Looking for a place to stay in the beautiful hub of Mount Desert Island in Maine? These are our favorite Bar Harbor hotels and inns.
By Heather Tourgee
May 11 2022
Bar Harbor Inn | Favorite Bar Harbor Hotels & Inns
Photo Credit : Courtesy of the Bar Harbor InnJust a stone’s throw from Maine’s iconic Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor is considered by many to be the perfect New England getaway. From sprawling resorts to cozy B&Bs, this seaside town is home to a range of lodging options. Read on to see our favorite Bar Harbor hotels and inns.
From the hotel’s rooftop pool you can watch downtown shoppers, excursion boats heading out to sea, cruise ships coming into the harbor, and more. Don’t miss out on the world-class dining opportunities located on-site, or the luxurious spa.
Driving through the narrow streets of Bar Harbor can be exasperating—and unnecessary, if you opt to settle in at the Acadia Hotel on the town green. It’s steps from the Shore Path, close to most of the restaurants and shops, and about two blocks from the pick-up spot for Acadia National Park tours. The modern, simple guest rooms are modestly priced, and the hotel has loaner bicycles available for getting anywhere you don’t want to walk to.
The fjord of Somes Sound cleaves Mount Desert Island in two. The 24-room Claremont in Southwest Harbor sits on the take-a-deep-breath-and-exhale western lobe, removed from the bustle of Bar Harbor and the main attractions of Acadia National Park. Since 1884, it has welcomed guests to its six-acre spread at the mouth of Somes Sound with views across to Greening Island. Six modern inn-style rooms and 14 cottages are other options, but stretching out on a sleigh bed in the main inn, with the breeze ruffling the window sheers, feels like visiting the home of the Down East grandma you wish you had.
Each of the 10 guest rooms at the Bass Cottage Inn has been named for an herb or spice with which it shares attributes. Check out fresh and soothing Verbena or subtle and refined Sage for an immersive, elegant lodging experience. The setting is peaceful, tucked away just off downtown, and guests also enjoy a decadent breakfast at no extra charge.
Traveling with a pet? A motel-style option set on estate-like grounds, Wonder View welcomes furry guests with a bowl, a treat, and recommendations for places to go, things to do, and dog friendlyrestaurants. Enjoy breakfast with a view at the Looking Glass restaurant.
Another area hotel with a storied past, the Bar Harbor Inn once hosted President William Howard Taft on his three-day excursion to Mount Desert Island in 1910. Dining options range from upscale, in the Reading Room, to more casual, at Terrace Grille. Be sure to check out the heated pool, and help yourself to afternoon tea and cookies.
A replica of the 1866 Rodick House, a guesthouse that was destroyed by a fire in the 1940s, the Bar Harbor Grand Hotel boasts all the modern amenities you could need. The heated pool and long front porch with plenty of rocking chairs are reminiscent of a bygone era and will remind you why this is one of the classic Bar Harbor hotels.
Try to resist the lure of the Adirondack chairs positioned just so on the oceanfront lawn of this gracious inn, located in the center of the town’s historic district. Your distinctively decorated, spacious guest room is the perfect oasis after a busy Downeast day. Named a 2011 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Oceanfront B&B.”
This beautiful property has been a bed-and-breakfast since 1884. Located on a quiet side street, it’s within walking distance of downtown shops and restaurants. Whether you opt for one of the nine Moseley Cottage guest rooms or accommodations at the adjacent Town Motel, you’ll have a great place to recharge after taking in the sights of Mount Desert Island.
What are some of your favorite Bar Harbor hotels and inns?
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Heather Tourgee has served as an editorial intern for Yankee Magazine and the Old Farmer's Almanac. She is a junior Environmental Nonfiction major at Middlebury College with a minor in German. When she isn't working in Dublin, you can find her on the rugby pitch, traveling, or enjoying the outdoors.
More by Heather Tourgee