Planning A Trip to Acadia

What You Need to Know About Acadia Vacations

Planning a trip to Acadia starts with gathering as much information as you can, and then you start to make the decisions that will shape your vacation.

We've always found that careful trip planning can ensure the success of any vacation, including one to Acadia National Park. After all, you wouldn't want to just hop in the car and start driving, would you, without taking the time to figure out what kind of Acadia vacation you actually want?

Well, maybe you would, but believe me, investing a little time up front goes a long way towards insuring the success of your trip to Acadia...

While planning might not be a term you associate with having fun, paying attention to the details now can make sure that your family vacation is filled with fun and relaxation, not disaster.

Things To Think About

So what exactly do you need to do in planning a trip to Acadia? Well, here are a few of the things you need to think about ahead of time:

• How you'll get there
• What you'll do once you get there
• Where you'll stay in or near Acadia
• What you'll eat
• What you'll need to bring with you in the way of clothes, food, supplies, & gear
• What kind of weather to expect
• How much money to bring
• Will your pet(s) stay home or come with you?

That should get you thinking!

Our Planning Success Story

In 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998, we three girls traveled to Acadia on our own. We planned ahead and though things didn't always happen exactly as planned, everything always worked out. But then all three of us tend to be spontaneous types, as well as flexible.

But by the year 2000, I'd met a great guy named Jim who had 2 teenage boys a few years younger than my girls. We decided to take our first vacation as a blended "family" and the boys agreed to let us show them Acadia.

We knew, though, that to make a vacation with six people work, especially with at least 3 or 4 control freaks in residence (!), we needed to make trip planning a priority. Hanging loose and taking things easy wasn't going to work for everything...

So, we planned all of our meals in advance and all of our activities by the day. We even made up chore lists ahead of time, that included who would do the cooking and the clean up each night, as well as the grocery shopping once we hit Maine.

This might sound a bit excessive, but believe me... it worked. The whole trip went super smooth and a grand time was had by all! And no one felt put upon because they were doing more than anything else. It was fair... everyone knew what was expected of them each day... and there were NO arguments! Believe me, that is quite an achievement with 4 teenagers!

Planning a trip to Acadia in that instance paid off big time.

Important Steps in Planning a Trip to Acadia

1. Learn About the Area. Our History section of this site will help you explore some of Acadia's heritage. You may also want to visit the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce website and/or the National Park Service's website to gather even more info ahead of time.

2. Plan your travel. Some kinds of public transportation require reservations, sometimes months in advance. If you drive, you need to gather your maps and research routes and possible obstacles such as construction.

3. Decide what kind of vacation it will be. Are you an avid hiker? Do you have physically challenged or frail family members? Do you like to be pampered? Do you hate hot weather... or cold? All important questions as you start to think about how you'll want to spend your time in Acadia. This can impact when you go, how long you'll stay there, where you'll stay, and what you'll do. We provide tons of information on this site about hiking, biking, and many other fun things to do, both outdoors and indoors or less strenuous.

4. Plan your budget.It is possible to see Acadia—and to greatly enjoy yourself to boot—on a budget. It might take a little more work, but you can do it. There are lots of fairly cheap places to stay, including campgrounds and charming cottages and cabins. You might decide to cook meals yourself, but there are also a wide variety of family restaurants and inexpensive eating spots... no fast food restaurants on the island though!

   Getting into the park is $20/car for 7 days, so that's pretty affordable. But be sure to include room in your budget for souvenirs, bike or canoe rentals, rainy day activities (of which you can expect at least a couple), and tours.

5. Decide what you need to bring in the way of clothing, food, gear, and supplies. Of course, what you need to bring will vary with the kind of vacation you're planning. If you're planning to camp, you might be interested in our camping checklist.

More Help with Acadia Trip Planning

To delve more into planning a trip to Acadia, you may want to explore these pages on our site:

• Top 10 Tips for Planning Your Acadia Vacation
• A Camping Supplies Checklist (PDF)
• Sample Meal Plans for 7-Day, 10-Day, and 14-Day Vacations
• Sample Vacation Itineraries
• Acadia Through the Seasons
• History of Acadia
• Getting to Know Acadia

Planning a trip to Acadia was never so easy!

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