Region
Downeast & Acadia
Granite headlands, Acadia National Park, lobster boats heading out before sunrise. The classic Maine postcard, and the start of the country's first sunrise on Cadillac Mountain in winter.
Guides
Guides about Downeast & Acadia

Things to Do in Southwest Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor Lobster Bakes & Seafood

Whale Watching in Bar Harbor: What You'll See

Bar Harbor Campgrounds: KOA, Oceanside & More

How to Get to Acadia National Park: Every Route

Biking in Acadia National Park: Carriage Road Guide

Acadia National Park Trip: 1, 2 & 3-Day Itineraries

Quoddy Head State Park: The Easternmost Point
Destinations
Downeast & Acadia destinations

Downeast & Acadia
Bar Harbor
Gateway to Acadia National Park - Cadillac Mountain, puffin cruises, and a harbor town that fills with cruise ships from May to October.

Downeast & Acadia
Northeast Harbor
The quiet, moneyed side of Mount Desert Island, with a marina, two famous gardens, and fast access to Acadia.

Downeast & Acadia
Southwest Harbor
The working harbor on the quiet side of Mount Desert Island, with boatyards, Bass Harbor Head Light and easy Acadia access.

Downeast & Acadia
Stonington
Maine's busiest lobster port, at the far end of Deer Isle, with the mailboat to Isle au Haut leaving from the town dock.

Downeast & Acadia
Blue Hill
A peninsula town with a serious music and pottery scene, a hill worth climbing, and a working village center.

Downeast & Acadia
Bucksport
The Penobscot Narrows Observatory tower, the Fort Knox granite fortress, and the gateway drive to Acadia from the north.

Downeast & Acadia
Castine
A small peninsula town with an outsized military history, the Maine Maritime Academy, and streets of Federal architecture.

Downeast & Acadia
Deer Isle
A granite-and-spruce island connected by a 1939 suspension bridge, home to the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

Downeast & Acadia
Eastport
The easternmost city in the United States, on an island in Passamaquoddy Bay, with some of the largest tides in the country.

Downeast & Acadia
Ellsworth
Gateway to Acadia - Main Street's shopping strip, the Colonel Black Mansion, and the scenic Union River dam walk.

Downeast & Acadia
Lubec
The easternmost town in the continental US, with West Quoddy Head Light and a bridge to Campobello Island.

Downeast & Acadia
Mount Desert
The quiet middle of Mount Desert Island: Northeast Harbor, Seal Harbor and Somesville, plus Jordan Pond and Somes Sound.

Downeast & Acadia
Tremont
The working end of Mount Desert Island: Bass Harbor, Bernard, and the most photographed lighthouse in Maine.

Downeast & Acadia
Trenton
The mainland gateway to Mount Desert Island: the causeway, the airport, and a run of lobster pounds on Route 3.

Downeast & Acadia
Winter Harbor
The Schoodic side of Acadia: the same granite coast as Mount Desert Island, with a fraction of the visitors.

Downeast & Acadia
Sullivan
A Route 1 town on Frenchman Bay with reversing tidal falls and views straight across to the Acadia hills.
Hotels
Where to stay in Downeast & Acadia

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Hotel
Bass Harbor
Lighthouse Cabins Maine
Pet-friendly cabins 30 minutes from Acadia National Park with free breakfast, kitchenettes, and a knowledgeable owner who knows Mount Desert Island inside out.

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Hotel
Sullivan
Flanders Pond Cabin Complex
Spacious two-bedroom cabin on **Sullivan**, Maine's Flanders Pond. Perfect for group getaways with full kitchen, fireplace, and beach access.

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Hotel
Mount Desert Island
Cozy Apartment with Deck in Northeast Harbor
Private 1-bedroom apartment in Northeast Harbor, 5 miles from Acadia National Park. Full kitchen, fireplace, free WiFi & parking. Perfect for Acadia visitors.

