Bangor & Bar Harbor — Thursday, May 7 through Sunday, May 10, 2026
Thu & Fri Lodging
Airbnb — Bangor 20 Broad St, Room #301
Sat & Sun Lodging
The Bayview Hotel 111 Eden St, Bar Harbor
Driving Distance
~50 miles / 1 hr Bangor → Bar Harbor
Acadia Entry Fee
$35 / vehicle (7 days) Cashless — credit/debit only
At-a-Glance Calendar
Thu, May 7
Bangor
4:00Arrive — 20 Broad St
5:00Dog walk — waterfront
6:30Dinner — Timber Kitchen
Fri, May 8
Bangor
8:30Coffee — The Grind House
10:00Bangor City Forest
12:30Lunch — Mason's Brewing
2:30Mt. Hope Cemetery
6:30Dinner — Blaze
Sat, May 9
Bar Harbor
9:00Drive to Bar Harbor
10:30Brunch — 2 Cats
12:30Bayview check-in
2:00Bar Island Trail (low tide)
7:00Dinner — Paddy's Pub
Sun, May 10
Bar Harbor / Acadia
8:00Hotel breakfast
9:00Eden Farmers' Market*
10:30Acadia — Ocean Path
1:00Lunch — Side Street Cafe
3:00Cadillac Summit drive
6:30Dinner — Dog & Pony
Mon, May 11
Departure
7:30Hotel breakfast
8:30Quick Shore Path walk
10:00Check out & depart
*Eden Farmers' Market opens mid-May — confirm before Sunday. The year-round Bar Harbor Winter Market typically runs through April only.
Weather Forecast
The big picture: Cool and damp all four days. Highs in the mid-50s to low-60s with on-and-off rain chances. Pack layers, a packable rain jacket, sturdy shoes, and a towel for the dog. Outdoor patio dining is doable but plan covered options for the rainier days.
Thursday, May 7 — Bangor: High ~60°F, cloudy, 35% chance of rain
Friday, May 8 — Bangor: High ~55°F, mostly cloudy, 25% chance of rain
Saturday, May 9 — Bar Harbor: High ~54°F, mixed clouds, 20% chance of rain
Sunday, May 10 — Bar Harbor: High ~53°F, partly cloudy, low rain chance
Monday, May 11 — Departure: Forecast not yet available (still 6+ days out) — check the day before
Google Maps — All Trip Stops
One-click search links that pull up each location in Google Maps. Save them to a list, share to your phone, or open in Apple Maps via the address.
Tip: on mobile, tapping any link below opens directly in your maps app.
Arrive & check in — Airbnb20 Broad Street, Room #301. Right in downtown Bangor — within walking distance of Paddy Murphy's, Blaze, 2 Feet Brewing, and the Kenduskeag Stream waterfront. Drop bags, get the dog settled.
Quick downtown dog walkA loop around West Market Square, the Paul Bunyan statue, and along the Kenduskeag Stream waterfront — all within a few blocks of your Airbnb. Stretch the dog's legs after the drive.
Pre-dinner drink — 2 Feet Brewing (optional)Small Bangor brewpub with a dog-friendly sidewalk patio. Limited seating — call ahead. Two-block walk from the Airbnb. Skip if it's raining or you're tired from the drive.
Dinner — Timber Kitchen & BarThe standout dog-friendly spot in Bangor. Two pet-welcoming patios and heated "dining domes" — ideal for the cool, drizzly forecast. Wood-fired American food, craft cocktails. About a mile from the Airbnb (5 min drive). Reservations recommended.
If you're running late: Paddy Murphy's (also dog-friendly) and Blaze are both within walking distance of the Airbnb if you'd rather skip the drive to Timber Kitchen. Both serve until late.
🐾 Friday, May 8 — Bangor Exploring
High 55°F · mostly cloudy
8:30 AM
Coffee — The Grind HouseLocal coffee shop that serves "pup cups." Outdoor tables with dog water bowls. Perfect first stop.
Bangor City Forest & Orono Bog Walk680+ acres, dogs welcome on leash. The boardwalk through the bog is a National Natural Landmark — about 1 mile of accessible flat trail. The forest has miles of additional dirt paths. Great morning workout for the dog before lunch.
Lunch — Mason's Brewing (Brewer)Just across the river. Riverfront views over the Penobscot, dog-friendly outdoor seating, brewery food (burgers, fish tacos, fresh beer). Great place for a long lunch.
