Ultimate Acadia National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Hike Cadillac Mountain, the tallest on the East Coast, for epic Acadia views, then explore Rockefeller Jr.'s carriage roads or bike scenic ocean cliffs.

We enter Maine's famous Acadia National Park at the Hull's Cove Visitor Center. As we begin to explore this beautiful natural preserve, we'll learn about the rich forests and why the foliage here is so vibrant in the fall. Admission Ticket is not included. Note: This 22+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Acadia National Park in 2-3 hours.

Boasting mountain views, Cadillac Mountain Overlook features accommodations with a garden and a patio, around 5.6 mi from Agamont Park.

Our self-guided driving tour enters the famous Park Loop Road of Acadia. We'll follow this loop all around the park, ending at the summit of Cadillac mountain. Admission Ticket is not included.

Our tour takes us past the Sieur de Monts Spring, which plays a significant role in the history of Acadia National Park. In a symbolic sense, it can be said that the birth of Acadia National Park took place in this very spot over a century ago. Admission Ticket is not included.

Secret spot in Acadia National Park ... The Beaver Dam Pond sits along one of the nicest wooded stretches of the Park Loop Road.

This spot looks out over Bar Harbor’s Frenchman Bay. You might be able to spot a little island in the bay. This is the home of Egg Rock Lighthouse. Admission Ticket is not included.

The Precipice is part of the east face of Champlain Mountain. The Precipice Trail is the most challenging and well-known hiking trail in Acadia National.

Schooner Head Overlook is located on the east side of Mount Desert Island, just outside Acadia National Park. It can be reached from Bar Harbor without entering the national park via Schooner Head Road or via the Park Loop Road, just prior to the entrance gate to Sand Beach.

Here we've got a second option for a detour: Ocean Path Trail. If the steep inclines of Precipice Trail weren't your style, the gentle, winding path here is a great alternative. Admission Ticket is not included.

Next up: Sandy Beach! At just 290 yards long, the beach is small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in fascinating natural history. You might notice a slight greenish tint to the sand. That’s because of the sea urchins! Admission Ticket is not included.

As we continue driving through Acadia, we'll pass Old Soaker. The waves crash against the vertical face of the rock, shooting water up into the air. Admission Ticket is not included.

We'll also see Thunder Hole, a natural rock inlet where waves crash with a thunderous boom. Admission Ticket is not included.

Monument Cove is another example of the seemingly miraculous force of nature. Water and time have worn away at the granite over the centuries, leaving behind a twenty-foot tall pillar of rock that looks like a man-made sculpture. Admission Ticket is not included.

As our tour continues through Acadia's Park Loop Road, Gorham Mountain rises to the right. The steep trail up this mountain features a false summit, where it appears to plateau before continuing up further. But both the false and real summit offers a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape! Admission Ticket is not included.

The rocks on this beach are large, egg-shaped stones. The rough waves of the ocean have tumbled these stones into smooth, bowling-ball sized rocks. Admission Ticket is not included.

Next up as we drive as the stunning Otter Cliff and Otter Cove. At the top of Otter Cliff, it’s a steep 110-foot drop down to the chilly Atlantic. Admission Ticket is not included.

A trip to Acadia National Park would not be complete without doing a hike to one of Mount Desert Island's cobblestone beaches.

In addition to Acadia's beautiful hiking trails, there are also over 45 miles of carriage roads built by millionaire philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. between 1913 and 1940. Originally conceived as a way to give city folk an escape to the natural world, the carriage road system wanders through some of the best forested and lakeside scenery and is enjoyed by bikers, hikers, and horseback and horse-drawn carriage riders alike. Rockefeller also financed, designed, and supervised the construction of 16 majestic stone bridges that were built at several stream and gorge crossings throughout the carriage road system. Since each bridge is a unique work of art, it is fun to try to visit them all!

Our self-guided tour brings us to Jordan Pond next. We'd highly recommend pausing here to appreciate the views and the restaurant. Jordan Pond was carved out of the earth twenty thousand years ago by a massive glacier. Admission Ticket is not included.

Bubble Pond is another glacial remnant, hollowed out of the ground tens of thousands of years ago by a massive ice sheet descending on the island from the Arctic. Admission Ticket is not included.

Our drive brings us past Eagle Lake, which serves as the water source for Bar Harbor. It’s also a food source for local birds. Admission Ticket is not included.

Finally, we begin the drive up to the summit of Acadia's crown jewel: Cadillac Mountain. The views from the top are unmatched! Admission Ticket is not included.