There are dozens of hotels on Mount Desert Island and finding the right place to stay (especially if you've never been before) can be a little bit overwhelming.
The good news is that you can almost never go wrong, as the vast majority of hotels on the island are beautiful, clean, and well-kept up. In all of our years of visiting Mount Desert Island, we've tried countless hotels and have only had one negative experience.
So if you're looking for a place to stay in Bar Harbor, here are some of our favorites:
1. Bar Harbor Campground
Our favorite place to stay is definitely the Bar Harbor campground. It is a GORGEOUS campground close to downtown Bar Harbor and very close to Acadia National Park.
Amenities include a heated swimming pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, a large playground with amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean, full hook ups, a small arcade, and a camp store.
Here is a list of the great and the not-as-great about the Bar Harbor Campground:
PROS:
Heated swimming pool
Huge playground overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
Nice, clean sites for both tents and RVs, with a variety of hook up options
Paved roads
A short drive to both downtown Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park
Island Explorer offers free shuttle service to Bar Harbor and Acadia from the campground. Shuttles leave regularly throughout the day during peak season.
Blueberry bushes grow wildly behind the playground, so you can explore the wooden paths in front of the ocean, eating wild blueberries as you go.
Small camp store carries any necessities you may have left at home
The campground is adjacent to Udder Heaven and Mainely Meat BBQ, so if you don't feel like going into town, a delicious dinner and amazing ice cream are just a short walk away
The campground is across the street from Pirate's Cove, so if you're willing to run across Route 3, you can play a round of mini golf without ever getting in your car
CONS:
The campground doesn't take advance reservations and is often full during peak season, so you run the risk of taking your RV up there, just to be told there are no open RV sites. (There are almost always tent sites available.)
There are a small number of full hook-up sites, so even if you get a site, you may not get full hook-ups.
The office is fairly old fashioned, which means no debit or credit cards--you have to pay with cash or check.
Overall, while we'd love to see on-line advance reservations and credit cards being accepted, this is an AMAZING campground which is ABSOLUTELY worth staying at... if you can get in!
It is our favorite place to stay in Bar Harbor and our favorite campground in Maine.
For rates and more information, see: The Bar Harbor Campground
Lauren playing on the playground at the Bar Harbor Campground.
2. Bar Harbor Inn
If camping isn't your style and you're looking for a little bit more luxury, the Bar Harbor Inn is an iconic hotel right on the water in downtown Bar Harbor. It boasts a restaurant overlooking the ocean, a full-service spa, and an infinity pool overlooking the Shore Path and the Atlantic Ocean. If you're looking for a luxurious place to stay and don't mind spending the money to get it, you will LOVE the Bar Harbor Inn!
The Shore Path and main street Bar Harbor are both just steps away from your room, so as soon as you wake up and have some breakfast overlooking the ocean, you can take a stroll along the water or into town. After a long day of hiking, you can refresh with a swim in the seasonal outdoor pool and a massage at the spa.
For rates and more information, visit: Best Luxury Hotels in Bar Harbor, Maine | Bar Harbor Inn
Exterior view of some of the rooms and the restaurant at the Bar Harbor Inn.
The infinity pool overlooking the Shore Path and the Atlantic Ocean. Inside the pool area are outdoor firepits and access to the hotel's spa.
3. The Atlantic Oceanside & Event Center
We have stayed at the Atlantic Oceanside several times for Darcy's work. If you're looking for a nice hotel with great waterfront views and don't mind being a short drive outside of town, the Atlantic Oceanside is a WONDERFUL choice!
The hotel itself consists of six buildings, each with its own atmosphere, and the views are consistently amazing! The hotel offers a free breakfast that's pretty impressive, an on-site restaurant, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs.
For more information, see Best Oceanfront Hotels in Bar Harbor, ME | Atlantic Oceanside (barharbormainehotel.com)
4. Inn on Mount Desert
The Inn on Mount Desert unexpectedly became one of our favorite hotels last year. We decided to take a trip to Bar Harbor in the winter because we had never seen Acadia covered in snow before and wanted to experience it.
Fewer hotels are open in the middle of winter, and most of our go-to places were closed for the season. The Inn on Mount Desert was open, close to town, and looked nice enough, so decided to book our weekend there.
We both immediately fell in love with the Inn. It was cozy in the winter, beautiful, and the staff was very friendly. It is definitely worth a stay!
For more information, see: Inn On Mount Desert | Mount Desert Hotel (staybarharbor.com)
No matter where you stay in Mount Desert Island, you are sure to have a magical experience.
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