Lincoln’s List: Dog-Friendly NE Road Trip Idea

dog on trail, in kayak, and walking through water

We're calling this road trip "Lincoln's List" because this itinerary was created with our best furry friend in mind.

Our pup, Lincoln, has been traveling with us since 2019 and is a huge part of why we fell in love with road trips. Simply put, hopping in the car is the most accessible way for us to travel with her (and we bring Lincoln just about everywhere we go).

So for this road trip, we’re channeling what Linc would say if we asked for her favorite travel destinations over the last 3 years and what she’d choose if she could design our next road trip.

Our guess is she’d rattle off a wish list, including:
(1) cooler temperatures (forget the south in the summer!),
(2) woods, hikes, and lots of time outdoors (and she’d probably make a point to tell us that areas where people are scarce but squirrels and smells are plentiful is preferred),
(3) beaches and lakes with easy access to water she could cool off in alongside sand and mud she can re-scent in, and
(4) restaurants she’s allowed to hang at and hopefully score the occasional leftover from.

So we’ve reflected on our catalog of travels and put this road trip together with Lincoln’s wish list in mind. If you’re looking for dog-friendly road trip ideas because you’ve got a dog who wants to do absolutely everything you do when traveling, this one’s for you!

Here's a 7-Day Dog-Friendly NE Road Trip courtesy of our dog, Lincoln.

dog on rock overlook of rolling mountains — Lincoln on Mount Washington in New Hampshire

Table of Contents Hide

The Overview

Lincoln’s taking you to New England for this road trip because summer and fall temperatures are great, outdoor activity is plentiful, and here you’ll find one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the United States.

Here’s an overview of your 7-Day Dog-Friendly Road Trip Itinerary.

Day 1: Lincoln, NH
Day 2: Lake Placid, NY [Adirondacks]
Day 3: Lake Placid, NY [Adirondacks]
Day 4: Stowe, VT
Day 5: Bar Harbor, ME [Acadia National Park]
Day 6: Bar Harbor, ME [Acadia National Park]
Day 7: Portland, ME

This itinerary is similar to our Wicked Good: 10-Day NE Road Trip Itinerary, but with only the top stops and suggestions for bringing your pup with you!

When to Visit to New England

This road trip is best in the summer or fall.

Over the summer, take advantage of long daylight hours and cooler temperatures than you can find in many other states this time of year. Or road trip in the fall to take advantage of stunning fall foliage in one of the best places in the world for leaf peeping.

We spent 5 months in Ontario and New England during our 2022 Travel Season. We spent two weeks in VT in July, a long weekend camping at Schoodic Peninsula in Acadia National Park in early August, three weeks near Lake Placid, NY from mid to late August, one month in Campton, NH in September, three weeks in Ellsworth, ME in early October, and three weeks in Attleboro, MA at the end of October. (We also spent three weeks in Ontario at the start of our trip.)

There really wasn’t a bad time to be in New England over these months. Sure, the summer months can be warm at night, but just make sure your rental has air conditioning, and you’ll be fine. (To be fair, we say this as people who live in Texas otherwise, so our tolerance for heat is probably greater than those who live in the north year-round. That said, we also do nothing without air conditioning, so in that sense, our tolerance is actually probably lower, ha!)

However, we will say that if you want to plan your road trip for gorgeous fall foliage, aim to travel the second week of October. Although the spots that are well-known for foliage will be busy (i.e. the Kancamagus Highway and Stowe, VT), the views will be worth it! Think… Charming small town New England dressed up in vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow. It’s as picturesque as it gets!

RTL Tip: Want more time for hiking or to be on the water during your road trip? Visit in July or August. Want cozy fall foliage strolls with hot apple cider in hand? Visit in October. Want cooler temperatures but smaller crowds? Visit in September.

How to Get Here

Lincoln’s no doubt a fan of trips we can drive to because that means its infinitely easier for her to join us. If you’re close enough to any point along this road trip to drive, that’s what we recommend. Drive to the closest point along this itinerary and make a full loop to return home.

