Things to Do in Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor puts a national park, a working harbor and a walkable downtown within a few miles of each other, so the best things to do fall into three groups: what you can do in town on foot, what you do inside Acadia National Park, and what you do on the water. We cover all three below, along with the passes and reservations that catch visitors out. Acadia is , and Cadillac Mountain is .

The best things to do in Bar Harbor are the Park Loop Road and Cadillac Mountain in Acadia, the low-tide walk to Bar Island, whale watching in Frenchman Bay, popovers at the Jordan Pond House, the Shore Path and the Abbe Museum. Most visitors spend the in-town items on a slow or rainy day and give the rest of their time to the park.

Before You Go: Park Pass, Reservations and the Free Bus

• Park pass: Acadia charges $35 per vehicle for seven days, or $20 per person on foot or bike. Visitors who are not US residents pay an extra $100 per person (age 16 and over) on top of that unless they hold an annual pass.
• Cadillac Summit Road: driving to the summit takes a vehicle reservation, booked at recreation.gov. In 2026 it cost $6 and was required from May 20 through October 25. You do not need one to hike or bike up.
• Island Explorer: the free bus links Bar Harbor with the park’s main stops. In 2026 it ran daily through October 13, with reduced service starting August 18, and riders heading into the park need a park pass. Our guide to visiting Bar Harbor without a car shows how to build a trip around it.
• Parking in town: downtown parking is paid from May 15 to October 31, and there is no parking on Bridge Street or the Bar Island land bridge.

Dates and fees change every year, so confirm them at nps.gov/acad before you book.

Things to Do in Town

Walk to Bar Island at Low Tide

Twice a day a gravel bar surfaces between downtown Bar Harbor and Bar Island, and you can walk across it. The Park Service says the bar is passable from about 1.5 hours before low tide to 1.5 hours after. The land bridge is half a mile each way and the full out-and-back, including the island trail, is about 1.9 miles. Start by walking down Bridge Street from West Street.

Check a tide chart before you go. If you lose track of time on the island, the bar will not reopen for about nine hours. The footing is uneven gravel, sand and roots, so wear closed-toe shoes with grip. Dogs must be leashed, and the Park Service asks visitors not to stack rocks. The walk needs no reservation, though a park pass is required.

The Shore Path

The Shore Path is a short, mostly level waterfront walk that starts near the Town Pier and passes the old summer cottages along Frenchman Bay. It costs nothing, takes under an hour at an easy pace, and works at any time of day. It is a good first or last stop, and the harbor view is better than most of what you pay for.

Abbe Museum

The Abbe Museum at 26 Mount Desert Street tells the story of the Wabanaki people, the Indigenous people of Maine, through exhibits and programs. It is open 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and closes on federal holidays other than Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Admission is $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and college students, $10 for ages 5 to 17, and free for children 4 and under. Visitors with a Tribal ID or Military ID, and museum members, get in free. It is also the best indoor option when the weather turns.

Main Street, Cottage Street and the Village Green

Downtown is compact and easy to wander. The Village Green is the center of town, and the shops and restaurants of Main Street and Cottage Street are within a few blocks. For where to eat, see our Bar Harbor restaurants guide.

Things to Do in Acadia National Park

Drive the Park Loop Road

The 27-mile Park Loop Road is the park’s main sightseeing drive and links most of the eastern highlights. Stop at Thunder Hole, which is most dramatic with a swell running, and at Sand Beach, where the water stays cold even in August. Otter Cliffs drops granite cliffs into the Atlantic, and Jordan Pond has views of the Bubbles. The Jordan Pond House serves its popovers on the lawn, so plan around a table if you want them.

Cadillac Mountain

At 1,530 feet, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the Atlantic coast of the United States, with views across Frenchman Bay and Bar Harbor. In fall and winter it is among the first places in the country to see the sunrise. In season, driving up needs the vehicle reservation described above, and sunrise slots are the hardest to get, so book early.

