Acadia National Park had long been on our bucket list. Chad had visited as a child and was eager to return, hoping to relive cherished memories and create new ones in this stunning and unique park. In June 2024, we embarked on a 200-mile journey north, a five-hour drive, to Acadia. We were joined by two friends from Boston for a weekend of tent camping and hiking adventures.
We chose to stay at Blackwoods Campground, the primary campground in Acadia National Park. Reservations open six months ahead of the campsites’ May 2nd opening date. While 90% of the campsites are released six months in advance, the remaining 10% become available two weeks before the desired arrival date, offering a slim chance for last-minute bookings. Given how quickly the sites fill up, we decided to book six months in advance to secure our spot and ensure our trip!
Upon arriving, we swiftly set up our tents as daylight was fading. For dinner, we prepared our go-to meal of tacos and then relaxed by a cozy fire before turning in for the night. Firewood is available at various roadside stops within the park, or you can pick some up before entering Acadia!
On Saturday, we woke up bright and early to catch the sunrise at 4:20 AM. Fun fact: Acadia is one of the first places in the United States where you can see the sunrise! Thankfully, we did wake up, as it turned out to be one of the most vibrant sunrises I’ve ever witnessed—totally worth it. Blackwoods Campground is conveniently located about a 5-10 minute walk from Otter Cove, depending on your campsite, making it easy to reach a perfect overlook for the sunrise. After enjoying the breathtaking view, we went back to sleep for another hour or two before making breakfast burritos and gearing up for our big hike of the weekend.
We opted for a lengthy hike to cover all the major spots in one big loop. The first 1.5 miles were along Park Loop Road, but soon we transitioned to an actual trail for the remainder of the hike. The initial part of our journey took us along the edge of Otter Point, offering stunning views and several scenic overlooks, including Thunder Hole. Although Thunder Hole wasn’t displaying its famous massive waves, it was still fascinating to see the renowned inlet. Our next stop was Sand Beach, which would be perfect for a beach day if the weather were nicer. We took advantage of the public restroom here to refill our water bottles before tackling Beehive Trail. Beehive Trail is arguably the most popular hike in Acadia, featuring a steep 1.4-mile climb with iron rungs and granite stairs leading to a lofty cliff-top with breathtaking ocean panoramas!
From there, we followed the Gorham Mountain trail route and eventually rejoined the Ocean Loop, leading us back to our campsite. The only downside to Blackwoods Campground is the lack of showers in the public restrooms. Fortunately, about 1.5 miles up the road, there are coin-operated showers, which were a lifesaver after a full day of hiking in the sun!
After our showers, with the weather turning, we decided to head into downtown Bar Harbor for dinner to avoid cooking in the rain. We chose the West Street Cafe and enjoyed a variety of seafood dishes, including the must-have Lobster Rolls. Fun fact: Bar Harbor is the largest producer of wild blueberries in the world, which explains the abundance of blueberry-themed food and beverages on their menu. Afterwards, we went to Stewman’s Lobster Pound for a drink and enjoyed the sunset over the harbor before heading back to our campsite.
On Friday, we entered our names into the Cadillac Mountain Road Lottery. About 70% of the reservations are released two days before the desired date, which is the option we chose. We secured a reservation for Sunday morning, so we went to bed early after dinner downtown to prepare for a 3 AM start. Cadillac Road is about a 20-25 minute drive from the campgrounds, and it’s crucial to arrive early to find parking and a good spot to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the lottery for Saturday morning, and Sunday was too cloudy to see the sunrise. However, the view of the ocean bathed in morning sunlight was still stunning. We’re hoping for better luck with our Cadillac Mountain experience during our visit this upcoming summer!
After returning to the campground for a quick nap, we hit the road back to Boston. Although the drive is a bit long, Acadia National Park makes for the perfect summer weekend getaway, and we’re grateful to be within driving distance of such a beautiful place. We’re excited to return in the summer of 2025 to explore new hikes and plan to bring our bikes to explore the carriage roads this time.
