The Way Life Should Be: 4-hr, Private Guided Tour of Acadia NP.
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
This tour is so much more than a few stops or stories for us to check off a list. I will create an experience you'll cherish as we explore Acadia and the many hidden gems just outside of the national park. No rush, no crowded bus. Just your group, riding in comfort, with a guide who never gets bored of sharing this island.
When you let me handle the driving, you are free to really enjoy the scenery. I know all the secret ways to escape the press of crowded areas, while ensuring you don't miss a thing. I thrive on being able to find and share the places and information most meaningful to you. Our tour is fully customizable.
A great tour leaves you full of the magic of this amazing place. Sure, there are stories, tour guide puns, pictures to take, names and dates you might forget... but mainly, the feeling of really experiencing this place in a special way. You will leave, knowing you saw and felt more, with less stress, than anyone choosing to explore without a local expert.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Folding Wheelchairs and other mobility aids which fit into a minivan are welcome.
There will be opportunities to walk or hike short distances, but none of those are required. Acadia's roads were purpose built to showcase the views without leaving your vehicle.
What To Expect
Bar Harbor
We will briefly tour Bar Harbor, making sure to see some of the "cottages" left from the Gilded Age summer residents who made such a lasting impact on this island. Much of old Millionaire's Row burned when fire swept the island in 1947, but the fire stopped before destroying the town. Many of today's most picturesque inns and hotels, once served as vacation homes for high society families from further down the coast.
Park Loop Road
Acadia National Park is really just a few minutes' drive from the center of Bar Harbor. Let me show you some of the reasons they once called this area, Eden.
Options
The Way Life Should Be: 4-hr, Private Guided Tour of Acadia NP.
Pickup included
What‘s Included
I only share the kind of snacks I would offer to my best friends.
Private transportation
Bottled water
Cadillac Mountain entrance pass
All Fees and Taxes
Free pick-up and drop-off
National Park Passes
Stress over missing anything amazing.
Pickup points
Moseley Cottage Inn
12 Atlantic Ave, Bar Harbor United States
Ivy Manor Inn - Village Center
194 Main St, Bar Harbor United States
Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina
55 West St, Bar Harbor United States
Balance Rock Inn
21 Albert Meadow, Bar Harbor United States
West Street Hotel
50 West St Bar Harbor United States
Bar Harbor Inn
1 Newport Dr, Bar Harbor United States
The Colony Cottages on Frenchman's Bay
20 Me-3, Hulls Cove United States
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
36 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing Tour
Gina F,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Nathan was amazing! With the construction, we would have missed some sights! He also catered to us as my husband's knee was bothering him. Nathan guided me to some short hikes so I didn't miss a thing! Snacks and waters were a nice touch! We saw 2 gardens that were not on our radar - we enjoyed both! Highly recommend!!! He also suggested some local restaurants. We had the best lobster off the beaten path!!
Nice place
sntte05,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent very nice views and very enjoyable
Curated for me
Catherine C,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Nathan got to know us and our interests and tailored the trip accordingly. It was a great overview of the island and gave us good ideas of what we would want to come back and do. He’s witty and knowledgeable. It was an excellent experience and a good way to get to know the place!
Great way to see Acadia and Bar Harbor
794jenniferr,Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great day with Ralph. Being born and raised in Bar Harbor, you could tell how much he loved his hometown. He showed us the vast majority of Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor itself. Ralph gave us lots of tidbits and was very personable and easy-going. Would definitely recommend “The Way Life Should Be”.
Canceled
drwest55,Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Tour guide call out sick at 10pm the night before our 9am scheduled tour on a holiday weekend. No other option was given other than to give us the phone number of another tour company. The cost of that tour, if available, was 3 times the fee we paid. Further, he offered to take us on Monday. Our travel accommodations did not allow as we left on Sunday. Sorry you were sick. Sorry we counted on this experience. Wish we had known the staffing of this company was only three strong. We cannot recommend this guide and service given our experience. The refund, however, was prompt.
A Fun, Valuable Vacation Opportunity
FarAway258177,Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00High praise to Nathan and his guide Jackie for making our trip to Acadia a memorable one. Jackie shared her enthusiasm and knowledge of the Park while safely transporting us to various scenic points during our 4-hr. Private Tour. She tailored the tour to match our desires and activity level. She shared her favorite "off the beaten path" parts of the Park. We would have missed these treasures driving on our own. She also suggested ways we could enjoy Acadia and the surrounding area during the rest of our stay. Our group of 6 agreed the tour was a wonderful introduction to the Park. The rest of our trip was enhanced by what we had learned during our tour. The following morning Jackie delivered, to our VRBO, a souvenir bag we had left in the car. That level of kindness and attention goes well beyond a 5 star rating.
Easy-going guide and spectacular views
susanmH3179WD,Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was engaging and knowledgeable about the area and sensitive to our pace. We greatly enjoyed our morning encounter with the beautiful scenery in Acadia Park.
Jackie was very...
Deb S,Sep 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Jackie was very knowledgeable and gave excellent recommendations for activities/sites after our tour.
Nathan and Acadia Driving Tours Leads the Way.
josephzS3883ZT,Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide Nathan gave us an excellent guided experience of Acadia National Park and the town of Bar Harbor. It was a personlized tour on several levels, as Nathan not only geared his presentation to our interests, but also shared with us some of his favorite places of the area as well as the more popular tourist stops. Dense fog and high winds prevented us from getting much of a view from Cadillac Mountain, but Nathan more than made up for it with a highly informative and entertaining commentary, demonstrating some real acting and comedic skills along the way. Besides driving us around, he took us on several guided walks along trails to a secluded cove and a rocky seaside bluff. Compared to some of our cruise provided tours, Nathan showed us "The Way a Guided Tour Should Be." Many thanks for a most excellent visit.
An amazing park tour.
Joanna M,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00We thoroughly enjoyed the locations we saw at Acadia. The fog kept us from seeing the view at the top of the mountain but watching the fog roll over the landscape was very cool. Our guide was friendly and personable but did not give us a great deal of information about our stops. She did know the park very well and gave us time to explore at each stop. Thunderhole was fun for all and one of our group walked down to explore cobblestone beach. She said it was tricky walking as the stones shifted under her feet. She also brought us to see some of the Rockefeller bridges in the park. The vehicle was comfortable. We loved having a private tour and the flexibility it provided.
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Operated by ACADIA DRIVING TOURS LLC