However, if you can’t get here by car, and you’ve got a dog who does okay on an airplane, you can fly into Boston International Airport and grab a rental car once you land. If you’re flying, we recommend rearranging this itinerary slightly and driving from Boston > Lake Placid > Stowe > Lincoln, NH > Acadia National Park > Portland > Boston.

Note: If you live too far to drive to any point along this road trip, and there’s no way your pup is going on a plane (not Lincoln either, unless she’s flying private in a seat next to us, ha!), then let us know in the comments below where you live and we’ll ask Lincoln to put together another list closer to your starting destination.

Where to Stay

We recommend treating this itinerary like a traditional road trip, where you stay somewhere different at each stop of your trip. You can look into campgrounds near each destination or stay in the nearby towns.

For Lincoln, NH, consider the Pemi River or Lost River Valley Campgrounds or the town of Lincoln. (Can’t find anything in Lincoln? Check out Campton, NH, just 20 miles south. We had a great month in one of the Red Sleigh Cabins in Campton.)

For Lake Placid, consider Rollins Pond Campground, Ausable Chasm Campground, or the village of Lake Placid. (Want a truly spectacular view? Look for lodging in the village of Lake Placid that sits on Mirror Lake. The Mirror Lake Inn has dog-friendly rooms and a restaurant with a dog-friendly patio. Can’t find anything in Lake Placid? Try nearby Wilmington.)

For Stowe, consider Smugglers' Notch State Park Campground or the town of Stowe. (You can also look about 40 minutes away in Burlington. Downtown Burlington is incredibly dog-friendly!)

For Acadia National Park, consider Blackwoods Campground or the town of Bar Harbor. (Can’t find something there? Try Ellsworth, ME. If you end up in Ellsworth, check out the Blue Hill Mountain Hike at sunset. It’s spectacular, dog-friendly, and rivals the view in Acadia with 1/100 of the crowds!)

For Portland, check out local campgrounds or downtown Portland.

Now, let’s get to the itinerary!

Day 1: Lincoln, NH

Where better to kick off Lincoln’s road trip than in the town of (wait for it…) Lincoln, New Hampshire?!? (I promise, we didn’t force this, ha! This just worked out perfectly!)

Lincoln (the town, not to be confused with our dog, who shares the same name) is smack dab in the middle of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. That’s what makes it such a great spot to kick off a dog-friendly road trip.

You could easily spend a week exploring this area of New Hampshire alone because there are TONS of great dog-friendly hikes and things to do nearby! (We spent a month here and couldn’t do and see everything on our list!)

But since we’re only scheduling one day for you to enjoy the White Mountains on this road trip, here are our top suggestions for the best things to do.

The Kancamagus Highway

This one’s a bonus because you can actually drive the Kancamagus Highway on your way from Portland to Lincoln. (So whenever you’re making that drive along your road trip, come back to this section. If you’re not making a full loop along this itinerary, consider taking about two hours to drive there and back along the Kancamagus Highway during your stay in Lincoln.)

If you’re visiting in the fall, the Kancamagus Highway will be one of the most picturesque stretches of road along your entire trip. And if you’re not visiting in the fall, this will still be a beautiful drive, just not quite as stunning as when it’s lined with colorful fall leaves.

The Kancamagus Highway is a 34-mile drive between Lincoln, NH, and Conway, NH. It’s one of the most popular drives in New Hampshire and one of the best places in the United States to view fall foliage.

Although there are MANY overlooks and trails along this scenic drive that could keep you busy for your entire trip, we recommend only stopping at a few of the overlooks and none of the hikes along this drive. (We’ve got a better one coming next!)

Note: Visiting in the fall? Get up EARLY. This drive gets crowded quickly, so either drive the night before or give yourself an early wake-up call to avoid long lines and lots of traffic en route to your next destination. The Kancamagus Highway is great, but ideally not your only activity of the day!

Hike the White Mountains

Let’s get you and your pup out of the car and into the woods!

Hiking was the activity that kept us the busiest during our month in New Hampshire. We were out exploring every weekend and many weeknights. Spending time outside by getting on a trail is one of the best things to do in New Hampshire.

