We wanted a way to explore the park and thought that a tour would be the best option. They offer a standard tour and a premium tour. We chose the premium tour which is between 3 1/2 to 4 hours and has 4 stops vs. the classic tour which is 2 1/2 hours long and has 3 stops. The narration is very good and the tour guide knew his stuff. I just felt that the tour was geared for people with limited mobility. During the stops, we didn't really have enough time to explore.....especially on the last stop (Jordan Pond House). They have a restaurant there with a beautiful outdoor area on the water. It is famous for its popovers. I thought for sure, we would be able to sit down a little and have some, but the tour guide talks about the popovers and then says, we won't have time to try them. My friend and I ordered them anyway and brought them to the bus to eat. So all in all, the tour was good, but if you want a more active visit to the park, you should check other options. If you take this company's tours, the shorter version would be sufficient, and then maybe you could do some exploring on your own. read more

Acadia National Park Tours - Tours Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Rick, our tour guide was great. He had so many fun facts to share. He began the tour on time and kept us on a good schedule.

Definitely the best way to explore the entire park in a day. It's guided with a local experienced for several years about the area, the history, and sprinkled with a bit of silly jokes. Sure, you can have your rental car and experience it yourself at your own pace, but why not go around with someone who already knows the way. This tour group goes around in a shuttle bus and gets special bus parking at each stop. Those four or five stops can get crowded! Especially the ones with the restrooms. Prior to each scenic stop, you're given the heads up of what to expect, thrown in with some interesting facts, and tips on what to enjoy. The island is so big, it is just way more convenient this way, to learn and explore one of Maine's biggest attraction. This tour is so well done and people know it; reservations book quickly so plan accordingly! read more

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We signed up for their two and a half hour bus tour that leaves from Downtown Bar Harbor. The tour stopped in three different places in Arcadia National Park which was great. We got off the bus and were able to walk a little bit and take pictures. The customer service at this company is great. We were delayed getting tenders off the cruise ship that we were on and we're going to miss our tour. I called them to let them know we were running late and they said no problem we will put you on the next tour and they did read more

Only 20 min for three sites. Excellent history and recommendations from tour guide/bus driver. If the tour was longer, parking time may've been an issue. Parking is awful in Bar Harbor. If they could offer a shuttle to go to Bar Harbor downtown from somewhere else nearby like a hotel, this would be super nice and they could also charge more too. This is a great tour but mainly for older people. read more

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A decent way to see Acadia National Park, leaving the driving to someone else. We had one day to see upper Maine, and used Viator to book this 2.5 hour guided bus tour ($59.95 per adult) for the to see the highlights of Acadia National Park. It caters to folks who are on a cruise, on the island for half of a day...but this day didn't have a cruise ship, so everyone (about 20 people) had driven into Bar Harbor. The tour was scheduled to start at 10am, and we got to Bar Harbor a little before 9, so had time to walk the downtown. Parking can be difficult: by following the website for Acadia National Park tours, we knew we could park in a very small parking lot next to the Bayside Landing Shopping Center..and we got the last spot for free. There is public parking throughout the area for $4 per hour, paying by kiosk via credit card. We were given a QR code via your phone by Viator a day before our trip, so figured that it would be enough to check into the tour. No...you still have to check in to a booth in front of Testa's Bar (it hadn't been there when we originally parked...so we missed it). We were only told this once we tried to get on the bus and get one of the coveted left side bus seats...by the time we checked in across the street (didn't need the QR code), we were one of the last ones on the bus. So we got our ticket, and tried to hand it in to the guide, but was told 'I'll collect them at the end'...which didn't make sense...until it did. As mentioned before, the best place to sit is the left side of the bus (since most of the tour is done clockwise and you want the outer view into the open ocean). Rick was our guide, and he worked really hard during the 2.5 hour tour. He was a very good driver: it takes a lot of skill and concentration to go through heavy traffic of private cars on very narrow roads. At the same time, he was telling us various stories about the area and they were all interesting (the audio in the bus was very good...we could hear him well throughout). He talked A LOT. There were 4 stops throughout the tour. It was a very cloudy, foggy day (which I'm sure is pretty common in the area), so the views weren't great. I know he realized this, and was trying really hard to be enthusastic. But even when we saw a small break in the clouds for a view, it was just OK. Last stop was Cadillac Mountain, which requires a separate reservation and fee from the Park entrance itself...our tour included both so we got some time to stop by. Again, it was OK... it just pales in comparison to so many of the other national sites throughout the States. One of the suggestions was to use the tour as a starting point to decide on the Acadia National Park stops that one would want to see more closely. Even if we had the time, it wouldn't be worth it for us. There are many national parks (in the West especially), where not much has to be said while touring...the view and scenery says it all. Acadia is NOT one of them. About those tickets I mentioned before: it's just a way for the guide to get one on one time with each passenger to say bye as they hand in their ticket while exiting the bus for the final time (and opportunity for gratuity). I get why this is done (and the guides do deserve a 20% tip for all their hard work)...but it just put a bad taste in my mouth to have to wait to get off the bus and hear Rick talk to each person in front, about how generous the front people were being (he had his headset mike on the whole time so everyone waiting on the bus heard every word). read more

