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Lodging In Acadia

Acadia is a park without any lodging within its borders. As a result, you'll have to look in the small towns -- Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Hulls Cove, and Bass Harbor -- that fringe the park.

Bar Harbor, located on the northeast corner of Mount Desert Island right next to the park, is the most prominent "gateway" to Acadia and has a great number of options when it comes to accommodations.

The question is, what sort of accommodation do you want? There are name-brand hotels and motels in the area, as well as a great number of charming bed-and-breakfast establishments (some within walking distance of the park) that will send you off for the day well-fed, as well as some water-view cottages for rent.

You even can rent entire homes for your stay, a move that could actually end up saving you money as you won't have to eat out all the time.

Looking for a cottage rental? This can be great for the family, although make sure you get sound descriptions concerning the size of the rental. We've stayed in some that well-define "cozy." The nice thing about these, in addition to the water views to be had, are that you can rent them by either the day or the week.

If you look into a cottage rental, keep in mind the location of the main road, Route 3, to the property. You don't want to be kept up by traffic.

Some of the grand hotels in downtown Bar Harbor also offer water views, of Frenchman Bay, and also provide walking access to the downtown area with its great shops and restaurants.

Yet another option would be to rent a house for your stay. Check with Acadia Cottage Rentals, the Davis Agency, or Mount Desert Properties to see what's available in the areas surrounding the park.

For other properties in the Bar Harbor area, check out the chamber of commerce's lodging directory.

Beyond Bar Harbor, the Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor long has a tradition of catering to Mount Desert Island visitors. Located near the mouth of Somes Sound, the Claremont first opened its doors in 1884 and has been greeting friends and families ever since. Along with offering hotel rooms, the Claremount has guest cottages, some of which can sleep seven.

Acadia National Park

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.