Where To Stay Near Acadia: 5 Different Areas + Top Rated Hotels

Figuring out where to stay near Acadia National Park is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face when planning your itinerary. Should you pay over the odds to stay in Bar Harbor? Or is it worth taking a look into other nearby areas like North Mt Desert Island, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Ellsworth to see if you can find better value? We booked a hotel in Bar Harbor and for us it was worth paying the eye watering price.

In this guide we show you the top rated hotels near Acadia in five very different places around the park, based on our experiences.

Our Experience

We visited Acadia in October 2020 for the foliage colors as part of a wider New England fall road trip. Bar Harbor was unquestionably the most convenient place to stay for accessing the park, but hotels in town had sky high prices so looked at the other areas we’ll cover in this guide. In the end we plumped for a budget motel in Bar Harbor, which cost more than $600 for 3 nights so it didn’t really feel like a budget offering, but it was the cheapest we could find and it was absolutely worth it for us.

Our top priority was easy access to the park’s popular hikes, and Bar Harbor is quite literally on the doorstep to Acadia’s trail network. We also wanted to walk to restaurants, bars and cafes in Bar Harbor without having to drive in or out of town after spending long days in the park. Now, it was the best place for us to stay, but you might prefer to stay somewhere else so don’t discount the other areas just yet. Read more about us.

What You Need To Know

The first thing you should know is that Acadia has no official national park lodges. It does have three major campgrounds (which we’ll cover near the end of the guide) but if you want to stay in a hotel, you must choose between one of the following 5 areas:

1. Bar Harbor – Best for a first time visit with a high budget.
2. North Mt Desert Island – Best balance between cost and location.
3. Northeast Harbor – Best place to escape the crowds.
4. Southwest Harbor – Best for excellent lodging on the “other side” of Acadia.
5. Ellsworth – Best for visiting Acadia on a tight budget.

Bar Harbor is certainly the most popular place to stay near Acadia but it’s also the most expensive by a distance. The small high-end resort town is a summer home for celebrities and it’s a relaxed, easy-going seaside town with a great vibe. We really like Bar Harbor because it epitomizes a ritzy New England coastal town and it has fantastic restaurants.

Why Stay Anywhere Else When Visiting Acadia?

If you’re traveling with limited funds, even the cheapest hotels in Bar Harbor might cost too much. Hotels in other areas are more affordable, so they’re worth considering solely on the basis of value for money. Another reason is that Bar Harbor is densely crowded with tourists and you might prefer to have a more peaceful escape. Whereas areas like Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor are far more secluded.

In summer and fall especially, hotels in all areas around Acadia are more expensive than average because demand far outweighs supply. They can bump up the prices knowing that people will pay. The reason we include Ellsworth in this guide is because it’s not located on Mt Desert Island, so it’s less convenient but it’s far more affordable.

Bottom line: If you have a healthy budget, want ease of access to the park and want a lively-apres hiking scene you should stay in Bar Harbor. But if you want better value for money or a quieter place to stay you should stay in one of the other four areas.

Okay, let’s get into the 5 places you can stay near Acadia National Park with our top rated hotel recommendations:

1. Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park, with Sieur de Monts and Sand Beach entrances just a few minutes drive from town. Here you’ll find great restaurants and breweries, a pedestrian friendly downtown and dozens of highly regarded hotels. It’s definitely the most convenient place to stay near Acadia but that comes at a cost.

When looking at hotels in Bar Harbor you’ll see two distinct clusters:

• Downtown Bar Harbor – Most expensive but within easy walking distance of all amenities.
• College of the Atlantic – More affordable but 1.5 miles (5 minute drive) from the amenities in downtown.

Finding room availability is one of the major issues you’ll have if you want to book a hotel in Bar Harbor. They sell out fast, so you need to book early, particularly if you plan to visit Acadia in July, August, September or early October.

Here are some of the top rated hotels in Bar Harbor (including guest ratings on Booking.com and Google):

Cheap Hotels

1. Anchorage Motel – One of the cheapest hotels in Bar Harbor with regular availability throughout the year. Basic motel but a good option if you want a primetime Bar Harbor location at the lowest possible cost. This is where we stayed on our trip to Acadia.

• Booking – 8.1 / 10
• Google – 4.2 / 5

2. Main Street Motel – Great budget hotel in downtown Bar Harbor. Located south on main street within easy walking distance to the main restaurants. Better option but might be a little more expensive.

• Booking – 8.5 / 10
• Google – 4.7 / 5

3. Acadia Hotel Downtown – Perfect location opposite Village Green and within walking distance of everything in Bar Harbor. This is where we would stay on a budget next time we visit Acadia.

• Booking – 8.8 / 10
• Google – 4.6 / 5

4. The Inn On Mount Desert – Affordable luxury on the western edge of downtown Bar Harbor. It’s a 5 minute walk into town but it’s also closer to Acadia’s entrances. Very highly rated but books up early.