You can see all of our favorite hikes in New Hampshire here, but if you want our top recommendation, we suggest heading to Welch-Dickey Mountain. This approximately 4.4-mile loop is a gorgeous half-day hike with expansive mountain views. It’s dog-friendly, a good workout, and a lot of fun if you’re up for varied terrain between exposed rockface and wooded paths.

If you search for this hike via All Trails, find the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail (not “Welch Mountain Rock Ledge” or “Welch and Dickey Mountains”). Following the full loop trail will ensure you view the rock ledge and both Welch and Dickey Mountain. We recommend hiking counter-clockwise so you’ll be climbing uphill during the steepest sections. (Especially if it’s wet or you’re visiting during fall foliage season when leaves are on the ground, this is helpful. Take your time; the terrain can get slippery.)

Dog-friendly? Absolutely. Everything on this road trip itinerary is Lincoln (the dog) approved! Just know there are steep sections of this hike on exposed rock.

RTL Tip: Grab coffee and breakfast at Mad River Coffee House or Dunkin Donuts (do what the locals do!) in Campton before or after your hike.

Want something easier with similarly expansive mountain views? Check out the Middle Sugarloaf Trail or Artists Bluff.

Want something more challenging? Check out the Franconia Ridge. This is a bucket-list style hike (one that people come from all over to tackle) and will have you walking along the ridge of three mountains. It’s incredible but a full-day adventure that packs a big punch.

Read more about our favorite hikes in New Hampshire here!

dog walking uphill on exposed rockface — Lincoln on the Welch-Dickey Loop.

Note: If you opt to hike the Franconia Ridge, skip the rest of this day and go straight to One Love Brewery or Covered Bridge Farm Table for dinner. The Franconia Ridge Hike is a long 8+ hour day, so we don’t recommend planning anything else alongside it.

Read our full guide to hiking The Franconia Ridge here.

Canoe on Lake Winnipesaukee

This was quite possibly my favorite thing to do in New Hampshire! We rented a canoe at Wild Meadow Paddlesports and paddled our way around Lake Winnipesaukee. It made for a gorgeous late summer/early fall day on the lake.

Our recommendation is to make reservations in advance so you can arrive after your hike and be sure to get the rental of your choice. You can rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard.

If you’re a wildlife fan, ask about any recent wildlife sightings once you check-in. We learned earlier paddlers had sighted a bald eagle near One Mile Island, so we knew to look for one once we got there. We spent a few hours on the lake, paddling from White Meadow Paddlesports to One Mile Island (and around), letting Lincoln out of the canoe to swim while we took pictures of the bald eagle perched high on a tree branch above us.

Dog-friendly? Yes! This was Linc’s first time in a canoe, and she did great. She especially enjoyed getting to hop out in the shallow parts of the lake to swim.

On your way back to Lincoln from Wild Meadow Paddlesports, stop by the Ice House Creamery for a treat. For you, consider the Ice Cream Flight (during summer months), and for your pup, grab the “Dog Dayz” pup cup, vanilla ice cream with peanut butter, and a dog bone.

Not interested in getting out on the lake or have a pup who’d rather keep their paws on solid ground? Check out the Franconia Falls on the Kancamagus Highway. You’ll have to hike in, but the trail is flat and leads to a refreshing natural swimming hole.

Dinner at One Love Brewery or Covered Bridge Farm Table

You’ll have plenty of options for food in Lincoln, New Hampshire, but our two recommendations are One Love Brewery and Covered Bridge Farm Table. Both have seasonal dog-friendly outdoor patios.

(For the latter, Kelly highly recommends a burger and the buffalo tenders. Jon highly recommends the bolognese and mushroom caps. For dessert, try the Apple Cider Donut Ice Cream Sandwich.)

More of a cider fan rather than beer? Check out Rhythm Handcrafted Beverage. It’s across the parking lot from One Love Brewery, has a great selection of local cider, and has an outdoor dog-friendly patio.

Rhythm Cider and One Love Brewery are in the same shopping complex in Lincoln, while Covered Bridge Farm table is about 20 minutes in Campton. While Rhythm Cider doesn’t have a restaurant similar to One Love Brewery, you could grab a drink there first, then get food next door.

