Biking in Acadia National Park: Renting Bikes and Exploring the Carriage Roads

In the summer and fall months there are some beautiful places to enjoy biking in Acadia National Park. Whether you’re bringing your own bikes or if you need to rent them when you arrive, there are more than 45 miles of Carriage Roads to explore and even more standard thruways that are perfect for biking the coastline of Mount Desert Island. We’ve been to many National Parks and few come close to being as bike-friendly as Acadia NP is.

Have you gotten to enjoy biking in Acadia National Park before? If you haven’t read on and add it to your bucket list for Maine. We have tips for parking and riding out, suggestions for where to rent bikes at Acadia and even some great biking routes through the National Park. If you have any questions about planning your time here or need suggestions for where to stay near Acadia National Park, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others explore Maine!

Biking in Acadia National Park

One thing you can do to ensure everyone visiting Acadia National Park has a fun and SAFE time, whether you’re planning on biking or not, is to watch for bikers in the park. While the Acadia Scenic Drive is a one way for both bikes and cars, other roads are two way and there are lots of blind curves. Drive safely with a special eye to be aware of bicyclists. The only other National Park we’ve

Now, if you’re biking… I’m totally jealous because it’s my favorite activity in the park. You’ll find the road up Cadillac Mountain to be quite the challenge, but if you’d like to either bike on the designated paths or along the Scenic Drive you’re welcome to. Visiting in winter and spring may mean that certain routes are closed to bikes (like Cadillac Mountain), but check in with the Park Rangers to confirm where you can safely access.

The Carriage Roads of Acadia are the best place for biking in the park, as they are intended for this sort of recreation and there aren’t cars on them. There will be times that you’ll need to be on the primary car-roads, but for the most part you’ll be able to get to the Carriage Roads and enjoy a lovely, stress free ride.

Renting Bikes at Acadia National Park

There are lots of bike rental options at Acadia National Park, not within the park boundary, but in the towns on each side of the main area of the park (Mount Desert Island). You can rent regular and e-bikes in Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor and Southwest Harbor. I really like Acadia Outdoor Center because it’s located very near one of the best entry points to get onto the Carriage Roads, and it’s also a good place to launch a bike ride along the less busy side of Acadia NP.

• Get a bike rental from Acadia Outdoor Center here!
• Rent an e-bike from Acadia Outdoor Center here!

Most bike shops offer both standard mountain bikes and e-bikes. There’s a BIG cost difference between them, so consider what you want to see while you’re biking in Acadia National Park and then choose whether an e-bike is necessary. If you’re not planning on riding up the mountains but just want to stay along the more flat areas of Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake, a regular bike should be fine. Here are bike rental options in Bar Harbor, some of which offer delivery and some where you need to fetch the bike yourself.

• Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop
• Acadia E-Bike Adventure
• Acadia SUP & E-Bike
• Acadia Royal E-Bike delivery – book your rental here
• Maine State Kayak & e-Bike — book a tour here
• Island Time E-bikes — book a tour here // book your rental here
• Pedego E-Bikes

Can E-Bikes be Used in Acadia National Park?

If you’re not familiar with E-Bikes, they look like extra sturdy bicycles and have an integrated electric motor that provides an extra boost as you peddle. The National Park Service does have some restrictions in place that limit the use of E-Bikes within Acadia National Park, specifically on the Carriage Roads, but most of these beautiful pathways are fine for e-bikes. It’s very clearly marked where you cannot ride e-bikes.

If you’re biking in Acadia National Park with an E-Bike, you can use a Class I bike on the Carriage Roads, but not Class II or III. You’re also limited to going no faster than 20 MPH on an E-Bike. This is for the safety of the riders, pedestrians and the wildlife in the park. The bike rental companies surrounding Acadia know this and will explain it to you when you’re renting a bike.

Check out our Guide to E-Biking in Acadia National Park

Can I Ride a Bicycle up Cadillac Mountain?

Yes! You certainly can bicycle up Cadillac Mountain, Maine’s highest paved road, but it is quite the incline and you need to be well prepared for it. Before starting the journey, you do need to confirm with the Park Rangers in the booths that you’ve paid your park entrance fee or have a valid pass, but once you’ve done that, you can start the ride up.

Also, before you begin, consider if you’re in the right physical condition to ride up the mountain. It’s freaking steep and windy. I’m in great shape and it’s not a ride I’ll put on my Acadia National Park itinerary. The ride up to the Summit of Cadillac Mountain is 3.5 miles and you climb 1130 feet. If you’re not in shape, you’ll be worn out pretty swiftly, but if you’ve been training, the incline is gradual enough that you can really develop your uphill endurance.

Shuttle Bus Service for Biking in Acadia NP

Did you know that you actually can use the free shuttle service within Acadia National Park to transport your bike (and of course yourself) to different points along the Park Loop Road and different districts? It’s true! The National Park Service has scheduled routes, called the Fare-Free Island Explorer, with bicycle transport gear to be able to get around the park from Bar Harbor. You can bring a regular road bike or mountain bike (and even the kid ride-along), but you cannot use the service to transport e-bikes or fat tire bikes.

Acadia National Park Biking Routes

I know this is why you’re here, to get bike route information so you can plan your biking and be ready for the best experiences possible in Acadia. It’s important to remember as you’re making your plan that there are a few roads, most notably the Park Loop Road, that are ONE WAY roads; this applies to both vehicles and bicycles. Before you start riding the Park Loop Road, make sure you have the right supplies (water, snacks, warm gear…) and enough time to be able to get back to your starting point. Consult the bus schedule (above) if you plan to use it.

Road / Mountain Bike Routes – More Flat

• Bar Harbor to Main Street -> Park Loop OR Otter Creek Road -> Jordan Pond -> Eagle Lake
• Bar Harbor to Hulls Cove Carriage Road -> Park Loop OR Duck Brook Road -> Eagle Lake Loop OR -> Day Mountain Loop -> Jordan Pond Loop to return on same route
• Bar Harbor -> Duck Brook Road -> Eagle Lake West -> Jordan Pond West -> Eagle Lake Carriage Road BUS

E-Bikes / Longer Routes w/ Elevation Gain

• Bar Harbor -> Complete Park Loop Road OR Rte 3
• Bar Harbor -> Hull’s Cove Visitor Center -> Eagle Lake WEST -> Mountain Loop -> Jordan Pond Loop EAST -> Eagle Lake EAST -> Hull’s Cove -> Bar Harbor
• Bar Harbor -> Park Loop Road -> Rte 3 -> Rte 233 -> Duck Brook Road -> Bar Harbor

There aren’t a lot of National Parks that are directly on the ocean, but the ones that offer such a different sort of outdoor experience than landlocked ones. Acadia National Park coasts are beautiful and rugged, and there are lots of ways to explore the water, whether you’re biking, kayaking or doing a boat tour. Be sure to check out our other Acadia National Park posts for planning amazing visits to Maine’s only National Park.

I hope you’ll consider committing a few days to exploring Acadia National Park. I love it so much. Visiting this part of Maine is really special in any season, but especially in summer and autumn. If you have any additional questions or need some recommendations for something else, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to share more and help YOU have a wonderful trip as you explore Maine!