Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.3/5
Based on 67 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour worth booking?
Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour is a 5-hour experience in Bar Harbor, United States, from $25 per person. It scores 65 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.3/5 rating across 67 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 65 / 100
- Rating
- 4.3/5 (67)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $25 per person
Experience beautiful, historic Maine with this combo of Acadia and Bar Harbor tours. Drive through the untouched wilderness of Acadia and learn the legends of the Native tribes who called that land home. Then stroll alon
What you get
About this experience
Experience beautiful, historic Maine with this combo of Acadia and Bar Harbor tours. Drive through the untouched wilderness of Acadia and learn the legends of the Native tribes who called that land home. Then stroll along the oceanside as you dive into Bar Harbor’s surprising Gilded Age history. These tours offer the perfect combination of natural beauty and rich culture so you can get the very most out of your visit to this incredible state. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
What's included
Included
- Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Self-guided audio tour through our easy-to-use mobile app.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
Not included
- Self-guided tour — no live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
What you'll see and do
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. Note: The tour is over 20+ miles long per tour, with more than 30+ audio stories per tour, and takes about 2-3 hours per tour to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
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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.
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We'll then pass the beautiful Beaver Pond, where we'll catch a glimpse of some beavers and their dams if we're lucky. We'll also see Jackson Labs on the other side, and we'll learn about its impact on Bar Harbor.
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Precipice Trail
As our tour continues, we'll pass the Precipice Trail. This is a great hike for those in the mood for a little physical detour. It's also home to the endangered peregrine falcon! These birds tend to build their nests on high rocky ledges, where non-flying animals can’t reach the eggs. The steep face of this mountain is perfect for that!
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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.
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Ocean Path
Here we've got a second option for a detour: Ocean Path Trail. If the steep inclines of Pecipice Trail weren't your style, the gentle, winding path here is a great alternative.
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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!
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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.
60 minutes here
Thunder Hole
We'll also see Thunder Hole, a natural rock inlet where waves crash with a thunderous boom.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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If this rock seems like it doesn’t belong here, that’s because it doesn’t. The same glacier that coasted over Jordan Pond also dragged this massive rock across the land and deposited it here.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Finally, we begin the drive up to the summit of Acadia's crown jewel: Cadillac Mountain. The views from the top are unmatched!
120 minutes here
Transfiguration Parish
Next up are two churches. They’ll both leave an impression — but in totally different ways!
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You can’t miss the church because the most unique thing about it is its design. Or rather… lack of design! In fact, the building looks like it's made of several mismatched parts. Each one represents a different historical era.
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This little library's history goes all the way back to 1875. It all began with a casual conversation among some of Bar Harbor's wealthy summer residents. A public library would establish Bar Harbor as a REAL town. They pitched the idea to the town.
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Pause here again, just past the School Street intersection. Look at the Abbe Museum on your right.
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Bar Harbor's Village Green has some star power behind it… the layout and landscaping were done by Beatrix Farrand, the woman who designed the White House's Rose Garden. Her design still remains intact to this day. You can't mess with perfection!
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Frenchman Bay
You're walking along the coast of Frenchman Bay. Wait — why is it named for the French? Simple! It's because of all the French expeditions that took place here in the 1500s. Long before the land could be settled by European colonists, it had to be charted, mapped and evaluated. France’s Samuel de Champlain did just that. While Spain’s conquistadors looked for gold in South America, the French focused on the fur trade in the North.
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If this rock looks out of place here… that's because it is! Balance Rock is a glacial erratic. That means that a glacier pulled this boulder from a granite deposit up north and deposited it here.
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Grant Park marks the site of a building that no longer stands. See the grassy area you're looking at right now? This was once a personal tennis court!
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Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Bar Harbor
Start at the Cadillac Mountain Summit parking lot, 707 Cadillac Summit Rd. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with nearby businesses. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.
Meeting point
Bar Harbor
he starting address for the winter tour.
Meeting point
Bar Harbor
Start at John B. Ells Pier, 23 Ells Pier, Bar Harbor. Look for the Bar Harbor Port Security Building on your right and Ellis Park with a gazebo ahead. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with nearby businesses. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.
Meeting point
Bar Harbor
Start at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center parking lot, 25 Visitor Center Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with the visitor center. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Start at the Cadillac Mountain Summit parking lot, 707 Cadillac Summit Rd. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with nearby businesses. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.
