About This Trip
The Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park is one of the most scenic short drives in the eastern United States, combining rocky Atlantic coastline, forested mountain slopes, freshwater lakes, and the dramatic granite summits of Mount Desert Island into a single 27-mile loop. The road was built with extraordinary craftsmanship in the 1920s and 1930s, and the stonework along the ocean drive section is a destination in itself.
The drive is particularly suited to families because virtually every major feature is accessible within a short walk of the road. Thunder Hole — a narrow crevice in the granite where incoming surf compresses into a booming wave — is a 5-minute walk from the parking area. Sand Beach, the only sand beach in the park, is right off the loop road. The tide pools here are some of the most accessible and species-rich on the East Coast.
The south end of the loop rounds Otter Cliff, a 110-foot granite headland rising directly from the ocean — one of the highest headlands on the East Coast. The road here sits close enough to the water that ocean spray crosses the pavement on rough days. Jordan Pond, inland and glacially formed, is surrounded by low mountains called the Bubbles and has a famous lawn restaurant serving tea and popovers.
Cadillac Mountain, accessible by a spur road, is the highest point on the eastern seaboard at 1,530 feet. From late fall through early spring it is the first place in the United States to see sunrise. The road to the summit is one-way and requires a timed-entry permit in summer.
Best time: May through October. Late September and October bring excellent foliage and cooler temperatures with fewer crowds. Summer reservations for the Cadillac summit road should be made weeks in advance.
Stops
Bar Harbor, ME — Start
The main village on Mount Desert Island and the tourism hub for Acadia. The town has excellent restaurants, shops, and whale-watching tours. Arrive early to secure parking at the Village Green before heading out on the loop road. The Island Explorer bus system runs throughout the park and can supplement driving.
Sand Beach & Great Head
The only true sand beach in Acadia, nestled between rocky headlands. The water temperature rarely exceeds 55°F even in midsummer, but the beach is beautiful and the tide pools at the south end are among the best in the park for finding sea urchins, periwinkles, and rockweed. The Great Head trail above the beach gives the best view of the ocean drive section.
Thunder Hole
A narrow ocean chasm where incoming swells compress and explode with a booming sound and a spray of saltwater. Optimal viewing is two hours before high tide when waves are running 4 to 8 feet — check the tide chart before visiting. Kids find it reliably impressive. A short paved path leads from the parking area to the overlook.
Otter Cliff & Otter Point
The southernmost point of the ocean drive section — a 110-foot pink granite headland rising directly from the Atlantic, one of the highest headlands on the eastern seaboard. The road hugs the cliff edge here and the views are extraordinary on clear days. Bring binoculars for harbor seals and seabirds offshore.
Jordan Pond — Tea & Popovers
A clear, cold glacially-formed pond ringed by the rounded mountains called the Bubbles. The Jordan Pond House restaurant has served tea and popovers on the lawn since 1895 — a genteel tradition in a rugged landscape. The 3.3-mile perimeter trail is flat, easy, and one of the best family hikes in the park.
Cadillac Mountain Summit
At 1,530 feet, the highest point on the Atlantic seaboard. From late October through early March, it is the first place in the United States to receive sunrise — a popular dawn destination for the determined. The summit has a gift shop, restrooms, and a short walk-around trail with 360-degree ocean and island views. Timed entry permits required in summer — book well in advance.