Acadia National Park is the fifth most-visited national park in the United States, following closely behind the Grand Canyon and Zion. With dense woodland and miles of coastline around the Schoodic Peninsula, it’s not difficult to see why it’s so popular!
But Acadia sits on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine which is right on the edge of the North Atlantic seaboard. For visitors who don’t live in New England, that’s pretty remote.
All international travelers and most domestic travelers will need to fly to Acadia National Park closest airport before they can explore the area. Local airports that are convenient for domestic travelers may not be the same as international visitors. It’s essential you know about all the major airports near the national park before clicking ‘book’.
Luckily, this guide will help you find the closest international airport or smaller airport for domestic flights with the best deals that work for your trip. It has all the essential info you need like the drive time, mileage, directions, airlines connected to these airports, and more!
1. Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) – 9.4 Miles
Easily taking the number one spot for Acadia National Park closest airport, Hancock County Airport is a super small airport just outside of the national park in Trenton. Although it’s the nearest airport, it only welcomes nonstop flights from Boston via one airline (Cape Air).
While this isn’t necessarily bad thing, Cape Air flies small propeller jets with very limited passenger capacity (i.e. less than 10 people per flight). If you’re a family of 4 (or more), it may be hard to book a flight that accommodates everyone.
That said, there are definitely connecting flights from Boston Logan International Airport on Cape Air to Bar Harbor Airport.
Since Bar Harbor is SO close to the park, flying into Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport is a good option if you’d prefer not to hire a rental car and get around via public transport instead. This might be easier than you think with the Island Explorer bus service!
How to Get Around Acadia National Park via Public Transport
The Island Explorer bus service connects Acadia National Park closest airport, which is Hancock County Airport, to several areas around the park.
With 10 different routes, you won’t have any problems getting to the park’s closest town of Bar Harbor or Hulls Cove Visitor Center and Gift Shop. You can walk any of the hiking trails or visit remote scenic spots like Thunder Hole, Sieur de Monts Spring, or Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.
You could hike Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain and highest point in the park, without having to drive back down Cadillac Summit Road to your accommodation with sore legs afterward!
If you’re wondering where the best place to stay is in Acadia National Park so you can easily get around by bus, stay in Downtown Bar Harbor or at one of the campgrounds inside the park like Seawall Campground. This will give you easy access to the nature center where you can follow a guide to spot peregrine falcons or Otter Cliff where you can see the cute creatures on the rocky beaches at low tide.
There are route maps and timetables available for each one:
- Bar Harbor Road
- Eden Street
- Sand Beach
- Park Loop Road
- Jordan Pond
- Northeast Harbor
- Southwest Harbor
- Schoodic/Winter Harbor
- Trenton
- Blackwoods
- Tremont
- Highbrook
- Bicycle Express
What’s even better is that the Island Explorer bus is free with your park pass! The cost of this pass starts from $20 per person and you can buy it in advance from the National Park Service. It also includes the ferry across the high tide from Winter Harbor.
You won’t be able to drive along the historic carriage roads in Acadia and it can be difficult to find a parking lot to leave your car during peak seasons anyway. Leaving your car at home to explore Acadia could be a good way to enjoy your vacation here for lots of reasons!
That said, with a family, chances are you’ll want your own mode of transportation for flexibility. So a rental car or minivan is likely going to be what you need if you’re flying into any of these airports.
- Driving time to Hulls Cove Entrance: 15 minutes
- Airlines Flying to BHB: Cape Air
2. Bangor International Airport (BGR) – 48.2 Miles
The city of Bangor is one of the closest major cities to Acadia National Park. Despite what the name suggests, Bangor International Airport is a fairly small airport and currently only welcomes direct flights from other US cities.
These are New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, Charlotte, and four cities in Florida.
For this reason, is a good choice for domestic travelers either living near these cities or those able to get good connecting flights to these cities.
There are lots of rental companies including Budget, Enterprise, and Alamo and it’s only a one-hour drive from the park, making it a great option when choosing the best Acadia National Park closest airport.
No matter which route you take, it’s a scenic drive from Bangor to Acadia as you’ll pass so many beautiful lakes. Branch Lake and Green Lake, in particular, are great road trip stops.
To get from Bangor to Acadia National Park, head to Ellsworth where you’ll continue on U.S. Route 1 before heading down Hwy 186. Eventually, you’ll reach the yield sign where you’ll drive for only half a mile before arriving on the Schoodic Peninsula.
- Driving time to Hulls Cove Entrance: 1 hour
- Airlines Flying to BGR: Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines
3. Knox County (Rockland) Regional Airport (RKD) – 85.5 Miles
While only a short distance away from Acadia by car, Knox County Regional Airport is probably not the best option for your national parks vacation.
Like Hancock County Airport, only Boston flights fly into Knox County and no national airlines serve this airport. And if your plan is to fly into Boston Logan International Airport for a connecting flight, you might as well fly into Hancock instead!
However, Knox County Regional Airport is located right off U.S. Route 1, the Atlantic Highway, which is the main road to Acadia National Park.
It’s a scenic coastal road open year-round with beautiful views of islands (you might Acadia’s Isle au Haut) and rugged cliffs. This route also passes Fort Knox which is a great place for a road trip stop.
- Driving time to Hulls Cove Entrance: 2 hours
- Airlines Flying to RKD: Cape Air
4. Augusta State Airport (AUG) – 120 Miles
Augusta State Airport might seem similar to Knox County Airport. They are both smaller airports in Maine, but Augusta is a little better connected via major airlines. It welcomes flights from Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Washington DC.
