Acadia national park

Fall New England Trip Itinerary

Published on September 6, 2025September 6, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Fall in New England is a magical time of year that feels like it should only exist in a hallmark movie. Last year, Patrick and I planned a ten day road trip traveling through some of the most beautiful places throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. I wanted to create a post based on the itinerary we used last fall that will highlight our trip throughout this region of New England. I would highly recommended visiting this part of the country in the fall if you’re able!

Things to Know About Planning a Trip in New England

🍁 The foliage varies year to year, but typically the first two weeks of October are a safe bet on when to plan your trip. I’d recommend using and regularly checking a fall foliage tracker, this surprisingly gives an accurate prediction on when the leaves are expected to change.

🎫 Some areas I’ll mention in this post will require additional reservations (i.e., the Flume Gorge in New Hampshire & entrance fees in Acadia national park). It’s always best to purchase tickets and reservations as soon as possible.

🎃 This region of the country is extremely popular during the fall season, for very good reason! I would recommend booking accommodations as soon as you’re able because things do fill up quickly. Also, keep in mind, this area will be busy and crowded, especially in popular sites and tourist attractions.

📆 Although this is a busy and popular time of year to visit, be sure to look up hours of availability of things you’d like to do as it will vary in the fall season. We learned, a lot of places start to slow down and prepare to close up for the winter by mid October, so be sure you check timing of things. We almost missed a chance to tour a maple syrup farm because we didn’t realize they were closed certain days of the week in the fall!

When To Go

Like I mentioned, it’s hard to recommend a specific time to book and arrange your fall trip since the fall foliage varies each year. However, it seems like the first two weeks of October are pretty consistent and a great time to visit. We also made sure to start our trip in Vermont and end it in Maine since it seemed like the leaves in Vermont were predicted to change sooner.

What To Pack

During the fall, it’s typically cooler temperatures and rainy days so layers are a must! Here’s a basic list to base your packing needs off of:

Rain jacket
Umbrella
Sweaters and cardigans
Layered bottoms (leggings, pants, etc).
Hiking shoes
Beanies and gloves for extra warmth
A warm jacket or a winter coat
Hard warmers (these were amazing to have on the early cold mornings!)
Warm socks

Where to Stay

Throughout most of our road trips, we typically stay at campgrounds because it’s enjoyable and less expensive. For this trip however, it was a little different. We had difficulties finding campgrounds nearby the spots in Vermont we were trying to visit so we only stayed at airbnb’s during that part of our trip. If you’re hoping for convenient locations in each spot, hotels are probably the best option. Keep in mind, because this is a popular time of year for visitors, hotel prices can be expensive and rooms book up quickly. Similarly for airbnb’s, I booked most of ours 6-8 months in advance just to ensure we could find places nearby within our budget.

Some well known hotels in the areas on this itinerary:

Von Trapp Family Lodge (Stowe, VT)
Stone Hill Inn (Stowe, VT)
Woodstock Inn (Woodstock, VT)
Bar Harbor Grand Hotel (Bar Harbor, ME)
The Bayview Hotel (Bar Harbor, ME)

Itinerary Outline

Starting the trip will depend on where you are coming from. Since we were driving from Ohio, we started our trip in Vermont. If you fly in, you can decide which location you’d rather start at (you can’t go wrong either!). Most people seem to fly into either Boston or NYC to start their journey into the New England area. There doesn’t seem to be a convenient airport closer to Vermont or New Hampshire. For this itinerary, I’ll be sharing things to do in the Woodstock and Stowe areas of Vermont, the White Mountains national forest in New Hampshire, and Acadia national park and parts of coastal Maine.

Vermont

We started our trip exploring parts of Vermont. We spent 3 full days here splitting our time between Stowe and Woodstock. After our experience in both, Stowe seemed to have more options for restaurants, activities, and shops compared to Woodstock so keep that in mind! If you’re interested in more details, be sure to check out my Woodstock, VT blog post.

Stowe, VT

Day one

Wake up early to visit cold hollow cider. Take time to explore inside and have breakfast at their cafe.
Take a maple syrup tour at Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm (tours are free and times vary on the day).
Head back into downtown Stowe and explore shops along main street.
Take a drive through the smuggler’s notch area.
Find dinner in town before heading to airbnb for the night.

