Three Hour
Experience Acadia Tour

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Jessup Path near the Wild Gardens of Acadia. One of the most beautiful places to visit here. This area features a lovely, raised boardwalk that carries visitors over nearly half a mile of lush grass and ferns, and a lovely stand of birch, aspen, and maple trees growing in the shadow of Dorr Mountain. The boardwalk is raised because this area often receives clean run off from the rain that falls on the exposed granite of the surrounding mountains which then feeds the adjacent Great Meadow. Jessup is an easy path and a great trail for those who need less intense trails in Acadia.

Experience Acadia Tour

Three-hour, Private van tour.
From $500
For groups up to six people

This tour is best for those who:

  • Have a limited time to explore the area, perhaps you arrived via cruise ship and have a tender to catch. Great for Shore Excursions from Bar Harbor.
  • Want an overview with time to ask a local questions, before returning to some of the same locations on your own later.
  • Are concerned a longer tour might be difficult for your group  -even when the tour van is so comfortable.

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 three-hour private tour briefly shows the main areas of Bar Harbor, before entering Acadia National Park to experience most of the best loved sights along the Park Loop Road.

We will drive up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on this island. From here, we have views in every direction, seeing almost the entire outline of this island as we approach the summit. We will also see the entire Park Loop Road, including Sand Beach Overlook, Ocean Drive, Thunder Hole, the sweeping views from Otter Cliffs, and many other lovely coves, rocky beaches, high mountain cliffsides, quiet gardens, Jordan Pond, and Eagle Lake.

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 see the highlights and 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.

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!

Stick some reviews here and let them see how amazing other people think I am

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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 three 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.

You've got to see these views!

Sharing the wonder and beauty of this place is a dream come true for me! 

My name is Nathan Weber. I started Acadia Driving Tours because I love watching the joy on people’s faces when they first experience this gorgeous island I call Home…..

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