
• If you are overloaded when using the cab service, you will have to pay an additional cost for it.
• Try to book the bus tour in advance, because this service is usually very crowded.