Hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, and cabins in Bar Harbor. Compare real pricing and availability across all major booking sites.
Bar Harbor sits on Mount Desert Island, the main gateway to Acadia National Park, so where you stay mostly comes down to how close you want to be to town versus the park — and how much you're willing to spend in peak season. Here's how the areas compare, when to book, and how to get around without fighting for parking.
Best for: First-time visitors and couples who want to walk to dinner
The compact village center — restaurants, shops, the waterfront Shore Path, and the low-tide sandbar walk out to Bar Island are all on foot. You'll pay the most here in summer, but you can leave the car parked and ride the free Island Explorer shuttle into Acadia.
Best for: Families and drivers who want parking, pools, and water views
The stretch between downtown and the causeway is lined with larger hotels, resorts, and motels — many with parking, pools, and oceanfront rooms. A few minutes' drive or a shuttle hop from the village, and usually a bit easier on the wallet than downtown.
Best for: Fewer crowds, lower rates, a working-harbor feel
The western half of Mount Desert Island is quieter and more local, near Bass Harbor Head Light and the less-trafficked side of Acadia. Rates generally run lower than Bar Harbor; the trade-off is a longer drive to the east-side highlights.
Best for: Quiet, upscale, near Jordan Pond and the carriage roads
Smaller, more refined villages on the island's south side, handy to Jordan Pond, the carriage roads, and the eastern trails. Lodging is limited and on the pricier, quieter end.
Best for: Budget stays and last-minute availability
Just off the island — Trenton right before the bridge, Ellsworth about 20 minutes out — you'll find chain hotels, lower rates, and rooms when the island is full. The trade-off is a 15–25 minute drive into Bar Harbor and the park.
Bar Harbor is one of Maine's priciest places to stay in summer. Peak-season nightly rates for downtown hotels and inns commonly land in the mid-hundreds, with waterfront and premium inns higher — the map above shows live prices for your exact dates. You'll pay noticeably less on the Quiet Side or in Trenton/Ellsworth, and far less in May or late October.
July and August are busiest, and foliage season (late September through mid-October, especially the Indigenous Peoples' Day / Columbus Day weekend) is a second peak that books out early. For summer and foliage weekends, reserve 4–6+ months ahead; May and the shoulder weeks of late October are much cheaper and quieter. Many places close or scale back from November through April.
Families
Route 3 resorts and Vrbo cottages with parking, pools, and room to spread out
Couples
A downtown inn or B&B within walking distance of dinner and the Shore Path
Budget travelers
Trenton/Ellsworth or the Quiet Side, and drive in
Biggest hotel and B&B inventory in Maine. Free cancellation on most properties, no-fee booking, and a loyalty program that kicks in after a few stays.
Search Booking.com →Best for whole-house rentals, lakefront cottages, and multi-family trips. Dominates the Maine vacation rental market, especially for waterfront properties.
Search Vrbo →Unique stays, in-town apartments, and budget rooms. Strong urban inventory (Portland, Bangor) and lakeside options.
Search Airbnb →Solid hotel inventory with a "stay 10 nights, get 1 free" rewards program. Good for chain hotels and business travel.
Search Hotels.com →Bundles hotels with flights and car rentals. Good for multi-leg trips and cost comparisons.
Search Expedia →Meta-search across Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com, and more. Use when you want to check rates everywhere at once.
Compare on KAYAK →Check out our full guide to Bar Harbor — covers what to see, where to eat, and local tips from people who actually live here.
Read the Bar Harbor guide →Downtown is best if you want to walk to restaurants and ride the free shuttle into Acadia; the Route 3 corridor is easier for families who want parking, pools, and water views; and the Quiet Side (Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Bass Harbor) trades a longer drive for smaller crowds and lower rates.
For July–August weekends and foliage-season dates (late September to mid-October), book 4–6 months ahead or more — the best downtown rooms go first. In the shoulder weeks of May and late October you can often book a few weeks out.
Yes. Trenton and Ellsworth on the mainland, and the Quiet Side of Mount Desert Island, generally run lower than downtown Bar Harbor and often have availability when the island is full. Expect a 10–25 minute drive in exchange.
Not necessarily. From late June through Columbus Day, the free Island Explorer shuttle connects Bar Harbor, many hotels and campgrounds, and Acadia's main sights, so you can stay downtown and skip driving and parking in the park. Outside those months, or to reach the Quiet Side, a car is much more convenient. Note that Cadillac Summit Road requires a separate timed vehicle reservation in season.
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