Bike the Carriage Roads

Acadia has about 45 miles of carriage roads, built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. between 1913 and 1940 and closed to cars. Bike rentals are available in Bar Harbor, and the network can be reached from town. The Eagle Lake loop is a popular first ride.

Hike

For an easy walk, try the Ocean Path or the Jordan Pond Path. For something steeper, the Beehive climbs iron rungs on a cliff face and is not for anyone uneasy with heights, and the Precipice Trail is closed seasonally for falcon nesting. Our Acadia National Park guide and Maine hiking guide list more trails by difficulty.

Bass Harbor Head Light

Bass Harbor Head Light, on the quiet side of the island, is one of the most photographed spots in the park, and it is . Go near sunset if you want the classic photo, wear shoes with grip for the rocks below the tower, and expect the small parking area to fill. See our guide to the best lighthouses in Maine for others to pair it with.

Schoodic Peninsula

The mainland section of Acadia is about an hour from Bar Harbor and is quieter than Mount Desert Island. A one-way road loops the peninsula to Schoodic Point, where open Atlantic swells hit the rocks. You can drive there via Route 186, and the Island Explorer serves the peninsula in season.

Things to Do on the Water

Whale Watching

Bar Harbor is one of the main whale watching ports in Maine, with trips into Frenchman Bay and the Gulf of Maine running roughly May through October. Humpbacks, finbacks and minkes are the whales most often reported, and sightings are never guaranteed. See the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. listing and our Maine whale watching guide.

Sea Kayaking

Several outfitters in Bar Harbor run guided kayak tours of the islands in Frenchman Bay and rent kayaks to experienced paddlers. Ask about tide and wind conditions when you book, since they decide which routes are open.

The CAT to Nova Scotia

The CAT, run by Bay Ferries, crosses from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in about 3.5 hours. In 2026 it ran from May 14 to October 14. That is too long for a casual day trip, so it suits travelers who are continuing into Canada. Our Maine ferry guide covers it and the other routes.

Rainy-Day Ideas

Start with the Abbe Museum, then give the afternoon to the shops and a long lunch downtown. The Park Loop Road is still worth driving in fog and drizzle, since the surf at Thunder Hole is often better in rough weather, but skip the summit and the exposed hikes when visibility is poor.

When to Go

July and August are the busiest and most expensive months. We have long pointed visitors to September, when crowds thin and the weather holds. See our guides to the best time to visit Bar Harbor and to fall foliage in Bar Harbor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Bar Harbor?

The most popular are driving the Park Loop Road, visiting Cadillac Mountain, walking to Bar Island at low tide, whale watching, popovers at the Jordan Pond House, biking the carriage roads, and spending an hour at the Abbe Museum.

How many days do you need in Bar Harbor?

Two full days covers the Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain, one hike and an afternoon in town. A third day lets you add the water, Bass Harbor Head Light or Schoodic.

When can you walk to Bar Island?

From about 1.5 hours before low tide to 1.5 hours after, according to the Park Service. Check a tide chart, because the bar is under water the rest of the time.

Do you need a reservation for Cadillac Mountain?

To drive up in season, yes. A vehicle reservation costing $6 was required from May 20 through October 25 in 2026, booked at recreation.gov. Hikers and cyclists do not need one.

Can you visit Bar Harbor without a car?

Yes, for much of the trip. The free Island Explorer bus serves the town and the park’s main stops in season. See our car-free guide for a plan.

What is there to do in Bar Harbor on a rainy day?

The Abbe Museum, the shops and restaurants downtown, and a drive along the Park Loop Road are the easiest options.

Checking the weather or the crowds? Our Bar Harbor webcams page shows what each live cam sees.

Our details come from the National Park Service (its fee, Bar Island and Island Explorer pages), the Abbe Museum and Bay Ferries, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and reservation dates change every year, so confirm before you go.