Day 2: Lake Placid, NY

Drive about 4 hours to Lake Placid, NY. (Take 89N to 9N to avoid the ferry.)

This one’s on Lincoln’s List for two reasons: (1) The village of Lake Placid sits on Mirror Lake (not to be confused with Lake Placid Lake to its side), and Mirror Lake is stunning and dog-friendly, and (2) Lake Placid is surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains and dozens of beautiful dog-friendly trails to explore.

So if you and your pup love time on trails and in the woods, you’ll love this stop!

Since there’s so much to do, and you’re driving four hours to get here, we’re planning two days for you in Lake Placid. Take one day to explore the Adirondack Mountains and one day to explore the town of Lake Placid.

Hike the Adirondacks

We know it’s a long drive, so let’s get you and your pup moving first thing.

The abundance of outdoor activity surrounding Lake Placid is one of the main reasons there is SO much to do. You’ve got hikes with amazing views, hikes with great effort-to-view ratios, well-known hikes, and peaceful hikes through the woods that lead to gorgeous scenic overlooks.

On your way from Lincoln, NH, to Lake Placid (if you’re driving the route that avoids the ferry), you’ll pass one of our favorite hikes: Balanced Rocks.

There are actually two great hikes from the Balanced Rocks Trailhead on NY-73E (one across the road from the other), so you can pick your own adventure and hike to your heart’s content. (Cascade Mountain Trail is the hike right next door to Balanced Rocks.)

We only hiked to Balanced Rocks, so we can’t tell you which to pick of the two, but we will say: We loved the Balanced Rocks Trail. From what I’ve read, Balanced Rocks is the easier hike of the two (it’s shorter, with about half the elevation gain, and it’s supposedly quieter/less popular than its sister trail). Along this 3.2-mile trek, you’ll find a walk through the woods, some rock scrambling, and a gorgeous view.

RTL Tip: After you’ve taken in the sights at the Balanced Rocks (where you can also see a Lake Placid Legacy Site in the distance!), turn around and make your way over to the boulders on the right for solitude and another gorgeous view.

Dog-Friendly? Absolutely, but there are a few sections you’ll want to be careful of if your dog pulls on the leash because the rock scrambling does get steep when you’re going down.

Looking for an easier hike? Keep driving past Lake Placid to Cobble Lookout. Cobble Lookout probably has the best effort-to-view ratio in the area! After your hike, visit Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway. Grab lunch/dinner and dessert at A&W or Whitebrook Dairy Bar (cash only) and Adirondack Chocolates on your way back to Lake Placid.

Visit a Lake Placid Legacy Site

If you’re hiking Balanced Rocks or Cascade Mountain, consider a stop at Mt Van Hoevenberg on your way back to Lake Placid. This is one of four Lake Placid Legacy Sites. You can stand atop the podium, watch riders on the Bobsled Experience or Cliffside Coaster, or hike the dog-friendly Mt. Van Hoevenberg East Trail.

Did you know? Lake Placid hosted two Olympic Games: one in 1932 and one in 1980. That makes visiting the site of former Olympic events one of the most unique things to do in Lake Placid. You can explore the Olympic Center, Olympic Jumping Complex, Mount Van Hoevenberg, and Whiteface Mountain. Learn more about the Legacy Sites here!

RTL Tip: Mount Van Hoevenberg and the Olympic Jumping Complex are on your way to Lake Placid from Balanced Rocks or Cascade Mountain. Whiteface Mountain is right next to Cobble Lookout Trail. The Olympic Center is in the village of Lake Placid.

Hungry? There’s a Mountain Pass Lodge Cafe at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, but I’m not sure if there’s an outdoor dog-friendly patio. You could probably order something to go, though!

dog next to elevation sign for whiteface mountain

Day 3: Lake Placid

Spend another day hiking the Adirondacks, soaking up the views on Mirror Lake, and enjoying the Lake Placid Legacy Sites (or all of the above!).

Breakfast & Sunrise over Mirror Lake

We recommend starting your morning with sunrise over Mirror Lake.

Grab coffee and pastries from Bluesberry Bakery, then walk to Mid’s Park or Mirror Lake Public Beach to enjoy breakfast with a view.

