Yes, we have 4 charging stations available which are currently complimentary for guests.
Category: Atlantic Oceanside Hotel
A list of frequently asked questions about the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel,
an oceanfront hotel in Bar Harbor, ME offering the best rates, just one mile from Acadia National Park and historic downtown
Where can I buy a National Park Pass for Acadia National Park?
For your convenience, Acadia National Park Passes available for purchase at the front desk.
In addition, Acadia National Park provides 3 ways to purchase a pass, automated Fee Machines, Purchase and Print online, or In-Person Sales locations.
Automated Fee Machines
Three types of weekly passes (Vehicle, Motorcycle, Individual) may be purchased by credit card from automated fee machines available year round 24 hours a day.
One is located at a pavilion in the parking lot the Hulls Cove Visitor Center.
Another is available inside a gatehouse at the entrance to the Schoodic Institute on the Schoodic Peninsula.
A variety of other annual and lifetime passes can be purchased online or at in-person sales locations listed below.
Online: Purchase and Print
Enjoy the convenience of purchasing your pass before you arrive. Once you have printed your pass, you can head directly to a trailhead or parking lot and leave the printed pass on your dashboard.
Note: Entrance passes must be printed before you arrive at the park, so they can be displayed on your vehicle’s dashboard. If you have a Cadilac Summit Vehicle Reservation, download or screen capture your QR (square confirmation) code to display at the check station. Cell service in Acadia is extremely limited, and you may not be able to retrieve your reservation once in the park.
Acadia Passes
Head to recreation.gov for Acadia-specific passes, permits, and fees; including camping, Cadillac Mountain vehicle reservations, and group climbing.
Note: If arriving by rental car, please select “Rental Vehicle” in the Vehicle Type drop-down menu.
Mobile App: Use the Recreation.gov App to reserve a campsite, buy a Cadillac Summit Vehicle Reservation, or purchase an entrance pass.
National Parks and Federal Lands Passes
Go here to learn more about federal lands passes and to get your own.
In Person Sales Locations
The complete variety of park entrance passes are available for purchase in person at these five park locations:
A fee station along the Park Loop Road at Schooner Head Road (open year round)
Hulls Cove Visitor Center
Blackwoods Campground
Schoodic Woods Campground
Seawall Campground
Acadia entrance passes are also available for purchase in-person at third-party sellers. These locations are not operated by the National Park Service and do not offer federal lands passes.
Jordan Pond Gift Shop
Acadia Regional Chamber of Commerce at Thompson Island
Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Cottage Street
Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce
Mount Desert Chamber of Commerce
Southwest Harbor/Tremont Chamber of Commerce
Is there a charge for parking?
On-site parking is available for our guests, and there is no charge for using these parking areas during your stay with us. If you will be traveling with a vehicle which doesn’t fit in a standard parking spot, please contact us for details regarding parking accommodations.
Are gift cards available?
Share the gift of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park! Gift cards are available in pre-designated and custom values, and they can be acquired here: https://barharbormainehotel.com/gift-card/
What is the hotel’s cancellation / deposit policy?
DEPOSIT POLICY
All Reservations require an advanced credit card deposit equal to the first night’s lodging, processed at the time of booking. All major credit cards are accepted (NOTE: the credit card used at booking does not need to be the same card to be used during your stay), and Visa and Master Card are preferred.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY
In the event a confirmed reservation must be cancelled or rescheduled, the following policies apply:
HIGH SEASON, HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS (May 1 – October 31)
REFUND:
For a cancellation received at least eight (8) days prior to the arrival date, a deposit is refundable, minus a $25 administrative fee.
NO REFUND:
A deposit is non-refundable for a cancellation received seven (7) or fewer days prior to the arrival date.
LOW SEASON, EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS (November 1 – April 30)
A reservation can be cancelled no later than 10am of the arrival date and will not incur a cancellation fee. If a reservation is cancelled after 10am of the arrival date, a one night cancellation fee will be charged.
Have a gift card? While gift cards are welcome and can be applied during your stay (up to and including the full cost of your stay) they are not taken as deposit for a reservation and must instead be reserved with a credit card at time of booking.
Can I book a reservation using a gift card?
Have a gift card? While gift cards are welcome and can be applied during your stay (up to and including the full cost of your stay) they are not taken as deposit for a reservation and must instead be reserved with a credit card at the time of booking.
Upon check-in, alternate forms of payment are accepted, including gift cards.
What range of activities are there in Bar Harbor / Acadia National Park?
