One of Maine’s best places to visit is Bar Harbor, Maine, a destination for amazing seafood, scenic outdoor recreation, and fun festivals that you won’t find anywhere else. Acadia National Park is a big draw to the area, but you can also spend your days doing some whale-watching, taking a boat tour to catch lobster, and seeing the historic lighthouses.
There are a variety of accommodation options to choose from when visiting Bar Harbor, including B&Bs, historic inns, Airbnbs, Vrbo vacation rentals, and campgrounds. We’ve included a bit of everything in this roundup of the best places to stay in Bar Harbor, Maine.
Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina
Picturesque, beautifully designed, surrounded by natural beauty, and one of the best spa resorts in Maine, the Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina is a top place to stay in Bar Harbor. This hotel has 193 guest rooms and suites, some with balconies, hot tubs, fireplaces, and full kitchens. It is nestled on Frenchman Bay in downtown Bar Harbor and has a wellness spa offering massages and other body treatments. The hotel has a marina onsite, as well as an oceanfront pool, hot tub, poolside dining, and tennis courts. The marina services and daily docking fees are detailed on the hotel website. There’s a private club available to rent for events and weddings of anywhere from 10 to 300 guests at the hotel too.
Carriage House Cottage near Acadia National Park
This carriage house cottage is a guesthouse for up to three people and has one bedroom and one bathroom. It is cozy and affordable in a rural setting and a central location close to trails and the downtown. The cottage has a kitchenette, internet, small TV, and good cell phone signal. It is about 150 feet from the main residence on the property, which used to be a family farm. The Airbnb host provides you with outdoor adventure gear, such as a canoe, paddles, a daypack, hiking sticks, a cooler, and more.
Bar Harbor Grand Hotel
For lots of historic charm to go with your modern conveniences, book a room at the Bar Harbor Grand Hotel, one of the best hotels in Bar Harbor. This impressive hotel is just minutes from Acadia National Park and a replica of the historic Rodick House. It is an elegant and sophisticated place to stay, with rocking chairs on the front porch and a relaxing vibe. There are lots of amenities to look forward to during your stay, such as a heated pool, jacuzzi, gift shop, and complimentary continental breakfast.
Narrows Too Camping Resort
The Narrows Too Camping Resort is a camping-style option for your Bar Harbor trip. This resort offers RV parking and cozy cabins for rent. You’ll enjoy views overlooking Mt. Desert Island and be in a great location to visit the Oceanarium, lobster hatchery, and other local attractions. The resort is pet-friendly if you’d like to bring your dog along. The campground is typically open between May and October, and there are 531 sites available. The list of resort amenities at the Narrows Too Camping Resort includes a clubhouse, swimming pool, Wi-Fi, store, dog park, and laundry facilities.
Balance Rock Inn
The Balance Rock Inn is a secluded and historic New England inn and ocean retreat in Bar Harbor. It is a boutique hotel with a waterfront location and serene atmosphere. This used to be a summer retreat during the Gilded Age, and today, it has been updated with modern amenities to welcome travelers. You can learn some interesting history when you stay here for a vacation. There are 27 rooms at this hotel and an exclusive restaurant called The Veranda. This AAA Four Diamond restaurant serves cuisine with ingredients sourced from local farmers and foragers.
The Bayview Hotel
The Bayview Hotel is a romantic Maine hotel that is well-appointed with 26 guest rooms. All of the rooms are directly on the ocean with private decks. This luxury hotel has an onsite bar/lounge specializing in small plates and craft cocktails. The Bayview is a pet-friendly hotel that has also partnered with a spa provider to offer treatment packages. Spa appointments take place less than a mile away at Destination Health. If you are celebrating something special, you can book a package or add enhancements, such as hand-dipped strawberries and a bottle of Champagne.
Ocean View Cedar Chalet
The Ocean View Cedar Chalet is 10 minutes from Acadia National Park and on a wooded lot overlooking Frenchmen’s Bay. This is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house with water views from nearly every room. Inside the home, you’ll have an open-concept kitchen and a living/dining area that’s perfect for spending time with family and friends. It has a large deck, great for watching the sunsets. You can access the ocean from a private boardwalk that is shared with the host’s log cabin. This log cabin is available to rent on Vrbo as well if you have a larger travel group.
