Mount Desert Island Reviews

stayed on the "quiet" side of the island. Easy to get around by car, check out the lighthouse on the island. Good restaurants.

Stunning views of Bar Harbor & surrounding area! Easy park pass system. Take advantage of securing passes early.

Such a spectacular part of Maine! We went at peak fall foliage & around every corner was beauty that took our breath away & amazing photography options. So many great sites & relatively easy parking at most locations. We hope to repeat this trip often in the upcoming years in the fall!

Lots to do on the island. Great views and lots of outdoor activities. It rained on us at 50 degrees so we found less to do inside but we made it work.

Great place to visit during the Summer. Fantastic for Fall colors. We enjoyed a driving tour around the island and Acadia Park. Absolutely beautiful. Time your visit either early June or Mid-late October.

Wonderful hiking and biking! Acadia is very scenic and relaxing. Recommend renting bikes in Acadia. Be sure to bike to Eagle lake and Jordan Pond. Stunning!

Lots to visit. beaches, small towns, Cadillac mountain, small lakes (ponds), Carriage trails--ie biking trails and hiking. Lots to do. Good thing you can use cars.

Beautiful place to visit. Easy to get around, this is a must do in Maine. Lots of scenic views, a national park, lots of great places to stay and eat. I try to go there in the shoulder seasons of early June and September when there are fewer people. This year with the virus that has been hardly anyone around.

A friend and I stayed at The Dome in Franklin, Maine about 1 hour north of Mt Desert (reserved through AirBNB). It is a Geodesic Dome on a remote lake with 2 lovely people and 3 great dogs.

Spent 2 of the days driving around Mt. Desert. Acadia Park is still as incredibly beautiful as I remembered it. And more popular than ever. So much so that the Park Service is hiding some of the most wonderful attractions! Thunder Hole hardly appears on the signage anymore. You need to follow the signs for Sand Beach to get on the Loop Road and then after visiting Sand Beach, continue on the Loop Road and look for a sign on the right side for Thunder Hole. When you turn in you find yourself in a parking lot with a Thunder Hole Gift Shop and no directions to Thunder Hole itself. But midway down the lot on the left are stairs that take you down and across the Loop Road to more stairs that take you FINALLY to Thunder Hole.

Another "lost" attraction is Anemone Cave and tide pools. It has been entirely removed from signage in the park and maps of the park because of it being such a fragile environment and too popular for its own good! But now, being so hard to find, it no longer suffers from too many visitors. If you ask park staff, many will claim to have no idea what you're talking about. A few will confide to you to follow directions to Schooner Head and look for it there. More than worth the trouble! Here is a link for more information on it - Well I was going to give you a link to a site with pictures of, information about and directions to find Anemone Cave. But Trip Advisor forbids the inclusion of any links based on the mistaken impression that all web sites are commercial. So I encourage you Google Acadia Anemone Cave and find several helpful sites.

And of course Cadillac Mountain at dawn (or any time) is breathtaking. Stop along the roadside and pick wild blueberries - but make some noise to warn off the bears who love the berries, too

And there is much more on Mt. Desert than just Acadia National Park. Drive around the island and find beautiful uncrowded unspoiied little towns, wonderful lobster dining, great scenery and don't miss the Antique Car Museum in Seal Cove. Have tea at the Asticou Inn, a grand old hotel. But avoid the town of Bar Harbor if you can. While there are still some nice old restaurants and the pier that the whale watching cruises leave from, most of the town is now a crowded, tacky tourist trap. Sad

One more thing - while you're on the island try having a bowl of chowder for breakfast. It sounds weird, but it's wonderful. Think of it as Maine oatmeal! LOL

We try to visit the area once or twice a year. There is something for everyone on MDI. Tours, Acadia NP, shopping, restaurants and much more. We visited during the COVID-19 times. Most everyone wore a mask, but social distancing was near impossible.

This was a great vacation. Lots to do and see on Desert Island. With great views and photo opportunities.

One of the most beautiful places on earth! We had a fun day exploring and eating in this wonderfully beautiful place.

I reviewed Acadia under its own listing and will be reviewing the town of Bar Harbor here. There was much more to do than I thought, and I had a great time. Most of my time was spent in Acadia, but in late afternoons and evenings, I thoroughly enjoyed walking through the town. There are all kinds of eateries, from casual to more formal, in a variety of cuisines. You can walk to Bar Island at low tide, enjoy the shore path, and look at the views from the pier. There are many shops here. Most are souvenir shops, but you'll find all kinds of things - the typical Acadia or Bar Harbor memorabilia, local hand-made products, locally produced edibles like jam, syrup, candies, and tea, and some more unusual items. I visited most of the tours several times when I had downtime, and I wasn't bored looking at the merchandise more than once - while some products are pretty typical, others are pretty interesting to look at. There are also places to get outdoor gear if needed, and there's a Walgreens and a grocery store. There are two small parks with benches if you want to relax. The town is historic, and there are sign posts throughout providing historic details about that particular spot. You can also take a number of tours from here. There are boat tours that leave from the harbor, ghost and walking tours around the town, and kayaking and bike tours. There's also a theater and a movie theater. The atmosphere is small town quaint. It's very lovely. I walked everywhere. For people who come with cars (I did not), it seems like a hassle to drive around the town with all the pedestrians. I'd recommend parking at your hotel and leaving your car there if possible.

Magnificent scenery, a lovely town and multiple options for delicious meals. We enjoyed our trip through Acadia National Park, and our walks along the water.

On a clear day you can see forever on top of Cadillac mountain, love to hike then go here! take trolley first to learn of all then go on your own and check it ALL out. The history is the best!!

I've been going to Acadia for 45 years. Never feel like I've been there too many times. Our dog's ashes are spread at a secret location there. It always felt like home, and we just bought a house near there, and now it is home. The shore between Sand Beach and Otter Cove is great, but too many tourists in season. There are plenty of other places where tourists don't go, and those are spectacular in their serenity, and natural beauty. Because of all the tourism, however, a vast array of fine dining options exist there to serve the needs of all seafood lovers. The MDI experience is something almost everyone should experience once in their lifetime. Just not all at the same time :)

Mount Desert Island is truly an island. More than one hundred years ago a bridge was built to the island so travel there could be easier. Before that, you had to wait until low tide to cross or take a ferry. Cars were also prohibited on the island because the wealthy residents didn't like their noise or pollution. Now all that has changed and we flock to the island over the bridge to see the natural wonders of the Maine coast in Acadia National Park. Most tourists visit Bar Harbor and take the park loop road to see the "highlights" of Acadia--Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, the rugged coast like at Otter Cliffs, Jordan Pond and the Bubbles, Jordan Pond House, and of course Cadillac mountain especially at sunrise or sunset. You will get a good feeling of the island but there is so much more. There is the whole "quiet side " of the island to explore . And this side doesn't have the crowds. And you will miss so much: Northeast harbor, a working harbor, where you can take the mailboat to the Cranberry Islands, explore the gardens of Thuya and Asticou including a Japanese sand garden; Somes Sound (the only fjord in eastern US where you can watch sailboats in the summer; Echo Lake where it is warm enough to swim or put in your boat; Southwest Harbor, another working harbor and charming town; and Bass Harbor with its iconic lighthouse set upon the rugged cliff. The scenery is fabulous and the people are friendly. Take the time to see this or you will be missing out on a lot.

Go early. If you want the sand beach or Jordan’s pond, go first thing in the morning to be able to park nearby.

We really enjoyed exploring Mount Desert Island... Acadia NP is obviously beautiful and was the highlight of our tour of New England... the colours of the leaves in the autumn - combined with a sunny day - it made for one of the most spectacular and beautiful sights we've ever seen.

However, we found several other spots around the island that were full of charm and beauty. This included coastal scenes, inlets, churches, properties... it's a lovely place to explore and, no doubt, to live. If you've got the use of a car, it's well worth heading out.

Cold, icy, and perfect for those of us who want to be alone in the wild woods. Please use caution during your sping adventures and be prepared for ice.

this is one over the easiest park for see. Hiking for all levels and the views are amazing. The only regret was not booking the horse carriage tour sooner. Please take the time to go over and see Schoodic.. its the best place to see the ocean and relax and very few people are there. The cruse ships are over loading the main park. Also climb Beech mountain but go early very limited parking. great views maybe better than Cadillac mountain

Mount Desert Island or Acadia National Park is an amazing place. There is so much to do here and the scenery is amazing. Use All Trails for hiking because some of the trails aren't marked well so you can wander off easily if you aren't sure where you are going.

What a drive and the views are just gorgeous. With fall this makes it perfect to a few days getaway . Drive slow , take pictures and walk along the shore line and enjoy nature at its best

Despite the high season, we found the park delightful, the visit to Cadillac Mtn at sunrise special, and the entire park relaxing. This is a very special national park.

