Best Places to Elope in Acadia National Park
If you're dreaming about eloping in Acadia National Park, one of the hardest parts might be deciding exactly where to do it - am I right!?
Acadia packs an incredible amount of scenery into a relatively small area. There are rocky cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, quiet cobblestone beaches, mountain summits, peaceful ponds, forest trails and some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Maine. One of my favorite things about Acadia is how diverse the scenery is compared to how small Mount Desert Island is, because we can explore so much without having to spend hours in the car!
After photographing elopements, intimate weddings and couples throughout Acadia for a decade, I've learned that there really isn't one location that's best for everyone.
The best place to elope in Acadia depends on what you want your wedding day to feel like!
Do you want to hike somewhere in the dark and exchange vows as the sun comes up? Bring your family somewhere beautiful that doesn't require a hike? Stand on the rocky coast with waves crashing below you? Or find somewhere that feels a little quieter and removed from the busiest parts of the park?
The good news is that you don't have to choose just one.
Most of my Acadia elopement couples explore several locations throughout their wedding day. Your ceremony might happen somewhere accessible for family, while we save the epic mountain views for portraits later. Or you might start the morning hiking for sunrise, spend the afternoon with family and finish your wedding day along the coast. The beauty in eloping is that there isn’t a right or a wrong way to do it - but there might be a best way to do it, for YOU!
While I do save my absolute favorite spots for my couples, here are some of my favorite places to elope in Acadia National Park, along with the things I'd consider with each one.
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is probably the most recognizable location in Acadia National Park, and there's a reason it's so popular. From the summit, you get sweeping views across Mount Desert Island, the surrounding mountains and the islands scattered throughout Frenchman Bay.
And unlike many mountaintop locations, you don't have to hike to get there. In fact, it’s the only mountain summit you can reach in Acadia without hiking.
Best for: Epic mountain views, accessibility and an iconic Acadia experience
Accessibility: Very easy - you can drive to the summit!
Crowds: High, especially during June-October season
Great for: Portraits, picnics, couples wanting mountain views and to include family members who can't hike
Why I Love Cadillac Mountain for Elopements
Cadillac gives you the feeling of standing on top of a mountain without requiring you or your guests to actually climb one.
That makes it an especially useful location when you're including family in your elopement. You can have parents or grandparents join you for part of the experience and still get those huge Acadia views.
It's also simply beautiful. The landscape feels enormous up there, and there are plenty of places to explore beyond standing at the main summit overlook.
Things to Know About Eloping on Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is extremely popular, so this isn't somewhere I'd choose if your number-one priority is complete privacy.
Timing makes a huge difference.
There are also seasonal vehicle reservation requirements for Cadillac Summit Road, and wedding ceremonies are subject to National Park Service rules and restrictions. If you're considering holding your actual ceremony here rather than simply visiting for portraits, make sure you're looking at the current regulations while planning. Generally, ceremonies aren’t allowed at sunrise or sunset.
Cadillac Mountain is a great fit if: you want enormous mountain views without hiking, accessibility matters or you simply can't imagine getting married in Acadia without experiencing one of its most iconic landscapes!
Otter Point + Otter Cliff
If you told me you wanted your wedding photos to immediately feel like Maine, I'd probably start thinking about Otter Point and Otter Cliff.
This stretch of Acadia gives you pink granite, pine trees, rocky cliffs and the Atlantic stretching out in front of you. The classic coastal Maine vibe!
Best for: Dramatic coastline, cliffs and quintessential Maine scenery
Accessibility: Easy to moderate depending on where we explore
Crowds: Moderate to high in popular areas
Best time: Particularly beautiful at sunrise or later in the day
Great for: Ceremonies, portraits and pairing with other locations along Ocean Path
Why I Love Otter Point and Otter Cliff for Elopements
The whole Park Loop Road area gives you so much variety without requiring you to spend half of your wedding day driving - and Otter Point + Otter Cliffs are a huge part of that. There are dramatic cliffside views, rocky areas closer to the water, forest and sections of Ocean Path nearby. We can wander instead of constantly getting back into the car to drive to another viewpoint.
It's also one of those places where the weather can make the landscape even more interesting. Wind, fog and moody skies aren't necessarily bad news on the coast of Maine. Sometimes they're exactly what makes it feel like Acadia!
