Acadia National Park is primarily located on an island in the beautiful state of Maine, so even just getting here is a fun and exciting adventure! In this article, we’ll discuss how to get to Acadia National Park, including the best airports to fly into and the best roads to drive.
If you are flying to Acadia National Park, the closest airport is the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, which is about 8 miles away. If you’d rather fly into a larger international airport, then book your tickets to Boston, Portland, or Bangor.
Driving to Acadia National Park? The best scenery is found along Highway 1, which runs along the Atlantic Coast in Maine towards Acadia.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. Acadia is one of those places that I just can’t seem to stay away from!
Let’s talk more about how to get to Acadia National Park, including my advice for the best airports and roads in the area.
Where is Acadia National Park Located?
Acadia National Park is located on the southern coast of Maine. By car, it’s about 2 hours from Augusta, 4.5 hours from Boston, 6 hours from Montreal, and 8 hours from New York City.
The closest town to Acadia, with amenities, is Bar Harbor. Bar Harbor is located on Mount Desert Island — this is the same island where you’ll find the main section of Acadia National Park. This charming seaside town is a major tourist destination by itself, with a quaint downtown area full of shops, restaurants, and hotels.
Acadia National Park is the easternmost national park in the continental United States, and the two closest national parks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, are both over 12 hours away by car!
What is the Closest Airport to Acadia National Park
Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport
Even though Acadia is located on an island on the coast of Maine, you can fly into the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) and land 20 minutes away from the park!
The Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport is located in the small town of Trenton, which is located just across the bridge from Mount Desert Island and Bar Harbor. Trenton has a small grocery store and a few excellent lobster pounds, and it is only 10 miles from Acadia’s Hulls Cove Visitor Center.
The airport here is open year-round and flies exclusively to and from Boston through Cape Air, which is managed by JetBlue. So if you’re flying to Acadia for your trip and you want to get as close as you can to the park, book your ticket to this regional airport with a connection in Boston!
What are the Largest Airports near Acadia National Park?
If you don’t want to pay a premium price to fly into the Bar Harbor Airport, it will make the most sense to fly into a larger international airport near Acadia, such as the airports in Bangor, Portland, or Boston. Ticket prices to these airports can be hundreds of dollars cheaper and still put you within driving distance of the park.
Bangor International Airport
The closest international airport to Acadia National Park is the Bangor International Airport (BGR). Flying into Bangor gets you within an hour of Acadia, making this airport an ideal selection if you want to fly as close as you can to the park without flying into a smaller regional airport.
The Bangor Airport is serviced by American, Allegiant, Delta, and United. You will likely have a layover in a large nearby city first, such as Philadelphia, Boston, New York, or Washington D.C., before connecting to Bangor.
This airport is an ideal place to fly in and out of if you will be focusing your time primarily in Acadia or plan on driving over to Canada during your visit.
Portland International Jetport
The Portland International Jetport (PWM) is Maine’s largest and busiest airport, and it’s located about 3 hours from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.
This airport is a great option if you’re hoping to get somewhat close to Acadia while still positioning yourself perfectly for visiting other coastal cities in Maine. I highly recommend doing a lighthouse driving tour on Highway 1 on your way to or from the park from Portland.
The Portland Jetport services flights from most major airlines in America, but similar to Bangor, you’ll probably need to connect with a major city in the area first for most flights into this airport.
Boston Logan International Airport
Surprisingly, flying into Boston is usually my #1 choice when I’m visiting Acadia. If I can find a good flight into Portland, I’ll take it, but I often find the best flight options and prices at the Boston Airport instead. The Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is located about 4.5 hours from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, but hear me out on this!
Flying into Boston puts you within a half-day drive of Acadia, but you will also pass by some pretty cool spots on your way. Aside from getting to spend time in Boston (which is awesome!), you can visit Salem and get a little witch trial history before cutting over to Portland to see some of the best lighthouses in Maine.
From Portland, you can drive up the Maine coastline on Highway 1 to see more lighthouses and travel through quaint villages on your way to Acadia. For a sample trip itinerary to Acadia based out of Boston, check out this post.
The Boston Logan Airport is serviced by all the major airlines and has non-stop flights from most major airports in the U.S. and internationally. You have a lot of flight options at this airport, and then you can have an adventure as you make your way to and from Acadia.
Planning a trip to Acadia can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Acadia Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
The Best Roads to Acadia National Park
If you’re driving to Acadia, you’ll pass through so many areas full of beauty and history! Here are the most common roads that will lead you to Acadia National Park.
Interstate 95 (Boston to Bangor)
Interstate 95 runs through most of the major cities on the East Coast as it travels from Miami, FL, to Canada. Taking this interstate is the quickest route to Acadia from Boston. You’ll travel along I-95 to Bangor before cutting down to Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island.
This major interstate crosses over rivers and through forests, in addition to bringing you fairly close to the Atlantic Ocean on occasion.
This is a wide interstate with always at least two lanes of traffic going in both directions. It is open year-round and is RV-friendly.
Highway 1 (Portland to Ellsworth)
Highway 1 runs parallel to I-95 (but closer to the ocean) for a long time as you’re traveling from Boston up to Portland, Maine. A short time after passing Portland, Highway 1 splits off and stays near the coast, taking you almost all the way to Acadia.
I absolutely love the entire stretch of Highway 1 through Maine. You’ll pass through many charming seaside towns that perfectly radiate the feeling I always hope to have when I visit this amazing state.
You’ll also be able to make side trips to quite a few gorgeous lighthouses along this road, so take your time as you drive! I like to use this map to find new lighthouses to visit and explore while I’m in this area.
Whether you drive Highway 1 all the way from Boston (which I highly recommend) or just cut over on Highway 1 after passing through Portland, you’re in for a treat. When you reach the town of Ellsworth, you’ll then travel down to Acadia on Highway 3.
This road is RV-friendly and stays open year-round.
Highway 3 (Ellsworth to Mount Desert Island)
Highway 3 is the road that takes you over the bridge onto Mount Desert Island, where you’ll find Acadia National Park and the town of Bar Harbor.
It then continues past Bar Harbor, travels through Acadia National Park, and circles a good portion of the island. This road is incredibly scenic!
This road is RV-friendly and stays open year-round.
You can drive an RV from Ellsworth down to Bar Harbor just fine, but if you venture off Highway 3, you’ll definitely encounter roads that are closed or unsafe for larger vehicles (I’ll talk about this below).
Getting Around Mount Desert Island
When you get to Mount Desert Island and start driving through Acadia National Park, you will start to hit some sections that are not RV-friendly.
If you’ll be in a large vehicle, be sure to read through these instructions before you go. Most notably, there are height restrictions on the Park Loop Road, you will not be able to drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, and you’ll have a lot of trouble finding parking at most points of interest.
This information should help you get to Acadia quickly — there are so many adventures waiting for you in this enchanting national park!
More Acadia Trip Planning Information
How Many Days Should I Spend in Acadia? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit — the top 10 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
Best Things to Do — activities for every type of adventurer.
The Ultimate Acadia Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
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