Many good trails were located on Mount Desert Island. Many trails were also muddy. Trails can be very rocky and involve rock climbing too. Moderate was more like strenuous in my opinion. Each park has different rating systems and Acadia was a bit off to me, and I'm a fairly good hiker.
Seeing the sunrise at Cadillac mountain was amazing, but get there at least a half hour early. Get to the trails early too. Although I went in late August, Acadia was crowded with many families and people with dogs.

The park is beautiful, but jam packed with people and cars. The ticket buying procedure is designed to create lineups…a total joke. Buying a pass on line does not give you a pass, only a QR code to go line up at the visitor center to retrieve your pass. The town is packed and touristy.. it was ok but we enjoyed quieter places along the coast better.

It’s Absolutely Beautiful here.
I’ve been here a number times over the years and it always amazes me.
A must see.

What a great place for a get away
People are great. So much natural beauty and trails. Arcadia National Park

Wish we spent more time here.

The island, the town and the park are fun.

The people are first rate. wish we did this before.

This is our favorite part of Maine, home to Acadia National Park, as well as Bar Harbour. We love to camp here as the scenery is absolutely spectacular. So much to see and do too! Highly recommend kayak tours, or bring your own. Carriage roads are perfect for gravel or mountain bikes. Restaurants galore! A perfect destination for a family vacation.

Hiking to the top gives a great view of the harbor and great photo ops. If you can't hike there is a loop road with pull off sides for viewing

We decided to drive around Mount Desert Island which isn’t as easy as it sounds. You can’t just keep the water on your left because there are so many estuaries and lakes. After you leave Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor the roads are not well marked. The good news is that even if you get lost the island is small enough that you easily find yourself in familiar territory. We left Acadia Park and headed to Northeast Harbor, an area known for its marinas. Just before getting there we stopped at the Asticou Gardens, a beautiful well maintained garden ranging from a Zen garden to grassy expanses marked by granite outcroppings and meandering streams. The flowering trees and shrubs and flowers delight the senses with their vibrant colors and fragrances. You can easily tour the garden in 20-30 minutes. From Northeast Harbor we headed back up an around an estuary heading to Southwest Harbor, a town even smaller than Northeast Harbor. From there it was down to Bass Harbor and the only lighthouse actually on the island. Continuing on our journey is when we got lost and somehow found our way heading back to Northeast Harbor. Rather than trying to backtrack to find our route we decided to just head to Frenchman’s Bay and Bar Harbor. All in all it was an enjoyable afternoon surrounded by beautiful scenery.

I just read it only takes a little over 2 hours to drive around Mount Desert Island, but there is a lot to see on that Island. Acadia National Park is definitely the highlight with the various hiking trails and sights. But Bar Harbor is also quite cute with all the little shops, bakeries and restaurants. There is something for everyone.

The whole island is an adventure! Has something for everyone shopping and many many eateries in bar harbor. Tons of hiking options in the Arcadia park!

Check out the harbors to see local fisherman and great people watching.

Beautiful, peaceful, exciting and smashing views! The Park is 55% of the island, so it's easy to enjoy!

This is a must visit in the fall, e.g. mid-October. The colors were peaking during our visit around 10/15. The only headache here is the cruise ships that dump 3000 people into town.

One thing that our country does well is it's National Parks. Acadia is no exception--an absolutely beautiful island filled with dramatic vistas of pink granite cliffs plunging into deep blue oceans and everpresent waves and seaspray. Lots of hiking trails, "carriage trails", seals, puffins and a wide variety of seabirds. Very walkable in downtown Bar Harbor, though somewhat touristy. Excellent food, especially if you like lobstah and blueberries! Highly recommend--a great escape!

Beautiful views, nice local people. Clean, easy to get around. Free bussing from town to town is a plus!

Very nice place to visit. Lots of shops and restaurants. Acadia is wonderful place to visit. Would go again.

The beautiful rugged coastline and pines are just so quintessential Maine to me. Drive around the loop trail with the windows down and breathe the beautiful air!

We aren’t shoppers, but I really appreciated seeing so many local shops rather than chains. There was even a store with pet oriented gifts! Lots of good restaurants, too.

The absolute beauty of nature!! So we’ll maintained yet untouched. Amazed at the options of freedom while exploring. Everyone we meet from the locals to the visitors were so friendly and helpful!

Bar Harbor is great, but don’t miss the quiet side (west). Southwest Harbor’s Wonderland Trail is super. Bass Harbor Head Light is worth the climb out on the rocks.

If you are looking for a fantastic coastal New England vacation look no further! Mount Desert Island or MDI has everything a vacationer could ask for. From hiking, kayaking, shops, whale watching, mini golf and much much more! MDI is truly a vacation destination! I should know, we have been coming here for over 30 years!

In addition to checking out Acadia, I drove all the way around the island. Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor were nice little towns. Further west it's sparsely populated with ordinary people and, of course, lots of trees.

wow - what an experience to ride the carriage roads and hike at sand beach - use the bus system, parking is impossible during the summer

Everything from indoor (dining, massage) to outdoor (hiking, biking). There are a number of activities to keep you and your family entertained or just enjoy some relaxing meals and views.

Mount Desert Island was named Eden by it’s original occupants, the Rockefellers, Fords, and President Taft. They kept the island as free of cars as possible. They gave the island to the National Park Service to to keep the rif-raf out and preserve it’s natural beauty. They were successful. The island is beautiful and it is easy to imagine yourself back in the early 1900’s, living or, at least, visiting in Eden.

Just to sum it up. After visiting the island, I'm seriously considering moving to Maine. I'm starting with bringing my family here in couple of weeks, so they can see what i've seen/felt.

Mount Dessert Island is beautiful. We stayed about 10 minutes from Bar Harbor and enjoyed everything the Island has to offer from the beautiful views, wildlife and Acadia National park. Would highly recommend this area. We visited Bar Harbor for the afternoon and that was a very busy town. Did some great shopping in the local stores. Great shops and restaurants but we rented a house out of the hustle and bustle of town and enjoyed it very much. Depends on your preference. There are many park entrances all over the area and restaurants at every turn. Definitely grocery shop before getting on the island. The hiking and biking is awesome and many places to choose from. Take in the beauty of this place.

Thankfully we have the beauty held in our minds as the grandeur and beauty can hardly be captured by photos or words. Yes, the ocean is beautiful. But the interior of the island should not be missed.

As always it is gorgeous here and enjoyable place to visit. Our drive up Cadillac Mountain provided gorgeous views of the area.

Cadillac Mountain, Bar Harbor, and Jordan Pond can be crowded with tourists during the summer, but later in the day it gets better. And there are lots of spots that are not so crowded. I like coming here in the spring and fall though.

We loved every second of our time here. It was so peaceful and relaxing. The entire island smelled of pine outside.

Mount desert island is home to Acadia and bar harbor among other towns. It’s a natural and historic beauty. It reminds us of Martha’s Vineyards and Newport. Acadia is absolutely unique and breathtaking. Many of the sights are accessible to different walking and hiking abilities. The free bus sponsored by ll bean is very convenient and green. The weather in August and early September is just perfect. Must do!

Mount Desert is a beautiful part of Maine but no one would allow use of public bathrooms none had to walk a long way down to the marina and back up for a public restroom. Come to my town and we all welcome the public to use our restrooms. This was was a real problem for travelers. I suggest more convenient public restrooms. The sound was beautiful also.

Peaceful - Beautiful - Exciting - Breathtaking
This place has so many amazing sights and experiences to discover.

This place is great if you like to hike. I almost missed the bubbles, which I stumbled upon. Great hike! There are some challenging hikes (which I left to the experts!) but was able to chalk up 23,000 steps and 82 "flights of stairs" on my fitbit.

This is one of my favorite islands in America. Acadia National Park is gorgeous and pristine. It should be on everyone's list, and is worthy of return visits, which we do.

Definitely see this island during the fall as there are less people. It is beautiful and at some points there are breathtaking views!

I had a great experience all around on MDI- and you must eat all of the seafood, plus their fabulous oysters while you’re there (Obvi Lobster). Definitely take all the time to bike, explore and see the whole island- the path was a gorgeous walk and there are many places to just sit and relax.

Our last visit was 10 yrs. ago and we have been looking forward to a return trip ever since. Bar Harbor is unique but full of tourists anytime. Go to the 'quiet side' of the island for a relaxed time of viewing, dining, or hiking. The food is great an every thing seems to slow down.

We did this with four girls from 10-16 and sometimes they got out of the car. We had 80 year old parents and they got out more often. It was beautiful driving around the island and seeing all the natural wonders of what God has made. We loved the little towns and villages around the coasts to pull into and shop and get some food. It was all so peaceful. (Until our crew rolled out of the car usually) it was warmer than we thought. On a sunny day it was in the high 70s which was nice.

