Quick Links

Acadia National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States and one that everyone should see. Acadia is a charming and timeless park boasting its unique carriage road network. It is home to many trails and some of the best hiking in New England. As with many national parks, the best way to see and explore Acadia is with a guided tour.

Acadia is an area with a high level of biodiversity and landscapes dominated by U-shaped valleys, granite domes, mountains, lakes, wetlands, forests, meadows, and New England coastlines. Acadia is a landscape of relaxing beauty and riches. Book one's accommodation in Bar Harbor and see the best Maine has to offer.

Classic Bus Tour Of Acadia

For those who would like a short tour, Acadia Tours offers short 2.5-hour and 3.5-4 hour tours of the national park. These tours are ideal for visitors coming on cruise ships and who only have a short time ashore. The tours are fully narrated bus tours that emphasize the history of Bar Harbor and Acadia, together with the geology and wildlife of the area.

The Classic Tour includes a stop on the summit of Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole, and Sieur De Monts Spring (Wild Gardens of Acadia). Their Premium Tour option is an extended version of the Classic Tour with an expended route. This option includes the whole 27-mile Park Loop Park Road.

  • Season: Mid-May through October
  • Ideal For: Cruise Ship Passengers, Visitors Will Little Time

Classic Tour:

  • Duration: 2.5 Hours
  • Stops: Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole, and Sieur De Mont’s Spring
  • Cost: $50.00

Premium Tour:

  • Duration: 3.5-4 Hours
  • Stops: Cadillac Mountain, Sieur De Mont’s Spring, Thunder Hole, and The Jordan Pond House
  • Cost: $77.00

These tours are by bus, so there is limited walking (only at the passenger's discretion). That means it is also worth considering for those with mobility issues.

Related: The Only Guide You’ll Need To Find The Best Hikes In Acadia National Park

Carriage Tours Of Acadia's Carriage Roads

One can't visit Acadia without visiting Rockefeller's famous carriage roads. Perhaps the best way to explore them is to take a guided carriage tour of them. Carriages of Acadia is one company that offers carriage tours of these picturesque roads.

They have a contract with the National Park Service to provide horse-drawn carriage tours in the park (as well as private horse boarding facilities if one has one's own horse). They have three different tours to choose from.

Day Mountain Loop Tour:

The tour circles Day Mountain and meanders in and out of the woods with some stunning vistas along the way.

  • Duration: 1 Hour
  • When: 9.00 am, 10.30 am, 1.00 pm, 2.30 pm

Mr. Rockefeller's Bridge Tour:

This is a two-hour tour that focuses on some of the most remarkable bridgework in the United States. Expect to see three of the bridges that Rockefeller built.

  • Duration: 2 Hours
  • When: 9.45 am, 1.45 pm

Day Mountain Summit Tour:

Climb to the top of Day Mountain and soak in the views. From there, one can dismount and gaze out over the Cranberry Isles.

  • Duration: 2 Hours
  • When: 4.00 pm (Offered On A Limited Basis)

If one is planning to bring a private horse, then Carriages of Acadia also provides boarding facilities for up to 34 horses per night. For more information and for prices, check their website or call them on 1-877-276-3622 or 207-276-5721.

Related: Every Out-Of-The-Box Thing You Can Do In Maine (That Isn't Just Hiking)

Multi-Day Hiking Tours Of Acadia

Of course, the best way to explore Acadia is by hiking through it. Wildland Trekking offers a 4-day hiking odyssey through Acadia National Park and discovery of everything coastal Maine has on offer. Every night one relaxes in a premium seaside hotel in Bar Harbor.

Each day head into Acadia and hike along the mountain summit ridges, through Spruce forests, and discover much of Mount Desert Island. The tour also discovered the Schoodic Peninsula, a ferry ride away.

  • Cost: From $2,940 Per Person
  • Type: Inn-Based Tour
  • Group Size: 4-8 Guests
  • Duration: 4 Days
  • Distance: 19 Miles or 30 Kilometers
  • Included: Meals, Guide, Three Nights Lodging

Discover Acadia like never before with the expert guide while enjoying picnic trail lunches.

There are plenty of other guided tours in Acadia. No matter how much time one has or what one would like to see and do, there are options in Acadia for everyone.