Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park, and where you stay shapes the whole trip. Walk to Main Street from a historic inn, let the kids loose at a hotel pool after a day on Cadillac Mountain, or splurge on an oceanfront suite overlooking Frenchman Bay. This guide covers all of it in one place, organized by exactly what you’re looking for: luxury, boutique, family-friendly, and budget.
Quick picks if you’re short on time:
| Category | Top Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | The Pathmaker Hotel | Bar Harbor’s newest boutique hotel, two blocks from the Bar Island sand bar |
| Best Luxury | Cleftstone Inn | Restored 1884 Millionaire’s Row mansion with a pool and steam room |
| Best Boutique | Yellow House Inn | Personal service, unique rooms, loaded amenities |
| Best Family-Friendly | Bluenose Inn | Indoor + outdoor pools, hot tub, steam room |
| Best Budget | Bar Harbor Villager Motel | Clean, walkable, seasonal pool, low rates |
Prices swing hard by season; July and August command a premium, while June and September offer the same views for noticeably less. Book 3–4 months out for peak summer, since Bar Harbor’s room count is small relative to demand.
Best Hotels in Bar Harbor Overall
The Pathmaker Hotel
The Pathmaker is Bar Harbor’s newest boutique hotel, tucked at 77 Cottage Street just two blocks from the sand bar to Bar Island and a short stroll from downtown’s shops and restaurants. Rooms feature elevated décor with American-made Ethan Allen furnishings, smart TVs, and mini fridges, a contemporary contrast to the town’s antique-heavy inns.
Guests consistently praise the included breakfast and the on-site restaurant, and with 45 rooms and an on-site parking garage, it’s an easy, low-hassle base for exploring both Bar Harbor and Acadia.
Bar Harbor Inn
A Bar Harbor institution dating to the 1800s, the Bar Harbor Inn delivers panoramic Frenchman Bay views, a private oceanfront lawn, and four dining options ranging from casual to fine dining at the Reading Room Restaurant. Complimentary breakfast and an on-site spa make it a strong all-around choice for couples and families alike.
Ask for a room in the Oceanfront Lodge for the best water views; the historic Main Inn has more character but fewer direct-water rooms.
Cleftstone Inn
Built in 1884 on Bar Harbor’s historic Millionaire’s Row and once the summer retreat of Joseph Pulitzer, Cleftstone Inn is one of the few grand “cottages” to survive the 1947 fire and after a full restoration, it’s one of the most distinctive stays in town. Sixteen guest rooms mix Victorian antiques with modern comforts like air conditioning, and select rooms add fireplaces or whirlpool tubs.
Unusually for a historic B&B, Cleftstone also has a swimming pool, a steam room, and a spa tub, plus a three-course breakfast served in the sun room each morning.
Best Luxury Hotels in Bar Harbor
The Pathmaker Hotel
The Pathmaker is Bar Harbor’s newest boutique hotel, tucked at 77 Cottage Street just two blocks from the sand bar to Bar Island and a short stroll from downtown’s shops and restaurants. Rooms feature elevated décor with American-made Ethan Allen furnishings, smart TVs, and mini fridges, a contemporary contrast to the town’s antique-heavy inns.
Guests consistently praise the included breakfast and the on-site restaurant, and with 45 rooms and an on-site parking garage, it’s an easy, low-hassle base for exploring both Bar Harbor and Acadia.
Cleftstone Inn
Built in 1884 on Bar Harbor’s historic Millionaire’s Row and once the summer retreat of Joseph Pulitzer, Cleftstone Inn is one of the few grand “cottages” to survive the 1947 fire and after a full restoration, it’s one of the most distinctive stays in town. Sixteen guest rooms mix Victorian antiques with modern comforts like air conditioning, and select rooms add fireplaces or whirlpool tubs.
Unusually for a historic B&B, Cleftstone also has a swimming pool, a steam room, and a spa tub, plus a three-course breakfast served in the sun room each morning.
Bar Harbor Inn
A Bar Harbor institution dating to the 1800s, the Bar Harbor Inn delivers panoramic Frenchman Bay views, a private oceanfront lawn, and four dining options ranging from casual to fine dining at the Reading Room Restaurant. Complimentary breakfast and an on-site spa make it a strong all-around choice for couples and families alike.
Ask for a room in the Oceanfront Lodge for the best water views; the historic Main Inn has more character but fewer direct-water rooms.
The Claremont Hotel
Twenty-five minutes outside downtown Bar Harbor in Southwest Harbor, The Claremont trades walkability for quiet and scenery, with sweeping views of Cadillac Mountain, a heated pool, private cabanas, and a full spa. It’s a Condé Nast reader favorite and the top choice for travelers who’d rather unwind on a quiet lawn than navigate a busy Main Street.