Most people think of Bar Harbor, Cadillac Mountain, etc when they visit the area but it is absolutely worth your while to get out and explore the ENTIRE island and see all the beauty, all the awesome and all the magic that is Mount Desert Island (MDI). Depending on the time of year and how many cruise ships are in town, Bar harbor can be fun or it can be crowded and overwhelming. Get out and see the off the beaten path parts of MDi and you will not be disappointed.

MDI has been my husband’s happy place for several years now. We keep coming back for all of its natural beauty, great hiking, plenty of lobster pounds, touristy Bar Harbor kitsch, waterways to explore, and as he says, “its beautiful blues and greens.”

It's amazing that this is the highest "mtn" on the East Coast, cool to visit. We had a great view of our cruise ship below in the harbor

This park ranks among the best along with Yellowstone and Yosemite for the quality and quantity of the beauty. From the carriage trails to Mt Cadillac, The Bubbles, hiking paths and the shoreline including Thunder Hole. This park has something for everyone.

The Desert in Mount Desert is from the French for "deserted," so neither. One of the most beautiful and accessible venues we've ever seen across the USA. Go as the leaves are turning for a most gorgeous colors.

You are in Bar Harbor to see Acadia, right? All of the island is beautiful, see the ‘quiet side’ too

This is a amazing place with Acadia National Park being the main attraction on the island. This is a great place for an active vacation - hiking, kayaking, sailing, etc. I spent time in the off season so a lot of places are closed but the bonus is no long waits for tables at restaurants that are open. The trails are not over crowded and traffic over all is light.

Superb mountain and ocean views of course. Interesting villages and towns with nice gift shops, antiques, inns, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, pubs. Beautiful architecture, lots of history. Lobster pounds everywhere. Lots of traffic during tourist season.

While I have known this place all my life, I don't live here now and love coming back to visit. The beauty is astounding and do get out of Bar Harbor and Explore Somes Sound, Southwest Harbor where the most beautiful scenes are of boats in the water, and much more.

New England was experiencing some bad weather, so the water tours were cancelled, as well as the flights of the Island. I didn't get to reschedule, but would like to go back to do more. The Oli's Trolley tours were very informative and enjoyable, and I highly recommend them.

We stayed in an Airbnb (I think) at Derby Lane. It was quite hot and humid, but I was prepared with my own fans. That was my 5th trip to Acadia/Bar Harbor, and 7th trip overall to Maine. I love the state! I think there should be law once you enter MDI - leave your phones as you cross the bridge! Teenagers! It would have been a better time without them! I still had a good time with my dogs mostlly. Whoever invented the handheld screens should be shot! Not Really ! :)

Everything we did on this island was awesome. The beauty, the views, the dining, the hiking, the biking, the whatever. It was all memorable.

We had an amazing time. It is a beautiful area to visit. We enjoyed traveling around the area looking st the sites.

A beautiful place with so much to offer. On the first day a bald eagle flew over me at the rooftop pool at our hotel. A combination of everything - nature and creature comforts - if you want it.

This is such a gorgeous area, you really can't go wrong planning to visit. Whether you want something active or just a laid back experience, you'll find it. From water activities or hiking to gazing out at the sea, everyone should enjoy this area.

When you visit Bar Harbor and Acadia, don’t neglect the rest of the island. Drive around and see the rest.

We love our National Parks and know that if it is designated as a National Park, it has to be special and Acadia didn't let us down. Loved going to the top of Cadillac Mountain. Saw a porcupine up close and personal and just loved the beauty. Bravo to our National Park system!!!!!!

Many options for the length of a drive from 20 to about 40 + miles. Do take the road to the top of Cadillac Mountain and don't miss the Seal Cove Auto Museum on the west Side of the island.

We visited Mount Desert Island and can not wait to return! Our primary reason was to see Acadia National Park, which we highly recommend! We were also able to see other parts of MDI such as Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor, and Northeast Harbor. If you are planning a trip to Acadia, definitely plan to spend some time exploring the rest of this charming island.

The island has many things to do and see. It is such a nice calm rural place. Do not forget to get off the beaten path. There is more to see than Bar Harbor or Acadia National Park (but those are gorgeous and perfect places to explore) Try North and South Harbors, the Auto Museum in Seal Cove and so much more. It is very interesting to see the differences in the different parts of the island.

So much to see and do on Mount Desert Island! Acadia National Park, Whale Watching, Scenic Charters and Tours, Beaches, Shops, Golf, Hiking, Biking, Sea Kayaking, Plane rides, glider rides, helicopter flights, mini golf, if you want to do it you will find it on MDI

The views are perfect here. Nice ocean breeze. Trails are pretty easy to manage. Beautiful views even from the car.

It's just something you need to do at low tide. Walk across, look for shells and enjoy the views. It's pretty and a fun free thing to do.

Stayed in downtown Bar Harbor (Ivy Manor) and took the time to drive around the entire island, through the park. Even the quiet side of the island was perfect. Every turn, and every quick change of the weather provided such beautiful sights. Wish we had more than 3 days there.

This island is very diverse and you can climb to the top of mount desert island or walk the shoreline

The most breath taking sites in Acadia National Park can be accessed on the free Island Explorer bus service.

The whole island was great. Many things to do and so much to see. We are hikers so that is what we spent most of out time doing. Enjoyed our 4 days there.

Great place to celebrate our 40th anniversary ! So scenic and relaxing. Don’t hesitate. Book today. You will enjoy many more fun things to do!

People keep returning here. People keep visiting here from all over the world. Once here, you will know why.

I believe MDI is a cool place to visit year-round, but it was admittedly pretty quiet when some friends and I took a trip out there back in March to catch the sunrise. On that morning, when there weren’t any stores or restaurants open yet (and certainly no crowds of tourists), we drove around the island and found some peaceful spots to hop out and stretch our legs. The village of Seal Harbor has a small beach at the mouth of Stanley Brook that we found especially beautiful; even in the crisp air, we stood outside for close to a half hour to appreciate the peacefulness of this picturesque cove. Bar Harbor is a great little town, but don’t be afraid to explore the lesser-traveled parts of the island, no matter what time of year.

Absolutely beautiful area from the water as well as land. Almost appears to have been untouched despite the fact that it has hundreds of thousands of tourist every year

At Acadia National Park there is so much to do and see. Weather it’s kayaking, hiking, biking, site seeing, Swimming, climbing you are sure to find something of your choice here.

The views are spectacular everywhere for hiking on trails and biking on carriage roads. Great informational ranger talks and walks. There is a quiet side and a busy side so something for everyone.

We did the road trip through Arcadia National Park, walked the bridges section of carriage trails, and visited the museums. It was varied and wonderful. The only place the crowds caused us to avoid was sand beach, but we still enjoyed the beauty of that by walking the Ocean Trail.

Start to finish, an amazing trip. Weather was perfect. The hiking is fantastic and for all levels of fitness. Short and long. Views are spectacular.

Rent bikes or e bikes. Catch sunrise at Cadillac mountain (be the first in US to see the sun come up certain times of the year). We stayed on the quiet side. Great hiking there too. Beals Lobster Pound is the best. Catch improv nights at bar harbor. So perfect. Can't wait to go back.

Spend most of your time in Acadia National Park - boating, trails, and beaches. But there is much more. Visit all the little towns on the island - they are rich with galleries, shopping, and restaurants.

Every where you turn the view is more beautiful than the last. Plenty of hiking and biking trails available for all different levels of outdoor enthusiasts. We hiked with our 5 and 7 year olds. Bar island at low tide was a favorite of theirs as well as the Shore path and Ocean Path (in Acadia). We also biked a couple of the carriage roads. We were told by a park ranger that Witch hole and Eagle lake would be good carriage rides for our family. We completed the loop and enjoyed the ride but the hills were a bit of our challenge for our kids. The swimming at Echo lake was beautiful, the water was the perfect temperature.
Within the national park it is nice that they have changing rooms at Sand Beach and Echo Lake. Also, the refillable water bottle stations available throughout the park were extremely helpful.
We stayed 5 days and saw and did everything we wanted at a relaxing pace.

My advice is purchase your pass ahead of time and PRINT your pass. You will have to go by Sand Beach entrance if you dont print and wait in long lines to get a pass. If you print the pass use the other entrances, other than sand beach to avoid lines.

First time visit to Maine. Had a great time! Great memories. I will rate all our areas to help tourists choose wisely.

The coastline is fairly dramatic. There is a lot to see. Most of the island is either in the town of Bar Harbor or Acadia National Park.

Such a fabulous spate of weather. First time for my adult children visiting this area of Maine. Loved playing tourist in our home state.

Trails, medium, were great for us to climb, walk, hike. gorgeous views from summits, water , water everywhere! Bar Harbor was an aside! Loved SW Harbor. Stay in Somersville, a great convenient location for the entire park!

Mount Desert Island is a little piece of paradise. The views along the coast are gorgeous; however, the areas around Acadia are also lovely. Bar Harbor is a nice town with a variety of inns, hotels, and motels, as well as shops and restaurants in town. There are other towns on the island also worth exploring.

