July crowds?

I have been reading all about the ';crowds in July';....we will be arriving on Monday, July 6th, and leaving on Friday, July 10th. (Will be in Portland the 4th and 5th). Will be staying ';in town';, but close to Acadia, where we hope to spend a lot of time. What can I expect in terms of ';crowds';? Are we talking Mytrle Beach packed like sardines on the beaches and roads??? Not how I picture Maine! :) (This will be our first visit). Thanks!

July crowds?

No, not nearly that bad. The Fourth does get pretty crowded, as everyone comes into the village for the breakfast, the parade, the lobster feed, and the fireworks. Traffic patterns are changed to handle the horde and it can get to be a zoo.

That being said, July and August are our busiest months in terms of visitors, so yes, there will be a lot of people here. That effect will be more visible in the village than in the park. The more popular places such as Cadillac summit, Thunder Hole, and Jordan Pond House will be busy but there still is a lot of the park that will be quiet. As one of our frequent visitors and contributors to this forum has remarked: ';It%26#39;s not like you have to take a number at the trail head.';

So get into the park and enjoy it. If you know where you want to eat dinner, make reservations. If you are staying in the village, leave your car and stroll to the shops and restaurants.

July crowds?

Well, we can%26#39;t be like Myrtle Beach because there is no long stretch of sandy beach. Most of Acadia is rocky shore line. Nor do we have condos and high rise hotels. Nor do we have a four-lane highway feeding people into the area.

So, no, it isn%26#39;t like Myrtle Beach. And it isn%26#39;t like Gatlinburg in the Smokey Mountains because we don%26#39;t have a long stretch of go-karts and outlet malls.

It%26#39;s only crowded in July and August as compared to March and December when you can make a U-turn in the middle of the village without inconveniencing anyone. Some of us who live here think the world is coming to an end when, in August, we have to wait five minutes to make a left turn at the corner of Mt. Desert and Main Streets. The rest of the country should be so lucky!! We don%26#39;t even have a stop light in the village of Bar Harbor. Or Southwest Harbor. Or Northeast Harbor. Maine: life the way it should be. Even in July and August.

Great response Bonniemaev! And very true.

Thank you for your reassurances!

Since you will be arriving after July 4th itself, you really will not have any problems...those few days after the 4th are generally a little slower, but as everyone else said, it really isn%26#39;t even a problem at any time...you can always find a hiking or walking trail in the park where you won%26#39;t see anyone else....no sardines here!