When visiting Acadia National Park in Park Loop Road., one place you must stop is Sand Beach. It's…read morebeautiful, peaceful, with cliffs, mountains, what more can you ask for. This is the largest, sandy beach on Acadia. I did not see a lifeguard when I came so be aware when swimming. Sometimes they are not present. You do have to go down stairs to get here. There is parking or you can come in the Island Shuttle that stops here. Then at night, on Sundays and Wednesdays, weather permitting, the Park Rangers put on an excellent Stargazing program to do. I came and really enjoyed it. But dress warm, bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. Whether you are visiting day or night, this beach does not disappoint !

Beautiful beach in Acadia National Park. We took the LLBEAN shuttle and it took us right to it, it…read morewas the loop road route. This was convenient as parking looked tough. We weren't prepared to go swimming but we still walked the beach and took some pictures. A lot of people were there to swim and it was pretty crowded. The air was chilly so I was surprised how many people were swimming but maybe the water was warm. I didn't notice lifeguards but there was a park ranger circulating. Plus bathrooms and changing rooms up top. At night they had a stargazing program here which we came back for which was ranger led and honestly one of my favorite memories of the trip.

We went to Maine and spent a week in Northeast Harbor. We tried Sand Beach, inside Acadia National…read morePark, and it was beautiful, but the July parking situation was pretty miserable. We also tried Echo Lake, which was great. (We didn't try Lake Wood, the third swimming beach in Acadia National Park.) But the boy wanted to swim in the ocean, so we tried out Seal Harbor Beach, a place my wife remembered from when she lived in Southwest Harbor in the 1990s. Parking at Seal Harbor Beach was _easy_. There's a parking lot on the north side of Peabody Drive (which is the portion of Maine Highway 3 between Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor), and Seal Harbor Beach just across the road. There's a crosswalk that seems pretty safe. The beach is mostly sand, with some pebbles. Stanley Brook runs through the middle of the beach; it was just a trickle in July 2025. (There's an interpretative sign overlooking the brook, next to the parking lot.) The boy had at least as much fun playing with the brook's running water as with the ocean. The beach has a wooden platform moored in the water. It was somewhat away from the shore when we arrived, but by the time we were getting ready to leave it was low tide (very low, near New Moon), and the platform was just a few steps from the shore. We had a National Park pass, but because Seal Harbor Beach is outside of Acadia National Park, we didn't need it. The view is picturesque; the harbor was full of sailboats, mostly moored, but some sailing around. This isn't a five-star "best ever" beach, but given the easy access, lighter crowds, and nice view, it's a four-star "Yay, I'm a fan".

Beautiful quaint little harbor and beach. Lots of birds. A nice place to relax in the morning or…read moresunbathe in the afternoon.

This little hidden gem is worth a stop. A small 15-plot mid-19th century gravesite overlooks what I…read morewould call "Rock Beach", aptly named for its softball-shaped rocks that you must trek across to get to the Atlantic shoreline. A thee foot wide log sits at the apex of a 30-degree sloped rock mound which requires only the modest of efforts to reach. Once there, have a seat and begin soaking in the sights and sounds of this relaxing harbor hot spot. If you're feeling adventurous, start down the well-traveled hiking trail or just mosey along the coast looking for sea glass, shells and other natural treasure. A must see and do if you find yourself on the island.

I'm no stranger to parks and beautiful natural places, but Acadia is like a dreamscape. There's…read morestunning ocean views from crumbling gorgeous cliff sides. There are lakes, streams, ponds, scenic lighthouses, boats, bikes, trails, gardens, crazy hikes with vertical iron rungs, rolling forest hikes, lighthouses, and more! The main issue you'll run into is crowds.. lots of people want to come here, especially in July and August. Best thing to do, go in as early as possible, do some things, take a break, go back again after 3. If you're early, you can get a parking spot then work from there. If you are flexible on time, take advantage of the shuttles, but be warned, they may be full, and they don't run every 10-15 minutes, so plan accordingly. I would be in the park by 7, have plans maybe on a tour in Bar Harbor late morning or early afternoon, then head back after 4, and I got to all the must-do's, ie hiked the Beehive, the Bubbles, Cadillac Mountain sunrise and sunset (reserve this early as spots sell out, I booked mine 3 months in advance the minute they released and they were sold out shortly later, especially sunrise tickets), Jordan Pond and popovers, Bass Harbor Lighthouse, as well as some boat tours in the area, including very successful whale and puffin watching. For more hints and tips, I watched some YouTube videos, there's great info out there, especially the videos from Ash, a former park ranger, who has loads of helpful tips to get around and not spend your trip sitting in traffic or waiting in a parking spot.

