Acadia National Park is my favorite spot to visit camping and I hope this guide helps you with your planning. My Wife and I have camped here three times and as I write this we are discussing another visit this fall. Acadia National Park is situated on Mount Desert Island right off the coast of Maine and is close to the popular town of Bar Harbor. There are tons of things to do, see, and most importantly eat near Acadia and Bar Harbor. Acadia is among the most beautiful destinations I have traveled and I can’t wait to share some of my experiences with you.
Where to Camp
Around the Acadia/Bar Harbor area, there are a lot of private campgrounds, but for this article I will only be discussing the campgrounds within Acadia National Park. There are 3 campgrounds within Acadia: Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods. All 3 campgrounds are Dog friendly! I recommend reserving any campsite well in advance since this is such a popular destination. Here is the NPS.Gov link for campground information and reservations.
- Blackwoods Campground – This campground is located closest to the Town of Bar Harbor and also the main Park Loop road entrance. In my opinion, this is the most convenient campground to the main attractions and activities. There are hikes you can take right from the campgrounds without having to drive to a trail parking lot. While there are bathrooms located throughout the area, there are no shower facilities in campground. To shower, there is a private facility right outside the campground that you can pay for a shower (coin operated shower stalls). This isn’t ideal, but the shower facility is clean and safe.
- Seawall Campground– This campground is located on the Southwest side of the island and is around 18 miles from Bar Harbor. Although it is a little further from the main town, it is a beautiful campground and located in a much quieter area which means less traffic while exploring. If you feel like being slightly (very slightly) “off the grid”, They have a bunch of walk in campsites where you park the car in a lot and carry your gear to the site, instead of parking right at the site like regular car camping. There are bathroom facilities for all site types, but just like Blackwoods… there are no shower facilities within the grounds, but pay shower facilities about a mile away.
- Schoodic Woods– This campground is on the mainland and about 60 minutes from Bar Harbor. If you want to get away from the more crowded areas, but still experience Acadia’s beauty this a good option.
Getting There
Acadia National Park is about 8.5 hours from New York City so depending on where you are coming from it is not a short drive, but the good news is there are a lot of cool places to stop along the drive to stretch your legs. We usually pack the car the night before, so we can leave as early as possible the next morning. After logging a few hours, we will stop for gas/food in Massachusetts and then head for the first real stop of the road trip – Portland, ME. In Portland, there is a great Brewery, called Allagash Brewing Company, where you can get growlers filled for when you arrive at camp and need to forget that long drive (drink responsibly). Not too much further up I-95 is Freeport, ME; home to the L.L. Bean Flagship store which is a nice (but expensive) place to pick up any missing camping gear (Click here for a Gear guide) . Congrats you made it to Acadia, the first thing you should do is follow signs for the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and stop there to buy your park pass. The pass costs $30 for a week (More information found here @ NPS.Gov)
Things to do
There is a lot to see and experience at Acadia National Park and in Bar Harbor. I will try list all of the most memorable things to do and hopefully I don’t forget anything. Everything I add below will be Dog Friendly, unless specifically mentioned.
- Park Loop Road– The scenic 27 mile road that loops around Acadia is a great way to spend your morning the first day of your trip. Along the loop, there are many of the top things to see so you can knock a bunch items off your “to-see” list and plan the remainder of your stay. The main entrance to this Loop road is at Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Depending on how much time you spend at each stop, the trip can take 3-4 hours so bring some refreshments and maybe pack a lunch. Below I will list the main stops along the loop:
Sand Beach– This beautiful and rustic beach is one of the first main stops on the loop, right after Precipice Trail. The beach is not Pet friendly during the peak season of June 15 to September 8, but if you go before or after those dates you are free to bring Rover.
Thunder Hole– The next stop is a coastal cave and rock formation where waves crash and create an amazing display. Make sure to get those cameras ready and stay a safe distance away from the edge. This is dog friendly, but it can get crowded depending on when you go so make sure to maintain control of your dog and be safe on the rocks.
Gorham Mountain Trail– This is a great 2 mile round trip hike that can be completed in about 2 hours or less. Once you get to the top, you will have amazing views of the surrounding area without the crowds of Cadillac mountain. This is a great trail to bring the dogs on, just don’t forget to bring water. It is only a mile up and a mile down, but there is a decent amount of elevation gain for a short trek. As you can see my dogs are a little tired in the picture above, we all took a break at the top for snacks and pictures.
