Welcome to the Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Tour
Experience beautiful, historic Maine with this combo of Acadia and Bar Harbor tours. Drive through the untouched wilderness of Acadia and learn the legends of the Native tribes who called that land home. Then stroll along the oceanside as you dive into Bar Harbor’s surprising Gilded Age history. These tours offer the perfect combination of natural beauty and rich culture to get the most out of your visit to this incredible state.
About the Bundle
Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Once you’ve downloaded your tours, your journey through Bar Harbor begins at the Bar Harbor Pier. From there, you’ll head west and hear about Bar Harbor’s early days as a fishing town and its transformation during the Gilded Age.
You’ll then have the chance to cross a land bridge to the beautiful, untouched Bar Island—a must-see for visitors! After that, you’ll enter the West Street Historic District, which is packed with gorgeous homes dating back to the Gilded Age!
The first landmark you’ll find in the historic district is La Rochelle, an extravagant Gilded Age mansion now functioning as a museum. Continuing on toward the Primrose Inn, you’ll hear about a fire that ravaged the town and how it changed Bar Harbor.
Next up are the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church, each displaying eye-catching and totally unique styles. Past those is the Jessup Memorial Library, which dates back almost 150 years!
Up next, at the Abbe Museum, you’ll find a collection dedicated to the Native Wabanaki of the region. Then there’s the Village Green, designed by the same woman who designed the White House Rose Garden!
Then it’s time to stroll down Main Street, loaded with shops, restaurants, and cafes offering anything your heart desires.
Afterward, you’ll head to the Shore Path, which, as you might expect, leads you along the picture-perfect waterfront. As you walk and take in the scenery, you’ll learn more about Bar Harbor’s earliest history and how to spot some of the area’s prettiest wildflowers. You’ll also see a strange landmark deposited in Bar Harbor during the Ice Age!
Next is a personal tennis court-turned-public park which is a great example of how Bar Harbor has transformed since the Gilded Age. Right next to that is the Bar Harbor Inn, an essential part of the town since 1887! Your tour concludes just beyond the inn, right by where you began.
Your tour of Acadia begins just north of Bar Harbor and heads south. Your first stop will be at an overlook affording you a great view of Cadillac Mountain. It might look intimidating from here, but you’re going to climb it!
As you drive toward Beaver Pond (a fantastic wilderness oasis), you’ll hear the legend of the celestial bear hunt Native tribes saw in the night sky. Then it’s on to Egg Rock Overlook, affording views of a distant, very peculiar lighthouse.
Hoping for some ocean vistas? That’s up next, at the easy and beautiful Ocean Path. Then, you’ll find one of the area’s few sandy beaches just beyond that! There’s plenty more ocean up ahead, as you’ll pass a couple of rocky coves and a beach full of boulders, all while catching glimpses of towering mountains opposite the water.
Finally, you’ll ascend to the summit of Cadillac Mountain for unbeatable views of the surrounding land and sea. Your Acadia tour concludes at the summit.
Upgrade to Action+
For $89.99, you can upgrade to Action+ Annual Unlimited Subscription with 100+ tours. Use the tours as often as you like during your one-year subscription period. You also get free access to any new tours that come out during the time you are subscribed.
Tour Map
Additional Information
Lifetime Validity
​Changing travel date? No worries! All individual tours come with lifetime validity.Â
Works Offline
The tour works offline, so you do not need your phone network to enjoy the tour. However, we suggest you download the tour on WiFi at your home, hotel, visitor center, etc., before heading out for a completely immersive experience.
Not an Entry Ticket
This is not an entry ticket to any of the attractions along the way.
Carry a Portable Phone Charger
We Recommend carrying a portable power bank to avoid running out of charge during your tour.
Not a Car Rental
We do not provide car rental services. You must arrange for a car yourself. Our self-guided driving audio tours will work in any car via an aux cable or Bluetooth.
How many tours should I buy?
Since this is a driving & walking tour bundle, we suggest you buy one tour per person for the best experience.
What do we do?
Simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book – all in one app! We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. You can experience our driving and walking tours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day!Â
Park entry tickets
It’s now easier than ever to buy your park entrance pass in Acadia. Three types of weekly passes (vehicle, motorcycle, individual) may be purchased by credit card from automated fee machines available year round, 24 hours a day. One is located at a pavilion in the parking lot of the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Another is available inside a gatehouse at the entrance to the Schoodic Institute on the Schoodic Peninsula. Various other annual and lifetime passes can be purchased from in-person sales locations or online. More at go.nps.gov.
Cadillac Reservation
Driving to Cadillac Mountain requires a prior reservation. Private vehicles cost $4, and there’s a $2 non-refundable reservation fee. To buy tickets, head to recreation.gov. Our main tour to Jordan Point is expected to take 2 hours, followed by 30 minutes to Cadilac’s entrance. You can make a stop at the Jordan Pond House by making a reservation here.
Tides at Bar Harbor
The bar harbor walk is only possible during low tides. You can use this link to predict tide times and plan your trip accordingly.
Starting Points
Acadia Summer Tour (April – October): Hulls Cove Visitor Center, 25 Visitor Center Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Acadia Winter Tour (November – March): 2Â Cottage St, Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor: Bar Harbor Harbor Master, 3 Town Pier, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA