We visited Acadia National Park a couple of years ago with our first dog Cora, and it was such an incredible trip. (This was the culmination of Zach’s cross-country trek from Utah to Maine, and Jess joined in after a work trip to Boston.) We have such fond memories of this trip among all the national parks we’ve visited and loved, and can’t wait to get back someday.
Our Thoughts on Acadia National Park
Despite being about a 6.5 hour drive northeast of Boston, Acadia is one of the most frequently visited U.S. national parks with over 4 million visitors annually. I (Jess) was a little surprised to hear this, as I still find Acadia pretty off the beaten path. Though I suppose that it’s all relative, and Acadia’s a lot closer to major metros along the eastern seaboard than most.
We drove to Acadia after stopping over in New Hampshire for car camping, hiking, and some supplies. The neat (but slightly jarring) thing about Acadia is that it’s distributed over a few land areas and peninsulas, so you’ll navigate in and out of the park depending on what section you’re driving through. There are also some commercial areas interspersed, so you’ll enter the park, then exit, then re-enter all on the same road.
Depending on where you go within the park, you’ll likely pass through Bar Harbor, which is one of those commercial areas. It’s quaint with tree-lined streets and a dog-friendly store (Bark Harbor).
What we love about Acadia National Park:
- Dogs and other pets are allowed on over 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads
- The three most convenient campgrounds allow pets
- The energy here feels very laidback, especially if you go during an off-peak time
- It’s open year-round
- Acadia offers a B.A.R.K. Ranger program (more details on their program here)
Though we never encountered a fee station, you do need to pay an entrance pass fee for Acadia. This ranges from $20-35 at the time of this writing, or you can use an American the Beautiful interagency pass.
Hiking
We didn’t do a ton of pre-planning for hikes, given that we’d both been doing quite a bit of traveling right up until our arrival. We stopped at the visitor’s center to speak with a ranger and get some additional information about conditions.
On the park ranger’s suggestion, we went with Penobscot Mountain Trail. This challenging yet rewarding hike covered a variety of terrain and included some rock scrambles.
While doing research for this post, we noticed that Penobscot Mountain Trail is not recommended for pets. It was certainly a challenging hike with a pup since we had to give Cora a boost several times while climbing much larger rocks/boulders in high spaces.
On Acadia’s NPS page for pets, you can check out current recommendations for dog-friendly trails.
Camping
As mentioned above, three of Acadia’s campgrounds allow pets: Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods.
We stayed at Seawall during our trip, which we loved for its tall pines for added privacy and proximity to the water. Seawall offers flush toilets, running water, a dump station, picnic tables, and fire rings.
Depending on the time of year and the type of campsite you’re looking to book, Seawall’s rates range between $22-$60 per night.
One thing that has changed (or is now specifically mentioned) since our trip: portable showers are no longer allowed at the campground. (That’s what we opted for.) If you wish to shower, there are shower facilities about a mile away from Seawall that you can use for a fee.
Map
Since Acadia is so big and weaves in and out of different types of zoned areas, we’d suggest going straight to the source: the NPS’ collection of maps.
By car, Acadia is about 4.5 hours from Boston, 6 hours from Montreal, and 2 hours from Augusta, Maine.
Best Time of Year to Visit
Acadia National Park is open year-round, and offers different opportunities depending on the time of year. On the plus side, Maine is pretty temperate, but given this national park’s popularity, the summer is extremely busy. If you’re seeking a quieter trip for you and your dog, we’d suggest going after school is back in session for some early fall foliage but pleasant daytime and evening temperatures. (That’s when we visited – right after Labor Day.)
Winter is also a popular time to visit since to Cadillac Mountain is well-known as the first place in the continental U.S. where you can see the sunrise, and many seek it out during the first of the year. Note that many sections of the park are closed to vehicles during the winter, so you may have more on-foot trekking.
Rules
- Dogs must remain on leash no longer than 6 feet in length
- Collect your dog’s waste and dispose of it properly
- Dogs are not allowed to be unattended at any time, even in cars or at campsites
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Acadia National Park?
The best month to visit Acadia National Park is the month that fits into your schedule 🙂 We’re big fans of fall foliage so the next time we visit, we’d love to head here in October – pleasant enough weather before the winter chill sets in.
How far is Bar Harbor from entrance to Acadia National Park?
It depends on which entrance you’re referring to! It’s just a little over one mile from Bar Harbor to the Cadillac Mountain entrance. and it’s about an 11 mile drive from Bar Harbor to the Sand Beach Entrance Station if there isn’t any traffic.
How many days do you need to see Acadia National Park?
This really depends on what you want to do while you’re in Acadia, but we think 3 days and 2 nights is sufficient time to explore various parts of the park and feel like you’ve sampled what it has to offer. But don’t discount a day trip if you happen to be visiting the area!
Is it hard to get a campsite in Acadia National Park?
It can be busy at Acadia, and one thing to know is that you cannot book a same-day or walk-up campsite reservation. Also, Acadia does not permit backcountry or dispersed camping – if you want to camp, you have to stay at one of Acadia’s campgrounds or find accommodations in town. In general, Acadia’s campsites can be reserved up to 2 months in advance and campground reservations open up towards the end of March.