Otter Point – Is a great place to take in the view and plan the rest of the day since there are not usually too many people. There is usually plenty of parking along the road.
Jordan Pond-The Jordan pond area seems to be the hub of Acadia National Park activity. The parking lot here can be difficult to find a spot at peak times so you have to be patient. Once you do park, you have access to a ton of different things to do. You can visit the Jordan Pond House which is a very popular restaurant for lunch and in the same complex there is a nice gift shop, bathroom facilities, and visitor information. Go to Jordan Pond for amazing views, kayaking, and access to the Shore trail which takes you around the pond. And finally you also can access the famous Carriage Roads that were build by John D. Rockefeller and spread throughout the park. While walking on these roads, you will see beautiful stone bridges and forrest scenery. The best part is you can bring your dogs for the walk or if you don’t have a dog these roads are great for cycling.
Cadillac Mountain– This is the highest mountain in the park at just over 1,500 feet and it offers amazing views of the entire area. This is also one of the first places in the United States to see the Sunrise because of it’s elevation and proximity east! There are 100’s of people that get up before sunrise to stake out an area on this peak to view the sunrise and I am one of them. It is well worth the 4 a.m. wake up call to experience not only the most amazing sunrise on clear day, but to experience the huge crowd of people who all woke up at a ungodly hour to view nature’s beauty. If you decide to do this, bring a blanket or warm sweater and a nice cup of coffee…it gets cold that early in the morning on a mountain, even in the summer. I took the below picture so you can see the crowding for sunrise.
- Land Bridge to Bar Island– Now that I finished discussing all the things to do on Park Loop road, I can move on to other great things to do off the loop. Bar Island is located right across from Bar Harbor and at Low tide it becomes accessible by land so you can walk or I have seen some people drive there! Make sure to check the tide schedule before heading over so you don’t get stuck on the island.
- Bass Harbor Lighthouse– This is a very scenic location that is perfect for photos. The lighthouse is on the Southwestern side of the island so visiting here is a good opportunity to explore the less traveled side of Mount Desert Island.
- Bar Harbor– Bar Harbor is a scenic seaside town that is a tourist hotspot. There tons of shops, restaurants, and bars that are a great place to relax after spending the day on the trail. I will recommend a few places to stop in the next section.
- Guided tours– There are several options for guided tours and private charter trips around Bar Harbor and Acadia. However, I think the Park Ranger led programs are a huge value and offer a opportunity to learn a lot about the history and natural habitat of the park. Click here for Ranger programs
Places to Eat
There are a lot of enjoyable places to eat around Bar Harbor. So once you are sick of eating camp cooked food, you can venture out and try some of these places. The good news is that the people of Maine are very dog friendly! The list below contains some of the more memorable places we ate and are in no particular order.
- Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound – This lobster pound is located right before the bridge to Mount Desert Island and they offer some fantastic seafood in a no frills setting which is perfect for campers. There is a outside seating area that allows dogs or you also have the option to take out and bring the food back to camp. Trenton Bridge’s website
- 2 Cats– This is a delicious spot for breakfast in Bar Harbor and the Lobster eggs Benedict is a favorite. This place is called 2 cats so it isn’t a perfect place to bring a dog. They have only one outside table designated for people with dogs so it might be a good idea to call ahead to see if it is available or plan on waiting. 2 Cats website
- Stewman’s Lobster Pound Downtown– This is another nice seafood restaurant that is dog friendly and located right in downtown Bar Harbor. After walking the dog around town, you can stop here for a bite to eat and enjoy the view of the harbor. Stewman’s website
- Mainely Meat BBQ at Atlantic Brewing Company– Here you have great BBQ and a robust selection of craft beer all in a dog friendly restaurant. What can be better than that combination? Mainely Meat website
- Side Street Cafe – Another laidback place to sit outside and eat with your dog. They have a wide variety on their menu, including gourmet Mac n’ cheese, in case you are sick of lobster..but I doubt that is possible. Side Street’s website
Conclusion
I think that covers everything that I wanted to talk about, but there is so much to do in this area it is difficult to remember it all. I hope this article increases your interest in Acadia National Park and helps you plan a great trip one day. Bon Voyage!
Cathy Croce
17 Aug 2018Very informative and detailed. Love the photo’s