Should you visit Bar Harbor or Adirondack Mountains?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Bar Harbor and Adirondack Mountains can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is a seafront town located on Mount Desert Island just off the coast of Maine. The Wabanaki Indians who seasonally fished, hunted and gathered berries, clams, and other shellfish in the area, called it the ‘clam-gathering' or ‘clambake' place. Eventually the area was settled by Europeans who established industries in fishing, lumbering, shipbuilding, and agriculture. Its maritime scenery even attracted artists of the Hudson River School like Thomas Cole, and the area soon became a seasonal resort for the affluent, comparable to that of Newport, Rhode Island.
Adirondack Mountains
Located in northeast New York State, the Adirondacks attract a large number of outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. It's the largest and first government protected park in the contiguous United States, and it's a popular year round destination for hiking, rock climbing, skiing, and more. The area covers about 5,000 square miles and is home to more than 200 lakes.
Which city is cheaper, Adirondack Mountains or Bar Harbor?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bar Harbor is $161, while the average daily cost in Adirondack Mountains is $133. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Bar Harbor and Adirondack Mountains in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Bar Harbor is $188. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $77. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Adirondack Mountains the cost is $154 on average.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Bar Harbor $94
Adirondack Mountains $77
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Bar Harbor
$188
Adirondack Mountains
$154
Food
Food in Bar Harbor costs travelers about $45 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
On average, meal and food prices in Adirondack Mountains cost around $39 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $16.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bar Harbor $45
Adirondack Mountains $39
Typical Food prices in Bar Harbor
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bar Harbor are as follows:
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West Street Cafe (for 4)
$70
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Bar Harbor is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $28 per person, per day, on local transportation in Bar Harbor.
The average price of local transportation around Adirondack Mountains is $26 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Is it cheaper to fly into Bar Harbor or Adirondack Mountains?
Prices for flights to both Adirondack Mountains and Bar Harbor change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Bar Harbor typically cost an average of $31 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Adirondack Mountains's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Bar Harbor
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bar Harbor are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Bar Harbor
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bar Harbor are as follows:
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Acadia National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour:
$2.50
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Historical Guided Walking Tour:
$35
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Premium Narrated Bus Tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (3.5 Hours):
$65
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2-Hour Tall Ship Cruise from Bar Harbor:
$76
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Bar Harbor, Maine: Culinary Walking Tour with Tastings:
$85
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Savor Bar Harbor Culinary Walking Tour:
$109
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3 Hour: ACADIA NATIONAL PARK TOUR Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach & Thunder Hole:
$590
Alcohol
The average person spends about $24 on alcoholic beverages in Bar Harbor per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $15 on alcoholic beverages in Adirondack Mountains per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bar Harbor and Adirondack Mountains, we can see that Bar Harbor is more expensive. And not only is Adirondack Mountains much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Adirondack Mountains would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Adirondack Mountains and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bar Harbor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bar Harbor than you might in Adirondack Mountains.
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