Family cabins with kitchenettes suit longer stays, while Saturday-night concerts at the Croquet Club and morning lawn yoga give it a resort feel closer to a New England country club than a typical hotel.
Hearthside Inn
A classic 1907 Victorian on a quiet side street downtown, Hearthside Inn pairs historic architecture with fully updated rooms furnished by Ethan Allen. Each of its nine individually decorated rooms has a private bath, and some add a fireplace, porch, balcony, or whirlpool spa tub.
Mornings bring a chef-prepared breakfast, and afternoons an included refreshment hour of homemade treats, a quieter, more intimate alternative to Bar Harbor’s larger luxury hotels, just a short walk from the Abbe Museum and Town Beach.
Best Boutique Hotels in Bar Harbor
Yellow House Inn
Yellow House Inn blends bed-and-breakfast warmth with boutique-hotel polish. Expect a full breakfast spread, happy-hour wine or blueberry margaritas, 24-hour coffee and snacks, and free borrowed gear: Cotopaxi hiking packs, yoga mats, picnic blankets for exploring Acadia. Seven individually decorated rooms mean no two stays feel the same.
Book the Malvern for an antique soaking tub, or Jack’s Room for private French doors onto the wraparound porch.
Bass Cottage & Ullikana
Two adjoining historic cottages turned boutique inns, Bass Cottage & Ullikana sit right across from the waterfront in the heart of downtown. Rooms feature elegant cottage-style decor, 600-thread-count linens, and in some cases private terraces, fireplaces, or harbor views. It’s an old-money-Maine aesthetic without the stuffiness.
Gourmet breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening wine-and-cheese socials are included, making it easy to skip a restaurant reservation some nights.
The Primrose
Dating to 1878 and set on a historic row just 1,500 feet from the Village Green, The Primrose is one of the most character-filled boutique stays in Bar Harbor. Chef-prepared breakfasts, afternoon cookies and pastries, and rooms with smart TVs and plush robes bring modern comfort into a genuinely old building.
Its downtown-adjacent location puts nearly every restaurant in Bar Harbor within an easy walk.
Sand Bar Cottage Inn
Perched on West Street across from the harbor, Sand Bar Cottage Inn was redesigned by Ethan Allen’s Portland Old Port Design Center, giving its 19 rooms and standalone cottages a polished, magazine-ready look without losing the historic bones. Service here consistently draws praise as some of the most attentive in town.
A rotating made-to-order breakfast, afternoon snacks, and evening wine socials come standard.
Little Fig Hotel
Fully renovated in 2022, Little Fig Hotel is a short stroll from the waterfront, the free Island Explorer shuttle, and downtown restaurants. Rooms lean modern and design-forward rather than traditional New England, and all-day coffee and snacks are left out for early risers heading to catch sunrise on Cadillac Mountain.
It’s one of the better boutique picks for travelers who want style without the antique-heavy decor found elsewhere in town.
Queen Anne’s Revenge
Originally five separate 19th-century summer homes, Queen Anne’s Revenge Inn and Suites is Bar Harbor’s most distinctive boutique stay; no two rooms match, and depending on which you book you might get a fireplace, a jetted tub, or a full kitchen. The on-site Black Spot Tavern serves beer, wine, and rum from 2–9 pm, with shuffleboard for mingling with other guests.
A light continental breakfast with pastries and bagels is included each morning.
Best Family-Friendly & Kid-Friendly Hotels in Bar Harbor
Bluenose Inn
Bluenose Inn is the top pick in town for families specifically because of its pools: an indoor heated pool, hot tub, and steam room open 7 am–10 pm, plus a seasonal outdoor pool. Overlooking Frenchman Bay with panoramic views of downtown and the Porcupine Islands, it also runs complimentary bicycles for exploring town or Acadia’s carriage roads.
The Looking Glass Restaurant has a dedicated kids’ breakfast menu and was named Yankee Magazine’s Best Breakfast with a View in Maine.
Atlantic Oceanside Hotel
Set on 12 oceanfront acres, Atlantic Oceanside Hotel gives kids room to roam: two heated pools (one indoor, open year-round; one outdoor, June–September), a beach, a pier, a gazebo, and a play structure. Balcony rooms with ocean views and an on-site restaurant, The Bistro, round out a stay built for families who want space without sacrificing convenience.
Guests consistently mention the grounds, not just the pool, as the reason kids don’t want to leave.
