ROAD SORTIES Scenic Roads

Acadia All-American Road

Jordan Pond and the Bubbles in autumn
Jordan Pond and the Bubbles in autumnPhoto: Dennis Adams / America's Byways (FHWA), public domain

Acadia All-American Road is an All-American Road in Maine. Within Maine it covers roughly 40 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Acadia All-American Road with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.

The Park Loop Road winds about 27 miles through Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, linking the rocky Atlantic coast, spruce forest, and granite mountains of the Maine seashore. It passes Thunder Hole, where surf booms into a sea cave, the glacial Jordan Pond with its view of the Bubbles, and the auto road up Cadillac Mountain — the first place to see sunrise in the United States for part of the year. It is one of the few All-American Roads in the Northeast.

Designated for its scenic and recreational qualities

Plan a drive on Acadia All-American Road → Drive this route in Road SortiesTurn-by-turn on iPhone · App Store

Places to stop along Acadia All-American Road

  1. Cadillac Mountain

    The highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast, a famous sunrise spot. Driving to the summit needs a timed vehicle reservation in season.

    Website

  2. Thunder Hole

    A narrow rock inlet where waves slam in with a boom, best about two hours before high tide.

  3. Jordan Pond House

    A restaurant famous for tea and popovers on the lawn, facing Jordan Pond and the rounded Bubbles.

    Website

Where to Stay along Acadia All-American Road

4 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Acadia All-American Road.

MEBlackwoods CampgroundCheck availability →Bar Harbor, MEBar Harbor CampgroundBook a site →Mount Desert, MEQuarry Ledge CampgroundBook a site →Bar Harbor, MEHadley's Point CampgroundBook a site →Hotels & motelsNear Otter Creek, MESearch stays →Renting an RV?Near Otter Creek, MESee RV rentals →Harvest Hosts20% offPark free overnight at farms and wineriesSee membership →

Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.

Photos of Acadia All-American Road

Sand Beach from the Beehive
Sand Beach from the BeehivePhoto: America's Byways (FHWA) / Public domain
Summer fog below the granite summit of Cadillac Mountain
Summer fog below the granite summit of Cadillac MountainPhoto: America's Byways (FHWA) / Public domain
Islands in Frenchman Bay from the park
Islands in Frenchman Bay from the parkPhoto: Dennis Adams / America's Byways (FHWA), public domain
The arched footbridge at Somesville
The arched footbridge at SomesvillePhoto: Photos taken by Bill Compton / America's Byways (FHWA), public domain
A cyclist on one of Acadia's carriage roads
A cyclist on one of Acadia's carriage roadsPhoto: Photos taken by Bill Compton / America's Byways (FHWA), public domain

What is an All-American Road?

All-American Roads are the top tier of America's National Scenic Byways. To earn the title a road has to be a destination in its own right — offering features so exceptional, across several intrinsic qualities (scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational), that they can't be found anywhere else.

← All scenic roads in Maine