Acadia National Park: Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Embark on a self-guided driving tour of Acadia National Park and explore Maine’s stunning wilderness, Native American legends, Cadillac Mountain, and the charming town of Bar Harbor.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Acadia National Park - Hike Cadillac Mountain, the tallest on the East Coast, for epic Acadia views, then explore Rockefeller Jr.’s carriage roads or bike scenic ocean cliffs.
  • Hulls Cove Visitor Center - We enter Maine’s famous Acadia National Park at the Hull’s Cove Visitor Center. As we begin to explore this beautiful natural preserve, we’ll learn about the rich forests and why the foliage here is so vibrant in the fall.

Admission Ticket is not included.

Note: This 22+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Acadia National Park in 2-3 hours.

  • Cadillac Mountain - Boasting mountain views, Cadillac Mountain Overlook features accommodations with a garden and a patio, around 5.6 mi from Agamont Park.
  • Park Loop Road - Our self-guided driving tour enters the famous Park Loop Road of Acadia. We’ll follow this loop all around the park, ending at the summit of Cadillac mountain.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Sieur de Monts Spring - Our tour takes us past the Sieur de Monts Spring, which plays a significant role in the history of Acadia National Park. In a symbolic sense, it can be said that the birth of Acadia National Park took place in this very spot over a century ago.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Beaver Dam Pond - Secret spot in Acadia National Park … The Beaver Dam Pond sits along one of the nicest wooded stretches of the Park Loop Road.
  • Egg Rock Overlook - This spot looks out over Bar Harbor’s Frenchman Bay. You might be able to spot a little island in the bay. This is the home of Egg Rock Lighthouse.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Precipice Trail - The Precipice is part of the east face of Champlain Mountain. The Precipice Trail is the most challenging and well-known hiking trail in Acadia National.
  • Schooner Head Overlook - Schooner Head Overlook is located on the east side of Mount Desert Island, just outside Acadia National Park. It can be reached from Bar Harbor without entering the national park via Schooner Head Road or via the Park Loop Road, just prior to the entrance gate to Sand Beach.
  • Ocean Path Trailhead - Here we’ve got a second option for a detour: Ocean Path Trail. If the steep inclines of Precipice Trail weren’t your style, the gentle, winding path here is a great alternative.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Sand Beach - Next up: Sandy Beach! At just 290 yards long, the beach is small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in fascinating natural history. You might notice a slight greenish tint to the sand. That’s because of the sea urchins!

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Old Soaker - As we continue driving through Acadia, we’ll pass Old Soaker. The waves crash against the vertical face of the rock, shooting water up into the air.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Thunder Hole - We’ll also see Thunder Hole, a natural rock inlet where waves crash with a thunderous boom.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Monument Cove - Monument Cove is another example of the seemingly miraculous force of nature. Water and time have worn away at the granite over the centuries, leaving behind a twenty-foot tall pillar of rock that looks like a man-made sculpture.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Gorham Mountain Trailhead - As our tour continues through Acadia’s Park Loop Road, Gorham Mountain rises to the right. The steep trail up this mountain features a false summit, where it appears to plateau before continuing up further. But both the false and real summit offers a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape!

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Boulder Beach - The rocks on this beach are large, egg-shaped stones. The rough waves of the ocean have tumbled these stones into smooth, bowling-ball sized rocks.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Otter Cliff - Next up as we drive as the stunning Otter Cliff and Otter Cove. At the top of Otter Cliff, it’s a steep 110-foot drop down to the chilly Atlantic.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Hunters Beach Overlook - A trip to Acadia National Park would not be complete without doing a hike to one of Mount Desert Island’s cobblestone beaches.
  • Aunt Betty Pond Carriage Road - In addition to Acadia’s beautiful hiking trails, there are also over 45 miles of carriage roads built by millionaire philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. between 1913 and 1940. Originally conceived as a way to give city folk an escape to the natural world, the carriage road system wanders through some of the best forested and lakeside scenery and is enjoyed by bikers, hikers, and horseback and horse-drawn carriage riders alike. Rockefeller also financed, designed, and supervised the construction of 16 majestic stone bridges that were built at several stream and gorge crossings throughout the carriage road system. Since each bridge is a unique work of art, it is fun to try to visit them all!
  • Jordan Pond - Our self-guided tour brings us to Jordan Pond next. We’d highly recommend pausing here to appreciate the views and the restaurant. Jordan Pond was carved out of the earth twenty thousand years ago by a massive glacier.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Bubble Pond - Bubble Pond is another glacial remnant, hollowed out of the ground tens of thousands of years ago by a massive ice sheet descending on the island from the Arctic.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Eagle Lake Acadia National Park - Our drive brings us past Eagle Lake, which serves as the water source for Bar Harbor. It’s also a food source for local birds.