From hikes with expansive view of the Maine Coast
and islands, to the Carriage Roads of Acadia National Park,
to the shops and high quality restaurants of Bar Harbor,
and the natural beauty of Somes Sound, Sargent Drive along
the fjord, and Cadillac Mountain and Jordan Pond, this
beautiful, diverse, and extraordinary island has much to offer
and draw you to again and again. Acadia National Park has miles and miles of trails, each of them well kept and diverse.
Enjoy MDI in all seasons, and return again and again.

Do not miss this natural beauty, breath taking views around every turn.
We also enjoyed Sand Lake the weather was perfect for soaking up some rays and watching the beautiful scenery.

Go in the fall, less crowds, and the fall colors are worth the trip. We took the two hour boat tour, we saw seals and sea birds and porpoise, and eagles. We also seen a lot of nce summer cottages as well as cruise ships and a old sailing ship. we seen the bar at low tide to Bar Harbor. What a nice sunny day for a tour of the Harbor. The sea for is fantastic..

We had fairly nice weather about mid-September. I was surprised how crowded it was as we toured around. There were many places we would have liked to pull over for views or experiences but parking was jammed so we had to by pass some places. Did eat at Jordon's pond, but the restaurant was so busy it would be almost an hour wait. There was a grab and go food spot above the restaurant which we went to and could dine out-side. We really enjoyed Cadillac Mt for the views and we did that at the end of our day. Bar Harbor was jammed with people and evidently a couple of cruise ships were in port. I cannot imagine how crowded the island would be in the Summer. Best to get there early, have your route well planned, and reservations to go up Cadillac Mountain.

So much to do and see, and it's all so gorgeous. Check Trip Advisor and don't miss any of the great places to eat and shop and sightsee on Mount Desert Island.

The hiking and scenery was fantastic. And surprisingly it was not too crowded. We did the Ocean Path and hiked Cadillac Mountain. Super fun

Just spent 3 days in the area! So much to do and see. Beautiful views everywhere!
Hiking,biking,sailing,shopping,restaurants, inns, etc. stay active or just relax, or maybe a bit of both as we did!

I can't believe I waited nearly 38 years to finally visit Mt. Desert Island, but it is truly a special place. We visited as a family of five (kids are 3 to 8), and had an amazing time. We stayed in downtown Bar Harbor at a lovely house that had been a B&B but is now privately owned and rented through VRBO. I would highly recommend Mt. Desert Island to any families looking for a diverse set of activities, food etc.

There are some tgruly wonderful areas of MDI that are outside Acadia National Park. Quaint harbors and villages line the coast and have some really nice B&Bs and restaurants. Perhaps the best thing ios the wonderful scenic views from some great waliking, biking or driving adventures. Get out, discover and enjoy. There are areas where there is even minimal light pollution so stargazing is a remakable and surprising delight. Off season the crowds are less and access has less traffic.

A tour of mount desert island in the summer is a very worthwhile event.weather your own car,very crowded,or by the trolley.seeing the blowhole,or the view from the top of the mountains,very neat

Mount Desert Island is home to Acadia National Park. This has some of the most beautiful cliff and ocean scenery since my trip to Skye in Scotland. The hiking is wonderful for all levels and the sunrise over Cadillac Mountain should not be missed.

Get the Trolley tour with JIM G HE IS WONDERFUL! Plan to gain 5 pounds at the excellent resturants !

I got an afternoon trip to the summit. There is a problem in their reservations for sunrise summits, which are a tradition for Maine travelers. You have to call to reserve two days in advance at 10 AM and even though I tried in 3 different time zones to be sure I would I sure to get the reservation, something in their algorithm or bandwidth or something causes them to sell out in less than 15 seconds. Need to fix that. The summit however was beautiful and not exceptionally crowded.

I live on MDI in the summer and love it. So much hiking and biking! Our family has been coming up here for over 20 years. We used to camp in Blackwoods but now our enough to have a home on the quiet side.

I have always loved San Diego & would tell anyone who listened how glorious it is but the island.... Just breathtaking. We walked, cycled & droved round & round, are well, enjoyed beer & wine tasting & the seafood to die for... can’t wait to go back again.

Mount Desert Island has it all...Trails, mountains, swimming spots, bird watching, whale watching, nature cruises, the ocean. If you love the outdoors, this place will not disappoint!

In the middle of Covid19 what a great trip. Social distancing was great. Everyone took it very seriously. 100% compliance with zero tolerance. Everything was open and it was busy. Cadillac mountain was amazing at sunrise. Acadia on foot and bike was very special. This is a very special place

We love Mount Desert Island. We were only there 3 days but saw some of the most breathtaking scenery we had ever seen. Acadia National Park is a short drive from our hotel the Bar Harbor Inn. Once we entered Acadia National Park we visited Sand Beach then drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain. Standing on the mountain top felt like being in an airplane because of the amazing views. It was my first visit to Acadia National Park and I can’t wait to go back. This place is heavenly.

Great hiking or even just walking!! This is a seriously late review that they didn’t even have the date (10/8/16) live Bar Harbor!! Family originally from Maine (just not me) so when I visit I stay in Bar Harbor, my dream is to eventually live there! This yr I’ll be bringing my 2 new dogs, the one n only Buddy that is in pic has now crossed over The Rainbow Bridge😔 but much new babies need to see what Buddy lives about this place! Go, u too will enjoy everything Bar Harbor n Acadia has to offer I promise!!

Took a tour of Acadia National Park, beautiful. Sadly the mist was down when we got to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, but that’s weather for you. Seal bay is pretty.

Lots of shoppes. Can get crowded when cruise ships are in the area. Some great places to eat and some average....read the reviews

Went early spring. Went in to the park two days. First day foggy, but beautiful. Second day, sunny and more beautiful. Another gem of a National Park!

I was really excited to spend the day on Desert Island. So many beautiful vistas! The park is very accessible and well managed. Well worth the time.

This is a tourist vacation destination, with that in mind, know that you need to make reservations (when allowed) early, parking is an issue and everything from food to souvenirs are overpriced. Nonetheless, there is so much to offer anyone from toddler to triple digits in age! It is breath taking in places, historical, many side trips to choose from from Whale Watching to Trolley Cars, by Foot or by local Motor Bike Scooter Rentals. You need several days to take advantage of all that is offered here. Fun for the whole family!

We didn't restrict our trip to just the park. We went to all the little towns and ate everywhere on the island. It's all good! Explore Bar Harbor when there are one or none cruise ships docked, book a tour, shop. Then drive all around. The island is easy to navigate using a map or GPS as it is not large. To really get a feel of MDI, stay in cottage on water and spend several days exploring. The park is amazingly pretty, but get to your spots early. We never felt the need to take the Explorer since we were always out early and went to the park NOT on a weekend or holiday; parking was never a problem. On the weekend, we booked boating tours and did other stuff on the island, not the park.

Great place to stay. We camped here and loved every minute. Saw shooting stars at night and had cool breezes each night.

What a beautiful place. Spectacular water and rocks! Clean water and land to match. Great places to hike. Places to eat the freshest seafood. Worth a visit. Highly recommend.

Mostly occupied by Acadia national Park
Wonderful hikes both easy and hard leading to where mountains meet the ocean. Also great roads with great pull outs. Just an all around fantastic and relaxing get- away.

Loved area. Beauty is indescribable. Need to see for yourself. Maine at it's best. Nature ar it's best. All season attraction. Can't wait to go back.

After we did the park we decided to drive around the entire Island. It was really an enjoyable trip stopped and had a picnic lunch on the Southwest part of the island, at sea wall picnic tables right along the rocky shore. If you pass the barbecue stand stop they have outstanding blueberry pie. We got it to go with our picnic lunch. You pass cute little towns, small lakes, little libraries, beautiful churches. Bay Harbor was nice but crowded, restaurants and gift shops, they did have a beautiful Park overlooking the harbor definitely worth a stop.

We visited in June and the day was great. Linda with MDI Tours took us around town and inside Acadia National park. It was a great day and MDI Tours helped us see the island from the eyes of a local.

This is what Maine is all about. Plenty of hiking and magnificent views of her rocky coast, Inland the rest of Maine awaits with lobster, clams and all the rest. Great stop on your Maine vacation.

One of the most beautiful places you will ever see . With a little bit for everyone ! Great food , great hotels , great adventure and great shopping ! So much history , great vacation spot for family’s or couples ! Don’t miss Acadia Lobster Cruise ! You won’t be disappointed . Asticou azalea gardens , and so much more !

So Acadia was very cool.
For me Bar Harbor was way too crowded and this was the 3rd week of Sept. can't imagine the summer.
The roads were horrible condition. They should spend some tourist money on the roads.
Definitely worth the trip but would not go back.

