3 Day Acadia National Park Itinerary (Dog Friendly)

Are you planning a trip to Acadia National Park with your dog and need help figuring out how to get the most out of your trip? In this post I have created a 3 day Acadia National Park Itinerary that is also dog friendly to help you see some of the best spots in the park.

This itinerary is perfect for you if you love to hike with your dog and want to explore the park by doing multiple short hikes per day.

You will spend the first day exploring a few popular must see places along Park Loop Road. On the second day you will head over to the ‘quiet side’ of Mount Desert Island and take in the beauty of both the mountains and ocean. On your third day you will spend the morning exploring a few more places on Park Loop Road and then head to Bar Harbor for the afternoon.

The daily activities can easily be moved around since I have arranged the days by geographical location. This itinerary also allows you ample time at each place. If you are a real go-getter you may be able to pack in a few more sights and activities nearby.

For help planning your trip to Acadia see my Dog Friendly Guide to help you plan all the details of your trip. If you would rather explore a list of recommended places to check out for your visit read my post 15 MUST DO Activities for First Time Visitors to Acadia National Park.

Overview of Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park can be found on the coast of Maine near the town of Bar Harbor. It is one of the top 10 most visited National Parks. All the activities in this itinerary are located on Mount Desert Island which is the most commonly visited part of the park.

On the Eastern side of Mount Desert Island you will find Park Loop Road, a 27 mile road where many of the park’s most popular features can be found.

The Western side of Mount Desert Island is called the ‘Quiet Side’. Don’t overlook this side, there are some really beautiful hikes and activities that tend to not be as crowded. Don’t forget to check out the cute town of Southwest Harbor while you are over there as well.

Within the park you will get to experience mountains, forests and the ocean. This varied terrain makes for epic views and plenty of amazing adventures. If you are interested in some of the best dog friendly hikes in Acadia check out my post on 12 Fantastic Dog Friendly Hikes in Acadia.

To get into the park you will need to purchase a park pass. The standard pass ($35.00) gives you access for 7 days. Additionally, if you plan to go to Cadillac Mountain you will need to purchase a separate timed entry ticket which costs $6.00.

Thirty percent of the timed entry tickets for Cadillac Mountain open for purchase 90 days prior to the reservation date. The remaining seventy percent open 2 days prior to the reservation date.

When to Visit

The Island Explorer which is a fare-free bus can be used to access some of the places on this itinerary. It may not drop off at some of the lesser visited places. The bus service usually starts late May and runs through Mid October.

The Island Explorer does advertise that well-behaved pets are permitted to ride the bus.

We drove our own vehicle everywhere on both of our trips to Acadia. Some of the parking lots are small or fill up quickly and we did have to park on the side of the road and walk a little ways a few times.

I recommend bringing a daypack to carry your extra things. Make sure to pack plenty of snacks, water, and layers of clothes. Closed toe, sturdy shoes or boots with good traction for hiking are a must. Sunscreen and bug spray are always good to have as well.

For your pup don’t forget water, a collapsible bowl, a leash that is 6 feet or less, poop bags and snacks.

Make sure to download directions to and from where you are staying, the park map, and any trail maps you may need in advance. There is little to no cell service in the park.

Morning: I would recommend starting your first day by stopping at Hull’s Cove Visitor Center to pick up a map and ask the park Rangers any questions you might have. Dogs are not allowed in the Visitor Center so keep this in mind if you are traveling solo.

You are going to start your day with a 3.3 mile hike around the shore of Jordan Pond. Park in the Jordan Pond North Parking lot. This hike is relatively flat and easy. This hike is a loop so you can hike it either way. I would plan on giving yourself at least 2-3 hours to complete this hike especially if you like to stop and take pictures and take in some of the magnificent views.

This hike features views of the Bubble Mountains and other surrounding mountains. During the hike you will experience a variety of terrain.

The western side of the pond has raised wooden boardwalks through a forested area. It is absolutely beautiful if you catch it during a time with sun filtering through the trees.

The far end of Jordan Pond features a little bit of rock scrambling which then opens up to the shoreline of the crystal clear water of the pond. (Note: no swimming allowed in Jordan Pond). You will also find a fun bridge that makes for a great photo-op.

The eastern side is crushed stone and is the easier side of the loop.

Tip: It might be tempting to try and hike up to Bubble Rock from the side trail off Jordan Pond. I don’t recommend doing this with your dog, it is really steep and we had to turn back.

Lunch: Since you are at Jordan Pond you can eat lunch at Jordan Pond House (outside on the lawn if your dog is with you). If you don’t want to eat here or can’t get reservations there is a walk-up area where you can purchase a popover if that is on your “to-do” list for this trip.

If you prefer to bring a picnic lunch there is a nice open field area in front of Jordan Pond House with picturesque views of the Bubble Mountains.

Afternoon: The afternoon will bring you just down the road to summit North and South Bubble that you had beautiful views of during your morning hike around Jordan Pond. This hike is about 1.5 miles long.

The Bubbles Divide Parking lot is pretty small and fills up fast. This might be a good one to take the Island Explorer to if it is running and you are visiting during a busy time.

Follow the Bubbles Divide Trail to the junction for North bubble then take a right to go to North Bubble summit. Then come back down and turn right and follow Bubbles Divide Trail to South Bubble and Bubble Rock.

