A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Jekyll Island vs. Bar Harbor for Food, Beaches, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Jekyll Island and Bar Harbor can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is a natural, relaxing, and secluded island. It's also known for beaches, hiking, and museums.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a quaint, charming, and picturesque coastal town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Jekyll Island and Bar Harbor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

Both Bar Harbor and Jekyll Island have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Jekyll Island is better known for its museums, beaches, and hiking, while Bar Harbor is more popular for its food, resorts, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Bar Harbor is more touristy than Jekyll Island and is popular for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. Jekyll Island is well known for its quiet beaches and its Historic District.

How is Jekyll Island different from Bar Harbor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bar Harbor and Jekyll Island. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

Jekyll Island is a island with good options for its sights and museums. However, Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Jekyll Island is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Mosaic is the history museum on the island. The museum also offers historic tours of the area's sites. The Historic District is a popular place to visit with its well-maintained historic cottages and other structures.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

Bar Harbor has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

Jekyll Island offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Many restaurants are casual with low country dishes or fried seafood. You'll find some brunch places as well as cafes and quick dining eateries around town.

Is Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor Better for Nightlife?

Neither Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor offer decent nightlife.

Jekyll Island doesn't offer many options. There are sunset cruises, but otherwise the nightlife scene is quiet.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Bar Harbor. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a coastal town with good options for its luxury resorts. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for its resorts.

Bar Harbor has a few great resort options. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Jekyll Island has a few resort options worth checking out. You'll mostly find mid-range hotels on the island.

Is Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor Better for Beaches?

Jekyll Island is a well-known place for its beaches. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for the beache.

The beaches at Jekyll Island attract visitors from all over. Unspoiled beaches are the biggest draw. Some areas are rocky, but the beaches are peaceful and perfect for walks if you want to get away from the crowds. Much of the island is a state park, so it's undeveloped and pristine.

Bar Harbor offers a nice beach destination. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Is Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor Better for Hiking?

Jekyll Island is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its hiking trails.

Jekyll Island is a popular spot for hiking. The state park has some trails that are nice. There are also beach walks, bike trails, and routes that take you through historic sites.

Bar Harbor offers some nice hiking trails. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Is the Shopping Better in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its shopping areas. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Jekyll Island is a good destination for shopping. You'll find a few gift shops and boutiques, but in general, shopping options are limited.

Is Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor Better for Families?

Jekyll Island is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Jekyll Island is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love climbing and playing at Driftwood Beach, which is like a natural playground. Animal lovers will enjoy dolphin cruises or a visit to a turtle hospital. There's also the standard beach activities like minigolf, bike rental, and tram tours.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly island. It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

Is Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for couples. Also, Jekyll Island is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Bar Harbor makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

Jekyll Island is a nice destination for couples. There are several basic hotels as well as a few campgrounds. Couples will enjoy the beaches, but the island is small with limited activities and restaurant options. If you love natural scenery then this is a great destination, but there are fewer amenities than there are in many beach areas.

Is Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bar Harbor is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Jekyll Island. There are bus and trolley tours, but public transportation is mostly non-existent.

Is Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for its walkability.

Bar Harbor is a very walkable destination. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

Jekyll Island is not a walkable island. Resources are spread out, so you really need a car to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Jekyll Island Worth Visiting? and Is Bar Harbor Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bar Harbor or Jekyll Island?

How long in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Jekyll Island and Bar Harbor. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Jekyll Island than in Bar Harbor. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Jekyll Island, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bar Harbor.

Families should spend more time in Jekyll Island than Bar Harbor. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Jekyll Island, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Jekyll Island. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bar Harbor that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Jekyll Island than Bar Harbor if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Jekyll Island.

One day in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

With museums around the relaxing island of Jekyll Island, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Even though Bar Harbor is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

With museums around the destination of Jekyll Island, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this island.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bar Harbor. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

Jekyll Island, a popular island, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bar Harbor is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

Jekyll Island is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bar Harbor is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jekyll Island and Bar Harbor, we can see that Bar Harbor is more expensive. And not only is Jekyll Island much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jekyll Island would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jekyll Island 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 Jekyll Island.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jekyll Island Expensive? and Is Bar Harbor Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Jekyll Island as well as Bar Harbor. The summer months attract visitors to Jekyll Island because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year.

In the summer, Jekyll Island is a little warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the summer temperatures in Jekyll Island in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 69°F (21°C).

Jekyll Island receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jekyll Island usually gets more rain in July than Bar Harbor. Jekyll Island gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor in the Autumn?

Both Bar Harbor and Jekyll Island are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Jekyll Island this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Jekyll Island is generally much warmer than Bar Harbor. Daily temperatures in Jekyll Island average around 70°F (21°C), and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In October, Jekyll Island usually receives less rain than Bar Harbor. Jekyll Island gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor in the Winter?

Both Bar Harbor and Jekyll Island during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Jekyll Island for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Bar Harbor in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Bar Harbor can get quite cold in the winter. Jekyll Island is much warmer than Bar Harbor in the winter. The daily temperature in Jekyll Island averages around 53°F (12°C) in January, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 18°F (-8°C).

Jekyll Island usually gets more rain in January than Bar Harbor. Jekyll Island gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Jekyll Island or Bar Harbor in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jekyll Island and Bar Harbor. Many visitors come to Jekyll Island in the spring for the beaches. Also, most visitors come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Jekyll Island is much warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the spring temperatures in Jekyll Island in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 43°F (6°C).

In April, Jekyll Island usually receives less rain than Bar Harbor. Jekyll Island gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bar Harbor and Jekyll Island