If you’re planning a trip to New England or near Bar Harbor, Maine, you will want to make sure you add Acadia National Park to your list. Matt and I absolutely love visiting National Parks, and Matt and I have already crossed 15 off our list over the last couple of years and try to at least cross off a few extras each year. Acadia National Park was definitely a pretty park and very unique compared to all the other parks we have ever visited.
Acadia National Park boasts the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the US. At 4 million visits a year, it is one of the top 10 most visited national parks in the US. It is filled with 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads. It is really neat driving up to the summit and seeing the views of the water, and then seeing the opposite perspective from the lakes and the mountain peaks in the park. At only 1,528 ft about sea level, it is the tallest point on the entire east coast of the US!
Jordan Pond is one of the park’s most popular lakes. Here you will get the view of the super clear water and surrounding mountain scenery. It is so peaceful and relaxing here. If you are coming during peak seasons (especially during summer!), make sure you plan for at least an extra hour more than you think you will need. It gets very crowded, and there is definitely not enough parking. It is normal to drive around for an hour or more just looking for a spot to park.
If you do end up finding a close parking spot to Jordan Pond, stay there for a while and relax. There are great spots to bike, kayak or hike all around the lake. And there is Jordan Pond House, known for their tea and popovers. We love our tea and popovers in the South, so I’m excited to give them a try next time and see how they stack up. I am sure they are amazing! And the gorgeous views here are too.
Cadillac Summit Road is the must-see spot you will want to make sure to visit while at Acadia. Just be sure to make reservations May through October here during peak season. You will want to plan to have at least a couple hours at Cadillac Summit just based on traffic possibly. We got lucky this time, but parking can get very tricky and crowded here. Plus there is so much to see at the summit. If you are planning to do some hiking, you will want even more time!
You will get to experience so many different views here all while at just one park. That is what makes Acadia National Park so unique and special to me. What national parks have you been to? Which park is your favorite?