My friends and I had a brilliant time on Mt. Desert Island vacationing. We hiked, took a boat tour, explored Bar and Southwest Harbors. The foilage in October was everything we hoped it would be.

We really enjoyed everything about our visit to the area. Beautiful views along the oceanfront, hiking and biking in Acadia, and good food. Take time to visit the entire island.

Wonderful natural beauty in Maine!!! Excellent hiking areas from easy trails to strenuous climbs. Don't miss the hike around Jordan Pond! And try the lobster trap food shack!

We really enjoyed our time on mount Desert Island. There where no crowds, the weather was great, and the views are breathtaking.

We had a bad experience at our first Inn, but the next place we moved to more then made up for it. It’s is a strange time to travel, but the island made it feel safe and comfortable.

We also really enjoyed visiting the “backside” as the locals call it.

We were surprised to find the views around every turn. Downtown was quite busy as a cruise ship had off loaded more tourists.

Mount Desert Island is home of Arcadia National Park and Bar Harbor, Maine. Here you will find lots of shops, restaurants, hotels, and views of Frenchman's Bay. There many services that will help you choose the best experiences for you to tour all the island has to offer.

We stumbled upon it by just riding around. The area is so quaint. It brought me back in time . I love how this area is like time stood still in a good way. Everyone we came in contact with were so nice

Views everywhere you look. Went in July and everything by the water has a cool breeze that feels amazing so layer the clothes.

The weather is perfect, the atmosphere is laid back. All the lobster you can eat, plenty of places to shop, hike, kayak, fish, what more could you ask for. Well...maybe more parking downtown (although they do have a shuttle).

So many beautiful and picturesque things to see. Going through Acadia Park and driving down to Southwest Harbor and stopping along the way for drinks or lunch is a wonderful time. You will need to spend a couple of days in Acadia by itself.

Mount Desert Island is a fun getaway destination. Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor have many different activities you can embark on. There is plenty of excellent food options and endless shopping opportunities. You will never run out of things to do on your trip.

Who doesn't like Maine and one of the best places in the state is this island! I want to move there when I retire!

This was a really neat area to visit with lots of picture opportunities for capturing your vacation memories. The entire area is breathtaking!

My families first time to the island. Being a coastal town there are some very scenic coastal towns and of course Acadia National Park. I very much enjoyed my visit, but other then Bar Harbor there aren’t many other booming cities that we found. Can drive across island very quickly, some of the roads were hard to follow as we drove through national park and got lost a couple times. Glad we got to visit at least once .

My family and I spent four days o Mount Desert Island. The Island itself was nice, Acadia simply terrific, Bar Harbor, not so much.

I won’t go into great detail on the Park, because I’m sure many have. I will say that it’s a great time to visit the park. Not many tourist, no buses, and no cruise ships.

Love Mount Desert Island. A must see. There is nothing but beauty all around. If you love nature then this place is for you.

Acadia National Park-- a true gem. Beautiful scenery and hiking trails. Wish i had more than 3 days and could have done more hiking. Lots of people but well organized -especially going to Cadillac Mountain. Scooters were a blast

The cliffs by the ocean are what set this apart on the east coast. If you live on the west coast, Big Sur, Monterey, Oregon coast, & Washington have a lot of this but it's one of the few spots on the east coast to find ocean cliffs.

Stunning scenery with the leaves turning color plus a beautiful Acadia National Park. Even though many businesses were closing for the season a few days after our visit, there were many, many tourists on the island. Parking or driving through Bar Harbor was difficult due to the number of people and the same with many of the stopping spots in Acadia National Park itself. If you really wanted to see a sight, you had to play parking lot vulture and wait for someone to leave in order to find a parking spot. Sand Beach, Bass Harbor Lighthous and other places were like this.
As beautiful as it is however, it was worth it to put up with the crowds to see Desert Island. Thankfully our hotel was on the north end away from town and very pretty and quiet.

What an amazing place to visit! Our room was fantastic and not too expensive for the amenities and veiws. We went to all the hot spot Stephen king movie locations, and spent many hours at Acadia national park. I would love to go back in the fall for color change

This is a must see! The views of the Harbor and the drive all through this Park is simply the best. There are many spots to park and pull over to see even more views. The sunset on Cadillac Mountain is amazing!

What's not to love? Biking the carriage roads in the interior of MDI are sublime. Away from the car traffic, spectacular scenery, access to places you can't get to by car. Don't miss the ferry ride to Schoodic Peninsula (Winter Harbor). We took our bikes on the ferry. Low tide and calm seas so we didn't see the monumental force of the ocean at the point, but we spent a lot of time rock scrambling. Also, there are some quiet trails on the SW side of MDI. Wonderland was gorgeous. We even did it at night for a star walk.

Stunning scenery, plenty of places to walk shop, camp, hike, cycle and indulge in water sports. Breath taking views around the Island. Shows the nature of the community that cares for its flora and fauna and tries to maintain it and educate its tourist.

Beautiful scenic coastline! A beautiful view from just about everywhere on the island. If you are a nature lover, this place is a must see.
As a whole, the island is very conscientious about the covid 19 virus. Felt very secure being there.

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been or ever will be!... this is our second visit to Maine and Acadia is just stunning if your visiting Maine it's an absolute must!!

My daughter had it arranged. The setting on back lawn overlooking the harbor was perfect. We had a seperate room for reception. Food was fantastic. beautiful setting and wonderfully put together at Bar Harbor INN.

Even the areas outside of Acadia National Park are beautiful! Regardless of the time of the year, Mount Desert Island is always worth the visit! So much to do, especially hiking and so many picturesque spots! If you enjoy nature and beauty, this is a MUST SEE!!!

Great area to roam around--highly recommend Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The Island is a mix of residential and national park and tourist area. Look for hidden spots that have great views or historical buildings.

We are spending our whole Summer camping on Mount Desert Island. Views are great and change day to day with weather. Enjoying lobster, steamers and chowders almost 3 times a week! National Park is busy but every bit worth the time. Nature cruises and fishing trips are worth the money!

Our vacation on mount desert island was engaging and relaxing. I would highly suggest this as a romantic getaway, as well as for nature lovers, couples, families etc. Plenty to do.

So much to do, see and eat! We completed 3 days of hiking but also enjoyed driving to enjoy to foliage and all of the restaurants we good to excellent!

Stunning views and great area to explore. Maine is a photographers dream and around every curve more beauty to capture

Bar Harbor Island draws crowds in the vacation season but even still, it is not crowded to the point of being a nuisance. Who knew a National Park could be such a hidden gem? One big loop of roads around the island. Buses take you wherever you want to go. Go to Visitors Center and ask Park Rangers where you should go for the type of hike you want. I said 2 hrs. and scenic views of the ocean and they suggested the Beehive Trail....Loved it!! Christmas card photo. At the end of this trail, it is close to Sand Beach...now that is something that looks like it's from a movie!! Course, orange sand, clean water with little waves & tiny foam, and huge rocky landscape on the bookends of the beach. I didn't want to leave because I just wanted to keep looking at the masterpiece setting. Lovely crowd of people there: Amish, Hasidic Jews, and everyone in between. When you arrive to Mt. Desert Island, drive up to the top of Cadillac Mountain for a 360* view, sunset preferably. You won't be disappointed. : )

Beautiful place. We were hampered by fog but the areas we could glimps we very different from the west coast. It was clear that the rocks were left when glaciers receded. So much beauty. The colors were just starting to change and they were brilliant when the sun hit them. Still fresh in my memory.

First time, fell in love! I just wish I lived closer to come back more often. Beautiful coast, pet friendly and very clean area! Highly recommend for anyone, no matter what you're looking to do.

Acadia National Park is a MUST SEE! Once you visit, you will understand why people come back again. Beautiful scenery everywhere. Everything is a "kodak" moment.

Desert island is not just Acadia National Park. It has a quaint little town with adorable shops, a striking coastline, beautiful sunsets, and delicious seafood restaurants. You can hike, you can walk, you can bike or boat, but you will want to explore all of this little island!

Great hiking with easy to challenging trails. Very limited parking inside park. Visitor center has parking and shuttles. Very difficult to find parking at Jordan Pond. We tried 9 times over 3 days - finally successful by taking the shuttle

MDI encompasses much of Acadia National Park and has unlimited scenic views, scenic routes and things to do. We had beautiful weather the first week of Sept. We drove nearly every road throughout the island and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We took our time, stopped in all the small towns, shopped at local stores and ate at the restaurants. Stop by the Acadia National Park Visitor's center for info on park activities. While in Maine, make sure you stop by a roadside lobster joint to get some fresh lobster (any way you want it) and a whoopie pie. You won't regret it!