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Acadia National Park Tours does tours of Acadia National Park, with stops at Cadillac Mountain, Wild Gardens of Acadia, and Thunder Hole with the bus tour. I had booked this ahead of time through Viator instead of booking something through Disney Cruise Line. The meeting point is about 300 yards from the tendering area, but it is a pretty steep incline up a hill to the meeting point at Testa's Restaurant. Our visit here was on October 2, 2019, when we were in port with the Disney Magic cruise ship. After getting up to the check in desk, we knew that we had already missed our 10 am pre-booked time due to the aforementioned issue above. They were able to get us into the 11 am departure instead, which was fine. The tour overall lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours. After checking in, we also got a coupon for 10% off at Testa's Restaurant for doing this tour. At about 10:45, we came back to where we would get the bus. We got on and waited until it was time to depart. The places we would stop at in Acadia National Park would be Cadillac Mountain, Wild Gardens of Acadia, and Thunder Hole. My more detailed reviews of the stops are on their separate listings. Once it was time to go, our guide introduced himself and started to give a bit of history about Bar Harbor. Soon, we were on our way to Acadia National Park. The history was nice to hear, including the history of Acadia National Park and the spots that we visited. The first stop was at Cadillac Mountain, where we had about 15 minutes to explore. It was an overcast, cool and windy morning, but it was worth the views over Frenchman Bay. I was even able to see my cruise ship from there. You can get some great panoramic views here. After leaving Cadillac Mountain, we would get to our next destination in about 30 minutes. During this time, the guide cranked up the heat since it was chilly outside. After some time, it got too hot in the bus and finally said something. He asked if others thought the same and it was in almost perfect unison of that agreement. Otherwise, we were taking in the sights on the Park Loop Road. There was some color to the trees, but not much. We were probably a little early for peak leaf season. The next stop was the Wild Gardens of Acadia, which we had about 20 minutes to visit and explore. The gardens were a nice visit, and there is a nature center there as well. The flora was beautiful to see, including some that had color change as well. Time here was too short as well, but it was soon time to move on to the last major stop on the tour. After leaving the Wild Gardens of Acadia, we traveled along the Park Loop Road for about 20 minutes to Thunder Hole, where we had about 20 minutes to visit this place as well. We would pass Sand Beach along the way here, where the guide said is very busy in the summer. Thunder Hole was definitely a highlight of this tour. We were here a little over an hour away from high tide. The sights and sounds were stunning, including getting a video of the thunder. This was another place that I would have loved to have remained longer. After leaving Thunder Hole, we would be making our way back to the depot where the tour started. We did pass by Otter Cliff, but was not a stop on this tour. We were able to take additional scenes of the park until we were outside the boundaries. Some of the things that could be worked on include not turning the ride into an oven and not trying to pack everyone in like sardines. The tour was full, so some were turned toward the aisle since the seats were small. The seats were meant for two, but for many on the bus, it really should've been for one person. From what I saw, there was only this option for touring. I would have loved to have had a longer tour that would've included stops at Otter Cliff, the Visitor Center, and the Jordan Pond House. Overall, this was a great tour of Acadia National Park, especially since it was my fist time visiting. I knocked off a star due to the things I noted in the last paragraph. The great thing was that they had their own parking spot at each of the places we visited inside the park. The trip was very informative and great places to visit inside the park. If your travels take you into Bar Harbor, I would definitely recommend taking a tour of Acadia National Park with them. read more

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Such a great, personal experience! Highly recommend!! Went out of their way to make sure we saw everything we wanted to see and gave us so much local info. Loved the whole thing!! read more

Beautiful park. So much to do here!!! If you like the outdoors this is definitely the place to come. read more

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Love the park and if you stay in Bar Harbor area there are shuttles from mid June to October to transport from hotels to several areas of Acadia Park for FREE! read more

No better introduction to the Arcadia National Park. The driver does the talking and the driving. We had a great time our driver had some wonderful stories and told us some fascinating facts of the park. Very interesting and informative enough stops to take pictures. Really a fun tour. read more

