East Side of Mount Desert Island

Rock cairn on mountain summit — Yehyun Kim/Friends of Acadia

From Summit to Coastline

The east side of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island is the most popular and visited area of the park. It features the historic Park Loop Road and carriage road system, mountains, geological features, hiking trails, rugged coastline, and historic and cultural areas significant to the creation and expansion of the park. Most of the park's annual visitation occurs here.

Elevations range from sea-level at Sand Beach to 1,530 ft on Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the eastern seaboard. The park covers various summits, bodies of water, meadows, and forests until it reaches coastline — Somes Sound on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Getting Around

Areas on the east side of Mount Desert Island are within a 10 to 30 minute drive from Hulls Cove Visitor Center, depending on traffic and time of year. Be aware of speed limit changes and check alerts for road and trail closures, especially during winter. Cell service is unreliable, so plan accordingly if using GPS or other navigation.

By car: From Hulls Cove Visitor Center, turn right out of the parking lot and proceed to the four-way intersection. Continue south 3 miles.
- For Park Loop Road (Sieur de Monts, Ocean Drive, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain): Follow signs for the Park Loop Road. For the complete loop, turn left towards Sand Beach (one-way). The road continues back up towards Jordan Pond and Cadillac Mountain.
- For areas near Northeast Harbor: Follow signs for Route 233 off the Park Loop Road. Turn right onto Maine Route 233, and then right onto Maine Route 3/198 towards Northeast Harbor.
By bus: The fare-free Island Explorer operates seasonally (late June to mid-October) with various stops around Mount Desert Island. Check bus schedule for routes and timetable. Note: There is no public transportation to Cadillac Mountain.