Bar Harbor owes its fame to Acadia National Park, but this Maine coastal town has quietly become a destination in its own right — especially once the summer crowds thin out and the foliage turns. TravelAwaits has rounded up ten Airbnbs that suit just about every kind of autumn traveller, from solo hikers to full-house family groups.
First, a bit of context: Bar Harbor was a Gilded Age playground for America's wealthiest families, and several of their estates still stand. Today it's a walkable, family-friendly town with shops and restaurants downtown, and it sits right at the gateway to Acadia. Fall brings fiery colour to the surrounding forests, and the town's coastal setting makes for some notably good golden-hour light.
The rental shortlist covers a lot of ground. If you want something brand new, Fresh Catch Cottage is a three-bedroom build with an EV charger, a fire pit and an outdoor dining setup. Couples have a couple of strong options: Wildacre is a one-bedroom guest suite across the road from the national park — a twenty-minute walk gets you downtown, and the private deck looks out at woodland — while the Retreat close to Acadia splits the difference between town and trailhead, with a five-minute walk to downtown and hiking trails that start nearby.
Groups are well served too. The Downtown 3BR Flat sleeps six in the heart of town with two parking spaces and a welcome basket from the hosts, and Quiet DT 3BR adds a fire pit, a grill and a private deck on every floor, so you get outdoor space without leaving downtown. For a bigger spend, the Luxury Retreat across from Acadia sleeps seven, with vaulted ceilings, a great room and a sunroom built for leaf-peeping.
History fans get the pick of the bunch. The Historic District Hidden Treasure is a two-bedroom Civil War-era home, refurbished with bright modern accents and gardens out front. The 19th Century Home sleeps up to six with a pullout bed and mixes vintage features with modern comforts, while Little Manahan Two offers an upstairs unit with its own private entrance, gardens, and two off-street parking spots with EV charging.
The standout, if you're chasing atmosphere, might be Porcupine House. It sits directly on Bar Harbor's Shore Path, five minutes from downtown shops, with Frenchman's Bay views from the patio, a wood-burning fireplace, skylights in every room and a freestanding tub facing the trees. Hard to beat on a crisp October evening.
Who is this for? Anyone planning a fall trip to Maine or Acadia who'd rather have a fireplace and a home base than a hotel room. Summer is still Bar Harbor's busiest stretch, but autumn delivers the foliage without the peak-season crush — and these rentals, spread across downtown, the Shore Path and the park's edge, mean you can tailor the trip to hiking, town-strolling or a bit of both.