Historic commercial buildings on Cottage Street near Main Street in historic town center of Bar Harbor, Maine. Image credit: Wangkun Jia via Shutterstock.

This Maine Downtown Is Made For Strolling

“The air is like champagne,” President William Taft said of Bar Harbor during his three-day stay in 1910. Though the town itself has changed dramatically in the more than 125 years since his visit, the sentiment remains the same. Every breath you take while walking around this coastal New England town feels like it should be celebrated.

One cannot help but feel giddy on a brisk stroll along the Bar Harbor Shore Path, enjoying nautical views, or cheerful while strolling down Main Street, savoring the local flavors. It’s no wonder Bar Harbor’s commercial area was named on HGTV’s 2025 list of 40 most charming small-town downtowns in the US. Raise your glass and say “cheers” to this impressive accolade while visiting Bar Harbor and all its main drag has to offer.

Finding Bar Harbor

Main Street in Bar Harbor, Maine. Image credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com.

Bar Harbor occupies the north and northeast sides of Mount Desert Island, just off the craggy coast of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean. More than half of the island is designated as Acadia National Park. Besides Bar Harbor, the island is home to three other towns: Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, and Tremont. Bar Harbor, however, is by far the most popular. Its year-round population is just over 5,000, but that number swells from July through October as seasonal residents and tourists join long-time locals in the island community.

Meandering On Main Street

Like most national park gateway communities, Bar Harbor’s tree-lined Main Street made for meandering. Start the day with your beverage of choice from Choco-Latté and grab something sweet for later. Pop into Island Artisans to shop for sculptures, baskets, jewelry, embossed paper, and other fine crafts made by Maine locals. Then hop over to the intersection of Cottage Street and Main Street to get “the best lobster roll in the world” at The Stadium. This place is more than a restaurant; it’s an experience. You can watch the bakers making and toasting the rolls, view the live lobsters, and the whole shebang. Continue walking, stop to look in a storefront, grab a snack, repeat.

Bar Harbor, Maine, is a coastal town. Editorial credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com

And don’t forget the side streets! There are more shops off the beaten path, as well as quiet inns and hotels in the downtown area, all within walking distance of Main Street. A Little Mad on Rodick Street is full of unique items you won’t find in typical gift shops.

Ambling Along The Shore Path

Shore Path, coastal path in American town of Bar Harbor, Maine. USA

There are several entry points for the Bar Harbor Shore Path, a 1.2-mile gravel walking path that hugs the shore of Frenchman Bay. One end is accessible from Ells Pier, the other from Wayman Lane. The path passes by the Bar Harbor Inn, making it easily accessible for guests staying in the historic waterfront hotel. The Bar Harbor Shore Path offers views of the Porcupine Islands, with evergreens growing like quills out of the ruggedly rounded igneous bedrock, as well as Balance Rock, which seemingly defies gravity. Several historic cottages and other landmarks can be seen along the Shore Path as well.

Hike near Bubble Rock in Acadia National Park, Maine.

The Shore Path is worth the walk any time of day, but early risers will be treated to a spectacular sunrise on the eastern portion of the trail. Even a glass of bubbly isn’t as exhilarating as watching the sky transition from one pastel hue to another.

Trekking At Low Tide

Perhaps the most unique walk in Bar Harbor is actually in the harbor. During low tide, a sandbar (aka a land bridge) known as the Bar Island Trail is revealed. Start at the end of Bridge Street and make your way to Bar Island. The terrain is relatively flat, but it is rocky. Choose your footwear accordingly. Once you get there, walk on the beautiful wooded trails to get stunning views of the Gulf of Maine and Mount Desert Island from a different perspective.

The sandbar is only navigable for about 3 hours (1½ before and 1½ after low tide), so check tide charts beforehand and plan your time accordingly. If you miss your return window, you’ll have to take a water taxi back to downtown Bar Harbor.

Explore Bar Harbor and Other Walkable Maine Towns

Main Street in Southwest Harbor, ME. Image credit: KMarsh via Shutterstock.

Strolling through downtown Bar Harbor is a great start to your island getaway, but don’t stop there. Southwest Harbor has a tree-lined Main Street with similar maritime vibes on the quieter side of the island. Wander through the interesting assortment of shops and museums. Venture off Main Street to Herrick Road where you’ll find Wendell Gilley Museum, famous for its collection of hand-carved wooden birds. It even offers carving clinics to visitors. Stay at The Claremont and get more steps in while playing croquet on its meticulously manicured lawn.

If you aren’t able to make it to Mount Desert Island, Camden is a walkable harbor town on Maine’s midcoast. Most of its shops and attractions are centralized around the harbor. What sets this town apart from others in the state, however, is its waterfalls. Megunticook River Falls, for instance, is a 24-foot waterfall directly behind Main Street’s many restaurants and shops. Others are viewable from the town as well. Maine is full of walkable towns; Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and Camden are just a few of the best.

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