The Ultimate Road Trip From Boston to Acadia National Park And Bar Harbor
Whether you’re ready for an adventure that includes amazing parks, mountain peaks, amazing coastlines, and famous towns and cities, the entire journey from Boston to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor is a trip you should do.
Driving the 275 miles from Boston to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor takes five hours and thirty minutes. Some places to stop include Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Portland; Rockport; Camden; and the breathtaking sceneries from the Parkway 1 route through Maine.
How long will it take to travel from Boston to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park?
This route has an ideal blend of common and city places, making it hard to resist traveling to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, which are home to some of the most attractive sights in the world.
They will follow the Atlantic Coast through the first part of the drive, providing you with beautiful scenery to look at as you travel north. The trip will take a lot of time on the roads, so the driving should be very easy at any time of day.
Driving out of Boston can be risky because of the heavy traffic. Because the city is so busy, you can expect traffic jams at certain hours of the week and during special occasions. Plan your stops accordingly to avoid any inconvenience.
You’ll need to rent a car as soon as possible for your trip, regardless of whether you’re driving into Boston or don’t have one within the city.
Best Route from Boston to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor
The most direct route is the best one from Boston to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor since, despite the small distance, there are many of sights to see.
If you plan on driving lower Cadillac Street when visiting Acadia National Park, keep in mind that reservations may be needed. Please check the National Park’s http://www.nps.gov/
The best places to stop among Boston and Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor
To make the trip from Boston to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor even more enjoyable, reserve the best accommodations that the area provides. Here are a few of the extremely excellent options.
1. Drive from Boston to Portsmouth
60 miles (60 minutes)
There are many possible ways that this trip from Boston to Acadia National Park may take. You can extend or shorten it as needed through your diversions. We’ll list a few possible stops along the way, but we urge you to add more if you have the time!
Say welcome to Boston and start on your I-93 trip. After a while, you’ll move to I-95 while going northeast. Visit the Lynn Woods Reservation first. After that, you might choose to make a diversion to Salem, which is well-known for its horrible witch trials, and visit the Salem Witch Exhibition Hall to find out more.
Continue to the highway from here, and just before you reach Portsmouth, benefit from the unique opportunity to divert off and see Hampton Oceanside State Park, which is particularly beautiful in the summer.
You are likely to head to Portsmouth Market Square for dinner the first day you arrive. While Boston is certainly a great place to eat seafood, there are more options available if you head into Maine.
Visit the Strawberry Bank Historical Center before continuing on your journey.
2. Drive from Portsmouth to Portland
50 miles (50 minutes)
You’ll take a similar route from Portsmouth to Maine, where you’ll see York. Take a diversion to witness the amazing Nubble Beacon to take a picture.
If you have some free time before Portland, Funtown Splashtown USA is a great place to visit, especially if you are traveling with family.
Before you do anything else in Portland, make sure to visit some beautiful beaches! While exploring the shoreline, you may also visit Portland Head Light to take photos of the stunning Atlantic Sea that extends to the horizon.
Though it’s a short trip to get to the beacon, the scenery is well worth it! If you have another day or two in Portland before heading on the next part of your journey from Boston to Acadia Public Park, there’s the Portland Historical Center of Workmanship.
3. Drive from Portland to Augusta
80 miles (1 hour 50 minutes)
Once you leave Portland, continue northeast on I-295. shortly, you can take a little diversion to see Wide Bay Hold, which is particularly scary at night. As you head toward Brunswick on the highway, you will come at US-1.
You can take a break for dinner and visit the Maine Maritime Museum as you travel through Bath. You will shortly travel on ME-194 inland once you arrive at Damariscotta. When you get to Augusta, be sure to visit the Midtown Shopping Area.
Take a little time off from driving when you get in Augusta. When everything is stated and finished, this is the longest leg of your route, driving from Boston to Acadia Public Park and Bar Habor. The stunning Viles Cemetery is one of the most amazing spots to take a break from the landing area.
If you can move quickly, you will spend some time along the river on the relaxed Kennebec Stream Rail Trail, which is a pathway along the Kennebec Waterway.
4. Drive from Augusta to Camden
50 miles (1 hour 10 minutes)
After your rest, you will head straight toward the coast. Known for its breathtaking views of the Atlantic, a visit wouldn’t be the greatest if it didn’t include a chance to stop and explore Maine’s coastlines.
After your rest, you will head straight toward the coast. Known for its breathtaking views of the Atlantic, a visit wouldn’t be the best if it didn’t include a chance to stop and explore Maine’s beaches.
The initial thing you should do when you get in Camden is visit Camden Slopes State Park. You will be amazed by the sceneries from the top of Mount Battie over West Penobscot Sound and the nearby islands. Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheater is another amazing place to explore.
Are you ready to give up? The most charmingly horrible place in Camden is the Camden Maine Stay Hotel. Built in 1802, this lovely store overnight boardinghouse.
You will enjoy a delicious breakfast in the famous sitting room or on the balcony.
over the nursery each morning if you arrive.