Things to Know About Eloping at Otter Point and Otter Cliff
These are popular areas of the park, so I wouldn't promise that we'll have them entirely to ourselves.
But there's a huge difference between visiting the most obvious overlook at the busiest time of day and intentionally choosing where and when we explore. Otter Cliffs is better for smaller groups, while Otter Point can fit up to 30 people. Also, the Otter Cliffs parking area is extremely busy and small, so it can be helpful to hire a shuttle for ceremonies with guests here, so that people don’t have to stress over parking.
Otter Point and Otter Cliff are a great fit if: the rocky Maine coastline is one of the biggest reasons you're drawn to Acadia in the first place.
Check out this Otter Cliffs wedding or this Otter Point ceremony
Little Hunters Beach
Little Hunters Beach feels completely different from Acadia's big mountain overlooks. Instead of standing above the ocean, you're tucked down along the shoreline on a beautiful cobblestone beach surrounded by trees and granite.
Best for: Intimate ceremonies and a tucked-away coastal atmosphere
Accessibility: Short walk with stairs down to the beach
Crowds: Generally quieter than Acadia's major attractions
Best time: Depends on season, weather and tide
Great for: Small ceremonies, family and couples who want something intimate
Why I Love Little Hunters Beach for Elopements
There's something about being down beside the water that naturally makes a ceremony here feel intimate. You hear the waves moving over the cobblestones, you're surrounded by the cliffs and trees, and it feels very different from standing at one of Acadia's big overlooks.
I've photographed weddings here and love using Little Hunters as the ceremony portion of a larger Acadia wedding day. You can exchange vows somewhere that feels small and personal, spend time with your family and then head into another part of the park for completely different scenery afterward.
Little Hunters Beach also has a decent amount of variety in scenery, such as the beach, the surrounding forests, and rocky cliffs to explore.
Things to Know About Eloping at Little Hunters Beach
There are stairs involved in reaching the beach, and the cobblestones themselves aren't the easiest surface for anyone with significant mobility limitations. It's also worth thinking about tides and weather whenever you're planning something directly along Acadia's coastline.
Little Hunters Beach is a great fit if: you want your ceremony to feel intimate, coastal and a little tucked away from Acadia's biggest viewpoints.
Sand Beach
Sand Beach is unique within Acadia because you get something that's surprisingly difficult to find elsewhere in the park: an actual sandy beach surrounded by mountains and rocky coastline.
Best for: Beach scenery, sunrise and mountains meeting the ocean
Accessibility: Very easy
Crowds: High during peak daytime hours
Best time: Early morning
Great for: Sunrise portraits, engagement sessions and pairing with Ocean Path or Great Head hike
Why I Love Sand Beach for Elopements
Sand Beach can look completely different depending on when you visit. On a busy summer afternoon, it's one of the most popular places in Acadia. Early in the morning, especially with a little fog rolling through, it can feel like an entirely different place.
I also love that it gives couples another landscape without leaving the main Park Loop Road area. You can start at Sand Beach and then explore rocky coastline, forest or a trail nearby.
Things to Know About Eloping at Sand Beach
Crowds are the biggest consideration. If Sand Beach is important to you, I'd be much more intentional about timing than simply adding it to the middle of your wedding-day itinerary.
Weather can also dramatically change the experience here, but I don't necessarily see that as a downside. A foggy Maine morning on Sand Beach can be just as beautiful as a clear sunrise.
Sand Beach is a great fit if: you want an actual beach incorporated into your Acadia wedding day or love the idea of starting your elopement beside the ocean at sunrise.
Schoodic Point
Schoodic Point is one of my favorite options for couples willing to venture away from the busiest parts of Acadia. Schoodic Peninsula is part of Acadia National Park but geographically separate from the main portion of the park on Mount Desert Island.
That means getting there takes a little more effort, but it also creates an entirely different experience, and generally means less crowds.
Best for: Wild coastline, huge granite expanses and fewer crowds
Accessibility: Easy once you're there
Crowds: Generally lower than major Mount Desert Island locations
Best time: Flexible depending on the rest of your day
Great for: Ceremonies, portraits and couples who want to explore somewhere quieter
Why I Love Schoodic Point for Elopements
Schoodic feels vast and quiet. There are huge stretches of granite beside the Atlantic, crashing waves and open coastline without the same concentration of people you'll find at some of Acadia's most recognizable viewpoints.