Did we go in a wrong entrance or something?!…read more I was underwhelmed for sure. We walked a few trails and took some photos but ??? Im very glad we hit Cadillac Mountain - that's where it's at!!!

Just stopped by Echo Lake Beach during the summer and it was very popular! One of the only swimming…read moreareas in Acadia NP. You do have to have the vehicle pass to park here ($35 for 7 days) or you can take the Southwest Shuttle loop to get here from Village Green. No lifeguard on duty but it's pretty shallow for a while, there are buoys to show you when it gets deeper. Changing facilities and clean bathrooms. It's very accessible as there's a flat, wooden ramp, that gets you directly onto the beach from the parking lot. Water was cold but not too cold, just put my feet in. The cold breeze at the lake is what was cold. But breathtaking views and about 30 minute drive from Bar Harbor.

From Bar Harbor, it takes over 30 minutes to drive here. Along the way, you will pass Echo Lake…read more it's not that popular so less of a crowd. in the fall, I did not see anyone here except us... yeah, in summer, it could be fun...there is a small beach, changing rooms, and calm water (its lake). Fall colors were very pretty, with reflection in the lake making it more beautiful. Secluded but great! Parking: Ample parking there-no issues with that.

Despite having done some research in advance, I had not been aware of this particular opportunity…read more There are many small islands in the region, but this one is notable for having a gravel walkway that sits above the tide for only a few hours a day. An appropriately timed hike yields an array of fantastic views that beggar belief. And this is despite the fact that walking to the end of the trail on the island from downtown, Bar Harbor takes maybe half an hour. Signage warns people not to get trapped on the island when the tide rises as getting a boat is expensive. I could imagine that if the weather is rough one could get into a bit of trouble here, but as long as you're smart about it, this is a fantastic place to visit.

Bar Island is a tidal island connected to Bar Harbor by a gravel and sand bar that is exposed at…read morelow tide and submerged at high tide. So interesting to be able to cross from Bar Harbor by foot and then hike to the top of the island for a view of historic Bar Harbor. The city of Gouldsboro still maintains jurisdiction over the island based on its 1798 articles of incorporation. Many families have tried to build a bridge to the island from Bar Harbor, however John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the half of the island that has the sandbar which stopped the bridge from being constructed. Today, the island is part of Acadia National Park. If you visit, mind the times for the tides. People have been stranded and apparently cars have been washed away back in the days when they parked on the sandbar. Once high tide comes in, you will need to wait approximately nine hours for low tide or pay a hefty fine for being stranded on Bar Island. A unique experience in Acadia National Park.

Amazing location, great owner/host! I highly recommend staying at this campground! It was awesome!…read more Also very very clean!!

I have endless great things to say about this campground, not only is it beautiful and clean the…read moreowners are wonderful. Lori is such a sweet human, so hospitable and kind. Even when you first meet her it's like visiting an old friend. My husband and I came last year in October and stayed here for an anniversary trip. The campsites were spacious and private and the trees large and beautiful. The outdoor showers were his favorite part. Everything is clean and tidy. This year we came back in the summer with our kids. It's really just a great place and we can't wait to go back next year

Easy reservation. Easy online waiver process. Links to all the "required" videos to watch…read more Excellent in-store briefings. Bikes performed flawlessly. HIGHLY recommend the fat tire bikes over the others; more stable on the loose gravel roads. Plenty of juice. We did the around the mountain, tri-lakes loop with an extra lap around Eagle Lake and still had a quarter tank.

We went on the aqua safari and had an amazing time. The kayaks and equipment were great, and our…read moreguide Gabby had a ton of knowledge about the local wildlife. 10/10 would come back for another tour.

I have all good things to say about this place. It was clean, organized, and perfect for…read morevacationing with our family. The kitchen was well equipped and had everything needed to cook a full meal. The house is ideally located - close to almost all the areas of interest; it was quickly accessible to Bar Harbor (40 minutes), the most happening place in the region. There are some excellent restaurants and other interesting local shops. In all, our experience was enjoyable.

My family enjoyed our stay here. The location was convenient to hiking and other recreational…read moreopportunities, great restaurants and an easy drive to Acadia NP. We did not use the kitchen to cook, but it seemed reasonably equipped had we wanted to. The beds were comfortable and the home was clean. The hosts were very communicative and provided a nice brochure outlining all the things we might consider doing during our visit. We would stay here again in the future.