- Shopping
- Drinking & Dining
- Movies
- Live Music
- Hiking
- Walking
- Running
- Rock Climbing
- Biking
- Fishing
- Bird watching
- Sailing & Boat tours
- Photography / Night Photography
Halloween in Bar Harbor: A Ghostly Guide to October Fun
Bar Harbor in October is hauntingly beautiful, with the trees painted in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows, and residents’ houses decked out with jack-o-lanterns and spooky décor. Here on Mount Desert Island, we take our holidays seriously, especially for their opportunities to gather and connect as a community—just take our 4th of July or Christmas celebrations for example. And Halloween in Bar Harbor is no exception. We lean on the rich history of our town to bring spooky stories to life and plan lots of activities that get us out into the beautiful, crisp October air.
If you’re a fan of eerie thrills or just happen to be visiting our island this time of year, read on to find 4 things to do in Bar Harbor in October that encompass the magic of Halloween.
Exploring the Haunted Side of Bar Harbor
The Wabanaki, Maine’s native people, have inhabited the area in and around Bar Harbor for 12,000 years and the land is steeped in indigenous spirit tales, burial grounds and more. In addition, our town is full of grand summer estates dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries that are ripe for paranormal activity. The Ledgelawn Inn, for example, was built in 1904 and is largely considered the most haunted building on the island, visited by the ghost of Mary Margaret. For those brave enough, there are two options for delving into the chilling mysteries of Bar Harbor.
Bar Harbor Ghost Tours is a 100% Native American Owned and family operated tour company that offers four different ways to explore the spooky stories of our town. Each tour is thoroughly researched and led by experienced, local storytellers. The historically dressed guides guide the way with their eery blue lanterns through Bar Harbor’s ghostly hot spots, telling tales of spirited encounters and even giving you the chance to listen to an Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) of a resident spirit. Cameras are encouraged to capture evidence of orbs, apparitions and other things that go bump in the night. Tours are typically 90 minutes, set just after sunset and cover varying distances.
The Bar Harbor Ghost Walk is run by American Ghost Walks and focuses on the history of Ledgelawn Inn and the jilted bride who wanders its halls. Tour guests will learn about 3 major types of ghosts: residual manifestations, intelligent hauntings, and poltergeists on their walk through Bar Harbor. Trailing along the shore path at night, with more stories of strange goings-on at the Balance Rock Inn and the legendary Bar Harbor Club, this is true spine-tingling activity.
Our Own Spooky Stories
Like much of Bar Harbor, some of Witham’s properties are also historical residences full of stories of residents and guests. The Willows, a historic estate on the grounds of the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel, is rumored to be haunted by a young girl. General Manager of the AO, Dede Daigle, shares that staff at the 1913 property have seen lights turn on suddenly in parlor, or doors close of their own accord. But to understand these wandering spirits you must go back to when the building was erected. Miss Charlotte Baker and Miss Clara B. Spence summered together each year in their Regency style seaside mansion. Together they adopted four children, perhaps the culprits of the strange sightings around the Willows today.
Originally built as a literary and social club, the Bar Harbor Inn, likewise has rich history. “Well, we have lots of stories…” said Jeremy Dougherty, Manager of the Bar Harbor Inn. The Reading Room, especially holds the stories—and spirits—of yachtsmen, US Naval officers, victims of the 1947 fire, and hotel guests past.
“There have been multiple times when I’ll be here by myself at the end of the season, everyone has gone home, the lights are off, there are no guests,” Jeremy begins. “I would come downstairs from my office above the dining room and as I walked through history hall, I would hear the sounds of people dining,” he said. Knives and forks scraping on plates, glasses clinking, and the muffled voices of diners. But then he would arrive at the restaurant, and no one would be there, the Reading Room blanketed in darkness. “And I’d think, that’s enough for today!” Let the ghosts have their dinner.
These haunting sounds were not the only inexplicable occurrence at the Inn. At the start of the season, staff have claimed to hear a woman’s voice calling sweetly, “Oh, you’re back.” In the winter, room 120 in the main hotel crackled with paranormal activity, the TV frequently turning on unbidden. Spend a few nights in the Inn and you may unknowingly bump shoulders with one of its spirits.
Trick or Treat in Bar Harbor
What would Halloween in Bar Harbor be without costumes and candy? To ensure the evening of traipsing is safe for all, the town of Bar Harbor closes Ledgelawn Ave. to vehicles between 3pm and 8:30pm. Groups of witches, monsters, fairy tale characters, and superheroes hustle from door to door, enticed by residents’ extravagant decorations and gossip of who has the king-sized candy bars. In fact, children from all around the island carpool to this stretch of downtown for some of the best trick or treat in Bar Harbor. Southwest Harbor also hosts their annual Trunk or Treat at the Southwest Harbor Congregational Church where residents post up with cars adorned in spooky décor to hand out candy, play games, and more!
Acadia Oktoberfest
If you’re looking for more fun things to do in Bar Harbor in October, the Acadia Oktoberfest is an event with something for everyone in the family. The festival is more than just beer—although there are 10 different craft brewing vendors in attendance. It also includes local food trucks, wine tastings, craft vendors, live music, and ale-themed games like stein hoisting and the keg toss. It’s a great way to sample local brews, chat with residents, and enjoy the “quietside” of Mount Desert Island. Tickets are $10-35 depending on the amount of tasting you plan to do!
