Ending my national park series with Acadia because it’s my favorite place on earth! Honestly, I’m the kind of traveler who rarely visits a place twice – just because I’m so excited to see new places – but Acadia is going to be a repeat for many, many years. When folks ask that ever-popular “If you could be anywhere in the world right now” question, Acadia is always my answer. 

We started our three-day journey in Acadia by setting up camp in the park (I would highly recommend camping right in the park!) and drove around to some of the more popular sites via Park Loop Road.

Cadillac Mountain is definitely a must-do in Acadia. We drove up to the top multiple times to see the view, but my favorite was at sunset. Everyone brings their blankets and cozies up on top of the breezy mountain while watching the sun go down over the water. Jordan Pond was such a simple, scenic walk, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip. In my opinion, it’s one of the most “instagrammable” places with it’s quiet scene and clear waters. We also explored Sand Beach, which is so odd to go to after seeing miles and miles of rocky coast. It’s one of the only spots that you can go in Acadia with sand.

I was not feeling the greatest during this trip, so the one thing we skipped was a longer hike. We did do a short hike around Jordan Pond and the moderate Gorham Mountain, but I really wanted to make it to Beehive Loop Trail. I’ve heard it’s extremely steep and not for anyone afraid of heights, but the views are unbeatable. Gorham Mountain was a good option for a less-strenuous hike with similar stellar views.

On our last day, we went into Bar Harbor to explore the town. While I’d much prefer to be outside and exploring the national park, Bar Harbor was a nice change of pace (and nice to not have to cook at our campsite). If you have an evening to explore the shops and walk down by the water in Bar Harbor, carve out some time for it.

As always, I was extremely impressed with this national park. I had spent my summer on the east coast and had the opportunity to see a lot of different places – Boston, small towns in New Hampshire, beach towns in Maine – but Acadia took the cake for the most beautiful. If you’re ever looking for the perfect experience on the east coast, get your butt to Acadia (and do it in the fall, because it looks even more gorgeous).

Acadia Recommendations

Don’t Miss: Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, walking the coast, Park Loop Road

If You Have Time: Sand Beach, Bar Harbor, Gorham Mountain or Beehive Loop hike

Skip: Getting a hotel or camping outside the park – stay in Acadia