It's especially great for couples who are more interested in the experience of exploring Acadia than checking off the park's most famous locations.
Things to Know About Eloping at Schoodic Point
The biggest consideration is logistics. If you're staying in Bar Harbor and planning the rest of your wedding day around Mount Desert Island, Schoodic isn't somewhere I'd add as a quick detour. It fits in much better as an intentional part of the experience.
You could spend a significant portion of your day exploring Schoodic or even build an entire quieter Acadia experience around this side of the park.
Schoodic Point is a great fit if: you want dramatic rocky coastline, fewer crowds and don't mind traveling farther to experience a different side of Acadia.
The Bubbles
If you want hiking to actually be part of your wedding day, Bubble Rock and South Bubble are great places to start looking. The bubbles hike is one of the most popular choices for eloping couples, and can be a really beautiful part of an Acadia elopement day!
Best for: Hiking + mountain views without committing to an all-day hike
Accessibility: Requires hiking
Crowds: Moderate and highly dependent on timing
Best time: Sunrise and sunset can both be incredible
Great for: Private vows, adventurous portraits and couples who want hiking to be part of the experience
Why I Love Bubble Rock for Elopements
There's a huge difference between driving to a beautiful overlook and actually hiking somewhere together. For a sunrise elopement, that might mean putting on headlamps and starting up the trail while it's still completely dark. Then, little by little, the landscape starts appearing around you. By the time you reach the view, you've already had an experience together and your wedding day has barely started!
I've photographed a sunrise elopement at Bubble Rock, and this is exactly the kind of location that works beautifully when couples want their wedding photos to come from something they're doing rather than simply moving between photo spots.
Things to Know About a Bubble Rock Elopement
You'll need to build hiking time into your timeline and think through what you're wearing and carrying. Some couples hike in their wedding clothes. Others change once they reach their destination. Neither is inherently better, it just depends on what kind of experience you want.
One thing to note is that it can be difficult to find parking for the Bubbles in peak seasons + times. For this reason, sunrise can be a great time to experience the hike!
Bubble Rock is a great fit if: you want an adventurous element to your elopement but don't necessarily want your entire day centered around an extremely difficult hike.
Beehive Trail
Beehive is not a hike I'd recommend just because someone tells me they "like hiking." If you know, you know! This is one where the hike itself becomes part of your wedding-day adventure.
Best for: A genuinely adventurous hiking elopement
Accessibility: Difficult, steep and exposed
Crowds: Can become busy; timing matters enormously
Best time: Sunrise
Great for: Experienced, adventurous couples comfortable with heights and exposure
Why I Love Beehive for Elopements
I've photographed a sunrise hiking elopement on Beehive, and days like this are exactly why I love adventure elopements. You're waking up ridiculously early, starting a hike before most people are awake, climbing iron rungs and exposed sections together, and somewhere along the way, the sun starts coming up over Acadia!
The photographs are incredible, of course. But the reason I'd choose Beehive isn't simply because the view looks good in pictures. I'd only choose it because you think climbing Beehive on your wedding day sounds genuinely FUN.
Things to Know About a Beehive Trail Elopement
Beehive includes steep climbs, iron rungs and exposed sections. If you're uncomfortable with heights or exposure, there are plenty of other Acadia hikes I'd recommend instead.
I'd also be very intentional about timing. Beehive is one of the most popular trails in Acadia, and really the only time I’d recommend including it as a part of your elopement day, is if we do it first thing at sunrise.
Beehive is a great fit if: you're comfortable with exposure and genuinely want climbing and hiking to be one of the things you remember about your wedding day.
The Quiet Side of Acadia
Not every Acadia elopement needs to revolve around Cadillac Mountain and Park Loop Road. The western side of Mount Desert Island, often called the Quiet Side, is one of my favorite areas for couples who want their wedding day to feel a little slower and quiter.
Best for: Fewer crowds, coastal trails and a relaxed experience
Accessibility: Varies by location
Crowds: Generally lower than the busiest areas around Bar Harbor
Best time: Flexible
Great for: Couples staying near Southwest Harbor or wanting to explore beyond the most famous parts of Acadia
Why I Love the Quiet Side for Elopements
Around Southwest Harbor and the western side of Mount Desert Island, you'll find rocky beaches, forest, coastal trails and beautiful pockets of Acadia that don't receive quite the same attention as Park Loop Road. Places like Seawall, Wonderland and Ship Harbor can be wonderful additions to an elopement day.