Mount Hope Cemetery300 acres, founded in 1834 — the second-oldest garden cemetery in the U.S. Beautiful ponds, fountains, and arched bridges. Dogs welcome on leash. Filming location for parts of Pet Sematary.
Stephen King's House (drive-by)47 W Broadway. The famous wrought-iron gate with bats and spiders. Stop on the public sidewalk for a photo (the family no longer lives there full-time, and the property is being converted to a writers' retreat — but the gate is still iconic). Dogs in the car for this one.
Brewer Riverwalk (optional)Easy paved walk along the Penobscot River, just across the bridge. About 1 mile each way with views back to the Bangor waterfront. Skip if the dog has had enough miles for the day.
Dinner — BlazeSix pet-friendly outdoor tables, just steps from your Airbnb. Wood-fired brick oven specializing in creative tacos and entrees (try the Carolina pulled-pork tacos or the fire-roasted rabbit). Open until 1 AM if you want a late evening.
Drive: Bangor → Bar Harbor~50 miles, about 1 hour via I-395 and US-1A/Route 3. Stop in Ellsworth on the way if you need supplies — there's a Hannaford and Walmart there. Last reliable gas/groceries before Mount Desert Island.
Brunch — 2 Cats Bar HarborBest brunch spot in town. Converted Victorian house with a shaded, flower-filled pet-friendly patio. Famous homemade jam, crab cake Benedicts, fluffy pancakes. Arrive early — fills up fast on weekends. Walk to Shore Path after.
Check in: The Bayview Hotel111 Eden Street. Pet-friendly Garden Level rooms. Free shuttle to downtown/Acadia entrance runs 3–10 PM. Drop your bags and freshen up.
Bar Island Trail (timed to low tide)Walk across the exposed sand bar from downtown Bar Harbor. About 2 miles round-trip, easy. Critical: only accessible 1.5 hours on either side of low tide. Check the Bar Harbor tide chart the morning of — if afternoon low tide doesn't work, swap with Sunday morning.
Acadia BARK Ranger swearing-inStop at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to enroll your dog in the BARK Ranger program — pick up a commemorative collar tag. Quick and free.
Dinner — Paddy's Irish Pub & RestaurantWaterfront setting with a heated outdoor patio (key for the cool evening). Irish-American menu — Guinness BBQ pork, lobster bisque, crab dip. Live Irish music in evenings. Make a reservation.
Hotel breakfast at the BayviewComplimentary continental with homemade baked goods. Eat outside on the deck if weather allows.
9:00 AM
Eden Farmers' Market (if open)21 Park Street. Sundays 9 AM–noon. Note: the outdoor market typically opens mid-May — call to confirm before you go. If closed, skip ahead.
Acadia: Ocean Path TrailPark at Sand Beach (or use the free Island Explorer shuttle if running). The Ocean Path is a flat ~2 mile each way coastal walk passing Thunder Hole, Monument Cove, and Otter Point. One of Acadia's prettiest dog-friendly trails. Pay your $35 park entrance at the kiosk (cashless).
Carriage Roads — Eagle Lake Loop (or shorter)All 45 miles of carriage roads are dog-friendly. The Eagle Lake Loop is 6 miles around the lake — flat gravel, beautiful. Or do a shorter section near Witch Hole Pond from the Hulls Cove parking lot.
Cadillac Mountain Summit DriveNo reservation needed in early May. Drive up the auto road, do the easy 0.3-mile paved Summit Loop with the dog, and take in the 360° views — tallest mountain on the East Coast.
Dinner — Dog & Pony TavernYear-round, locally-owned bar & grill. Reliable choice in shoulder season when many spots are still closed. Open until midnight, kitchen until 11.
Bonus if weather is great: Sand Beach is open to dogs through May 14 (closes May 15 for the season). It's a stunning crescent of pinkish sand. Cold water, but the dog might love a beach run.
🐾 Monday, May 11 — Departure
Departing Bar Harbor 10 AM
7:30 AM
Final hotel breakfast at the BayviewLast morning on the deck. Take in the Frenchman Bay sunrise — Bar Harbor is on the eastern coast, so the sun comes up over the water around 5:15 AM this time of year.
8:30 AM
Quick Shore Path or Compass Harbor walkA short ~30-minute morning walk to give the dog one last stretch before the drive home. The Shore Path is right downtown; Compass Harbor (0.8 mile, easy) is just south of town and quieter.