In 2013 i reviewed MDI and have had 6000 readers, sadly I have to report that the towns and Acadia have become overcrowded and over-popular. I sold my island house because of this. visit in the off season which is November to April

Here's my dessert island top 10
10. Cruise ship port of call-pretty cool to see the ships
9. Cool as a Moose on Main Street Bar Harbor-comfy tee shirts, cool graphics and I like the moose logos
8.Bar Harbor piers-walking around Stewman's etc.
7.beautiful sunsets
6. Thunder Hole
5.Cadillac Mountain for the views and various overlooks on the way up from Park Loop Rd.
4. Jordan Pond hike (rock path portion is exhilarating, fun and adventurous)
3. Staying at a B&B (Holland Inn breakfasts were the best meals I had)
2.Warm Lobster roll at Travellin' Lobster
1. Otter Cliffs-Acadia National Park

Back for our first visit in a decade or so...there are a lot of National Park areas we love but this is top of the list! Maine...the way life SHOULD be.

Pretty much Shut down to tourism now because of COVID, but can't wait to visit again. The trails and hikes in Acadia are amazing. The restaurants and shops downtown are adorable. People are friendly. We did rock climbing on sea wall, kayak tour and stargazing with rangers at Sand Beach. Our 4th time back

Lots of shopping and the Mount Desert Ice cream shop is the BEST! There are many tourist shops but also many of handcrafted goods to be found. 2 Cats for breakfast was very good .Jordan's easier to get a seat and also good but more like diner food.

We stayed on MDI for 6 nights, including during the recent Nor'easter, and had a great time hiking in Acadia, eating lobster almost everyday, strolling through Bar Harbor and the other smaller villages, and watching the beginning of the MDI Marathon, which was close to our inn. As it was late in the season, the park rangers were ending their services, but we did sign up for one ranger led hike around Jordan Pond. Our ranger was knowledgeable and very interesting.

Lovely with great views, trails and car access. It's a well organized park but rather crowded. Be sure to get entrance permits in advance online.

clean, nice people, free masks, safe place to walk around visit public places, harbor front, parks, museums, restaurants, boating, biking etc.

Visit the island and Acadia National Park for 4 days during 4th of July. Very crowded around popular areas, however, there are also many places with much less crowd and very pleasant to visit and hike.

We love visiting national park sites, we are from southwest so this was a new place. Wow, they say Acadia is crown Jewel of nps northeast, so deserved. Bar Harbor is great, outstanding dining cool shops. Lots to see and do but so close. Blueberry pie is outstanding. We find it peaceful and relaxing. Not yet tourist season in full gear so not crowded. Yet.

Acadia is one of the best National Parks by far, and is the oldest among all national parks on the east coast. If you are a nature lover or a hiker, you will love this place. The magnificent views from the top of the Cadillac Mountain are breathtaking. There are many trails ranging from short to very long and challenging trails for those that dare. If you are less enthuse about the crowd, and dealing with the parking situation for each of the trails, then I highly recommend to travel there in off season or at least, not during the holidays.

Such a fun place to spend a few days or a week. Lots of activity during the day and great food/drink at night.

I have never been to such a beautiful place. Even though it gets a bit crowded on the weekend, the beauty surpasses any inconvenience. To see the more popular spots like Jordan Pond and Thunder hole and get reasonably close parking, Going after 5 seemed to be best. I can’t say enough good things. You have to go and see it for yourself!!

There are lots of trails to wald and views are great with cliffs and water views. They have tours yu can take. You do need a park pass.

Love to hike. Love the water. Love the people amd everything there is to offer. From the tourist things to going off on your own you cant go wrong. Rain or shine, every cost opportunity from free up is easily found. Make sure to tell your friends you hated it and keep it to just you!! Lol

Mount Desert Island includes Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor - either of which alone would be sufficient reason to visit, but also has much more.

Mount Desert is the second largest island on the East Coast, after Long Island. In addition to the culinary delights of Bar Harbor and the hiking and scenery to be enjoyed in Acadia, you have the charming town of Northeast Harbor and several stunning gardens that are open to the public, notably the Asticou Azalea and Thuya Gardens. There are hotels, B&Bs and camp sites galore.

We drove all around the island including Cadillac Mountain, The Sand Beach, and Thunder Hole. It was hard to park because of the crowds.

A gorgeous island with so much character and so much to do! We enjoyed our trip to Acadia National Park while staying on the island. A must do if you’re in the Down East area of Maine!

We loved this island and surrounding towns. If you're into visiting a low keyed and quiet place, come here. Thou Bar Harbor we hear, can be very busy during a real tourist season, it's still worth seeing. We also hit Trenton, Arcadia National Park, Ellsworth, Bass Lighthouse, Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor and did some antiquing.

Beautiful scenery, great shopping and food selections. Traffic can be tricky, so be ready to drive around a little. Highly recommend

Fourth time here. Love the people , the site this time? Meh. This place is great if you stay year after year. If not you get the dregs of the sites. This time,our first since 2014, we landed on n 349. A pestilent swamp that will leave me prying my jack pads out of mud and cursing mosquitoes and how close everyone exists. But… I again will say the location is great, the employees are some of the best and if they would simply fix up the swamp around 349 by giving it the same treatment as the new seasonal worker sites ( fill, gravel and elevation) I’d love this site.

We spent a week in the Bar Harbor area and loved it! We spent most of our time in Acadia National Park, but we did explore other area too. Being able to hike all the various places was a challenge and gave us a break from biking. The views are some of the most beautiful you'll ever find. It's a bit of heaven everywhere you look. Perfect!

Beautiful spot for hiking, walking, or just taking in the views. Nice for photographers and artists as well.

Heather was a funny and knowledgeable guide... and an excellent driver. Be prepared for wonderfully cringing, memorable puns, with her exaggerated "Bah Hahbuh" accident.

MDI is, of course, famous as the home of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, but it has much more to offer in various villages scattered around the island, some much less frequented by tourists. It's definitely worth your time and effort to seek out some of the hidden gems.

Good time to visit. Small crowds but the colors were still brilliant. Really enjoyed the time spent there.

From small coastline towns to a quaint lighthouse on a rocky shore and from a beautiful National Park to eating the most delicious, fresh lobster on a picnic table, this island is quintessential Maine. The reason you have these stereotypes of Maine is because they all exist here on this small island and there is nowhere like this outside of Maine.

Mistakenly named for the bare rocky mountain tops thought to be a desert, this island is where the lush coniferous forest meets the rocky coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Where the forest is home to moose and bears and the water to lobster. It is an incredible vacation spot that thankfully was preserved in places by Acadia National Park. It truly is one of the most incredible vacation destinations in our country, and I highly recommend a visit.

Have been going to Acadia for 32 years. Never fails to impress me with it's beauty!. Every where you turn it's like a postcard picture.

Coming to New England has been on our bucket list for a while, so when our 20th anniversary rolled around we decided to plan a trip to Boston and Acadia National Park in Maine. Highly recommend whether you like nature and getting off the beaten path and hiking and climbing mountains and all of that, or if you like shopping and bustling streets with people in activity. Or even yet if you just like to sit on the shore of the ocean watching boats and listening to the waves and the seabirds, this place is definitely for everyone.

So much to see and do. Walking, hiking and jogging opportunities. Set up lawn chair and people watch, listen to waves, or read a good book. Lots to see and do. Don’t forget to pick up a lobster roll or slice of blueberry pie!

At Your Service Tours in Bar Harbor came is an wonderful tour of Acadia National Park. We took the 3 hour tour with Linda. She was a local and was very knowledgeable and friendly. She answered all our questions plus told us many interesting facts about the park and living in the area. We went to Cadillac Mountain and all the other scenic places in the park! I took many many pictures!
I recommend this tour! It was convenient- waiting for us as we came off our ship with a sign! Location was right there on Main Street so after tour went right into restaurant for my Lobster roll!
Thanks Linda

What a place...what an INCREDIBLE place...
A camera is a must to help keep those wonderful memories vividly alive, and you'll want to take plenty, and make plenty...SO WORTH IT!
The drive around Mt. Desert Island/Bar Harbor/Cadillac Mtn/Acadia National Park, is to be done at a leisurely pace so you can take in and savor all the natural beauty as well as the quaint fishing harbor towns dotting the island, each offering some daily caught fresheness...and don't forget the blueberry ANYTHING for desert.
Enjoy dessert on Mt. Desert island. I'm in a wheelchair and pretty much every place I've gone has had wheelchair accessible parking, entrance, washrooms, etc.
But the views...hard to describe how beautiful they are to experience in real life. Take your family, take your friends...just take yourself...and enjoy EVERYTHING it offers. No wonder it is the 2nd most visited National Park in the US, because it is worth it (I've been going there for years, and always see visitors from all over the globe...THIS...IS...THE...destination spot). Don't miss it...you will be so thankful and happy that you went (in hopefully good weather -- I've been going the 1st 2 weeks in August, and have always been lucky enough to enjoy perfect weather). GO!

So much to explore— RESEARCH before you come, if you can, to make the most of such an amazing place! Drive the loop, take in the sunset, eat at all the places, sit and listen to the pounding waves. Let your soul breathe in this magical place.
There is beauty everywhere. Highlights are just getting out on the loop drive, walking the shore path. It is breathtaking no matter what the weather. Go to Theyua gardens !

