Bar Harbor & Acadia: Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole Bus Tour

Summary

Bar harbor bus tour with stops at cadillac mountain thunder hole wild gardens and ocean drive

You’ll ride from Bar Harbor with a local guide who knows every twist of Acadia’s roads—stopping to breathe in Cadillac Mountain’s heights, feel Thunder Hole’s ocean spray, and wander quiet paths among native plants at Sieur De Monts Spring. Expect real stories, plenty of fresh air, and time to take it all in at your own pace.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the light to change so fast up on Cadillac Mountain. One minute we were winding through Bar Harbor’s side streets—windows down, someone behind me humming—and then suddenly, you’re above it all. Our guide, Tom (he grew up nearby), pointed out a bald eagle circling over the pines while I tried to snap a photo but mostly just squinted into the wind. The air smelled sharp, like pine needles and cold rocks. I kept thinking, “This is what Maine feels like.”

We stopped at Thunder Hole next, which honestly sounded a bit dramatic to me until I heard it. There’s this hollow boom when the waves crash in just right—kind of startled everyone on our bus, even Tom laughed. I leaned over the railing and got hit with salty spray (my glasses never recovered). Some little kid next to me was trying to time the splash for a selfie; his mom just shook her head. It’s loud, but not in a bad way—more like nature showing off.

Sieur De Monts Spring was quieter. You could hear people crunching along gravel paths and someone talking softly about wildflowers—I think she was a volunteer at the Wild Gardens of Acadia. There’s something calming about that spot after all the wind and noise earlier. I wandered past ferns and mossy stones for a bit longer than planned (almost missed the bus), but nobody seemed in a rush anyway.

The whole day felt sort of layered—history, geology, weather shifting every hour. And even though it’s a group tour from Bar Harbor, there were these small moments where it felt personal. I still think about that view from Cadillac when things get noisy back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park Tour

• Stop at Cadillac Mountain summit
• Enjoy scenic Ocean Drive stop
• Visit Nature Center and Wild Gardens

Top questions

How long does the Bar Harbor & Acadia bus tour last?

The total tour time is around 2 hours 15 minutes including stops.

Are there restroom facilities at each stop?

Yes, restrooms are available at all three main stops within Acadia.

Is pickup included for this Acadia National Park bus tour?

No hotel pickup is included; tours depart from a central location in Bar Harbor.

Can infants join this narrated bus tour?

Yes, infants can join but must sit on an adult’s lap during the tour.

Are motorized scooters allowed on this tour?

No, motorized scooters cannot be accommodated on this bus tour.

How much time do we spend off the bus at each stop?

You’ll have between 45 minutes and 1 hour total across all stops to explore off the bus.

What are the main stops on this day trip from Bar Harbor?

The main stops are Cadillac Mountain summit, Thunder Hole along Ocean Drive, and Sieur De Monts Spring/Wild Gardens of Acadia.

What’s included

Your day includes entry fees for all park sites plus narration by an English-speaking local guide throughout the journey; you’ll have plenty of time off the bus at each scenic stop before returning comfortably to Bar Harbor together.