Considering Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth are huge international airports, Augusta State Airport is a much better choice for overseas travelers. Despite not being the top Acadia National Park closest airport option, it takes just as long to drive there from Augusta State than Knox County.
The most popular route to take to Acadia from Augusta State Airport is through the city of Bangor. Or, you can head to the coast to take in some of the sights of the national park from a distance.
You can get a cheap car rental at both Knox County Regional Airport and Augusta State Airports, but they are smaller so vehicle reservation in advance is a must.
- Driving time to Hulls Cove Entrance: 2 hours
- Airlines Flying to AUG: American Airlines and Delta
5. Portland International Jetport (PWM) – 175 Miles
Portland International Jetport is another major international airport relatively close to Acadia National Park that also doesn’t currently offer any international direct flights, unfortunately.
Around 19 US cities offer direct flights to Portland International Jetport including several New York City airports, multiple Washington DC airports, and cities further afield like Denver and Orlando.
It’s the best airport for many domestic travelers who prefer to fly particular national airlines that don’t travel to any of the other Acadia National Park closest airport options.
You can easily rent a car at Portland International Jetport and either drive through Bangor or along the Maine coastline to reach Acadia.
- Driving time to Hulls Cove Entrance: 2 hours and 50 minutes
- Airlines Flying to PWM: American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines
6. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) – 269 Miles
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire is yet another great airport for domestic travelers venturing on a fun Acadia National Park vacation. Around 11 cities have direct flights to this airport which are Baltimore, Charlotte, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City, Orlando, Raleigh, Tampa, Myrtle Beach, and Fort Lauderdale.
This isn’t the largest airport in the region so it doesn’t offer as many direct flights as Portland International Jetport, but it has other benefits for domestic travelers.
First, it’s connected via major national airlines. Second, flying into Manchester-Boston Airport rather than Boston International Airport if you are renting a car is the best way to save money and headaches.
Driving around Boston can be a bit challenging for visitors (although on a drivability-difficulty scale of let’s say Fargo, North Dakota to New York…Boston is definitely easier to negotiate than NYC. Having lived in Boston for several years myself I pinky swear that’s the truth).
- Driving time to Hulls Cove Entrance: 4 hours and 10 minutes
- Airlines Flying to MHT: American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines
7. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) – 276 Miles
Finally, Boston Logan International Airport is the only nearest major airport to Acadia National Park where there are direct international flights! Logan Airport welcomes flights from a whopping 79 US cities and 55 cities worldwide.
Direct flights are available to Boston Airport from Abu Dhabi in the UAE, London in the UK, and many places in between! Boston Logan International Airport is the best Acadia National Park closest airport option if you are an international traveler. You can then take a connecting flight to make of the airports listed here or rent a car from the airport and embark on a road trip.
On paper, the trip from Boston Logan Airport to Acadia NP takes about 4 hours, 45 minutes. But that’s without ANY traffic. And in all honesty, you’re going to hit at least a little traffic most likely somewhere along the route.
That said, driving from Boston to Acadia National Park is a great way to see more of the East Coast! You can stop at any coffee shop or ice cream shop you want en route for sustenance and visit awesome places like Rockland, Goose Island, and Salem.
- Driving time to Hulls Cove Entrance: 4 hours and 20 minutes
- Airlines Flying to BOS: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Alaska, Azores Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Cape Air, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, and 30+ others
OR, spend a couple nights in Boston! It’s my favorite US city, and a great place to teach the kids about some history of the founding of our nation (in a fun way)!
Check out a historian-led (and often wardrobed in period costume) walking tour of the Freedom Trail. I’d recommend going through this company…the original and best, in my opinion. My family LOVED this tour. Bonus: tickets aren’t required for children under 6.
And definitely check out the Boston Tea Party Museum! It’s not a stodgy “Mom, I’m bored” kind of museum. The kids will love touring these full-sized replicas of 18th century ships, and of course, throwing crates of tea overboard into the harbor.
Acadia National Park Closest Airport FAQs
What airport do you fly into to visit Acadia National Park?
Domestic travelers tend to agree that Bangor International Airport is the best Acadia National Park closest airport. Travelers who like to fly Southwest Airlines often prefer Manchester-Boston Regional Airport as the best choice for the Acadia National Park closest airport.
International travelers embarking on an East Coast/New England road trip usually find better deals for international flights to Boston Logan International Airport.
How far is it from Boston to Acadia National Park?
It is 280 miles from Boston to Acadia National Park. This will take approximately four hours and 45 minutes to drive along I-95 (without accounting for any traffic…which there will likely be).
Can you fly from NYC to Acadia National Park?
You can absolutely fly from New York City to Acadia National Park. Newark and LaGuardia airports both offer direct flights to Bangor International Airport in Maine via multiple airlines like Delta and United.
What is the closest major city to Acadia National Park?
Bangor is the closest major city to Acadia National Park as it’s only 50 miles away. The closest internationally-recognized city to Acadia National Park is Boston in Massachusetts which is 275 miles away.
Whichever airport you decide upon, enjoy your family’s trip to Acadia, Maine! No matter how you get there, you’re sure to be captivated by the allure of this one of a kind, US national park!
Digging Deeper
Looking for more information about Acadia NP or other travel tips for more amazing US national parks? Be sure to check out these articles, too:
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