• Booking – 9.2 / 10
• Google – 4.7 / 5

5. Acadia Inn – This is the best cheap alternative hotel near College of the Atlantic, a few miles north of downtown Bar Harbor. It’s quieter and more secluded but you’ll have to drive into town.

• Booking – 9.0 / 10
• Google – 4.5 / 5

Luxury Hotels

1. Bar Harbor Grand Hotel – The most sought after place to stay in Bar Harbor. Historic, luxurious and like the name implies, grand. Definitely check prices to see if the price works for your budget.

• Booking – 9.3 / 10
• Google – 4.7 / 5

2. Primrose Inn – Elegant bed and breakfast option in Bar Harbor with excellent ratings. This one is a bit more expensive but it’s also more luxurious.

• Booking – 9.4 / 10
• Google – 4.9 / 5

3. Bar Harbor Manor – Popular Bar Harbor hotel with excellent ratings located on the western side of town. Another one to check and see if prices work for you.

• Booking – 8.9 / 10
• Google – 4.7 / 5

4. Yellow House Inn – Top rated bed and breakfast located very close to the Bar Harbor shoreline. Excellent place to stay if you can find availability.

• Booking – 9.5 / 10
• Google – 4.9 / 5

5. Atlantic Oceanside – Popular hotel right on the coastline near College of the Atlantic to the north of downtown Bar Harbor. Worth checking prices against hotels in downtown.

• Booking – 9.0 / 10
• Google – 4.5 / 5

2. North Mt Desert Island

After you cross from the mainland onto Mount Desert Island it’s still another 10 miles to Bar Harbor. But on the way, you’ll pass by areas called Eden, Salisbury Cove and Hulls Cove which have more affordable lodging options. They’re located between 5-8 miles north of Acadia so you’d have a bit more of a drive into the park and there’s not a lot going on up there so that’s the tradeoff.

We think North Mt Desert Island might be a good idea for longer stays. Hotels here typically have lower rates, so more nights at lower rates equals bigger savings. One other downside is that the main road ME-3 is fast and busy. Cars slam on brakes regularly because they don’t expect people to be turning off a fast road onto tiny driveways for lodging.

Here are some of the top rated hotels in North Mount Desert Island (including guest ratings on Booking.com and Google):

1. High Seas Motel – Affordable hotel with with an outdoor pool and the best ratings you’ll find in the northern area of Mt Desert Island.

• Booking – 9.2 / 10
• Google – 4.7 / 5

2. Best Western Acadia Park Inn – Classic hotel chain with breakfast included and outdoor swimming pool for summer visits.

• Booking – 8.1 / 10
• Google – 4.5 / 5

3. Eden Village Motel – Pet friendly hotel near Acadia National Park with motel rooms and cabins available.

• Booking – 8.3 / 10
• Google – 4.4 / 5

4. Hanscom’s Motel + Cottages – Pet friendly, affordable and highly rated lodging near Acadia. Quieter location just 5 miles from Bar Harbor.

• Booking – 8.8 / 10
• Google – 4.8 / 5

5. Bar Harbor Cottages + Suites – Quaint and cozy detached cottages perfect for light sleepers. The most luxurious place to stay on the north side of Mt Desert Island.

• Booking – 9.0 / 10
• Google – 4.6 / 5

3. Northeast Harbor

Northeast Harbor is a tiny residential area on the east side of Somes Sound near the bottom of Mt Desert Island. It’s a very small community that’s home to a handful of Inns and places to eat. In terms of location, access to Acadia’s western peaks and the Park Loop Road, it doesn’t get much better than Northeast Harbor. You can get to Jordan Pond in 5 minutes flat. And it’s also the place you can hop on a Sea Princess Acadia Nature Cruise.

It’s a 20 minute drive from Bar Harbor, so we only recommend staying here if you don’t mind being further out from the liveliest area in the evening. On the plus side it’s a tranquil and relaxing place to stay, and that’s why its few rooms sell out very quickly.

Here are the top rated hotels in Northeast Harbor (including guest ratings on Booking.com and Google):

1. Kimball Terrace Inn – Popular place to stay in Northeast Harbor with good ratings. Outdoor pool and gardens are perfect for relaxing after a long day in the park.

• Booking – 8.2 / 10
• Google – 4.2 / 5

2. Harbourside Inn – Very highly rated historic lodging near Acadia National Park. Much quieter place to stay a few minutes walk from the center of Northeast Harbor.

• Booking – 9.3 / 10
• Google – 4.8 / 5

4. Southwest Harbor

Southwest Harbor is a small community located just 8 minutes drive north from Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, one of Acadia’s most beloved attractions. You can be at Acadia Mountain Trailhead (one of our favorites) within 5 minutes, but Bar Harbor is 25 minutes drive away.

We think this is the best place to stay near Acadia if you’re looking for a blend of the buzzy atmosphere of Bar Harbor and the tranquility of Northeast Harbor. You’ll find plenty of restaurants and they’re more likely be nice and quiet when compared to Bar Harbor.

