How Many Days Should I Spend in Acadia National Park?

Are you in the early trip planning stages and wondering how many days to spend in Acadia National Park? Acadia is a unique park spread between several areas and islands, so let’s make sure you plan enough to get to everything you’re hoping to see!

How many days should you spend in Acadia National Park? I recommend spending four full days in the park if you want to see the can’t-miss sights, do some hiking, and explore each of the park’s unique areas.

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Hey there, my name is Ash and I’m a former park ranger! Acadia is a national park unlike any other — I can’t wait to help you plan your trip to this enchanting coastal area.

Let’s get deeper into the things you’ll want to consider when deciding how many days to spend in Acadia.

Can I See Acadia in One Day?

Yes, but you’ll barely scratch the surface! With one day in Acadia, you’ll likely want to focus your time on the main sights on Mount Desert Island near Bar Harbor.

You’ll have time to see eat popovers at Jordan Pond, drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain, and hike the Beehive Trail. These sights are the main can’t-miss places that Acadia is famous for, so expect lots of crowds. It will be a long day, but you’ll get a great taste of the beauty and adventure you can find in this park.

Two Days in Acadia

Spending two days in Acadia will allow you to dig in a little deeper as you explore the main sections of the park. In addition to Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountain, and the Beehive, you’ll also have plenty of time to explore the famous carriage roads, enjoy the coast, visit the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, and hike another summit.

With two days in the park, it will be much easier to plan out your days to avoid the crowds and find some solitude. You won’t have to rush and you’ll cover a lot of ground!

Three Days in Acadia

Spending three days in Acadia is when things start to get good! You’ll have plenty of time to hike and explore the Park Loop Road, soaking in the gorgeous ocean views and completing some of the most iconic trails in Acadia.

After fully exploring the main section of the park near Bar Harbor, you’ll have time to discover the Quiet Side of Acadia. On the Quiet Side (the western section of Mount Desert Island), there are fewer crowds and so many great activities that highlight the gorgeous scenery.

I highly recommend spending at least three days in Acadia so that you’ll have the flexibility you need to avoid the crowds in the busiest places and find solitude in the quieter areas of the island.

Four Days in Acadia

Three days in the park is a good amount of time, but if you’re really wanting to immerse yourself in the beauty and magic of Acadia, give yourself four full days! With four days in the park, you’ll have time to explore all of the main sections of the park — the Park Loop Road, the Quiet Side, and the Schoodic Peninsula.

If you’re like me and you hope to have a fully immersive experience in each national park you visit, plan on spending four days in Acadia.

With four full days, you’ll have time to see all of the park’s can’t-miss spots, go boating or rock climbing, eat your weight in lobster and blueberries, and find more solitude! You’ll even have time to make it out to the lesser-visited Schoodic Peninsula, a section of Acadia that most people miss out on.

There is so much to do, but if you plan out your time well, you’ll see the very best of Acadia! You can fully explore the park without the fear of missing out on anything.

Other Things to Consider

Before you solidify your travel dates or book your lodging for Acadia, you’ll want to think about a few things, such as:

How much time will it take to travel to and from Acadia (not including your sightseeing days)?

Many people forget to factor in the time it will take for them to drive to the park, which can cut into your sightseeing and leave you wishing for more time. For example, if you plan on spending one day in Acadia, but you don’t get to the park until 10 a.m., you’ll severely limit the things you’ll have time to see. This is especially true if you visit during the summer — parking lots will be completely full by then.

Are there any major holidays/fee-free days/festivals you’d like to be in the park for or avoid?

If you’re visiting over a holiday or fee-free day, the crowd levels will be higher. You may have a harder time getting around to all the can’t-miss spots, so some extra time could be beneficial.

Are there other points of interest you’re hoping to see on the same trip?

Acadia is in a gorgeous part of the country, and you may wish to further explore Maine or the surrounding states while you’re here. Many people like to visit the many lighthouses that dot the Maine coastline or spend some time in a nearby large city like Boston, so you may want to give yourself some extra time to explore the area.

Acadia Itinerary Options

I’m here to help you determine how many days to spend in Acadia National Park, so here are a few sample trip itineraries for the area that can help you decide how to split your days in the area!

If you have:

A Weekend

I recommend spending your whole weekend in Acadia!

One Week

Acadia and Maine Lighthouses

Day 1 — Fly into Portland and drive to Bar Harbor (3 hours)
Day 2 — Acadia
Day 3 — Acadia
Day 4 — Acadia
Day 5 — Acadia
Day 6 — Drive back to Portland via Highway 1, stopping at lighthouses along the way (3.5 hours)
Day 7 — Enjoy Portland and then catch your flight

10 Days

Acadia, Lighthouses, and Boston

Day 1 — Fly into Boston and drive to Bar Harbor (4.5 hours)
Day 2 — Acadia
Day 3 — Acadia
Day 4 — Acadia
Day 5 — Acadia
Day 6 — Drive to Portland via Highway 1, stopping at lighthouses along the way (3.5 hours)
Day 7 — Drive to Salem via Highway 1, stopping at lighthouses along the way (2 hours)
Day 8 — Explore Salem, then drive to Boston (40 minutes)
Day 9 — Explore Boston
Day 10 — Drive to the Boston Airport to catch your flight

2 Weeks

I hope that helps you decide how many days to spend in Acadia National Park. Have a great trip!

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