Very nice tour of the park - it is stunning and this tour goes to all of the highlights along Park Loop Road (Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond House, etc). It does not go to the Visitor's Center which was kind of a bummer but we went on another day and you do not need to buy a park entry pass to go there. We were given ample time at each location with plenty of opportunities to take great pictures. Total time was 3 hours. I didn't love the guide (Roger) - the only reason I knocked off a star. The corny jokes didn't bother me it was the weird, preachy life advice he doled out throughout the entire tour. I'm here to learn about Maine and Acadia National Park, I'm all set with life advice, thanks. Easy to book online, central boarding location right downtown, tour in endorsed by the NPS. read more

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Highly recommended. Tour guide Heather was incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and funny, making for a great experience. Good mix of drive time and on-foot time during the photo-op breaks, which could also be used to use the facilities. I will very likely book them again on a future visit. read more

Wow! The Bike Tour is a must, our guides were super friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. The views alone on the trail are breathtaking. I went with a group of friends and we were able to take some amazing photos. Please keep in mind this is a six mile trail, so keep hydrated. But I promise you will experience Nature at it's best! read more

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I was booked on their 2.5 hour tour of Acadia National Park, the one thing I wanted to do while in a cruise in the area. This tour company overbooked their 14 person vehicle, and rather than looking at the last person to book, they made me not go because I was touring solo. They still got to fill their vehicle even though I had booked 5-6 weeks in advance. I would not recommend solo travelers trust this company to do the right thing. I did get my money back, but it was so late in the day when this happened, that there was nothing else available comparable so I missed out on the one thing I wanted to see. read more

AMAZING. So much fun. Roger is an absolutely incredible guide that knows his stuff inside and out. He is so sociable, personable, and interactive. He noticed I brought my camera with me and let me know when to come to the front of the bus to get a good photo, or told me when to shoot out my window. I was so happy to see him tend to his guests like that, volunteering to take photos of everyone so we all had a souvenir. He knows this town and this island like the back of his hand. It was an impulse decision for us and we are so glad we went with it. I wish the detours to get off the bus were a little longer than 15-20 minutes, but hey it's a tour, can't spend all day on it :) for 3 hours, 100% worth it especially if you've never seen Acadia before. Roger knows all the perfect spots for breathtaking views and perfect photo ops. Can't recommend enough!! read more

It's actually been a year since we were here. We took a recommendation from a restaurant nearby and signed up. We went at a good time, it was not too packed. The crowd was fine. But the best was Robert, the guide. He was truly unique and not too "howdy blah blah" and we even talked a bit about tattoos when people were allowed to walk around for a bit. The stop on the way down was pretty uninteresting (with the popovers) and I would have sacrificed that for more time on the top of Cadillac mountain. Overall, though, worth the price for sure and it's not annoyingly touristy. read more

A few things need to be said about this, but only one is really all that important: Value. Roger the tour guide is a true student of history and has been a native of Mount Desert Island for over 40 years. He's the sort of fellow that knows everyone and everywhere and most importantly knows how to tell a great story. You'd be hard-pressed to find more people who are as genuine, down-to-Earth and knowledgeable as he is. He ended up recommending my friend and I journey a little ways to some of the gardens on Mount Desert Island and not only were his directions perfect to a T, but we had a wonderful time thanks to him! read more

Good from the start- happy people working at the ticket pickup, bus was very clean and the seats were comfortable. What can I say about the driver- The best you could ask for. Santo was both very knowledgeable and lighthearted. His facts of the area are truly an indication of someone that not only takes the job seriously but with pure enjoyment as well. There was NEVER a moment without conversation- well done sir- well done. I recommend this tour without hesitation- the length is just right and the sights memorable. Thank you for an enjoyable few hours. PS your jokes weren't too bad either. read more

This tour was PERFECT. The guide, Santo, was an absolute gem. He was extremely knowledgeable on the history and area, but also totally hilarious. We enjoyed how we got to stop a few times and soak in the areas we were visiting. Honestly we couldn't have asked for a better bus tour. read more

Great info on the tour. A bit hard to see sometimes but great outside time when we stopped. Driver/guide drive safely and very friendly/helpful! So glad I took the tour. read more

Mike was the best tour guide we've ever had on any tour. As funny as he is knowledgeable about the area and its history. This tour company has an official arrangement with Acadia National Park. One thing that means is our bus had a designated spot at each stop. (Meanwhile, the cruise ship excursions said they would bypass a stop if they couldn't get parking.) Also, we also appreciated the ease with which we were able to move our reservation when we couldn't get off the cruise ship in order to make our tour time. read more

