Acadia and Mt. Desert Island

Maine's Only National Park

Thomas Golden

Price :

$2,999

Surface :

Paved & Gravel

Duration :

4 days

Support :

Inn to Inn

Difficulty :

Level 2

Spend a long weekend exploring Maine’s only national park — Acadia! Over the course of the trip, you’ll circumnavigate Mount Desert Island, visit fantastic small towns like Southwest Harbor and Bar Harbor, and ride Acadia’s famous carriage roads, which were built between 1913 and 1940 with support from John D. Rockefeller Jr. You’ll also have the chance to ride your bike to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Rising to 1,529 feet at the eastern edge of the state, this magical spot is among the first in the U.S. to see the sunrise.

Best of all, you’ll be eating at restaurants and staying indoors every night, so all you’ll need to carry on your bike are your clothes, toiletries, and lunch for the day. It’s a great tour for beginners and experienced cyclists alike. This long weekend in Acadia will leave you wanting to come back for more, whether you’re looking for a spring refresh or fall colors!

Select Dates

Photos by Maryjane Hadaway | Matthew-Moritz | Jonathan Landman | Keith Evans

Dates

Price

Dates:

May 30 - June 2, 2027

Price:

$2,999

Dates:

Sept 12 - Sept 15, 2027

Price:

$2,999

“First time on a bicycle tour — Inn to Inn with your outstanding Tour Leaders are special. I’m an experienced long distance hiker and world traveler – what the Tour Leader did isn’t easy — but made it all seamless and in the background.” – Tour Participant

Itinerary

Get ready for a long weekend you’ll remember for years. We’ll meet in Bar Harbor, a small Maine town on the shores of beautiful Mt. Desert Island. We’ll gather in the afternoon, but we recommend you arrive early to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of this gateway to Acadia National Park.

Today is a day for experiencing everything Acadia National Park has to offer. We’ll ride the majority of the Park Loop Road, visiting places like Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and the Otter Cliffs. As we make our way back to Bar Harbor, we’ll pass Jordon Pond, Eagle Lake, and even t summit 1,529-foot Cadillac Mountain

On our ride to the opposite end of the island, there will be plenty of opportunities to stop and hike some of the great trails the park has to offer. Before getting to our hotel overlooking the Cranberry Islands, we’ll ride around Somes Sound and maybe even grab some ice cream in Southwest Harbor.

For our last day, we’ll continue to venture through new parts of this amazing place while riding up the island’s west shore. Be sure to stop by the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, sitting on the rocky cliffs since 1858. When we arrive back to where we started, we’ll wonder how we got so much done in such a short amount of time and will be planning our next trip back to Downeast Maine.

Route

Additional Details

Start Location:

Bar Harbor, ME

End Location:

Bar Harbor, ME

Airport:

Hancock County-Bar Harbor (BHB); Bangor Intl. (BGR)

Total Days:

Riding Days:

Layover Days:

Riders:

Miles:

Average Daily Mileage:

Accommodations:

Indoor (Inn to Inn)

Meals:

Indoor Dining

Difficulty:

Level 2

Technical Difficulty:

Paved

Terrain:

Hilly

Bike Type Not Allowed:

Riders should choose a bike suitable for paved roads and compacted crushed-stone surfaces. Please note, permitting for Class I eBikes is pending with Acadia National Park

Single Supplement:

$720

Know before you go

Inn-to-Inn Reminder: No Vehicle Support

This Inn to Inn tour offers the simplicity of traveling without a support vehicle while still enjoying the comfort of indoor accommodations and restaurant meals. Please make sure your bike can comfortably carry your personal belongings for the day, including clothing, toiletries, and lunch. There is no vehicle support on this trip, so you’ll need to be prepared for variable weather and be self-sufficient with basic bike repairs and flat fixes.

Information for eBike riders

Because every rider, e-bike, road, and elevation profile are different, it is ultimately up to you to judge whether your battery will last through each tour day. We recommend using pedal assist in its lowest setting or turning it off when not needed to maximize battery range. Bringing a second battery is also recommended. Remember, there is no vehicle support on our Inn to Inn trips, so you’ll need to carry any extra battery along with your other items.

Terrain Note

In the park, the carriage roads are made of crushed stone. Please ensure you choose the right bike to feel comfortable on this type of terrain.

Our Philosophy & What You Can Expect From Our Leaders

At our heart, we are a nonprofit committed to empowering and connecting people through the power of bicycle travel.

Adventure Cycling tours are not like other bike tours. We pride ourselves on being travelers, not tourists.

We believe that everyone joining our tours, including the leaders, are active participants who take joint ownership of group tasks like cooking, shopping, and maintaining group gear. This team mindset helps forge bonds that last for years (and tours) to come. Participants come for our routes but stay for our community.

We call the folks facilitating our tours leaders, not guides. Our leaders are not here to do everything for you; they are here to keep everyone on track and empower members of the group to step into ownership after they’ve adjusted to life on the road.

Our leaders commit to:

Establishing expectations of mutual respect and support among participants for the duration of the tour, so that all contribute equally
Creating a safe, welcoming space for cyclists from all walks of life
Keeping your tour on track while remaining flexible, so group members can shape their own experience
Pedaling alongside you, embracing the spirit and resilience of life on the bike

Your tour fees go directly towards covering the costs of your tour and supporting other programs our nonprofit puts forth into the world. The bonus of joining one of our tours is that you get to challenge yourself, have fun, and do good every time you ride with Adventure Cycling.