Four Hour
The Way Life Should Be Tour

Crashing waves near Sand Beach and Ocean Drive, seen on a tour of Acadia with Acadia Driving Tours.

The Way Life Should Be

Four-hour, Private van tour.
From $600
For groups up to six people

This tour is best for those who:

  • Are looking for a slightly more relaxed tour where they won’t be pressured to keep to a schedule.
  • Want the same overview as many popular three-hour tours, while also having time to explore local favorites just off the beaten path.
  • They are interested in the neighborhoods and quiet places all around the edges of Acadia, not just our national park.

My tours can be tailored to include anything you have been looking forward to seeing.

Acadia National Park is a beautiful place to explore via the park roads.

This four-hour private tour passes through the main areas of Bar Harbor, before entering Acadia National Park to experience all the best-loved sights along the Park Loop Road.

We will drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the tallest point on MDI. As we near the summit, we can see almost the entire outline of the island as well as beautiful views over Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay.

We will also explore sights from closer up, including Sand Beach Overlook, Ocean Drive, Thunder Hole, the sweeping views from Otter Cliffs, and many other coves, rocky beaches, dramatic cliffsides, quiet gardens, Jordan Pond, and Eagle Lake.

We have the option to explore the lovely, quaint seaside towns just outside of the park, or to extend our route to include a scenic drive along Somes Sound, before stopping at one of my favorite places -which most people miss- before returning to Bar Harbor.

You will learn how a small group of private individuals with a shared passion for this area, gathered to spark the formation of what would become America’s first national park east of the Mississippi River. I’ll share some of why Acadia is special and unique, tell a bit of history about this area, and make sure you get great photo opportunities, all from the comfort of your own private tour van. Oh, and I provide snacks!

I’ll handle all the park passes, Cadillac Mountain Reservation, and driving.

Part of a secluded section of the path along the Seawall in Acadia National Park. While most of the trail from Sand Beach to Otter Cliff along Ocean Drive in Acadia offers sweeping views of the ocean, this section near the cliffs leads visitors through a quiet woodland where various moss covers the ground and paints the pine bark and rocks with interesting patterns. This section offers a wonderful mix of fresh ocean breeze and the fragrance of Pine and ceder.

If planning your visit to Acadia and Bar Harbor has become overwhelming, you can simply let me handle our itinerary, knowing you won't miss a thing!

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Frequently asked questions

Can I use my own National Park Pass?

As your Tour Guide, the park requires me to use a special entrance pass for tours. We cannot use your park pass for our excursion. I will provide all the passes and any special reservations we need.

In order to visit Acadia National Park, you will need a park pass. From late May through Mid October, Acadia requires an extra pass / reservation to drive up Cadillac Mountain. When you book a tour, your tour guide handles all those reservations for you.

If you decide to drive up the mountain on your own later, you will need to look at the NPS website or app to reserve a separate pass. These are timed entry passes that give a half hour window from a specific start time, for you to arrive at the base of the mountain road. They do not require you to leave the summit at any specific time before the mountain road closes at 10pm. The park service implemented this system a few years ago to help mediate heavy traffic and parking issues near the summit.

Lots of folks find it hard in the busy seasons to reserve a mountain pass before they sell out. The NPS makes some for each day available weeks ahead of time, while the rest come available shortly before that specific day. Still, they often sell out. If you are riding with me, I will handle that for us. Tour companies like mine have our own separate way to reserve mountain passes.

  • If you are staying close to Bar Harbor, I am happy to pick you up at your accommodations, or to meet anywhere in town. 
  • For those arriving by Cruise Ship, I will arrange to meet you at the pier where your ship’s tenders disembark. 
  • If you are staying further from town, we can meet at the Hulls Cove Visitors Center in Acadia, or arrange to meet in Bar Harbor. 

I am willing to pick up groups from other locations on Mount Desert Island, Including, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Camp Grounds, Airbnbs…etc… But there may be additional cost involved, depending on your distance from where our tour begins. If you are more than 15 minutes from town, arranging for me to come find you, will reduce how much time we have together on the Park Loop Road; although, this entire island is lovely: so, a small road trip together isn’t likely to be any disappointment.

Presumably, the children in question are yours… My question for you is: Are your children ready to enjoy hours of driving and stopping to see sights?

I have a pile of nephews and nieces, no kids of my own yet. I love Children. I remember how squirrely I could get when I was one. I will not be bothered if their attention wonders while I try to tell you about Rockefeller…I do have some fun stories and facts ready to engage younger adventurers. You are welcome to bring any aged person in your group. Just know, some of them will change your experience! 

Children who require a booster or car seat, will need their adults to bring that equipment. I cannot provide those.

There is no upper age limit! As long as you’re comfortable getting in and out of a minivan with a little assistance, you should come on tour.

As for “what am I getting myself into?” You will ride in a scrupulously clean, climate controlled, comfortable minivan with adjustable leather captain’s chairs. Your driver has been earning at least some of his income on the road for 25 years. I learned to drive in a city with four times the population of Maine. In all the years traversing cities or mountains since, I still have a perfect safety record.

My tours allow many opportunities to get out of the van to take short walks and enjoy the sights. I always pay attention to how mobile or active each group (or person in each group) wants to be, then adjust our stops accordingly. 

If you are not comfortable entering and exiting a vehicle multiple times, you can still enjoy most of the sights without leaving your window seat. When half the group are eager to step out and take pictures, or to walk a little, but you can’t, or just don’t want to, we can accommodate that.

There is plenty of space in the back of my vans for a walker, or a folding wheelchair. If you have a specific piece of mobility equipment you need to bring along, you’re welcome to contact me to discuss your specific needs and determine if my tour is your best option to see this area or if something else is.

Absolutely!

This is your special, personalized experience of Acadia. I love finding places for guests to get out of their seats to feel the breeze and hear the music of the wind and waves. One of the wonderful things about our national park, is how easy it is both, to find excellent views from the road or very close to it, and how many intriguing nooks there are where we can step out for a bit and explore on foot. 

How far you walk on this tour is completely up to you. I will present options: you decide if we should explore an area more or keep moving forward.

I would love to share these views with you.

It has been my dream to live out here, and to share the beauty of this place with others. I would love to meet you and help make your dream vacation on Mount Desert Island, exploring Bar-Harbor and Acadia National Park, as excellent an experience as it possibly can be!