Here are the top rated hotels in Southwest Harbor (including guest ratings on Booking.com and Google):

1. The Claremont Hotel – Luxury and elegant waterfront hotel with outdoor swimming pool and dining. This is the best place to stay in Southwest Harbor if you can stretch the budget.

• Hotels – 9.0 / 10
• Google – 4.5 / 5

2. Harbour Cottage Inn – Very highly rated bed and breakfast on the edges of Acadia National Park. One of the top B+B’s on Mt Desert Island.

• Hotels – 9.6 / 10
• Google – 4.8 / 5

3. Harbor Ridge – Popular family friendly resort style hotel near Acadia with indoor swimming pool and gym. A bit remote so you’ll definitely need to drive back into Southwest Harbor.

• Booking – 9.1 / 10
• Google – 4.6 / 5

4. Lindenwood Inn – Luxurious B+B with excellent ratings, seasonal outdoor pool and hot tub, and fantastic location. Definitely check prices for this one.

• Booking – 9.4 / 10
• Google – 4.8 / 5

5. Ellsworth

Ellsworth is located 20 miles from Bar Harbor and the park boundaries, and the drive can take anywhere between 25-40 minutes depending on traffic. So, why are we including it in our list of best places to stay near Acadia? Well, we met at least a dozen hikers and photographers in Acadia who said they were staying in Ellsworth because hotels were much cheaper and food options were more diverse.

Our hotel in Bar Harbor was expensive but our food bill was also sky high because there are no cheap places to eat in town. Ellsworth is a normal town with typical food chains, which might suit you more. Personally we wouldn’t want to drive that far into and out from the park each day, but if it saved us a few hundred dollars over the course of 3 or 4 nights, we might be more tempted.

Here are the top rated hotels in Ellsworth (including guest ratings on Booking.com and Google):

1. Atlantic Coast Inn – Cheap hotel with reasonable ratings. Compare prices against other hotels in Ellsworth before booking.

• Booking – 7.8 / 10
• Google – 4.1 / 5

2. Comfort Inn Ellsworth – Step up in quality and breakfast included. Cheaper rooms than in Bar Harbor but much further from the park.

• Booking – 8.6 / 10
• Google – 4.4 / 5

3. Hampton Inn Ellsworth – The best place to stay in Ellsworth if you’re looking for a bit more luxury at affordable rates. Better value for money but you need to be happy with the location.

• Booking – 8.6 / 10
• Google – 4.4 / 5

Camping + RV’s

If you can’t find a hotel to fit your travel budget, consider camping or parking an RV instead. We know camping isn’t for everyone but it’s a cheap and easy way to stay inside the park.

Here are the 3 campgrounds in Acadia National Park:

• Blackwoods Campground – 281 sites, 221 tent only and 60 RV only. Located between Sand Beach and Jordan Pond.
• Seawall Campground – 202 sites, 43 tent only and 59 RV only, the rest mixed use. Located 4 miles south of Southwest Harbor.
• Schoodic Woods Campground – 89 sites, 13 tent only and 41 RV only, the rest mixed use. Located in Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland, over 40 miles from Bar Harbor.

National Park campgrounds are notoriously difficult to book these days, especially with small to medium sized travel companies block booking camp sites. We recommend you try to book campsites as soon as you know your dates of travel to stand a better chance finding availability.

Can’t find a campground? Use our exclusive 30 day free trial of The Dyrt PRO to get notified when fully booked campsites have cancellations so you can snag the site first.

Our Top Tips

• Book your hotel as early as possible to have more options and better rates.
• Do you have any special or unique activities lined up for Acadia? A night hike or sunrise photography shoot? Consider staying closer a top attraction, trailhead or photo spot.
• You can buy lunches and even food for dinner at Hannaford Supermarket in downtown Bar Harbor. We did this each day for lunch to free up money from our budget.
• Make sure you book your hotel using a credit card with rewards points and use your favorite hotel booking rewards program. We always use Booking.com and have huge benefits every time we book any hotel.
• Hotels near Acadia are more expensive in July, August, September and early October, so visit in the off-season if you want better value for money.
• We strongly recommend you reserve tables at restaurants in Bar Harbor well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Acadia Hotels Map

Click or touch the map below to activate, zoom in and out, scroll around Mt Desert Island and orientate yourself with each of the places to stay near Acadia.

Map key:

• Green – Budget Bar Harbor hotels
• Yellow – Luxury Bar Harbor hotels
• Blue – North Mt Desert Island hotels
• Orange – Northeast Harbor hotels
• Purple – Southwest Harbor hotels
• Red – Ellsworth hotels

More From Acadia

• Unmissable things to do in Acadia
• The hikes you can’t miss in Acadia
• How to hike the Acadia Beehive Trail
• How to hike the Acadia Precipice Trail
• Visiting Acadia National Park in the fall

Want more Maine content? Head over to our Maine Travel Guides to explore Acadia National Park and beyond.

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We hope our guide on where to stay near Acadia helps with planning your visit to Maine!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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