We spent a wonderful week touring, hiking, kayaking and biking. Everything is so beautiful and so easily accessible. There is much to do for an adventurous family like ours and all within a quick drive, bike ride or walk from Bar Harbor where we stayed.

Day 1: Drive directly to Sand Beach and hike up to Great Head--a moderate high--would highly recommend the hike. Can bring a lunch to eat with some great views. Then drove to Jordan Pond to hang out by the lake and eat popovers (the latter totally avoidable, nothing special really). Ate dinner at Lompoc Cafe (and it has a nice book store as well).
Day 2: Did sunrise hike up Cadillac mountain. Got up at 330 AM along north ridge trail. A moderate hike -took 2 hours/ 1000 feet. Then after resting a bit in our rooms, walked around town. Had dinner at Royal Indian--excellent home style Indian food.
Day 3: Hiked to Bubble trail (both north and south)--and visited the lighthouse in the evening. Dinner (Siam--average Thai food). Did a harbor cruise---good sights--but do not get close to any wildlife really. The naturalist was great on the boat.

This summer we visited MDI - had a wonderful time. Wonderful crabmeat sandwich in Southwest harbor. Shopped at a few local stores. Looked at some beautiful houses. Visited Acadia National Park - Stayed in Bar Harbor - Shopped - Had great meals - swam in the hotel pool !! Wonderful week of fun

We drove around most of the island and stopped at a couple small towns not inside Acadia National Park.

Camped at Hadley’s campground in our class C RV. Had shuttle service into Bar Harbor. We rented e-bikes and did the carriage roads. First time using e-bikes and was definitely fun! Love Bar Harbor with all the shops and food. Did the hike along the ocean and was nice. More like a stroll than a hike but that was good. Ate lobster dinners twice. C-Rays lobster shack was right across from the campground so walked there one night. Was worth it.

You come to Maine for this scenery. Should not be missed. Roads easy to navigate and signage was adequate. Roads in and out were not overly crowded during our trip. Lots of good restaurants to choose from and spend your time in Acadia.

A great place to visit in the fall. We hit it at peak colors and biked and hiked in Acadia. The restaurants were wonderful but busy.

Whether you are hiking Up Cadillac mountain or driving up it is a must do. Acadia has many awesome hikes. The beehive is a bit scary but a favorite for many. The Ocean path and Gorham Mountain was a great hike. You can bike the carriage trails and don’t forget to go to Jordan’s Pond for popovers. You can go on guided kayak trips or whale watches. Plenty to do for all ages. And don’t forget the many ice cream places for a nighttime snack.

Peak leaf peeping throughout the park and less crowded than other years at this time. Found many spots to stop and shoot a photo.

The park is a fantastic experience...even for a 60 plus couple. The hiking was easy enough, transportation was great using the shuttle service.

This is a highlight thing to do in this area. Great scenery, quaint villages. You won't regret doing it and will regret it if you don't.

Can’t wait to come back. Our five day visit wasn’t enough to do all the hiking and Acadia national park sites we wanted. Bar Harbor was great even during Covid. A few places were closed which was sad to see but most were open and able to handle the Covid safety protocols well. 98% of Visitors wore masks correctly kept distance while still being friendly. Loved it!

If you go to Acadia National Park, try to pick a time when it's not so crowded. We couldn't find parking for many of the short hikes.

You cannot believe how beautiful the Coast of Maine is until you see it from Cadillac Mountain!! 360 degree views!!

Maine’s Coast is beautiful. There is something more breathtaking just around a corner. If you are an outdoor kinda person Maine is for you ...walking, hiking, camping and biking! Have fun!

I reckon Mount Desert Island is the most beautiful of all places that I have been to, hands down. There....I’ve said it.

I really enjoyed lake swimming, kayaking, boating, hiking, photography, and lobster every night.

Amazing views.

A must see if you visit the Park. Gets windy, but not too crowded if you go early. We visited three days when we were there, easy to get to.

Maine was an incredibly beautiful getaway. Acadia has some amazing views of the water surrounded by a coastline of rocks and evergreens.

Acadia National Park is great. It was pretty crowded when we were there but that’s to be expected during summer weekends.

Spent a lovely day here stopping at all the sights. Our favorite stop was the ocean side tide pools. The kids really loved climbing on the rocks.

Lots of local stores in this small port town, love the quaint feel of the area without the chain restaurants and hotel

We had a great time there on our 30th anniversary. This was a busy place but loved the roads along the shore views away from the crowds. We went in October and the colors were stunning.

We really enjoyed the towns here. Beautiful views, good food and nice shopping. Signage in the area however is awful. For new visitors we were very confused.

We have hiked in many different mountainous areas and this is by far the most beautiful at every turn the view was different and spectacular between the granite, the ocean, fresh water lakes and the forested area

I could live here.
Even the winters .... I could handle it.
Amazing beauty! The Park, the trails!! & the scenery, the Harbor, the ocean, the fisherman lifestyle... I'd take it.

At the risk of having more visitors tread on this gem, please safely marvel at the spectacular interactions between land and water with rocky cliffs, tide pools, forests, etc. Inhale!

it is really uphill. It is not meant for younger kids. I slipped on the way up a lot of times. It is a great view and it is worth it.

Beautiful, pictures and a delightful place to visit.
We drove from New York, and stayed for 3 day in Bar Harbor. We hiked, everyday, we visited, Cadillac mountain, and
returned the next day for a stunning sunrise, lunch at Jordan Pond House witch was beautiful and the popovers were delicious.
We definitely come back again!!

Mt. Desert Island, home to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, is a beautiful area for a visit after Labor Day. We were there the first week of October, and although it was a bit early for the fall foliage, it was beginning and the crowds were diminishing. If you drive, the views from high and low points around are amazing. While somewhat limiting, a tour allows you the opportunity to fully take in the sights. Either way, you can't miss!

Did the driving tour in Acadia which took us to the top of the mountain. Spectacular views, not super crowded so you could take photos. Everyone very friendly.

We loved everything about this area, from the quaint shops and restaurants in town to the views to the hiking and viewing spots in Acadia Park. Of course, lodging is expensive, restaurants are busy, and parking in the town is difficult on a weekend, but still well worth it.
Be aware Acadia National Park costs $30 per car to enter (to see Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, etc) and the road is one way, so if you don't stop and park, you'll have to go a long way to get back to it later. The park is beautiful and has something for everyone. It was also busy on a weekend, but we still found parking.

This park offers scenery that you will not find anywhere else. Beautiful in the fall and you can access many trails.

Kinda crowded and it’s one of those places that you have to spend 3 days disconnected from everything to enjoy. Bar harbor is great but kinda like every other newengland harbor town. I love that btw. Cute place.

Mount desert island is gorgeous. Takes your breath away at the raw beauty if nature and the landscape. Beautiful and very busy. Go early

Everything is beautiful and every trip holds something new. Pick a spot and start exploring! Personally, I would start with Bar Harbor if it's your first visit, and branch out from there :)

This shoreline had one stunning view after another. Whether it was a sunny or cloudy day, the views just left you in deep gratitude for the beauty of nature. The clean ocean of multicolored blues and boundless sky as well as a rocky coastline made for great pictures.

We stayed in Bar Harbor and we loved every minute of the town. It's quaint and has beautiful views. However, it's rather expensive.

This area should be at the top of your bucket list. Great hiking, scenic views, good restaurants and clean air. We only booked a two night stay but should have stayed for a week to fully enjoy the island and Acadia National Park.

Beautiful island with Acadia National Park. Not crowded today and the weather was perfect. It was $30 for the vehicle to get into the park.

What can I say that isn't already known about Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park? I suggest you get an early morning start on your drives as there seemed to be few cars (and tour buses) on the road before 10. Explore and you will find new and beautiful vistas and places at every turn.

Do not miss out on this great vacation spot. Acadia National Park is great, Bar Harbor has something for everyone and everyone is friendly.

Ran this half marathon here. Pretty near place. Lots of great restaurants and all. The views are amazing here they almost seem fake.

Don’t miss this! Our guide- David R was particularly patient and it was a BIG surf day. We got to see water spewing above the rocks in an unbelievable spray!

We love the tranquility and the people are so good to vacationers. Will always treasure each visit. There are places to pull off while driving to take a view of the ocean. There are so many choices of travel, like biking, walking, driving, canoing and kayaking. Fun place to be!

Wonderful time at the Acadia National Park. Easy access from multiple places on the island. Carriage trail is a great way to see most of the island. We had rented E-Bikes for ease of going around the Park. Great hiking trails.

We enjoyed several aspects of the island, the towns, the drives, the park. It's all wrapped together in this area.