Ends at
he starting address for the winter tour.
Ends at
Start at John B. Ells Pier, 23 Ells Pier, Bar Harbor. Look for the Bar Harbor Port Security Building on your right and Ellis Park with a gazebo ahead. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with nearby businesses. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.
Ends at
Start at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center parking lot, 25 Visitor Center Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with the visitor center. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Adventures with Action
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 67 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
67 verified traveler reviews for Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Free Admission except for Cadillac Mountain
Small park. Nice scenery but not any wow moments.
Response from the operator: Steve, thank you for taking my Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor GPS driving and walking tour. I’m glad you enjoyed the scenery, though I’m sorry the park did not have as many “wow” moments as you expected. Just to clarify for future travelers, my tour is for the self-guided audio experience, while park entry fees and Cadillac Mountain reservations are handled separately by the park. If you plan to explore more of Maine, be sure to check out my other tours, especially the Portland drive and the beautiful Ocean Path Trailhead tour. Happy exploring!
via Tripadvisor
Perfect tool for the tour
The PERFECT way to see the sights in Acadia. We are older -- so our ability to do trails and a lot of hiking are limited. This guide was so good at describing the scenery and suggesting places to stop for vistas. We loved al the history and educational highlights -- really enriched the experience with all the beautiful scenery. We loved that it was so simple to use and keyed off our GPS -- so the tour always knew where we were and could tell us what to look for. Highly recommend !!!!
Response from the operator: I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed my Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour. It’s terrific that the GPS-triggered stories made your visit effortless and that you appreciated the mix of scenic stops, history, and educational highlights. I’m thrilled the tour helped you experience Acadia’s beauty at your own pace. If you plan to explore more of Maine, be sure to check out my other tours, especially the Portland drive and the beautiful Ocean Path Trailhead tour. Happy exploring!
via Tripadvisor
First trip to Acadia
Beautiful drive thru a masterpiece of nature; definitely an item off of my bucket list. Gorgeous scenery
Response from the operator: Ray, I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed my Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor audio tour. I’m thrilled that you got to experience such gorgeous scenery and check this beautiful drive off your bucket list. If you’re ready for more adventures, consider exploring my East Coast USA: Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour Bundle. From Acadia to Key West, enjoy the flexibility and convenience of discovering at your own pace.
via Viator
The tour was okay not great
The tour was basically okay. On several occasions, the dialogue did not coordinate with the location. This, I can tell there was nothing about bar harbor in this, even though it says there was.
Response from the operator: Greg, I’m glad you gave my Acadia & Bar Harbor self-guided audio tour a try. Sometimes the GPS-based narration can fall out of sync if the route isn’t followed exactly or if driving speeds are outside the posted limits. Could you let me know if the sync issue happened throughout the tour or just in certain spots? Also, I’d love to hear what you felt was missing about Bar Harbor — it’ll really help me make future updates better. If you need any assistance, I’m just a call away and available daily from 9 to 6.
via Viator
Take this audio tour, it is well worth it1
Works very well and love that it is on your own timeline! The download went well. Also love that it works when you are not in the best mobile service. We did both Acadia and Bar Harbor.
Response from the operator: Kathryn, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor audio tour. It’s great that the download went smoothly and that you could enjoy the tour even with limited mobile service. I’m thrilled you appreciated being on your own timeline and got to experience both Acadia and Bar Harbor. If you plan to explore more of Maine, be sure to check out my other tours, especially the Portland drive and the beautiful Ocean Path Trailhead tour. Happy exploring!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 23
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 65
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Bar Harbor.
How much does Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $25 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Bar Harbor usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Bar Harbor is not rushed.
Is Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 65 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.3/5 across 67 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Bar Harbor, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour?
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Around 23 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Bar Harbor can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Bar Harbor and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Bar Harbor within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Bar Harbor?
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Bar Harbor is Acadia National Park access: Park Loop and Cadillac Mountain tours, carriage road bike rides, lobster boat trips, puffin cruises and sea kayaking. Cadillac sunrise reservations are the detail most listings miss. On Outty we rank every Bar Harbor experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Premium Narrated Bus Tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (3.5 Hours), Narrated Bus Tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, Guided Ebike Tour of Acadia National Park Carriage Roads. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Bar Harbor?
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June to October, with autumn colour in early October. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Bar Harbor?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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