Riding the Historic Downeast Scenic Railroad near Acadia National Park

Once upon a time much of Maine was connected through railways and trolleys, but it’s not such a network anymore. The Downeast Scenic Railway is one of the ways that this history stays alive, and it’s an easy, beautiful little jaunt that visitors to Bar Harbor and the Downeast area can enjoy. I enjoy riding trains and learning about train history, so spending a few hours (about 90 minutes) riding the historic Downeast Scenic Railway is a nice addition when we visit Acadia National Park.

Have you gotten to ride the Downeast Scenic Railway, or maybe you’ve been to the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport? If you, then you know that trains in Maine were a big part of the state’s growth and connected communities for a long time. Today it’s much different, so read on and see what you can expect when you ride the Downeast Scenic Railway. If you have any questions about the railroad or exploring Downeast and the Mount Desert Island area, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a fun trip to Maine.

Why Take a Ride on the Downeast Scenic Railroad

I’m all about finding my people, and I’m a proud history geek. Just like how doing the epic 18+ lighthouse cruise from Bar Harbor means being surrounded by other intense lighthouse lovers, riding obscure historic train lines brings like minded people together in the best way. The Downeast Scenic Railway is a little off the beaten path when you consider how or why most people come to the Bar Harbor area. People are visiting with big plans for visiting Acadia National Park or boating, so getting to spend some time enjoying the historic train is unique among experiences.

Located in the town of Hancock, Maine about 20 minutes from Bar Harbor, the Downeast Scenic Railroad is a totally different sort of experience than you’ll find in the area. This is much more for the slow travel crew, the people that want to be out and about and maybe learn a little, but also just want to relax. It’s surprising to chat with locals, mostly in MidCoast and Portland, and discover how few people know that there is a scenic railroad near Acadia National Park.

I guess that’s another thing that makes the Downeast Scenic Railroad such a gem: not even many Mainers know about it or have gotten to ride the train. Being a train person I’m always seeking out small routes or locomotive museums, but I guess I’m rather different from many as they’re working on their itineraries for Bar Harbor or traveling through DownEast Maine.

Tips for the Downeast Scenic Railroad

Riding the Downeast Scenic Railroad is not an all day activity, but it’s easily added to your travels pre or post Acadia National Park. As I mentioned, it’s about twenty minutes from town and is very easy to get to. The first train usually is in the 10:00 am hour with another in the afternoon. It’s a short ride, so if you can squirrel away and hour and a half you can easily fit it into your plans.

On your train ride day, get to the depot at least fifteen minutes before your scheduled departure. Seats on the Downeast Scenic Railroad aren’t assigned, so you can take your pick. There are historic train benches that can be flipped (with the help of the crew) so that you can accommodate a group together, or you can hang out in the caboose and watch the track trail off into the distance. One of my favorite places to sit on the Downeast Scenic Railroad is actually in the open-air flatbed cars that have picnic tables. This is a great way to enjoy unobstructed scenery and get plenty of fresh air during your journey.

Note: If you’re traveling with a dog, a pet or a service dog, they can ride along on the train. The open air cars are great to bring your pup along, as long as they’re well behaved.

Need to Know for the Downeast Scenic Railroad Trip

The Downeast Scenic Railroad has both indoor and outdoor seating so you can dress for whatever sort of experience you want to have. Keep in mind that when you’re outside and the train is moving you’ll be in the wind, so stay warm. You can bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages with you, and if you don’t have any and are hungry, they do have some light snacks and water available for purchase.

While the big hope of riding the Downeast Scenic Railroad is getting to see a moose from the train, it’s a rare occurrence. You’re welcome to bring your camera gear, but there aren’t too many opportunities to really use it. I did enjoy photographing some of the vintage features of the train and we saw some beautiful birds from the train, but ultimately it was much more of a relaxing and enjoyable ride over a photo safari train trip.

Getting to the Downeast Scenic Railroad Station

The Downeast Scenic Railroad is located in Hancock / Ellsworth, about 20 minutes from Bar Harbor. There’s not a ton of traffic, but if you’re visiting and riding the train during the peak summer months, still leave your accommodations early enough to make it to the depot with plenty of time. There is ample parking in the gravel lot, and then it’s a very short walk to board the train. It’s such an easy, mellow activity to plan when you’re looking at things to do near Bar Harbor.