RoughOyster t1_jdfia4x wrote on March 24, 2023 at 12:40 AM

As someone who has worked in Bar Harbor and lives close by-it’s a tourist trap. But if you enjoy hiking then it might be worth the 3+hour trip if the congested traffic once you hit Ellsworth doesn’t bother you. I’m not as familiar with the southern Maine area but in the summer I prefer to head north toward the county. The areas around the Golden Road are some of my favorite spots. Plenty of water, hiking trails, unique historical sites, and the tourist traffic is usually less than that around Bar Harbor. It would be a long drive but plenty of mom and pop restaurants and places to see.

deepbass77 OP t1_jdfjm0n wrote on March 24, 2023 at 12:49 AM

Are you saying it can take 3 hrs to get from Ellsworth to Bar Harbor?

ecco-domenica t1_jdfk7v2 wrote on March 24, 2023 at 12:54 AM

Wells to Bar Harbor is a good 3+ hours in the summer. If you have to ask, you will probably find it's too cold to swim in July. Go in the late afternoon around high tide if you want somewhat warmer water.

deepbass77 OP t1_jdfl06o wrote on March 24, 2023 at 12:59 AM

I updated my original post for clarification. We were going to find a place in Bar Harbor for 2 days before heading to Wells for 4.

RoughOyster t1_jdflj12 wrote on March 24, 2023 at 1:03 AM

No just Wells to Bar Harbor. Once you hit Ellsworth it will come to a crawl. There is only one bridge onto the island and all roads to that bridge go through Ellsworth and Trenton so all of the cars and campers trying to get on the island make it a slow go.