The Acadia National Park is an incredibly special part of the Maine coast: breathtakingly beautifully for its natural rocky headlands and islands, it’s also just southwest of Bar Harbor, a picturesque village in the classic Maine style. So you have a wonderful juxtaposition of spectacular scenery and charming creature comforts. Walk, sail, canoe, cycle, climb, kayak, fish and ride horses in the park by day, then come nightfall relax in one of our cosy recommendations for the best hotels for Acadia National Park. Our Gurus' picks include the best family hotels for Acadia National Park, but also a good collection of historic B&Bs converted from charming, Maine style, mansions, water-view resorts, and beautiful luxury properties.
For a hotel Close to Acadia National Park
- The Primrose has been carefully converted from the summer house of a banker, built in 1878. There are 15 rooms, individually decorated with striking details and bold prints or colours, plus an extensive garden and a wide verandah. From The Primrose it’s a five minute walk to Bar Harbor, and you can walk into the Acadia National Park too.
- The Yellow House B&B is a small property, offering the feeling of staying with friends lucky enough to live within a short walk of Bar Harbour and the Acadia National Park. The seven rooms have a cosy, historic feel — some feature floral wallpaper and four-poster beds, while some are more contemporary. Breakfast is served on the large porch, or in the breakfast room, and there’s a charming living room with a roaring fire when needed.
- Just five minutes drive from Acadia National Park, the Bass Cottage Inn offers a very cosy and comfortable base for exploring. There are only 11 rooms and suites, with a traditional feel but contemporary comforts. Hearty breakfasts are served in the grand dining room.
For Views
- Bar Harbor’s West Street Hotel is a luxurious, water view hotel with 85 stylishly nautical rooms and suites. There’s a feeling of space here, both in the rooms and communal spaces, which include a rooftop infinity pool, a lively pub and restaurant.
- The Bayview Hotel is situated on the outskirts of Bar Harbor, and right on the water, with peaceful water views. All of the 26 rooms and suites face the ocean, as do their private balconies and decks. The decor is fresh and contemporary, featuring local art and stylish details. There’s no restaurant, but they offer a vegetarian breakfast and snacks.
For a luxury hotel
- The Claremont is an historic waterfront hotel turned luxurious, family-friendly resort. Making it both one of the best family hotels near Acadia National Park and one of the most luxurious. The decor is rustic rather than opulent, but the pool, spa, restaurant, bars, tennis courts and huge waterfront garden make it feel like a real accommodation treat. Use of golf carts and bikes is included, and they offer sunset cruises and dinner boat excursions to guests.
For Walkers
- Ivy Manor Inn is an historic inn, just minutes from the sea at the very heart of Bar Harbor. Built in 1939 in the Tudor-revival style, the inn has a homely feel, with 18 cosy rooms decked out with antiques in dark wood. There’s no restaurant, but there’s a bar, and lots of lots of restaurants to choose from in the surrounding streets. This is a wonderful location if you want to walk, just across the road from Bar Harbor’s charming village green, where there’s a local bus service to the Acadia National Park.
For Romance
- The Balance Rock Inn is an historic, 27 room inn in an enviable spot on the coast in Bar Harbor. The decor features antiques from a range of periods, which creates an opulent feel, and some rooms have luxurious extras like open fireplaces and whirlpool baths. The restaurant serves American cuisine with a ‘Nordic twist’.
- The Atlantean Cottage is a very grown-up version of a Maine B&B. Converted from a Tudor Revival home built by an architect in 1903, the resulting eight room inn is now on one of the prettiest streets in town, and the interiors are chic and beautifully put together using a collection of antiques complemented by contemporary colours and details. The result feels opulent.
- The Chiltern Inn is a small hotel with a lot to offer in the way of facilities, including a lap pool, games room, library, movie room, art gallery and expansive gardens. It’s converted from a Victorian era stables and carriage house situated on the estate of an ambassador, so you can imagine why there’s so much on offer.
For Families
- The Inn at Southwest is an elegant, Victorian mansion on leafy Main Street, Southwest Harbor, just minutes walk from the water’s edge. The inn has just seven rooms and suites, some of which can be combined to comfortably accommodate families and groups who want to share a living space. There’s also communal space in the lounge, with its open fireplace, and in the lush gardens and on the verandah. There’s no restaurant, but they offer a two-course breakfast every day, plus afternoon snacks and occasionally an evening meal — they also offer cooking classes.
- The Acadia Hotel was built by a ship’s captain in 1880, but this sweeping, historic building has become a stylish, 27 room hotel with a nautical edge. Split between the original house and a Boat House, there’s plenty of variety of room size and shape, with good family suite options. The Acadia is close to the beach, and sights and offer complimentary bikes, great for local explorations!
For a Peaceful Escape
- The Harbor Cottage Inn is another private Victorian-built house turned B&B. The eleven pretty rooms have pastel walls, floral fabrics and homely quilts; the best have sea views, whirlpool tubs and private decks too. The big, landscaped lawn has water views. Cosy and romantic.
- The Ullikana Inn is a carefully converted Tudor Revival style house with beautiful mature gardens, turned tranquil, 11 room inn. Expect 19th century antiques, floral prints and pastel colours, all just a short walk from the sea.
For Great Value
- Holbrook House is your classic Maine mansion turned family-run B&B, with 13 rooms, suites and cottages just a short stroll from the centre of Bar Harbor. The decor varies between contemporary neutrals and more historic styles, with antique pieces and cosy florals. The expansive porch is a really pleasant place to sit, plus there’s a garden, lounge with an open fire, and a library.
- Centrally located in Bar Harbor, the Bar Harbor Grand Hotel offers 70 spacious, comfortable rooms, plus a pool, restaurant, a gym and hot tub.
For B&B Accommodation
- The Lindenwood Inn is 15 room B&B full of Maine charm. The blue and white exterior epitomises the coastal dream, and the best rooms have views of the water. The decor feels homely and comfortable, especially in the communal sitting room. There’s a peaceful garden and a pool outside.
- The Elmhurst Inn is another charming B&B typical of the large pastel-painted houses this area is known for. This time the location is Bar Harbor. The 12 rooms are all individually decorated, with antiques, floral fabrics, but unfussy detailing. There’s an elegant dining room, and a sunny conservatory, and an excellent home-cooked breakfast is served in one or the other. There’s a porch for sitting out on at the end of the day.
Still not sure where to book?