Admission Ticket is not included.

  • Cadillac Mountain Summit Trail - Finally, we begin the drive up to the summit of Acadia’s crown jewel: Cadillac Mountain. The views from the top are unmatched!

Admission Ticket is not included.

What's Included
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
  • National Park Passes: $35 per vehicle
Additional Information

Recommended: purchase one tour per car. Everyone can listen at the same time!

Experience Maine’s most beautiful sights with this narrated driving tour! Cruise through Acadia’s pristine wilderness, hear the legends of the Native tribes who once called this place home, summit the majestic Cadillac Mountain. Plus, visit the quaint, picturesque coastal town of Bar Harbor along the way.

Due to poor signal in the park, enable OFFLINE MODE while driving.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
  • Minimum Mobile OS Requirement: iOS 14 or later / Android 9 (Pie) or later. It is compatible with iPad models that have a GPS chip.
Location
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Summit Road
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.2
(419 Ratings)
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Linda
Aug 28, 2024
Best self guided tour I have used - Whether you are in the area for 2 days or 2 weeks the Acadia National Park is a must see. This self guided tour of the Park Loop Road was amazing. The park was very crowded but we were able to see everything and had a wonderful learning experience as well. The “guide” voice was very pleasant to listen to.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathyannwhite229
Aug 26, 2024
Worth it!! - Our first visit to Acadia National Park. Although we are not hikers, we did want to see it all. This GPS guide was perfect. Make sure to download while you have WiFi and watch the demo. We liked the “Learn More” option at each point of interest too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angela_b
Aug 24, 2024
Cadillac Mountain Morning Drive - Cadillac Mountain was beautiful! Goofy morning we had reservation but then the fog started to clear and you could hear everyone saying “It’s happening “. Beautiful!!
Review provided by Viator
F1098kuelisag
Aug 23, 2024
A fantastic adventure - Acadia National Park is one of the most beautiful attractions in North America. The scenery is wonderful and there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, cycling and driving. The audio guide tour helps you get the most out of the park experience. It is very precise and above all it works offline. You just have to worry about having enough battery on your phone. Along the Ocean trail we even spotted whales, dolphins and seals at sea: fantastic!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marty_s
Aug 21, 2024
Very good - Very well done. Make sure you load the apps & get to the start screen BEFORE you leave a good wifi area.
Review provided by Viator
Lourdes_f
Aug 20, 2024
Very nice your and... - Very nice your and helpful. Will use for other trips. A lot of information. The navigation work well even with very low internet service.
Review provided by Viator
46ivannar
Aug 19, 2024
Recommended - Practical and easy to use. I definitely will get more of these tours in future trips. It was synchronized with my car GPS and provided us useful and interesting information
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cathy_g
Sep 1, 2024
Pass Code Glitch - We were not able to access the Acadia audio tour because of a glitch with the pass code. By the time someone from Viator responded to my email and phone call we had left the park. Very frustrating!
Review provided by Viator
Go46582054060
Aug 31, 2024
Bad experience with the Acadia National Park Self Guided Driving Audio Tour APP, - The App/Audio Tour stopped working about half way through the tour, Unable to reconnect and so the remaining half of the tour was sans Audio, App is not user friendly and cumbersome. Very disappointed in the Audio Tour although the park is beautiful and scenic is could have been enhanced by the Audio Tour if it had worked properly. I want a refund have asked for a refund but so far no one has responded to my request. If I do hear back from someone I will update this review.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rolland_k
Aug 27, 2024
Bad experience with the Acadia National Park Self guided driving audio tour. Waste of money. - The park itself is beautiful and scenic. The hype about the audio tour itself is ill founded. The Audio tour needs a lot more work. It needs to be more user friendly and less complicated to manipulate. The guide at the Visitor Center admitted she knew very little about the Audio Tour and was not helpful. Half way through the tour the audio portion shut off and we were never able to reconnect for the remainder of the tour through Acadia National Park.. Thus we did not get our full satisfaction for the money paid to purchase this audio. I will be asking for a full refund.
Review provided by Viator
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