🌛Airbnb nearby

Day two

Start the morning with coffee and breakfast at Woodland Baking and Coffee.
Drive over to the Stowe mountain resort to take a gondola ride at mtn mansfield (tickets can be purchased in advance or on site).
Drive by the Von Trapp family lodge and grab a drink at the brewery!
Stop by Stowe maple products to stock up on maple souvenirs.
Have dinner in town.
Stop at original ben and jerry’s for an ice cream before heading back to airbnb.

🌛Airbnb nearby

Day three

Woodstock, VT

Start the day with breakfast at Mon Vert Cafe .
Take time to explore the shops downtown and collect souvenirs
- Yankee bookshop
- Vermont flannel
- Woody’s Mercantile
Walk over to the Woodstock covered bridge.
Walk around the grounds of Woodstock Inn and resort.
Find the iconic pumpkin lined house on Pleasant street.
Grab ice cream at Woodstock Scoops and try a maple cremee!

🌛Airbnb nearby

New Hampshire

Our time in New Hampshire was short and sweet but the fall foliage was incredible! We focused our time here in the White Mountains area exploring the kancamagus highway and the Franconia state park. This was a heavily crowded and congested area so be prepared for lots of wait times.

Day Four

Start drive to New Hampshire (1.5 hour drive from the Woodstock area).
Stop for breakfast on the way at Polly Pancake Parlor (get there early to beat the crowds!).
Drive to Flume Gorge area to hike.
- Reservations required, I recommend booking online in advance for a cheaper price!
Drive parts of the kancamagus highway and stop at pull off spots:
- Hancock Overlook
- Pemigewasset Overlook
- CL Graham Wangan Overlook
- Sugar Hill overlook
- Sabbaday Falls
- Albany covered bridge
Check into campground along kancamagus highway.

🌛Hancock campground

Day Five

Wake up early and head to Artist’s Bluff trail for a morning hike (get there early to beat crowds).
Continue exploring highway and making stops at pull offs.
Drive all the way to Conway, NH along the highway.
Spend downtime relaxing back at camp/accommodations.

🌛Hancock campground

Maine

We took this trip nearly a year ago and I’m still thinking about Maine. It’s truly a magical and dreamy place, that has it all; lakes, ocean, and mountains! This section of our trip was one of my favorites and I cannot wait to return someday. Over the years, Patrick and I have visited several national parks and Acadia is definitely in our top five, it’s such an amazing park. I have a separate blog post with more details about our time in Acadia, you can read here.

Day six

Drive to Acadia national park (4.5 hours from NH).
Take a photo at the national park entrance sign.
Stop by the Hull’s Cove visitor’s center and purchase park pass.
Head into bar harbor to explore the shops and grab dinner.
Head to camp to set up and settle in for the evening.

🌛Blackwoods campground

Day Seven

Watch the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain (timed reservation tickets required, see park’s website for info).
Have breakfast at Cafe This Way.
Stroll around Bar Harbor to collect more souvenirs.
Head into the park and begin first hike at the South Bubble trail .
Drive along the park loop road and stop by ‘Thunder Hole.’
Head back into Bar Harbor for dinner. Some of our favorite restaurants:
- Bar Harbor Lobster Co.
- Side Street Cafe
- Dog and Pony Tavern
- Frenchman Bay Lobster
- Mount Desert Island ice cream
Head back to camp for the night.

🌛Blackwoods campground

Day Eight

Start with an early hike at the Beehive trail (this parking lot + hiking trail get busy fast so arrive early).
Head into Bar Harbor to grab coffee at Acadia Perk.
Drive over to the southwest harbor side of the park and hike the Beech Cliff Ladders trail.
Make a stop at the Bass Harbor Head lighthouse. I’d recommend walking down to the rocks to see the lighthouse from a further angle.
Drive back along the park loop road and spend some time stopping at the ‘Otter Cliff’ lookout.
Head back to camp for dinner and relaxation.