Afterward, give your pup an easy stroll along the 2.6-mile Mirror Lake Loop.

While following the loop, you’ll walk around the entirety of Mirror Lake (though you won’t always be able to see the lake) and through Lake Placid downtown. When you don’t have a direct view of the lake, you’ll be strolling by gorgeous homes, many of which sit on Mirror Lake, and pass by a Lake Placid Lake access site.

Hike, Legacy Site, Scenic Drive

Consider the opposite of whatever you did yesterday!

If yesterday, you hiked Balanced Rocks and visited Mount Van Hoevenberg, then today consider hiking Cobble Lookout and driving up Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway. (Or vice versa!)

Click here for more great hikes in the Adirondacks!

Click here for the 6 best things to do in Lake Placid.

Sunset Kayak on Mirror Lake

After a full day of exploring Lake Placid and its surrounding Adirondack Mountains, it’s time to eat! Our recommendation? Grab dinner at a restaurant on the water before taking a sunset kayak ride on Mirror Lake.

Try the dog-friendly patio at the Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn. Then rent your boat of choice at Mirror Lake Boat Rentals and enjoy a beautiful evening on the water. If you can, opt for being out on the water at least 45 minutes before sunset. Golden hour on Mirror Lake is gorgeous!

Grab dessert at Ben & Jerry’s or Emma’s Creamery on Main Street.

Day 4: Stowe, Vermont

Drive about three hours to Stowe, Vermont. We recommend you start the day with a hike, then take a mini foodie tour through town!

(This mini foodie tour is a snippet of this longer foodie tour here. This was our favorite thing to do in Stowe!)

Stowe Pinnacle Hike

We did two day hikes near Stowe during our two weeks in Vermont: (1) Mount Hunger, and (2) Stowe Pinnacle.

Although Mount Hunger is a much better name for a hike to tackle before embarking on a food-focused tour of the town, if you only have time for one hike, then we’d suggest Stowe Pinnacle instead. Both hikes were similar in terms of length and elevation (both are steep!), but we thought the Pinnacle hike had more fun and varied terrain to keep you busy while climbing.

(Note: Lincoln might disagree, though, as she found a nice pool of water sitting on top of Mount Hunger and quickly plopped herself into it once we reached the summit, ha!)

The Stowe Pinnacle Hike is an approximately 3.7-mile out-and-back hike with 1,604 feet of elevation gain.

Park/start at the trailhead off of the Pinnacle Meadows Parking Lot and enjoy a short, relatively flat walk through the woods before your climb begins (and doesn’t let up until you reach the top). Your efforts are worth it, though, and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views. Bring your hiking boots and poles!

According to a sign at the trailhead, this hike is busiest on Saturdays between 11am and 2pm. Hike on a weekday if possible or arrive early (or late) to ensure you get a spot.

Want to hike Mount Hunger before your foodie tour instead? The Mount Hunger hike is an approximately 4.1-mile hike with an elevation gain of 2,296 feet. The 360-degree views at the summit here are also gorgeous!

Stowe Cider

After your hike, it’s time to eat! Grab a refreshing drink at Stowe Cider and get lunch at its restaurant, Shakedown Street BBQ & Grill.

We first learned about Stowe Cider while grabbing some of Vermont’s famous cheddar cheese at the Cabot Cheese Farmers’ Store down the road.

(RTL Tip: Have someone who can sit in the car with the pup while the other of you makes a cheese run inside? Highly recommend adding a stop at the Cabot Farmers’ Store. The outdoor picnic tables outside the store are dog-friendly if you can’t wait to dig in.)

Anyway, Stowe Cider was hosting a cheese & cider pairing inside Cabot’s Farmers Store, and we quickly fell in love. (With both the cheese and the cider.) Stowe Cider mentioned they had a great dog-friendly lawn, and we were sold. Our next day in town, we spent an afternoon sitting outside at Stowe Cider, listening to music and enjoying a beautiful summer day.