Moseley Cottage Inn & Town Motel
A family-run property since the 1990s, Moseley Cottage Inn & Town Motel sits on a quiet residential side street downtown, an easy walk to the waterfront and shops. The Victorian-era cottage building offers spacious rooms with fireplaces and porches, while the adjoining Town Motel side has simpler, budget-friendly rooms a useful split for families traveling with grandparents or on mixed budgets.
All 18 rooms are air-conditioned with coffee/tea makers, and a lobby fireplace and garden give kids a place to unwind between Acadia outings.
Acadia Inn
Acadia Inn leans hardest into family programming of any hotel in Bar Harbor: family movie nights on the lawn, s’mores by the fire pit, lawn games, and add-on kids’ packages like a Bedtime Story Package, Kiddie Bath Kit, and Kid’s Kampout Package complete with a tent and lantern. A heated pool and hot tub, plus direct trail access to Acadia National Park, complete the picture.
Modern rooms with 32-inch TVs and minifridges keep things comfortable, and a continental breakfast with warm evening cookies is included.
Bar Harbor Grand Hotel
Bar Harbor Grand Hotel sits directly on Main Street in a replica of the historic 1895 Rodick House, with a seasonal outdoor pool and hot tub plus a large front porch that’s popular for evening downtime after a day in Acadia. Its central location means kids can walk to ice cream and shops without a car.
A buffet breakfast, complimentary apple cider, and all-day coffee, tea, and hot cocoa are included.
Best Budget Hotels in Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor Villager Motel
The best value play in downtown Bar Harbor, Bar Harbor Villager Motel puts you within walking distance of Main Street shops and restaurants for a fraction of the nearby inns’ rates. A seasonal outdoor pool and clean, no-frills rooms make it a smart base for travelers prioritizing location and budget over amenities.
Free parking and simple continental breakfast options keep costs predictable.
Moseley Cottage Inn & Town Motel
A family-run property since the 1990s, Moseley Cottage Inn & Town Motel sits on a quiet residential side street downtown, an easy walk to the waterfront and shops. The Victorian-era cottage building offers spacious rooms with fireplaces and porches, while the adjoining Town Motel side has simpler, budget-friendly rooms a useful split for families traveling with grandparents or on mixed budgets.
All 18 rooms are air-conditioned with coffee/tea makers, and a lobby fireplace and garden give kids a place to unwind between Acadia outings.
Best Western Acadia Park Inn
Part of a trusted chain, Best Western Acadia Park Inn combines predictable, budget-friendly rates with a seasonal outdoor pool and easy access to Acadia National Park’s entrance. It’s a dependable pick for families who want familiar chain-hotel consistency at a lower price point than Bar Harbor’s independent inns.
Free breakfast and free parking are standard, which helps offset the drive into downtown.
Bar Harbor Motel
A classic, no-frills motel with a seasonal outdoor pool, Bar Harbor Motel is built for travelers who want a clean room and a pool for the kids without paying inn or resort prices. It’s a short drive from both downtown and the park entrance.
Simple, motor-lodge-style rooms keep nightly rates among the lowest in town during shoulder season.
Acadia Hotel – Downtown
Housed in a former ship captain’s house dating to the 1880s, Acadia Hotel – Downtown sits right on the Village Green and manages to blend historic charm with genuinely affordable rates for its location. Complimentary breakfast, mountain bikes, hiking poles, and evening desserts are included at no extra cost.
It’s proof that “budget” in Bar Harbor doesn’t have to mean generic; this is a character-filled stay at a motel-adjacent price.
Where to Stay in Bar Harbor: A Quick Area Guide
Downtown Bar Harbor puts you within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and the harbor best for travelers without a car who want to explore on foot via the free Island Explorer shuttle. Hotels bordering Acadia National Park, like Acadia Inn, offer direct trail access if hiking is the priority. Staying outside town, in Southwest Harbor or near the Claremont, trades a short drive for quiet and lower crowds a good trade in peak July and August.
What is the nicest hotel in Bar Harbor, Maine?
West Street Hotel and Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina are generally considered the top luxury properties, both combining oceanfront settings with full-service amenities.
Where is the best area to stay in Bar Harbor?
Downtown, along West Street or Main Street, puts you closest to restaurants and shops. If Acadia hiking is your main goal, look at hotels bordering the park entrance instead.
Are there hotels in Bar Harbor with indoor pools?
Yes, Bluenose Inn and Atlantic Oceanside Hotel both have indoor pools open year-round, which matters since most Bar Harbor hotel pools are seasonal and outdoor-only (roughly May–October).
Is it worth staying outside Bar Harbor proper?
If you want quiet over walkability, yes, properties like The Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor offer more space and lower crowds, about 25 minutes from downtown.
When should I book?
Book 3–4 months ahead for July–August stays. June and September offer similar weather with more availability and lower rates.