I was disappointed in the Royal Caribbean's Acadia National Park and Lobster Tour. The tour bus was suppose to leave at 8am, we sat in a stuffy bus for over an hour because our tour guide thought she was missing 6 people from her tour. It was only one guy!!! So due to the lost of time we didn't get to exit the bus to many times. Once for 20 minutes at the Acadia Park and 10 minutes in a parking lot over looking the ocean. We then stopped by a restaurant where we had our lobster dinner, served cafeteria style by the masses in large buckets of mussels, a lobster and some veggies. Then we had to wait for a bus for almost an hour. Besides the lobster this tour was lousy. read more

This very informative, great value tour is the best way to see Acadia National Park and gives you behind the scenes information and history that you would never get from any other books or tours. This is the longest Acadia tour around and given by certified National Park tour guides with indepth knowledge of the backround of the area and even the environment. The buses are very comfortable and will take you around the entire park. The stops the tour makes differ for each, but will make a 15-20 minute stop at each point and explain all the details of the park and the island and the history. I would highly recommend you take this tour to familiarize yourself with the park prior to hiking or biking. Plus its a great value since its only twenty five bucks a person. read more

Definately worth it. Our guide Roger (pronounced Rojah - you'll learn how to speak Mainiac) was wonderful. He educated us a lot and also kept the kids (teens too) engaged with his stories. At the top of Cadillac Mountain he even took us off the trail to find wild cranberries and blueberries. Having such an attentive guide made all the difference. I recommend you take this tour the first day of your visit like we did so that we knew all about the island so we knew what to do next. Call ahead to make a reservation though or you might miss out. read more

This was a great tour. However, I was a little disappointed on how little time they leave you for the stops. You get 20 minutes on each of the three stops. Cadillac Mountain, Acadia Gardens, and Thunder Hole. There is a 0.3 mile trail around Cadillac mountain. 20 minutes isn't long enough to see all the beauty. Sure you can come back with your car, but if you don't have a car or you don't have the time, it'd be nicer to take in the scenery while you have the time. read more

This tour provides an excellent introduction to the Park and several of its highlights. Our driver/guide talked nearly non-stop and was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about not only the Park, but the entire island. He was a great story-teller and held everyone's interest through the entire tour. The bus travels mostly on the Park Loop Road and makes 20-minute stops at three places (summit of Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole and the nature center), but our guide indicated other points of interest in the park that he recommended people visit later on their own. We lucked out on the weather. It was a beautiful, clear day, and we could even see Mt. Katahdin (Maine's highest point and over 100 miles away) in the far distance from the top of Cadillac Mountain. Oli's Trolley is a competing tour service that takes a similar route through the Park and stops at the same places. Having seen their "trolley cars," I am glad we chose Acadia. With Acadia, you will be on a bus with comfortable, well-padded seats. With Oli's, you'll be sitting on a hard wooden bench with thin padding. Where would you rather park your rear end for 3+ hours? I can't speak to the quality of Oli's tour guides, but I can't imagine that they could be any better than ours was. read more

Our guide was knowledgeable and personable. The bus has seats that are a little tight. There was heavy fog, and you couldn't see anything from the top of Cadillac, which was not anyone's fault, but I do think some sort of refund or replacement should have been offered. We were supposed to have 20 min at each stop, but we only got 15, which is the main reason I am dropping this from 5 to 4 stars. read more

Great way to get an introduction to Acadia. We learned so much and it was affordable. The people were nice.

"Hetha" was a woot!! The weather was not cooperating, but she did a fantastic job of making it feel like we had a special tour that everyone rarely gets to see. Well done! read more

We were looking for something to give us the full experience of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park Tours and especially our tour-guide Santo did an incredible job. We learned about the history of Bar Harbor and were able to take in the sights of the Park (our favorites were the top of Cadillac Mountain and Thunder Hole). Plenty of time for perusing around a few stops -and- for taking pictures. We unfortunately did not have cash on hand to provide a tip for the wonderful service provided by Santo, but we cannot say enough about how well he gave the tour. read more

We took a cruise this summer to Bar Harbor, Maine. The price that the cruise charged for excursions in Maine were ridiculous. The Acadia Tours offered a great tour of Bat Harbor, Maine with a knowledgeable tour guide in a bus for a great price. read more

Roger was such a great tour guide! Not only did he grow up in the area and have a rich family history, he was extremely knowledgeable, courteous and so genuinely funny! A joke a minute! Could not have asked for a better welcome to Acadia. read more

This is our second year back to Bar Harbor and we took the Acadia National Tour both both times. They're great and the tour guide is most informed and entertaining. We had Rodger both times. Be sure to ask for his tour. read more

This bus tour is THE way to start your exploration of the park. The driver's knowledge and stories were great. Sit behind the driver for the best views all around. We made 3 stops for about 20 minutes each. Wish they were a little longer because the scenery is so awesome. Also the day we went was unusually hot and humid for being Sept. 8 and the bus is not air conditioned. Worth the money. read more