Bar Harbor is OPEN - it's our 3rd trip in just a week!!! We moved back to Washington County (1 hour drive east) in March when the schools shut down and WE DID NOT even realize that this jewel "fully" opened back up as there is so much "static" in the news. By "fully" I mean everything we want to do (there are a few things not open such as the water park, improv theater, dancing at bars until 1 AM - common sense says they can't open until there is a vaccine) - but the stores, activities, park roads, restaurants (we had a sit down meal at Route 66 and had the entire place to ourselves) - are all open (albeit some have limited hours).

I'm shocked there isn't a tsunami of people escaping to here, as all vacation plans to Australia, Europe or even Florida had to be cancelled - I thought people in droves would be jumping in their cars for a chance to be outside at what is currently a near zero infection rate for the ENTIRE county. If I remember correctly growing up in the area, 40% of the U.S. population is less than a 10 hour drive (that means you can book in the morning and be enjoying Bar Harbor tonight)?

ALL the businesses we visited are operating under the highest of hygiene standards (and remember to date ONLY 15 people in the ENTIRE COUNTY have tested positive - who would go anywhere else this summer?) - people for decades will be talking about having all of Bar Harbor and the Park in the summer of 2020 virtually to themselves, for bargain prices - will you be one of them???

We had a great time visiting all villages around Acadia and driving through the park. It was a little cold in early May but we didn’t fight the summer crowds!!

The island is worth a wander and spend time to get out and enjoy the scenery. There are so many places to see it is hard to go wrong.

Mount Desert Island is home to both Bar Harbor (Maine) and Acadia National Park, so it is large with lots to see and do. It had been a few years since we had been to Acadia NP but returning was just as rewarding as our first visit had been. There are wonderful hiking trails, gorgeous scenery, fresh air and nature, and so much more. Be sure to stop in at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to get a map (start of Loop Road), and at minimum be sure to visit Thunder Hole and Jordan Pond House. One could spend days here exploring the National Park and the charming town of Bar Harbor. A beautiful spot on the planet!

Not as paved as the main part of Acadia National Park. Much more "rough" terrain hiking, but the ocean views make everything worth it.

Lovely drive around the island, complete with quaint villages, shorelines, lighthouses, etc. Perfect day!

Beautiful houses and villages, stunning nature. Gorgeous mountains, bays, great hikes. Easy to get around.

I had a wonderful 2 weeks experiencing all this island (and others) offer. Beautiful scenery, awesome weather, great and helpful people who reside here. No complaints at all.

The home of Acadia National Park, this is a great place for a vacation. We were staying in Bar Harbor and had a car, but there is also a free bus service around the whole island. A car can use the main roads and towns but needs to buy a $30 pass to access the national park roads (eg to visit lakes and mountains). Parking is only possible in official parking areas, and it was very busy in the first week of July. The nature and scenery is stunning.

My friends and I spent several days hiking
And exploring the Beautiful coastline. Bar Harbor is a hikers paradise! So many trails of varying difficulty.

Staying in Southwest Harbor, we spent a week exploring the Island; Acadia, the Harbor towns, and much of the amazing natural wonder of this area (we did separateTA reviews on several of these).
Being early May, tourist traffic was not yet daunting; allowing for easy travel, comfortable access to attractions, and ready seating at eateries. It also allowed for the opportunity to engage with some local inhabitants; before the "season" chaos overwhelmed their ability to leisurely converse.
The beauty of the Island is truly impressive; and we look forward to future visits.

Many campgrounds in area better than this one....charges on average two dollars more for ice/wood. Use local stores/patrons for needs..terrible wi-fi service as well.

Take the time, hours of time to see this absolutely beautiful place. So much to see and experience. Take lots of photos and then take a lot more!!!

There are so many fun things to do if you enjoy the outdoors. We went whale watching, rented kayaks and went out to the Porcupine Islands, took a nature cruise to Cranberry Island. Great vacation.

Everything about the island (that I saw) was phenomenal. Rocky coasts, tourist spots, friendly locals, easy transportation with the Island Explorer and rental bike options ...

Just a heads up, though ... there are not a lot of on-demand transportation options. Don't cound on a last-minute uber/lyft/cab. This is a small town area, and you shouldn't really expect big town conveniences.

Mount Desert Island is a lovely area. One may explore Acadia National Park or the less known attractions and small towns in the area. It is a peaceful and laid back area.

Acadia National Park is beautiful. Once above the treeline you are surrounded by ocean views on all sides. The hiking is not too strenuous, so maximum reward for moderate effort. our favorite hike is a loop involving Cadillac and Dorr mountains. best to visit in the spring and fall, as summer is so crazy with tourists.

Lots of hiking options, shops and restaurants in and around the towns. Take a drive to the scenic areas and small villages outside of Bar Harbor. Very nice!

so much natural beauty in one place, you have the gulf of maine, islands, mountains, a small beach, many ponds and lakes. It is gorgeous

Excellent opportunity to introduce the smallest person and oldest person to a walk in the woods. Bring mosquito repellant and binoculars to spot songbirds in spring and summer. If you’d rather ride your bike, the easiest carriage road sections have a few beginner hill climbs. The wide, packed gravel roads are suitable for a hybrid bike. Very nice!

This is a wonderful park. Driving through it was spectacular. Don't miss the section of the park on the opposite peninsula. You have to go back to Ellsworth to access it, but it is definitely worth it.

Mount Desert Island is a great place with lots to do. Outside of Acadia National Park, there are various beaches, islands, and other places to explore. There are numerous activities to do as well as lots of restaurants to try.

This was our 10th anniversary trip to Maine and we decided to take our child and parents. It is perfect for all ages to see the beauty of our north east and the fall foliage is spectacular

Hiking, biking, site seeing, history, but above all great scenic beauty where the mountains meet the see. Biggest problem...too mont people.
Hikers leave early unless you like sharing the trail. This is especially true at popular places like Gorham Mt. and Jordan pond. For solitude try some of the lesser known spots.

You get it all here, fine restaurants nice shopping and a gorgeous national park spread throughout the island. Free shuttle bus service throughout the island, miles and miles of hiking trails, endless photographic possibilities, bicycle trails, and numerous lobster pounds

Every inch of MDI is beautiful!, its got it all, shops, restaurants, the ocean, mountains, lakes, everything in one beautiful spot!

I just returned from Acadia National Park / Mount Desert Island and Bar Harbor. Beautiful place. MY mistake was going TOO late in October where the colors were past peak and literally it felt like half of the activities and even a lot of restaurants were closed for the season. The traffic was certainly NOT an issue but it felt like a ghost town at times.

I've gone for years and there is always something new to find.On a hot summer day swim the frigid ocean at Sand Beach or have a much more refreshing swim at Echo Lake. The numerous trails for hiking and biking along the rocky and majestic shores or in the beautiful forests are all delightful. For those who want more there are numerous and challenging hikes or bike paths to satisfy even the most adventurous.

We had been looking forward to this trip for almost a year and it did not disappoint! We were there in October so we had cool temps and fall colors. It was rainy a bit but I felt it only added to the almost mystical beauty you find at Acadia. Their is something for everyone, ocean views, beach strolls, forested hills and trails galore! Come here, you will not regret your time spent in this small, but mighty, national park!

Mount dessert Island was excellent as I thoroughly enjoyed my drive through it and scenery. definitely highly recommended.

July is a big month for tourist’s. So keep in mind going early, making reservations, having patience if you don’t. But it’s such a beautiful place. Go.

Amazing area inside Acadia national park...a must visit if you are in bar harbor! Make sure and do the drive up Cadillac mountain

Such a beautiful place! We were lucky to stay here, but we would certainly recommend at least visiting this island!

We met friendly people and saw fabulous scenery wherever we were. We stayed in the village of Somesville and were able to kayak right off the dock of our VRBO rental. We watched the birds and spotted seals in the inlet. Loved our stay!

Love this rock! So much beauty to see and so much to do and eat! Whats awesome is its all local! Go for a hike in national park, enjoy a sunset at the lighthouse, and spend hours downtown eating and going through all the cute little shops! Great get away!

Peaceful and beautiful. Not fun. Just a place to enjoy the views, the colors, and breathe the pure air.

Very breathtaking views, lots to see and do. Look forward to our next visit. You will want to take a light jacket even during the month of June when we went.

Good spot for a motorcycle ride with nice views, nice curvy road, most of which in a good shape, in the park no pot hole at all a bit more on the "free" road. Quite lot of tourist so got to be careful.

A wonderful island that has many great places to visit. Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, and many other places kept us busy for days.

We loved everything about this island. The quaint town of Bar Harbor is a wonderful place to visit. The scenery in the area is gorgeous. We will come back again.

When visiting Mount Desert Island, go to Jordan's Restaurant in Bar Harbor for breakfast. Go to the Acadia National Park and visit Thunder Hole, Jordan's Pond House, and Cadillac Mountain if you do nothing else. If you have time, do some hiking - be careful because the trails are often rocky.