Pack up & check outBayview standard checkout is 11 AM, so you have time. Settle the bill, load up the car.
10:00 AM
Depart Bar HarborHit the road. If you want a coffee and pastry for the drive, Sunrise Cafe (Cottage Street) opens early and has takeout. Last gas/groceries on the island are in Bar Harbor itself; otherwise wait until Ellsworth.
If you want one more stop on the way out: The Thompson Island Picnic Area is right at the bridge leaving Mount Desert Island — a quick 5-minute pull-off with water views and a final dog-stretch opportunity. Also, in Ellsworth (~30 min from Bar Harbor), Morton's Moo serves homemade ice cream if a treat for the road sounds good.
Dog-Friendly Dining Reference
Bangor
Timber Kitchen & Bar22 Bass Park Blvd · Wood-fired American · Two patios + heated domes
The top-rated dog-friendly Bangor restaurant. New American menu, craft cocktails. Map
The traditional downtown market across from the public library. May 10 falls on Mother's Day, so they should be open — but you'll be in Bar Harbor that morning. Map
Brewer Farmers' Market — Tues/Thurs/Sat (May–October)318 Wilson St, Brewer · Tue 2–5:30 PM; Thu & Sat 8:30 AM–1 PM
Friday isn't a market day, but worth knowing if your plans shift. Map
Bar Harbor Eden Farmers' Market — Sundays (mid-May–October)21 Park St · 9 AM–noon
Confirm before going. May 10 may be just before opening day. The off-season Bar Harbor Winter Market (every other Sunday at 36 Mount Desert St) typically wraps in April. Map
Acadia With Your Dog — Essentials
Where dogs ARE allowed: About 100 miles of hiking trails, all 45 miles of carriage roads, all three drive-in campgrounds (Blackwoods, Seawall, Schoodic Woods), Cadillac Mountain summit, Sand Beach (until May 14), Echo Lake (until May 14).
Where dogs are NOT allowed: The six ladder/iron-rung trails — Precipice, Beehive, Beech Cliffs, Ladder Trail to Dorr, Perpendicular, and Jordan Cliffs (between Penobscot East Trail and the carriage road). Also no swimming in any pond — most are public water supplies (this applies to people, too).
Leash law: Federal — must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Rangers patrol and citations start at $75.
Top dog-friendly hikes: Ocean Path (easy), Bar Island (easy, tide-dependent), Compass Harbor (very easy, 0.8 mile), Wonderland Trail (easy, 1.4 miles, on the quiet side), Gorham Mountain Loop (moderate, 3 miles).
BARK Ranger Program: Stop by Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Your dog gets sworn in and can earn a commemorative collar tag.
Honestly — early May is firmly shoulder season in both Bangor and Bar Harbor, so there isn't a major festival or concert lined up for these dates. Here's what's on:
Bangor Chamber FUSION:First (Thu, May 7)Empeople Credit Union · Networking event — public access varies
A young professionals' chamber networking event, not really a tourist event but listed if curious.
Cross Insurance Center — no shows during your datesNext big show: NEF 66 (May 16), then Vanilla Ice's "I Love the 90s Tour" May 29
Both well after you've left.
Bar Harbor — check the weekly listing Friday morningbarharborstory.com publishes a weekly events roundup every Monday
Local pop-ups (open mics, library talks, art classes) get listed there. Worth checking Friday or Saturday morning for any small Saturday-Sunday happenings.
Practical Tips
Reservations: Make dinner reservations for Saturday in Bar Harbor — even pre-season the year-round spots can book up. Timber Kitchen on Thursday is also smart to book.
Acadia entrance: $35/vehicle, valid 7 days, cashless. If you have an America the Beautiful pass ($80/yr), it covers entry. Pay at any park kiosk or at recreation.gov.
Cadillac reservations: Not required in early May. Reservations only become mandatory mid-May through October.
Bayview shuttle: Free shuttle to downtown/park entrance runs 3–10 PM. Worth using to avoid downtown parking. Confirm pet policy at check-in.
Tick prevention: Maine ticks are active starting in May. Apply prevention before each hike and check the dog (and yourselves) afterward.
Carriage roads in rain: Gravel drains well; granite trail rocks get slick. If it's wet, default to carriage roads over rocky trails.
Cell service: Spotty in parts of Acadia. Download offline Google Maps before you go.
Nearest emergency vet: Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Bangor (24/7) and Acadia Veterinary Hospital in Bar Harbor (regular hours). Save numbers in your phone.