Ultimate Acadia National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Bar Harbor, US
81% of travellers recommend this
Very Good (448 reviews)

Highlights

  • Cruise through Acadia’s pristine wilderness
  • Learn about the rich forests and vibrant foliage
  • Summit the majestic Cadillac Mountain
  • Visit the quaint, picturesque coastal town of Bar Harbor
  • Explore the famous Park Loop Road of Acadia

What to expect

1

Hulls Cove Visitor Center

After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

2

Acadia National Park

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. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
3

Hulls Cove Visitor Center

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.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
4

Cadillac Mountain

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

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
5

Park Loop Road

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
6

Sieur de Monts Spring

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
7

Beaver Dam Pond

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

Duration 5 minutes
8

Egg Rock Overlook

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
9

Precipice Trail

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.

Duration 5 minutes
10

Acadia National Park

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.

Duration 5 minutes
11

Ocean Path Trailhead

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
12

Sand Beach

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
13

Old Soaker

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.

Duration 10 minutes
14

Thunder Hole

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

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
15

Monument Cove

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
16

Gorham Mountain Trailhead

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
17

Boulder Beach

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
18

Otter Cliff

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
19

Hunters Beach Overlook

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

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
20

Aunt Betty Pond Carriage Rd

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!

Duration 5 minutes
21

Jordan Pond

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.

Duration 10 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
22

Bubble Pond

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.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
23

Eagle Lake Acadia National Park

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.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
24

Cadillac Mountain

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.

Duration 5 minutes
25

Hulls Cove Visitor Center

After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

The experience can be subject to change due to bad weather or unforseen circumstances. We always endeavour to give you the best possible experience.

Additional Information

  • Additional information
    Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Additional information
    Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Additional information
    How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
  • Additional information
    How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
  • Additional information
    Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Additional information
    Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Additional information
    Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
  • Additional information
    Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Provided by Travel with Action

What our experts say

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    Download the app before arrival.
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    Visit Bar Harbor for lunch post-tour.
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    Check Cadillac Mountain for sunrise views.
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    Bring snacks for breaks along the route.
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    Ensure your phone battery is charged.

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