Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start in Portland and leave around 10:45 AM, but note that the planned sequence needs adjusting: Congdon’s Doughnuts in Wells is south of Portland, while the drive to Bar Harbor heads northeast. It is therefore best treated as an optional pre-departure detour—roughly 35–45 minutes each way from central Portland, depending on traffic—rather than a true en-route stop. If you make the detour, allow about 30 minutes for doughnuts and coffee, costing approximately $5–12 per person, and check the shop’s same-day hours and doughnut availability before setting out. For the direct journey, follow US-1 north and then ME-3 toward Bar Harbor; the full drive is about 3½–4 hours before stops, with 30–45 minutes extra for fuel, traffic, and parking.
Before leaving Portland, The Holy Donut is the more sensible doughnut choice: its Portland locations are close to the start of the route and typically offer potato-based doughnuts in flavors such as dark chocolate sea salt and coffee brandy. Allow about 30 minutes and $5–12 per person; arrive early enough to account for a possible queue, and confirm the location’s opening hours before departure. If you choose The Holy Donut, skip Congdon’s Doughnuts rather than trying to fit both into this already long driving day.
Continue north along the coast to Rising Tide Co-op in Damariscotta, aiming for around 1:00 PM. This is a useful food stop rather than a full meal destination: browse the Maine-made products and deli shelves, pick up drinks or a snack, and allow about 30 minutes. From there, drive roughly 35–45 minutes to Camden Harbor Park, where a short waterfront walk around the harbor makes a good stretch break. Plan about 45 minutes; parking in central Camden can be limited, so use a designated public lot and avoid leaving valuables in the car. If traffic or the morning doughnut detour puts you behind schedule, shorten the Camden walk rather than rushing the final leg.
From Camden, allow roughly 1½ hours to reach Acadia Donuts in Ellsworth, targeting about 4:30 PM, though seasonal hours may make this stop unreliable—check before departure. Budget approximately $5–12 per person and 30 minutes for the stop. Ellsworth is the last practical place to refuel and buy provisions before continuing on ME-3 to Bar Harbor, typically another 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. Arrive with enough daylight to check in and park once; downtown Bar Harbor parking is regulated and fills quickly in busy periods, so use your accommodation’s parking or a marked public lot rather than relying on curb spaces.
Arrive in Bar Harbor early enough to begin around 9:00 AM at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in the village. It makes a fun, deliberately indulgent breakfast stop—pair a small scoop with coffee or another sweet, budgeting about $6–15 per person. Check the current October opening time before setting out, since shoulder-season hours can change. From there, walk down toward the waterfront for Bar Island Land Bridge; the crossing is only safe during the exposed-tide window, so use the official Bar Harbor tide table and allow a generous margin for returning before the water covers the bar. The walk and time on the island take roughly 1½ hours; wear shoes with good grip and do not rely on the last possible return time.
After returning to town, spend about 45 minutes at the Bar Harbor Farmers’ Market if it is operating. This market is seasonal and may not run every day in October, so treat it as a bonus rather than a guarantee; if open, it is a good place to pick up local produce or baked goods for the afternoon. Then drive to Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park, allowing roughly 30 minutes from central Bar Harbor, plus extra time to find parking. You will need a park entrance pass, and October conditions can affect road access, facilities, and parking availability. Give yourself about 1½ hours for the lakeside scenery and a short shoreline walk, keeping the pace relaxed rather than attempting the full pond loop.
Return to Bar Harbor for dinner at Downeast Deli, a casual village option for sandwiches or soup around 6:00 PM; expect approximately $15–25 per person. If you are driving onward after dinner, allow time for the slower, winding roads out of Acadia National Park, and check for seasonal closures before leaving—otherwise, this is a good point to park the car and enjoy the village on foot.
No packing list attached yet.