Bar Harbor is the bedroom community for Mount Desert Island, with hundreds of hotel, motel, and inn rooms. They’re invariably filled during the busy days of summer, and even the most basic of rooms can be quite expensive in July and August. It’s essential to reserve as early in advance as possible. Even the Airbnb rentals fill up well ahead of time—there are a ton of these, but MDI-dwellers know what their outbuilding/spare room is worth, so you’ll find few steals.
Bar Harbor can be an expensive town, but family-owned motels have provided simple, no-frills, cheaper alternatives for decades—some rooms still remain under $100 in peak season, which is amazing. Most are on the north end of town, along or near Route 3, and almost all are open seasonally, from May through September or October. Choices in this price range include the conveniently located Villager Motel, 207 Main Street ( tel. 888/383-3211 or 207/288-3211) and the Highbrook Motel, 94 Eden Street ( tel. 800/338-9688 or 207/288-3591). About 4 miles west of Bar Harbor on Route 3 is Hanscom’s Motel and Cottages (tel. 207/288-3744), an old-fashioned motor court with a dozen units (some of them with two bedrooms) that have been well maintained. Its rates range from $155 to $299 in summer, and go as low as $110 per night in the off season.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