While You’re Here, Enjoy Acadia in October
The national park gets in the holiday spirit too. Halloween in Bar Harbor happens to coincide with the end of peak leaf peeping season for our region of Maine’s coast. The forests of Acadia in October begin to shed their bright red and orange leaves and transform into spindly, spooky fingers reaching to the skies. October’s moon, the Hunter’s moon, will be waning by the end of the month, adding to the perfect Halloween backdrop. For an eerie adventure, visit the park at night to enjoy excellent stargazing. We especially love to bring a blanket and settle down at Seawall where you can get stellar views and the mesmerizing sound of ocean waves.
From spine-chilling ghost tours at the historic Ledgelawn Inn to vibrant community celebrations, Bar Harbor in October offers a unique blend of eerie tales and festive gatherings. Explore haunted histories and enjoy local traditions under a canopy of fiery fall foliage, making your visit a memorable blend of thrill and enchantment. Whether seeking ghostly adventures or festive fun, Bar Harbor invites you to experience its mystical charm firsthand. And if you have any spooky stories from your stay in Bar Harbor, feel free to email us and share them to add to our town’s Halloween lore.
Winter in Bar Harbor
The Best Time to Go to Acadia National Park
Picture this: Acadia’s iconic Park Loop Road padded with a few inches of bright snow and patterned with cross country ski tracks and snowshoe prints. Freshly formed icicles glisten on the pink granite cliffs. A white-tailed deer steps carefully through the quiet forest among pine boughs weighed down under their white blankets. And the best part? You have it almost entirely to yourself.
There’s something truly magical about winter in Acadia National Park and we invite you to join us and experience its quiet splendor. Read our suggestions for how to spend the off season on Mount Desert Island and you too might be convinced that winter is the best season to visit Acadia National Park. Just grab your puffy, mittens and Bean boots.
Winter in Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor
By the end of October, Bar Harbor’s riot of colorful fall foliage has faded, and Mount Desert Island returns to its true form: a small, waterfront town of only about 5,000 year-round residents who fiercely love their little slice of Maine’s coast. “It’s quieter, people are just more relaxed, and everything moves a little slower,” says Rebecca Brann, general manager of the Bar Harbor Villager Motel. “It really sets the tone for the season.”
Winter in Bar Harbor gives visitors of glimpse of our town’s quirky traditions, access to Acadia’s sweeping views and winding carriage roads, and a chance to rest, relax and absorb the quiet beauty and slow pace of the season. Whether you’re looking for a winter workout, some holiday shopping, or a relaxing dip in a hot tub, we’ve got plenty of great suggestions for how to spend winter in Bar Harbor.
Book Your Winter Lodging
One of the few year-round lodgings in Bar Harbor, you couldn’t pick a better place to spend your winter nights than the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel. Each room boasts uninterrupted views of Frenchman Bay so every morning can be spent sipping hot coffee in front of your French doors, with a slow sunrise over the snow dotted beach.
Our indoor pool and hot tub stay open throughout the year, where you might bump into locals using their pool passes to get in a few laps under the greenhouse style roof.
The Bistro is a popular winter meeting spot for residents and visitors alike, where seasonal cocktails, craft beers and a locally inspired menu can be enjoyed beside floor to ceiling windows overlooking the water. “We have a fireplace. Come in, enjoy dinner, see the snow falling,” invites Dede Daigle, general manager of the Atlantic Oceanside. Plus, on special winter nights, The Bistro also hosts local music, open mics, and the occasional comedy set. You can always give us a ring to see what’s on deck.
The Atlantic Oceanside is also home to an event center, Bar Harbor’s go-to spot for meetings, conferences, private celebrations and more. With options for full-service catering, presentation technology and anything else you might need to make your event perfect, we’re prepared to welcome your group to Bar Harbor any time of year. You can also follow the Atlantic Oceanside on Facebook or Instagram to see announcements about public events like lobster bakes and film screenings.
With a cozy bed squared away, you’re ready for some winter adventures.
First Sunrise in the US at Cadillac Mountain
A sunrise hike up Cadillac Mountain is always a good idea, but it takes on a special quality between October and March of each year. Starting on October 7th, Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the United States that the sun touches so a hike to the summit during these months means you’ll be welcoming the day before anyone else in the country. You can take one of three routes up Acadia’s tallest peak or walk the curving summit road. In winter, it’s not uncommon to arrive at the trailhead and find the path ahead untouched by people, ready for you to make the first tracks through the snow.
