What to Do When Acadia Is Crowded, Closed, or Fogged In

Abbe Museum

The only Smithsonian-affiliated museum in Maine. Dedicated to the history and culture of the Wabanaki people who have lived in this region for 12,000 years. Small but thoughtfully curated. A second location inside the park at Sieur de Monts is temporarily closed.

George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History

Part of the College of the Atlantic, housed in the original headquarters of Acadia National Park. Exhibits designed by students feature coastal creature dioramas and a touch tank. Free admission.

The Oceanarium and Education Center

Nine tanks of Maine ocean habitat, a touch pool, and an authentic lobster boat to explore. The rare blue and orange lobsters draw repeat visitors. Better for families than the natural history museum.

Criterion Theatre

A 1932 Art Deco movie palace that still shows films and hosts live performances. The architecture alone is worth a visit if something is playing.

Bar Harbor Cellars

A tasting room overlooking 100 acres of vineyard. Maine wines from sweet fruit varieties to bold reds, plus wood-fired pizza and a room dedicated to chocolate. A rainy afternoon destination.

Fogtown Brewing

Brewery using Maine-grown malt, hops, and locally foraged ingredients. Good food menu, live music, trivia nights. The name is honest about the weather.

Schoodic Peninsula (Acadia)

A detached section of Acadia that receives 90% fewer visitors than Mount Desert Island. Schoodic Point has the same granite-meets-ocean drama without the crowds. You can sit in your car and watch waves crash. The whole loop drive works in fog or rain.

Best for: Rocky coast, ocean views, solitude

Camden Hills State Park

Mount Battie offers sweeping views of Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay that rival anything in Acadia. The 0.5-mile hike is steep but short, or you can drive to the summit. The view inspired Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem 'Renascence.'

Best for: Mountain views, harbor overlooks, fall foliage

Lamoine State Park

A small park with views of Frenchman Bay and the mountains of Mount Desert Island. One mile of easy woodland trail, a pebble beach, and almost no crowds. The view of Cadillac Mountain from here is better than the view from Cadillac.

Best for: Beach access, quiet trails, Frenchman Bay views

Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land

If steep cliffs and crashing waves without another person in sight is what you want, drive east. Trails wind through forests and wild blueberry patches to clifftop views over the Gulf of Maine. Harder to reach, which is the point.

Best for: Dramatic cliffs, wild blueberries, true solitude

Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust

Near Ellsworth, this trust manages 5,200 acres of trails through forests and open ridges. Good hiking without the reservation systems and parking drama of Acadia.

Best for: Ridge hiking, wildlife, uncrowded trails

Thunder Hole

Walk 0.7 miles from Sand Beach along the Ocean Path to this sea cave that booms when waves hit right. Best at high tide with a good swell. If conditions are calm, still worth seeing but skip the wait.

Cadillac Summit Loop

A 0.5-mile paved loop at the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Drive up, walk the loop, see the views. No reservation needed except for sunrise (May-Oct). Come at sunset instead.

Jordan Pond House

Skip the 3.5-mile loop and just come for the popovers. The lawn has views of Jordan Pond and the Bubbles. Indoor seating available for rainy days. Reservations help but are not required.

Bar Island

At low tide, a gravel bar connects Bar Harbor to Bar Island. Walk across, explore briefly, return before the tide comes back. Check tide tables. A cold swim awaits if you miscalculate.

Sand Beach

One of the few sand beaches in Acadia. The water is cold year-round but the beach itself is worth seeing. Park fills early in summer; arrive before 9am or after 4pm.

Drive the Schoodic Loop

The one-way loop around Schoodic Peninsula works beautifully in fog or light rain. Pull over at Schoodic Point and watch waves crash against the granite. No hiking required.

An hour drive from Bar Harbor. Worth it for the emptiness.

Jordan Pond House popovers

The famous popovers with strawberry jam and butter have been served here since 1893. Indoor seating means rain is no obstacle. The lawn views disappear in fog, but the popovers remain.

Expect a wait in peak season even on rainy days.

Bar Harbor downtown

Cottage Street and Main Street have enough shops, galleries, and restaurants to fill a rainy afternoon. The Criterion Theatre shows movies. Multiple ice cream shops compete for tourist dollars.

Tourist prices throughout.

Embrace the fog

The thick rolling fog is part of what makes this coast distinctive. Ocean Path in fog has an eerie beauty. Photographers wait for these conditions. Some visitors consider foggy days the best days.

Drive carefully. The Park Loop Road gets slick.