Prefer non-alcoholic cider? Cold Hollow Cider Mill is the next stop on our list. We recommend grabbing hot apple cider and cider donuts on your way out of town tomorrow morning, but Cold Hollow Cider Mill also has a sit-down restaurant where you could grab a bite to eat. The outdoor picnic tables around Cold Hollow Cider Mill are dog-friendly; double-check if the outdoor restaurant patio is, too!

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

No trip to New England is complete without a visit to a cider mill, and this one in Stowe is one of the best!

Grab hot apple cider and cider donuts to go, check out their on-site restaurant, or sit at the outdoor picnic tables enjoying your cider and donuts with your pup. (Dogs aren’t allowed inside, but they are allowed on the grounds outside.)

Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury Factory

Even a few locals told us that no trip to Stowe is complete without visiting the Ben & Jerry’s Factory (or without taking a stroll through the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard).

Learn more about the Ben & Jerry’s Factory on their website here.

Although dogs are not allowed inside or on the factory tour, they can wait in line for ice cream with you and visit the Flavor Graveyard. Since you’re here, this stop is fun!

Note: The next stop along your road trip requires the longest drive. It’s worth it as you’ll be visiting one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the United States, but if you’d prefer not to make the 6-hour trek, consider Burlington, VT or Conway, NH instead. Or, you could break the drive up by spending one night in Bretton Woods, NH and exploring Mount Washington.

Day 5: Bar Harbor [Acadia National Park]

Depending on when you arrive, you may be able to catch the low tide for a walk across the Land Bridge to Bar Island on your first day in town.

Before or after, you can grab food in downtown Bar Harbor, explore the shops downtown, or have a drink on the lawn of the Ivy Manor Inn.

Note: The Bar Island Land Bridge is only accessible about 1.5 hours before and after low tide. (And if you lose track of time and miss this window, you’ll either have to wait hours until low tide comes back or call a water taxi to safely retrieve you.) Definitely check the tide before embarking on this activity!

Want something different to do? Check out the Bubbles / Bubble Rock or the Ocean Path Trail. Here are 10 of our favorite hikes in Acadia National Park.

Is Acadia National Park Dog-Friendly?

Acadia National Park is one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the United States. It’s an amazing vacation to take with your pup because there’s so much for them to do alongside you.

Some of our favorite dog-friendly activities include driving Park Loop Road and hiking the Jordan Loop Pond, Gorham Mountain Loop, Jesup Path, and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.

The town of Bar Harbor, next door to Acadia National Park, is also very dog-friendly. Check out Side Street Cafe and Cafe This Way. Grab lobster at Bar Harbor Lobster Co or Trenton Bridge Lobster Co.

Dog-Friendly Hikes in Acadia National Park

There are tons of dog-friendly hikes in Acadia National Park, which is one reason this is such a fantastic road trip stop (and why it had to be on Lincoln’s List!).

According to the National Park Service, there are 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads that are dog-friendly.

Some of the best dog-friendly hikes in Acadia National Park include the Jordan Pond Path, Jesup Path, Ocean Path, Bubble Rock Hike, and Gorham Mountain Loop.

Unfortunately (though expectedly), pets aren’t allowed on any of the ladder or run trails in Acadia National Park, including the Beehive or Precipice Trails. Pets also aren’t allowed in most lakes inside the park (as they are public water sources) or on Sand Beach (from June 15-September 8) and Echo Lake Beach (from May 15-September 15).

Dogs are also not permitted in the Wild Gardens of Acadia or Duck Harbor Campground. (However, they are allowed on the Jesup Path, which can give you a taste of the area, and the Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods campgrounds.)

Learn more about visiting Acadia National Park with pets here!

Day 6: Acadia National Park

With one full day to explore Acadia National Park, here’s our recommendation for what to do, Lincolns-List-style!

Sunrise Hike Gorham Mountain Loop >
Breakfast at Cafe This Way in Bar Harbor>
Park Loop Drive >
[Stops at Sand Beach (during off-season), Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs]
Jordan Pond Loop >
The Travelin’ Lobster (to go)

*If you’re visiting in the fall, also stop along the Park Loop Road at Jesup Path (for the boardwalk section near the Wild Gardens of Acadia).

Sunrise at Gorham Mountain

To begin your day, catch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean at Gorham Mountain.