The highlight of this hike is getting to see Bubble Rock, a boulder that looks like it is about to roll off the mountain. This unique sight is found on the South Bubble summit by following the blue blazes. Don’t forget to take a picture pretending to push the rock off the ledge!

If you finish these hikes and still want to spend time in the park and do a more leisurely activity you can drive the 27 mile Park Loop Road.

Morning: You will start the morning doing the Beech Mountain Trail. It is a moderate 1.2 mile hike. Note that it is not recommended to do this hike if it is raining or has been wet due to some steep granite slopes that can be very slippery.

Start the hike at the Beech Mountain Parking Lot and follow the trail up to the summit where you will find a fire tower. You can go up the stairs to the first platform on the fire tower to get beautiful views. Note that dogs are not allowed on the fire tower.

This hike is also a popular sunset spot in case you want to shift it to a different time of the day.

If you have a second moderate hike in you, after finishing Beech Mountain you will drive to the Flying Mountain trailhead (which is about 15 minutes away). The parking lot here is very small and we had to park along the road for this one.

This hike is 1.5 miles and I recommend hiking the Flying Mountain-Valley Cove loop counter-clockwise which means the steep most rigorous section is at the beginning of the hike.

Note: Dogs are permitted on this hike however it is listed as “not recommended” on the Acadia National Park Website. Our dog did not have any difficulty with this hike (she is an avid hiker). If you are hiking with your dog, you are the best judge of what they are capable of.

Lunch: You are going to be hungry after these two morning hikes! My absolute favorite lobster roll (and I’ve tried A LOT of lobster rolls) came from Beal’s Lobster Pier. It is less than 10 minutes from the Flying Mountain trailhead.

Afternoon: After doing the more strenuous hikes in the morning the afternoon is going to take you to the ocean. Your next stop is going to be Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. This is the iconic lighthouse you see in all the Acadia National Park photos.

The parking lot here is pretty small but it turns over pretty quickly so it’s not too hard to get a spot. Once you park there is a path to the right where you can learn information about the lighthouse.

The best view of the lighthouse is going down a set of steps that is on the far left end of the parking lot if you are facing the water. Once you walk down these steps you can go out on the rocks to get a better view of the lighthouse.

The lighthouse is a popular spot for sunset if you are looking for a good sunset spot (but get here early to score a parking spot for sunset).

After visiting the lighthouse you are going to go on one more short easy hike on the Ship Harbor Trail which is right down the road from the lighthouse.

The Ship Harbor Trail is a relatively easy and flat 1.3 mile figure-8 shaped trail. The trail will take you through a forested area. Along the trail there are areas where you can exit the trail and experience the rocky shore of the coastline.

If you are feeling really gung-ho and want one more short hike you can do the nearby Wonderland Trail. If I had to choose between the Ship Harbor and Wonderland I think Ship Harbor is more scenic and interesting than Wonderland.

Morning: Your last day brings you back over to Park Loop Road in the morning for some iconic Acadia National Park activities.

If you can score a sunrise ticket for Cadillac Mountain (these have to be booked ahead of time) this is a good way to start your day. If you did Cadillac Mountain a different day or can’t get a ticket you can skip on ahead to the next activity.

The next activity is hiking Ocean Path and Gorham Mountain which is about a 3.1 mile moderately difficult hike. Park at the Sand Beach Parking Lot off Park Loop Road and look for signs to Ocean Path from the upper part of the parking lot. You will head down Ocean Path which features beautiful views of the rocky coastline.

Along Ocean Path you will come to Thunder Hole where the crashing surf makes a thunderous roar if you happen to be there near high tide. After stopping here continue down Ocean Path until you get to Otter Point.

If you prefer the paved path you can turn around and return to Sand Beach the way you came. If you are looking for some elevation then watch for signs for the Gorham Mountain trail and follow that. When it intersects with the Bowl trail follow the Bowl trail back towards the Sand Beach Parking Lot.

Note: Avoid the Cadillac Cliffs section along Gorham Mountain Trail if you have your dog with you because this area is off limits for dogs.

After your hike you have the option to head down to Sand Beach to kick back and relax. Note that Sand Beach has seasonal restrictions for dogs.

Lunch: For today’s lunch you will head to Bar Harbor. If you need a recommendation for lunch we really enjoyed Side Street Cafe (outdoor dining on the porch was dog friendly). We enjoyed our food and the Mac & Cheese was delicious!

There is a large, paid parking lot right across from Side Street Cafe that was easy to find parking for our truck.

Afternoon: The afternoon activity here is one you may have to move to a different time of day depending on the tides at the time you are visiting. The Bar Island Hike is only accessible 1.5 hours before and after low tide so you will need to check the local tide chart to help you plan this hike.

If you do the entire hike it is 1.9 miles. It is 0.5 miles across the land bridge that forms to get to the island. Keep an eye on the time so you do not get stuck and have to pay a hefty fee for a water taxi to come rescue you.

If it happens to be high tide or you have additional time to explore, the town of Bar Harbor has a bunch of cute shops to get some retail therapy and Maine themed merchandise. We found that many of the shops were dog friendly.

I hope my 3 Day Acadia National Park Itinerary helps you plan a fun trip to this amazing National Park. Getting to bring your dog along and include them in every adventure is such a special memory. I’m sure after visiting for 3 days you will want to come back and explore even more.

If you are considering a trip here I absolutely recommend it and even after visiting twice I can’t wait to go back again.