But more than any one particular viewpoint, I love the pace of this side of the island. It lends itself really well to couples who want to wander, explore and experience Acadia rather than spending the day bouncing between its most famous landmarks.
Things to Know About Eloping on the Quiet Side
Choosing this area makes the most sense when it works with the rest of your day.
Especially if you're staying in Southwest Harbor, it's especially easy to build an experience around this side of Mount Desert Island. Also, many of the boating adventures I’d recommend for elopements will leave out of Southwest Harbor, making the Quiet Side a great base for your elopement day.
The Quiet Side is a great fit if: you care more about slowing down and exploring than checking every famous Acadia location off your list.
How Do You Choose the Best Acadia Elopement Location?
There isn't one location I'd call the absolute best place to elope in Acadia National Park.
Instead, I’d consider these questions:
Do you want to hike? Some of Acadia's best views require hiking. Others are steps from your car.
Are you bringing guests? A location that's perfect for two people might not make sense with 15 family members.
Does anyone have mobility limitations? We can still find incredible scenery without requiring everyone to hike.
How much do you care about privacy? If privacy is your biggest priority, I may steer you away from some of Acadia's most famous viewpoints.
What scenery are you most excited about? Ocean? Mountains? Forest? Beaches? Cliffs? We don't need to fit all of them into your day.
What do you actually want to DO? Hiking, climbing, sailing, picnicking and exploring can help determine where it makes sense to go.
What season are you visiting? Acadia in April is a very different experience from Acadia in July or October.
Those answers are much more useful to me than simply asking which location photographs best. Because honestly? Acadia photographs beautifully! The bigger question is which places allow you to have the experience you actually want.
Get answers to some of these questions on my Acadia Elopement Resource Page.
Including Multiple Acadia Elopement Locations
This is probably the biggest thing I want couples to understand when they start planning an Acadia elopement. You have an entire wedding day! You don't have to drive to one overlook, exchange vows, take portraits for an hour and leave.
Maybe we start hiking in the dark and you exchange private vows as the sun comes up over Acadia. Then you head back for breakfast, take a nap and spend a few hours doing absolutely nothing wedding-related. Later, your family meets you somewhere accessible along the coast for your ceremony. You celebrate together, have a picnic or pop champagne, and then the two of you head off to explore another part of the park for sunset.
Or maybe hiking isn't your thing at all. You sleep in. Have coffee together. Get ready slowly. Spend the afternoon on a boat. Exchange vows beside the ocean. Explore the cliffs around sunset and finish your wedding day eating an incredible dinner.
Both are adventure elopements! The point isn't to fit as many beautiful locations as possible into eight hours - it's to use those locations to create a day that feels like you.
I have an Acadia location list with 40+ locations that I’ve personally scouted around the island to pull recommendations from for my couples. Helping you find the best places to elope in Acadia specific to you, is one of the best parts of my job!
Check out my Ultimate Guide for Eloping in Acadia National Park.
Acadia National Park Wedding Permits
Before choosing your ceremony location, make sure you check Acadia National Park's current wedding regulations. Permit requirements and restrictions can depend on your group size and ceremony location, and some of the park's most popular areas have their own capacity limits or rules.
National Park Service regulations can change, so I always recommend checking the current requirements directly with Acadia while you're planning rather than relying solely on an older blog post. And if I'm photographing your elopement, this is one of the things I'll help you navigate during the planning process!
Planning Your Acadia National Park Elopement
One of my favorite parts of photographing elopements in Acadia is helping couples piece all of this together. I don't want to hand you the same five locations I give everyone else. I want to know what you're actually excited about!
Maybe you've been dreaming about standing on the rocky coast of Maine. Maybe you've never watched the sun rise over the Atlantic. Maybe you want to hike somewhere together but also need an accessible ceremony location so your parents can be there. Maybe spending the afternoon sailing sounds infinitely more exciting to you than taking photos for eight straight hours.
Once I know what you want your wedding day to feel like, we can start choosing the places that make sense for you.
Because the best place to elope in Acadia National Park isn't necessarily the place with the most famous view. It's the place that lets you have the kind of wedding day you actually want to remember.
If you’re ready to get started with the process of deciding where the best place is for you to elope in Acadia National Park, send me a message below and let’s get the conversation started!