A Weekend Getaway to Acadia from Boston: 2 Days & 1 Night

Driving from Boston to Acadia takes roughly 4.5 to 5 hours—we made a quick stop in Portland to check it out along the way, which broke up the drive nicely. We visited at the end of August, and our main goal? To stargaze! 📸 Pro tip: Going during a new moon is ideal for seeing the stars—no bright moonlight to wash out the night sky, so you can spot way more constellations. ✨ Day 1: Drive + Cadillac Mountain Sunset + Sand Beach Stargazing First up: Cadillac Mountain Sunset. To drive up to the summit, you must book a vehicle reservation online ahead of time—this is non-negotiable! The reservation costs just $6, and it’s only required from May to October (outside those months, you can drive up without one). Watching the sun dip below the ocean from the mountain top was absolutely breathtaking—warm orange and pink hues painting the sky, with tiny islands dotting the water below. 🌅 Later that night, around 10 PM, we headed to Sand Beach for stargazing. When we got there, there were already a few other stargazers spread out on the sand (we weren’t the only ones in the know!). A huge perk of visiting the beach at night: You don’t need to pay the $35 national park pass, since there’s no one checking after hours. If you go in the morning, though, that pass is a must—so save yourself some cash and plan your stargazing for the evening! Quick note on passes: Always print them out (don’t just keep a digital copy!)—you need to display the physical pass on your car’s dashboard whenever you park at park attractions. Day 2: Explore the Scenic Loop + Head Back Here’s the thing about Acadia’s main attractions: They’re all on a convenient loop! Once you drive into Sand Beach, just keep following the road, and you’ll pass one scenic spot after another—no complicated navigation needed. We stopped at a few lookouts to snap photos and soak in the coastal views, but fair warning: parking is insanely hard—Acadia gets super crowded on weekends, so be patient and keep an eye out for open spots. Every corner of the park felt like a postcard—crystal-clear lakes, rocky coastlines, and lush forests everywhere we looked. We had such a great time that we’re already planning to go back! I can only imagine how stunning it’ll be in the fall, when the leaves turn golden yellow and fiery red. 🍂 #BostonPhotographer #BostonPhotoshoot #AcadiaGuide #Acadia #AcadiaSunset #AcadiaFood #AcadiaNationalPark #Portland #BostonLife #BostonSurroundings