If you’re looking for a truly exceptional winter hiking experience, we suggest a full moon hike of Cadillac. The snowy path practically glows in the light of a winter moon, and patches of exposed granite sparkle along the way. You’ll be rewarded at the summit with a serene landscape of frozen lakes, islands like cupcakes frosted with snow, and the sense that you could reach up and touch the moon. There are a few opportunities throughout winter in Acadia National Park to experience this wonder but our favorite is the Wolf Moon on January 25th of 2024 which reaches peak brightness just past midnight.
“I hike all winter,” says Dede. “There are so many trails that you can do, even if you don’t have ice grippers.” Thanks to the gravel carriage roads and wealth of granite on Mount Desert Island, many of the park’s trails remain manageable even in the winter months. And if you find yourself in need of winter hiking gear, Dede assures that Bar Harbor’s local outdoor gear stores stay open during the off season, ready to equip you with spikes, trekking poles, and more.
Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing & More
Winter in Acadia national park makes road access by car limited, but that doesn’t mean trails are closed! Just as the carriage roads are perfect for biking in the summer months, they make ideal cross country ski and snowshoe trails when snow coats the ground. Volunteers set tracks and groom sections of the carriage roads to make these 45 miles of scenic trails even more perfect for winter recreation. Spend early mornings gliding around Eagle Lake alongside residents or bring the whole family for afternoons passing under stone bridges or pausing for a snowball fight in the amphitheater. You can bring your own equipment or rent from a local shop like Cadillac Mountain Sports or Alpenglow Adventure Sports.
Some of Acadia’s lakes and ponds also freeze during the winter and, for savvy skaters, can make beautiful spots to ice skate. Just make sure to check the depth of the ice and be prepared for the uneven surfaces that come with ungroomed, natural skating.
Ice climbers also flock to Acadia in winter, eager to try their skills on frozen waterfalls and columns of clear blue ice that form on our granite cliffs. There are a number of guide services that welcome beginners to this winter sport, like Equinox and Acadia Mountain Guides.
Pajama Sale? Bed Races? Say What?
For more than 25 years, the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce has organized an event wholly unique to our Mount Desert Island community: the Early Bird Pajama Sale. In mid-November, the town rolls out of bed and hits the streets of Bar Harbor in their pajamas to score deals on holiday gifts and more from 30+ participating local businesses. When else will you find people shopping in slippers and long johns than winter in Bar Harbor?
By mid-morning, the second Mount Desert Island winter tradition kicks off. Local businesses and organizations form teams to build and decorate souped up bed frames, some elaborate enough to rival Macy’s parade floats. They race through downtown, pajama-clad crowds cheering them on to win first place and bragging rights for the year. The fun isn’t over yet!
In early December, Santa Claus makes his appearance in Bar Harbor for the Village Holidays celebration. Neighbors pass around free hot cocoa, the YMCA hosts kid friendly activities like ornament making and cookie decorating, and the town tree is lit for the first time as the sun sets. The holiday season truly shifts into high gear with the start of the Midnight Madness sale where local shops keep their doors open late into the night for shoppers to find their perfect presents and grab a few discounts along the way.
When the streets are cleared of tourists, Bar Harbor’s shenanigans come out, celebrating the success of another busy summer concluded and adding a sparkle to everyone’s eye before we settle in to rest and recuperate for the coming spring. Exhilarating and silly, these unique winter traditions keep the community connected and help support local businesses in the dark months.
A Magical Winter Sabbatical
The truth is you don’t need an activity to bring you to Bar Harbor in winter. We might be biased but we think Mount Desert Island is the perfect place for a sabbatical. From your room, you can enjoy the quiet winter landscape while you work on a novel, research paper, or just get away for a bit. Visit the public library to pick up new reading material or attend an author talk. “In the winter, most guests are happy to just sink into a chair and read for a few hours,” says Bethany Reece, general manager of the Acadia Inn.
Bundle up and stroll the shore path, watching the lobstermen still hard at work pulling traps from the deep waters where crustaceans hang out in this season. Or enjoy views of Somes Sound and the Bass Harbor lighthouse along Sargent Drive, from the safety of a heated car. Hungry? In the winter, local restaurants often rotate which days they open so there’s always somewhere to grab a hot bowl of chowder and a beer.
Winter Wonder Awaits
As snow dusts the rugged landscape of Mount Desert Island, there lies a secret waiting to be discovered by those who dare to venture to Downeast Maine in winter: Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park at their most serene. Days spent tracing the cross-country ski trails, winter hiking to watch the first rays of the sun grace America atop Cadillac or sharing in the cheer of Bar Harbor’s quirky winter traditions; this off-season haven is full of memories waiting to be made.
Full time residents cherish this quiet time of year on Mount Desert Island. By letting you in on the best time to visit Bar Harbor, Maine, we’re trusting you to maintain the beautiful, peaceful nature of our little island. We welcome you to join us for winter in Acadia—just don’t tell too many friends!