Three Days in Acadia National Park

Itinerary 🌳 Day 1 We arrived at Acadia in the afternoon. Taking advantage of the good weather, we first went to Sand Beach to dip our feet in the water and used the park map to get familiar with where all the attractions are located. In the evening, we drove to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse—but due to rain, we didn’t get to see the sunset. ☔️ 🌳 Day 2 We woke up early to hike the famous Beehive Trail. Around noon, we walked the Ocean Path, passing by spots like Thunder Hole and Otter Cliff along the way. After a short break in the afternoon, we hiked the South Bubble and North Bubble Trails. Finally, we took a short stroll around Jordan Pond. In the evening, we drove to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse again—this time, thick clouds only let us see the sunset glow, not the actual sunset itself. 😔 🌳 Day 3 We hiked the Gorham Loop Trail (part of it overlaps with the Ocean Path). Every time I walk this trail, I find new beauty—it never gets boring, no matter how many times I do it! ✨ Later, we visited Asticou Azalea Garden, a Japanese-style park. As evening came, we went to Hulls Cove to collect seashells. 🐚 ～～～～～～ Tips to Note: 🌦 Weather: Summer in Acadia often brings sudden thunderstorms. It’s a good idea to categorize attractions by weather needs: Trails like Beehive Trail and Bubble Trail are best hiked on sunny days (they get too slippery when it rains!). However, spots along Ocean Path—even Gorham Loop Trail—can still be enjoyed in light drizzle. 📶 Cell Service: Cell service in the park is terrible—it’s usually only “SOS Only.” So be sure to download offline maps in advance! I also saw other posts mention picking up physical maps at the Hull's Cove Visitor Center—that’s a great backup too. 🧩 Park Entry: You’ll need to show your pass when entering Sand Beach or Ocean Path. We didn’t buy a national park annual pass; instead, we got a 7-day access pass ($35). Once inside, the Park Loop Road is a one-way route that circles the main part of the park—and the views along it are stunning! 🅿️ Parking: If the parking lots are full, cars line up along the right side of the road leading into the park. If you plan to stay in the park all day, bring your lunch with you—otherwise, you’ll have to drive all the way out via the one-way road and then backtrack to re-enter. Also, parking spots get really scarce when the park is busy, so arrive early if you can! #USATravel #OffTheBeatenPath #Maine #NationalParks #AcadiaNationalPark