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Hotel
Tremont
Secluded Cabin With Ocean Access
Private two-bedroom cabin near Bar Harbor with ocean access, full kitchen, and balcony. Perfect for families or couples seeking coastal Maine solitude.

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Hotel
Bar Harbor
Saltair Inn Waterfront B&B
Beachfront B&B on Frenchmen Bay with exceptional breakfast, private beach access, and walkable downtown location. 46 reviews, 9.8/10.

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Hotel
Bar Harbor
Bayview Hotel
Waterfront 4-star hotel in Bar Harbor with sea views, included breakfast, shuttle service, and pool. Steps from Acadia National Park and downtown.

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Hotel
Robbinston
Bear Mountain Lodge
Secluded 560-acre lodge on Goulding Lake with private beach, hot tub, and full kitchen. Perfect for families and couples seeking woodland escape in Downeast Maine.

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Hotel
Ellsworth
House Close to Acadia National Park
Spacious 3-bedroom townhouse near Acadia. Full kitchen, fireplace, parking. Perfect for groups. 9.8/10 rated. Book your Acadia adventure in Ellsworth.

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Hotel
Penobscot
Pet-Friendly Maine Cottage by Northern Bay
Spacious waterfront cottage in Penobscot with full kitchen, fireplace & water views. Pet-friendly, 2 min walk to shore. Perfect for couples & families.

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Hotel
Tremont
Luxury Cabin in Tremont
Private 2-bed, 2-bath villa near Acadia with hot tub, outdoor fireplace & EV charging. Perfect for families & groups exploring Mount Desert Island.

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Hotel
Ellsworth
Ellsworth Home
Spacious 2-bedroom Ellsworth vacation home with fire pit, 18 miles to Acadia National Park. Perfect for families seeking a secluded retreat near Bar Harbor.

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Hotel
Lubec
Newly Renovated Maine Retreat
Two-bedroom oceanfront apartment in Lubec with full kitchen, sea views, and walkable access to restaurants and Campobello. Exceptional 9.8/10 rating.
Restaurants
Where to eat in Downeast & Acadia

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Restaurant
Ellsworth
Brick House Soups
Homemade soups and creative melts in a cozy Ellsworth spot. The lobster bisque is legendary.

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Mexican restaurant
Ellsworth
Salsa Shack Maine
Fish tacos and hefty burritos at Ellsworth's beloved Mexican food truck on Main Street.

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Pizza restaurant
Ellsworth
Zeppa's Pizza
NY-style pizza with perfect crust, fresh toppings, and a cozy board-game-filled room in Ellsworth.

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Bowling alley
Ellsworth
Ellsworth’s Candlepin Bowling Alley
Candlepin bowling in a vintage alley with glow nights, game rooms, and a full bar.

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Restaurant
Bar Harbor
Limon Grille
Turkish and Mediterranean spot in Bar Harbor with tender chicken wings, bright salads, and killer red lentil soup.

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Cafe
Bar Harbor
Sassafrass Cafe
Bar Harbor cafe with sourdough waffles, custom elopement dinners, and coffee worth the trip.

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Restaurant
Bar Harbor
The Gallery
Small-town Bar Harbor spot with rotating specials, killer lobster roll, and cocktails from owner Troy.

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Seafood restaurant
Bar Harbor
The Travelin Lobster, LLC
Fisherman-owned lobster shack in Bar Harbor with fat rolls, fire pits, and cold beer.

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Pizza Restaurant
Bar Harbor
Sweet Pea's Farm Kitchen
Wood-fired pizzas and farm-to-table mains on a working farm outside Bar Harbor.

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American restaurant
Bar Harbor
Island Take Out
Lobster rolls and jerk chicken from a takeout shack behind a Bar Harbor gas station.

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Sandwich shop
Bar Harbor
Mother's Kitchen
Stellar coffee and breakfast sandwiches at this Bar Harbor counter spot with picnic tables.

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Restaurant
Ellsworth
Taste Jamaica
Jamaican spot in Ellsworth with jerk chicken, goat curry, and fish fritters that draw crowds.