We visited Acadia National park in July 2021 over a three-day trip

Our Itinerary:

Day 1 – July 27

• Ocean Path Trail (2.2 miles one way)
• Sand Beach
• Thunder Hole
• Cadillac Mountain Summit (drive)
• Bass Harbor

Day 2 – July 28

• Jordan Pond Trail (3.4 miles round trip)
• Jordan Pond Restaurant
• Echo Lake Beach
• Wonderland Trail (1-mile round trip)

Day 3 – July 29

• Gorham Mountain Trail (2 miles)
• Azalea Garden (not part of NP)
• Schoodic Peninsula

We stayed in an Airbnb in nearby Hancock. The accommodation allowed us to prepare homemade vegetarian meals for both packed lunches and dinners

Day 1 Highlights

This trip marked the start of our tradition of stamping our National Park Passport, a practice we happily carried on throughout our travels to all 63 U.S. national parks

We relied on the Just Ahead audio guide for navigation and to learn about the park’s key attractions. This was quite useful as there was limited cell service within the park.

Our hike along the Ocean Path Trail offered serene views of Sand Beach and Thunder Hole. Although the sea was calm and Thunder Hole was inactive, the trail provided a peaceful and scenic experience.

Later, we drove to the Cadillac Mountain Summit during our reserved time slot. As the highest peak on the East Coast, the summit offered incredible views and was a definite highlight of the day

In the evening, we went to Bass Harbor, located outside the park’s main area

Day 2 Highlights

We began the day with the popular Jordan Pond Trail, a 3.4-mile loop around the beautiful Jordan Pond. The trail was generally easy, with only a few spots requiring us to step over logs.

At the Jordan Pond Restaurant, we enjoyed their famous popovers.

In the afternoon, we relaxed at the tranquil Echo Lake Beach. In hindsight, this spot could have been included in the previous day’s itinerary due to its proximity to Bass Harbor

We ended the day with a leisurely hike on the Wonderland Trail, a short and easy 1-mile walk leading to the ocean

Day 3 Highlights

An early start ensured we found parking for the Gorham Mountain Trail. This was a short but somewhat challenging 2-mile hike, with its steep elevation and boulders. But the views from the summit were breathtaking.

In the afternoon, we explored the Schoodic Peninsula, a quieter section of the park located outside the main area. The drive was long and it could be skipped if time is limited

Overall, Acadia National Park’s ocean views, trails and compact layout makes it a wonderful destination.