Petunia Cottage: Large Victorian in Bar Harbor
The Petunia Cottage is a vacation rental option for large groups because it has seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. The Queen Anne Victorian home was built in 1877 and is in Bar Harbor’s Historic West Street District. This is a central location for accessing the shops downtown and walking across Bridge Street to Bar Island. The outside of the home offers a wrap-around porch with chairs, while the back porch has an outdoor table and chairs with a gas grill. The home has modern kitchen appliances, and you’ll find a billiards table and board games for entertainment. This is a very family-friendly rental with travel cribs available.
The Deer Tent at Woods of Eden Glampground
The Deer Tent is a top Airbnb rental in Bar Harbor that accommodates six people glamping-style. It is a unique accommodation option on 24 wooded acres of land and has all the comforts of home. With this tent rental, you’ll be in the Woods of Eden Glampground and have your own bathroom, bedrooms, kitchenette, deck, and gas grill. The tent has a loft to split up the bedrooms, and the kitchen has a small fridge, microwave, and other small appliances. There is a communal fire pit outside with free firewood.
Enchanting Bar Harbor Cottage
A Vrbo option for your trip to Bar Harbor is this 900-square-foot cottage that sleeps four people. The cottage has two bedrooms and one bathroom in a rustic atmosphere with a rocky beach just 450 feet away. This vacation rental near Acadia National Park is a great home base for getting out in nature because it is just three minutes from the main park entrance and visitor center. From here, it’s also five minutes to downtown Bar Harbor. Book this Vrbo for a glamping-style experience. It is on the same property as another main cottage, but you’ll still have privacy during your stay. You can bring a dog weighing less than 50 pounds with you for a $25 pet fee.
The South End of a Restored Barn
A unique way to experience Bar Harbor is to book this barn Airbnb with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Five people can stay here and enjoy a 160-year-old barn that is centrally located on Mt. Desert Island. The rental is about 15 minutes from Bar Harbor and 10 minutes from the Acadia National Park entrance. You’ll have a new kitchen, a loft space for reading and watching TV, and original fixtures to admire. The Airbnb host will let you borrow the bikes onsite to explore the area. The island bus service will pick you up just across the road and is a free and easy way to get to Bar Harbor and the national park.
The Acadia Hotel–Downtown
A boutique hotel option to consider in Bar Harbor is The Acadia Hotel–Downtown, which was originally built to be a ship captain’s house in 1880. There is a main house and attached boat house offering a variety of guest rooms inside today. The rooms have modern amenities and a quirky vibe. Guests staying here can use the seasonal hot tub, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary bikes. Continental breakfast is served, and there is also a 24-hour gym onsite.
Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort
If you are interested in camping for your trip to Bar Harbor, consider the Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort. This top-rated Bar Harbor campground lets you park your RV right on the water, enjoy sites with panoramic views, or pitch a tent to get back to nature. It is a pet-friendly resort with lots of amenities, including a clubhouse, playground, Wi-Fi, game room, laundry facilities, and swimming pool. Some fun activities are also scheduled at the camping resort, like magic shows and ice cream socials.
Rocko's Cottage Nestled in the Heart of Downtown
With about 900 square feet of space, two bedrooms, and one bathroom, this cottage is on a side street in the downtown area of Bar Harbor. It is a pet-friendly vacation rental that is within walking distance of over 25 restaurants. The cottage dates back to 2005 and is comfortably furnished for up to four people. It has an equipped kitchen, an open floor plan, and a bathroom with a shower.
Saltair Inn
Bar Harbor also has some highly recommended B&Bs, including the romantic Saltair Inn. This is a waterfront bed and breakfast inn with seasonal rates ranging from $165 to $575 per night. The rooms and suites come with full gourmet breakfasts each morning, Wi-Fi, and free off-street parking. There are common areas in the inn where you can socialize with other guests. These areas include the guest parlor, dining room, living room, sunroom with snacks and beverages, and the outdoor seating area that overlooks Frenchman Bay. Check out the games and hiking/biking guides in the guest parlor for inspiration.
