3 Day Acadia National Park Itinerary: Flexible Plan for a Beautiful Visit

If you haven’t been yet, this 3 day Acadia National Park itinerary is the perfect plan for experiencing this beautiful part of DownEast Maine. Located about three hours from Portland and a little over an hour from Bangor, Maine. Acadia NP is very special and truly a unique National Park. It’s very different from other parks you may have visited, and dare I say it, it’s one of the most relaxing National Parks I’ve ever been to.

So what is there to do at Acadia National Park? Does it really need three days to explore it? There’s so much to do and see. While you don’t have the epic sights like the epic geologic features of Yellowstone or the rolling tundra of Denali National Park, Acadia is very unique in its own way. Check out our travel plan for seeing the best of the park, and if you have additional questions or want to share your own recommendations, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!

3 Day Acadia National Park Itinerary (w/ bonus)

If you talk to somebody who’s been to Acadia National Park just once, they’ll tell you that you need to visit Cadillac Mountain and drive the loop road. Yes, you do need to do those things and we have them covered in our 3 day Acadia itinerary, but there’s much more to the park. What makes Acadia NP so unique as far as geology goes is the beautiful pink and gray granite all through the park and Mount Desert Island (where most of the park is located). Hiking up these mountains is a beautiful way to see the sights, and biking between the hills and around the granite boulder lined lakes, is a must, but most people don’t get to do these activities.

The popular and the overlooked side of Acadia National Park are both worth including in your itinerary for a unique visit, so here’s how we recommend you plan three or four days in the Park and exploring. From late spring to early autumn, this is a great plan for having an awesome Acadia National Park experience.

Day 1: Mainstream Acadia National Park Sites

This is your first day at Acadia National Park and your itinerary for today includes simply driving the Park Loop Road, making stops along the way. Similar to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s Chain of Craters Road there are many pullouts and views along the way. There are some hiking trailheads too. You can either drive or if the park shuttle is running, ride the bus and hop on and off as you explore, doing small hikes along the way. Get the GPS audio tour of Acadia NP here!

Include driving up Cadillac Mountain on this day. If you’re visiting from mid-May to late October, you will need an entry reservation for driving up the mountain. You don’t need it for access to the rest of Acadia National Park, but to go to the summit you will. It’s worth it.

Once you’ve done the Park Loop Road and Cadillac Mountain, spend the rest of your daylight hours biking around the park. This is a great way to stay away from people. Head to the middle of the park and jump on bikes to ride the Carriage Trails. You’ll have the woods and birds all to yourself and the views are amazing. This is an easy way to enjoy Acadia National Park without crowds or stress. We’ve rented E-bikes to ride the Carriage Roads and it is by far the best way to experience Acadia NP (especially if you are limited for time). Book your E-bike rental in Bar Harbor here!

Day 2: Schoodic Peninsula – Off the Beaten Path Acadia

Start your day early with the drive over to the Schoodic Peninsula. Once you’re here, enjoy the slow drive on the loop road (different than on Mount Desert Island). Plan a picnic and hikes at the Alder Trail and Lower Harbor trails for two very different experiences. You’ll get the best of both worlds with the forest and the ocean. This is one of the best places to watch for Maine wildlife in Acadia National Park.

The Schoodic Peninsula is all about hiking, but it doesn’t have to be aggressive, exhausting hikes. The Schoodic Head Trail is a great one with minimal elevation gain and just the right distance to really detach from the world (1.2 miles). For another easy hike that’s very different, head over to the Sundew Trail on the Southwest chunk of the Schoodic Peninsula. Be here for sunset if you’re able!

Remember that you have an hour long drive back to Bar Harbor, but that’s okay because it’s beautiful at sunset and if you need to grab dinner along the way, you’ll have to drive through several towns so no doubt there’s a lobster roll with your name on it along the way.

Day 3: Isle au Haut

You’ve got another early start today but it’s worth it. Catch the 7:00 am ferry from Stonington to Isle au Haut, the least visited part of Acadia National Park. Yes, you want to be sure this is a part of your 3 day Acadia NP itinerary. You won’t have a car with you, so pack light. Bring your picnic, water, weather-appropriate attire and a camera.

From the town landing or Duck Harbor where you’ll disembark the ferry (choose one), you can explore the coves and maybe not see another person for hours. You can do a long hike on the Gross Beach Trail and even visit the lighthouse or ranger station. The thing about visiting Isle au Haut is the lack of people and unique nature for the area. If you’ve wanted to just melt into the earth for a bit, this is your chance.

I hope you really lean into this special day. Wander the forest and enjoy the coves. Keep your camera or sketch book handy, because Isle au Haut is a special, beautiful place to explore… but don’t lose track of time. The last boat to leave Isle au Haut in the summertime is either a 5:30 pm or 6:15 pm. Be sure to confirm the boat times when you visit; don’t miss the last boat.

Enjoy the day on the island because it’s special and very few people who visit Acadia National Park get to visit. You’ll want to return someday…

Day 4 (optional): Southwest MDI and Bass Harbor

One more day on Mount Desert Island (MDI) means you can enjoy whatever you skipped on the first day, and then also head towards Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor. This part of the island and Acadia National Park is really beautiful, and truly, this is the most picturesque Maine sight you’ll ever get. Coves, the famous lighthouse, picket fences on the edge of town, and small shops from some rom-com you saw ten years ago.

As you’re planning your day, keep in mind that there is limited parking at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Luckily, it’s not more than an hour’s time for a visit, but this Maine icon really does draw the crowds in summer months. If this doesn’t feel like something you want to add, do the biking that was suggested on the first day or plan a beach day if the weather is nice. Sand Beach is one of the few places DownEast where you can actually enjoy a legit beach day. Just be sure you bring a picnic.

If you want to add some kayaking to your Acadia National Park itinerary, today is the day for it! There are several kayaking guides and rental vendors in Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor and Southwest Harbor. Kayaking in Maine is beautiful, but you need to pay attention to the tides, currents and changing weather. That’s why I like to go with a guide.