🌛Blackwoods campground

Coastal Maine

This part of the trip, we devoted time to exploring small towns along the coast of Maine. I wish we could’ve had more time here so I’d recommend spending some extra time in these towns if you’re looking for the slow, small town feel. If you’re interested in learning more, check out my coastal Maine blog post here for more details.

Day Nine

Pack up camp and head into Bar Harbor for one last breakfast and time to walk around.
Stop by the Jordan Pond house to try and have an early lunch (I recommend making reservations in advance, we didn’t think to do this so the wait was too long). Be sure to order a popover!
Explore the Jordan Pond path afterwards.
Start driving to Portland, Maine area (3 hr drive).
Stop by Holy Donuts for a sweet treat once you arrive!
Explore downtown Portland and grab lunch or an early dinner at Portland Lobster Co.
Head to Portland head lighthouse for sunset.
Drive to accommodations in Kennebuckport, ME.

🌛 Airbnb in Kennebuckport

Day Ten

Explore downtown Kennebuckport and grab breakfast and coffee at Dock Square Coffee.
Souvenir shop around town.
Take a drive to Ogunquit for the day
- Walk along the marginal way path
- Explore the Perkin’s Cove area
Have one last lobster roll for lunch in town.
Drive over to York, ME and watch the sunset at Nubble lighthouse
- Fun fact: This is where Patrick and I got engaged :)

🌛 Airbnb in Kennebuckport

This is truly a trip of a lifetime and should be on everyone’s bucket lists, I can’t recommend spending the fall in New England enough!

Acadia National Park Guide

Published on November 21, 2024January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. Beck3 Comments

Acadia national park is one of the most magical national parks I’ve been to yet. I had the opportunity to visit during the fall time and the fall foliage enhanced the beauty of the park. Acadia is located nearby Bar Harbor, Maine and it provides stunning mountain, coastal, lake views and scenery. Here’s a guide to things I’d recommend doing on a trip to Acadia.

Things to Know About Acadia

🎟 The park requires a park fee. It’s $35 for a 7 day period. I’d highly recommend purchasing the America the Beautiful pass if you plan to visit multiple national parks at once. The annual pass is $80 and gets you into national parks around the country for a year!

🦞 The closest town to the park is Bar Harbor and when I say close, I mean very close! Bar Harbor is about 15 minutes away (or less) from popular spots in the national park. The proximity is so convenient and it was so nice having lodging and eating options close by.

🏕 There are four established campgrounds within the park. I’d suggest making a reservation well in advance if you plan to camp, typically reservations open 6 months before your trip date, however, Acadia’s reservation period opens 2 months before your trip dates. We stayed at Blackwoods campground which is the most conveniently located campground in the park if you plan to visit major spots inside the park and Bar Harbor. Be sure to research on where in the park you’d like to be, the campgrounds are spread across the entire park. There are also no showers within the campgrounds so be prepared to find a way to shower elsewhere if needed. While we were staying at Blackwoods campground, there was a nearby shower house that is open 24 hours to the public. It’s located at 14 Otter Creek Drive.

Aside from campgrounds, there are plenty of hotels and lodging options inside Bar Harbor. It seems like a popular area, so I’d also recommend booking accommodations in advance if possible, especially if you plan to visit during the summer or fall time.

🌊 The park loop road is the scenic road that connects major highlights and viewing points of the park. Keep in mind, there is an area on the road that’s one way only so if you miss your stop, you’ll have to go around the loop again.

Best Things to Do in Acadia

Go on a Hiking Adventure

Acadia has so many incredible hikes! They are known for three hikes that require use of a ladder or iron rods to complete the hike. Although this may seem a little intimidating, it added such a fun element to a hike we’ve never experienced before. Here are some hikes I’d recommend adding to your list:

Jordan Pond path. This is an easy 3 mile loop trail near the Jordan Pond restaurant. This trail offers beautiful views of the “bubble” rocks from a distance as you walk along the perimeter of Jordan pond.
South Bubble trail. This was our favorite hike in the park! It’s a fairly easy to moderate 1.4 mile hike that brings you to the top of the south bubble rock. There are a few ways to complete this hike, we started at the bubbles parking lot and followed signs for the south bubble rock.
Beehive trail. The beehive is one of Acadia’s three iron rod/ladder trails. The beehive is considered the second most challenging as most of the hike requires use of the iron rods to hike to the top of the beehive summit. This trail is short and steep, only 1.4 miles to the top of the summit. If you are scared of heights, I’d reconsider completing this hike. Luckily, you can still hike to the summit by taking the Bowl trail which avoids the iron rods but still brings you to the top view point. If you do hike with the rods, I’d recommend going down the Bowl trail to make it a loop so you don’t have to use the rods on the way down. We really enjoyed this hike because it gave us such a different experience. Keep in mind, this is the park’s most popular hike so plan to hike early if visiting during busy season. We started around 7:00am on a weekday and by the time we were finished, there were so many people!
Beech Cliff Ladders trail. This is the third hike included in the ladder/iron rods collection and the least challenging. This is a 1.8 mile hike that is another short and steep trail with four ladders. This was such an enjoyable hike and it was on the quieter side of the park so we were one of the only couples there. The top view point gives you an incredible view of echo lake. For this trail, we parked at the echo lake parking lot. On the hike down, we took the Canada Cliffs trail to make this a loop and it was also easier to hike down without ladders.
Ocean Path trail. This isn’t technically a hike but this trail is along the park loop road and it provides stunning views of the ocean and the mountains of Acadia. I’d recommend walking along parts of it to experience a different perspective of the park.

Drive to Cadillac Mountain

This is a must do while visiting the park. Cadillac mountain is the highest point in the park and there’s 360 views of the park, Bar Harbor, and other coastal parts of Maine. Keep in mind, during peak seasons, the park requires reservation tickets to limit the amount of crowds at a time. I’d recommend making a reservation for sunrise because during certain seasons, Cadillac mountain is the first point on the eastern coast that sees the sunrise. We were planning to visit during sunrise one day during our trip but unfortunately it rained so we rescheduled for a different day in the morning which was still beautiful!

Explore Bar Harbor

As I’ve mentioned, Bar Harbor is an amazing Maine town! I’d take some time exploring the streets, shops, and restaurants. We spent several afternoons here shopping around for souvenirs and trying different restaurants. If you’re a camper like us, we were also able to do laundry in town which was helpful. Here are a few of my favorite spots in town I’d recommend:

Acadia Perk coffee ☕️
Cafe This Way (such great breakfast!)
Mount Desert Island ice cream 🫐 (be sure to try blueberry ice cream, a Maine must have)
Side Street Cafe 🥞
Cool As A Moose store (great place for shirt souvenirs)
Bark Harbor pet supply
In The Woods store 🌲
Christmas Vacation Shop (a great spot to find an ornament souvenir)
The Acadia Country Store
Frenchman Bay Lobster Rolls 🦞

Drive the Park Loop Road

As I’ve mentioned, this a beautiful scenic road! There’s a lot of trails and spots along the road so you’ll likely drive along this at some point. I’d recommend spending time at Otter cliffs, Thunder Hole, and Sand Beach which are all located off the scenic road.

Spend Time at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

This beautiful lighthouse is located in the Southwest harbor area of the park, about 20 minutes from the Bar Harbor area. This lighthouse is a must see while visiting the park. I’d recommend walking down to the rocks to get a great photo and view point of the lighthouse.

Visit the Jordan Pond Resturant

An iconic activity in the park is to have lunch at the Jordan Pond house restaurant and to try their famous popovers. This was on our bucket list while visiting, however, we didn’t have a reservation so the wait time was too long for us the day we tried. If you’re serious about trying a popover, I would recommend making a reservation or being prepared to wait for a while. The restaurant is beautiful and it’s surrounded by gorgeous Acadia views.

Acadia Tips

Be sure to make reservations for any necessary areas of the park. Right now, it seems like Cadillac mountain is the only requirement during busy season.
Book overnight accommodations as far in advance as possible to ensure you have a place to sleep. Acadia is a popular national park that draws a lot of attention so it’s helpful to book in advance when possible.