5. Drive from Camden to Bar Harbor
80 miles (1 hour 50 minutes)
Proceed with your drive on US-1 driving north, and you will before long arrive at Belfast. From here, follow the shore to have some time off at the beautiful Moose Point State Park with shocking views of the Belfast Bays to one side.
Proceed northward from there, and you will soon reach Post Knox and Penobscot Strait Station. Because so many of these locations are in Maine, keep in mind that these attractions are occasional. To avoid inconvenience, confirm before time.
The road will travel through Verona Island to the east before returning to this vital region. Go south beyond Triton and past Ellsworth to the Mt. Remote site. You can navigate into the heart of Bar Harbor using ME-3.
You should have a look at the lovely Bar Island when you arrive in Bar Harbor. The island is vacant and located near Acadia Public Park. Here, you may find lovely birchwood and pine forests as well as fantastic walking tracks.
Balance Rock is a unique sight over United Park and a great location for sunrise shooting..
Book a stay at the Bar Harbor Hotel and Spa for the best morning views of Frenchman Cove. This luxurious hotel has an amazing hot tub and an enormous exterior pool—everything you could want from an elite resort. Another benefit is that the bright windows are unlike anything else in Maine!
6. Drive from Bar Harbor to Acadia Public Park
1.5 miles (5 minutes)
Bar Harbor is not far away from Acadia Public Park, so the drive won’t take too long. Although you can approach the park from Bar Harbor, the easiest route to drive the experienced Park Loop Road is to take Ledgelawn Road to Glade Drive, which will take you into the Acadia National Park.
Also, when visiting Acadia National Park, be sure to take in the vast views from Cadillac Mountain’s top!
The best time to visit from Boston to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor
The journey from Boston to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor is mostly enjoyable in pleasant weather. However because of the rough terrain of the recreation area, the temperature may vary a lot, so confirm the forecasts before starting a journey.
The good news about visiting in late April is that temperatures will often reach a comfortable seventy degrees Fahrenheit. The summer also means that there will be a lot of events to attend on the visit. In June and July, you can attend the Bar Harbor Live performance.
For an alternate type of involvement, what about the August Scottish Celebration and Good Country Games in Maine? All in all, a blend of an ideal climate and lots of events means that you should expect crowds of tourists in Maine, especially in Acadia National Park.
On the other hand, the majority of the recreation area’s facilities and services aren’t available during the winter, and the extremely cold weather doesn’t help either. Your best option for convenience if you want to explore Acadia in the winter would have to be Bar Harbour itself.
If you travel during the winter months, you will likely not be able to visit the places you had originally planned to see because, as we discovered, the great majority of the attractions close for the winter season.
In general, spring should be an excellent time to come, but in practice, you’ll often find snow left over from wintertime. Springtime temperatures at Acadia National Park range widely, from the mid-30s to the upper 60s Fahrenheit.
In any case, if you’ve been keeping an eye on the weather and think a hotter spring is near, you may expect a truly empty park and low prices. If you happen to travel in the spring, you can also take advantage of outstanding dinners (and extraordinary prices!) during the state-wide Maine Restaurant Week.
But autumn is the ideal time to travel because of the beautiful scenery, falling prices, and overall low number of tourists. It’s a fantastic time to go climbing and sightseeing in Acadia. Temperatures in this season range from thirty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
The fall beauty shines around the middle of October, yet this can vary from year to year. When collecting leaves, be mindful of the National Park Administration’s warnings.
Make sure to look at Cadillac Mountain for inspiring views along the East Coast!
Things to see on this road trip
Lynn Woods Reservation
Salem Witch Exhibition Hall, Massachusetts
Hampton Ocean Side State Park
Strawbery Banke
Portsmouth Market Square
York, Maine
Nubble Beacon
Ogunquit Oceanside
Funtown Splashtown USA
Portland Head Light
Portland Gallery of Craftsmanship
H. H. Roughage Building
Wide Inlet Save
Maine Oceanic Gallery, Shower
Downtown Shopping Area, Gardiner
Viles Arboretum
Kennebec Waterway Rail Trail
Sweetgrass Ranch
Rockland, Maine
Andre The Seal Sculpture
Camden Slopes State Park, Maine
Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheater
Moose Point State Park
Post Knox and Penobscot River Observatory
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the drive from Boston to Bar Harbor Scenic?
Indeed, the drive from Boston to Bar Harbor is scenic, offering pleasant views of seaside scenes and enchanting New Britain towns en route.
How many days do you need in Bar Harbor and Acadia?
To completely see The Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, plan to spend no less than 3 to 4 days investigating the staggering Natural beauty, hiking trails, and waterfront view.
What are the attractions in Bar Harbor?
Bar Harbor is well known for its staggering seaside, dynamic midtown region, and closeness to Acadia National Park. It’s famous for exercises like climbing, whale watching, and beautiful drives along the rough shore.
Is it expensive to vacation in Bar Harbor Maine?
Bar Harbor, Maine, is among the 10 most affordable ocean-side towns. “By and large, a weeklong visit with oceanfront facilities will run you generally costs $3,353.
For further details on Acadia National Park kindly visit https://friendsofacadia.org/