It only takes about 20 minutes to get to a great sunrise spot, so start your trek about 30 minutes before the estimated sunrise for the day you’re visiting.

After about 20 minutes, you’ll be at an amazing spot to enjoy the view. While you can walk to the highest point of the trail (about 25 minutes into your hike), we loved the spot just before it. If you’re visiting during the fall, the spot just before the mountain peak is especially great for enjoying the foliage below.

After snapping tons of pictures and watching the sunrise, you can either return the way you came or continue following the Gorham Mountain Loop. We recommend the latter and then taking in the views along Park Loop Drive (and the Ocean Path) on your way back to your car. It’s stunning! You’ll pass Thunder Hole and can walk further on the Ocean Path to view the Otter Cliffs as well.

Park Loop Drive (Jesup Path, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond)

For your next adventure, drive the Park Loop Road and stop at various points of interest along the way.

Park Loop Road is a 27-mile drive through Acadia National Park and is a beautifully scenic trip around the east side of Mount Desert Island.

Along this drive, you’ll be able to see and access many of the most popular attractions in Acadia National Park, including Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Point, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain.

To start driving the Park Loop Road, begin at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and follow the signs.

Sand Beach: This stop is best for your pup during the off-season, as that’s the only time of year they’re allowed on the beach. [That means dogs are not allowed on Sand Beach from June 15-September 8 but are allowed during the other months.]

Thunder Hole: If you’re able to be at Thunder Hole about an hour before high tide (and there are enough waves on the water), you may hear what sounds like a thunderous roar from waves crashing against the rocky inlet.

Otter Cliffs: This is another quick stop you can make along Park Loop Drive for a beautiful view of Acadia’s coastline.

Jordan Pond: We recommend hopping out of your car here to walk the mostly flat 3-mile path around Jordan Pond. This is a fun and unique dog-friendly stroll through the woods with half of the trail requiring you to walk along boardwalk planks. Plus, you’ll get amazing views of Jordan Pond! [Note: Dogs are not allowed to swiw in Jordan pond as it’s a public water source.]

Bubble Rock: You don’t have to hike to see Bubble Rock; you can marvel at it from the road along Park Loop Drive. There will be a pull-off just before the Bubbles Trailhead that has a great viewpoint.

Jesup Path: Jesup Path is a great, flat path that we highly recommend walking during the fall. It feels like a fall foliage fairyland, particularly at sunset!

man and dog walking along boardwalk through fall foliage — Jesup Path in October

Note: If no trip to Acadia National Park is complete without tackling an Acadia ladder hike, we recommend the Precipice Trail. It was our favorite hike in Acadia, but we left it off this itinerary because dogs are not allowed. Learn more about the various hikes in Acadia National Park here!

The Travelin’ Lobster

Along our 2022 Travel Season, we spent three weeks in Ellsworth, Maine, with two main goals in mind: explore Acadia National Park and eat as many lobster rolls as possible. Click here for a full recap of the spots we tried.

Or, you can just take our word for it and visit our favorite: The Travelin Lobster!

The Travelin Lobster ranked in the top spot for both a hot lobster roll and clam chowder. It was the most expensive place we tried, and we waited about an hour to order because it was so busy, but based on pure taste alone, this was hands-down our winner.

So this is where we recommend you grab dinner after a long day exploring Acadia National Park. Enjoy!

Day 7: Portland, ME

Portland is known as being one of the most dog-friendly cities in the United States!

Consider making Portland the final stop of your dog-friendly road trip through New England, then make your way home.

Keep planning your perfect dog-friendly road trip

Here are 10 of the best hikes in Acadia National Park.
And here’s our pick for the 6 best things to do in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.

Exploring more of New England? Check out our Wicked Good 10-Day New England Road Trip.

Or click here to read posts from New Hampshire.
Click here for Vermont.
And click here for Lake Placid guides & itineraries!

Your turn! Please leave us a comment below!

We’re always looking for inspiration and would love to hear about your adventures too! What’s an upcoming trip you’re looking forward to, or which of these stops sounds the best to you (or your pup)? Please share with us in the comments below!

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