Biking Maine: Acadia National Park

7 Days & 6 Nights

Explore Acadia National Park and challenge yourself to summit Mount Cadillac
Celebrate your tour’s end in Bar Harbor, Downeast Maine’s adventure hub
Bike from inn to inn along Maine’s rugged coastline
Enjoy the charm and hospitality of historic seaside villages
Fuel up on fried clams, lobster rolls, and wild blueberry pie

Cycle from the picturesque town of Waldoboro to renowned Acadia National Park on a tour of Maine’s spectacular coast. With outstanding riding, charming New England inns, ocean views, and fresh seafood, it’s sure to be an unforgettable cycling experience. From its early settlement to its booming natural resource industry, Maine has always been known for its rugged, creative, and independent personality. Get to know it in a way few other tourists do on a self-guided cycling adventure along this wild and scenic coast.

What To Expect

This bike tour is easy to moderate, with an average daily ride of 30 miles and many short ascents and descents. It is best suited for experienced cyclists who are accustomed to sharing the road. The route offers coastal and rural riding, with rolling hills and varied terrain. If your ideal vacation combines scenic riding with beachcombing, fresh food, island vibes, and overnights at carefully-selected country inns, this tour is for you.

Tour Style:

Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent active trip.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Biking | A classic point to point biking tour, staying in a different location each night

This trip is suitable for:

First Timers

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 14 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Foodie Adventures
Coastal & Island
National Parks & Trails
Mountains

Inspiration:

Classic

Activity Level & Terrain

This tour is graded as moderate. The daily rides average 30 miles but many days have flexible routes with the option for a lower mileage ride. There are many rolling hills but no substantial climbs. You should be an experienced road cyclist accustomed to sharing the road with other users. At times the route has a shoulder, but its width varies, and some of the smaller, more rural roads have no shoulder. We advise high visibility clothing to be worn while riding.

The route is almost entirely paved, with infrequent and short gravel sections connecting rural roads. Surface conditions change yearly and seasonally, so gravel, potholes, and frost heaves are a possibility. The distances and ascents/descent listed are approximations of the recommended routes. For those looking for a little extra assistance, e-bikes may be an option but are subject to availability.

We provide you with detailed turn-by-turn directions on the Macs Adventure Navigation App. Using this app, you will also be able to follow the route with your phone’s GPS. As instructed below, you’ll need to save all routes to your device for use in offline mode as cell phone reception can be unreliable in rural Maine.

Navigation

Navigating is easy using the Macs Adventure Navigation App. Your daily rides will be mapped in the app with GPX tracks, route notes, and turn-by-turn directions. All of these resources are available to download for offline use, which is recommended as cell service can be unreliable in Maine. Written turn-by-turn directions are included in the app. When you have cell reception, you will also have 24/7 telephone support from us here at Macs Adventure.

Experience & Fitness

This tour is graded moderate. The daily rides average 30 miles. There are many rolling hills but no substantial climbs. You should be an experienced road cyclist accustomed to sharing the road with other users. At times the route has a shoulder, but its width varies, and some of the smaller, more rural roads have no shoulder. We advise high visibility clothing to be worn while riding.

Accommodations

One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard of accommodation. You will stay in carefully selected 3-4* small hotels. Your room will always have an ensuite or private bathroom. A delicious breakfast is also included.

Single Rooms and Solo Cyclists

If you require single rooms within your party we will always try and accommodate you subject to availability. A single supplement is payable. This trip is not available to solo cyclists

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinners are not included so you are free to choose from the surrounding options. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby restaurants.

Included

6 Nights in hand-picked accommodations
6 Breakfasts
All lodging taxes and gratuities
Detailed route notes and maps
Baggage transfers
Hybrid bike with panniers
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our US & UK offices
Round trip ferry Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor
Private Transfers as listed in itinerary

Excluded

Travel to / from Portland
Optional upgrade to an e-bike
Lunches, dinners, drinks, & snacks
Personal equipment
Travel insurance (required)

Extras

Additional nights along the route
Upgrade to an e-bike

When To Go

The trip is available from May to October. Please keep in mind this trip can only depart on a Sunday.

Weather and Climate

New England’s seasonal changes are one of its greatest charms, and there are advantages to riding in Maine at any time of the year. May and June will bring fewer crowds, cooler temperatures (in the 50s-60s Fahrenheit), and lush green hillsides speckled with flowers. The summer months of July and August are busy with summer tourists, but the refreshing swimming holes, late summer evenings, and clear blue skies are worth it. Temperatures rise to the 70s-low 80s Fahrenheit on average with some hotter days. The crisp weather of September and October (in the 50s-60s Fahrenheit) draw not only outdoor enthusiasts to Maine, but also the leaf-peepers and photographers, making it tough to secure reservations – but if you do, the colors of peak foliage season are pure magic.

Getting to the Start

Our trip starts and ends in Portland, Maine. The easiest way to travel to and from your trip is to fly in and out of Portland International Jetport.

Alternatively, you may opt to fly to Boston, and then take the Amtrak train to Portland in roughly 2 and a half hours.

Luggage Transfer

Baggage transfer from Portland to Bar Harbor is included in the cost of your holiday. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20 kg per person.

Equipment

Our pre-departure information pack includes a detailed equipment list on what to take with you. This includes warm and cold weather gear, cycling clothes, rain gear, and lots of other specifics. If you have any questions about what to take, we'd be happy to share our own top tips and advice.

Bike Rental

Bike rental is included in the cost of this trip. We include a Norco VFR1 or a similar Trek bike. For a little extra assistance, e-bikes are also available (additional fee payable, subject to availability).

Please supply us with your height for your bicycle rental.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance that covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

How do I get my rental bike?

What equipment do I need?

How do the baggage transfers work?

How far in advance do I need to book?

When is the best time of year?

Itinerary

Day 1 Transfer Portland to Waldoboro, cycle to Clark Island 35 miles / 56 km Day 2: Cycle Clark Island to Rockland 45 miles / 72 km Day 3: Cycle Rockland to Camden 32 miles / 52 km Day 4: Cycle Camden to Belfast 30 miles / 48 km Day 5: Transfer to Acadia National Park, loop ride 35 miles / 56 km Day 6: Cycle the Schoodic Peninsula Loop 35 miles / 56 km Day 7: Cycle Acadia Park Loop, transfer to Portland and onward travel 30 miles / 48 km

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