New England Coastal — 7-Day RV Trip From Boston to Acadia
Typical rate: $3,000-$3,800 all-in for two people, 7 days
The 7-day New England Coastal RV trip from Boston to Acadia is one of the country’s most varied coastal drives — Cape Cod beaches, Portsmouth NH historic district, Portland ME lighthouses, and the dramatic Mount Desert Island finale.
The trip at a glance
- Length: 7 days
- Launch: Boston, MA (BOS airport)
- End: Acadia NP area; return to Boston
- Distance: ~600 miles round trip
- Recommended class: Class C 24-28 ft (fits Acadia campgrounds, manageable on coastal roads)
- All-in budget: $3,000-$3,800 for two people
- Best months: June-September (lowest weather risk, longest days)
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Boston pickup → Cape Cod
- Morning: Pick up RV at Boston-area rental (see Massachusetts state guide)
- Drive: Boston to Cape Cod (Eastham area) — 95 miles, 2h 15min via I-93 and US-6
- Afternoon: Set up at Nickerson State Park
- Evening: Sunset at Coast Guard Beach (Eastham)
- Camp: Nickerson State Park ($40/night) or Atlantic Oaks Campground ($65-95)
Day 2: Cape Cod full day
- Morning: Cape Cod National Seashore visitor center; Marconi Beach
- Afternoon: Provincetown ferry day trip OR Wellfleet drive
- Evening: Race Point Beach sunset (best sunset on Cape Cod)
- Camp: Nickerson
Day 3: Cape Cod → Portsmouth NH
- Drive: Eastham to Portsmouth NH — 165 miles, 3h 30min via I-93 North
- Afternoon: Portsmouth historic Strawbery Banke
- Evening: Portsmouth dinner; Market Square
- Camp: Wagon Hill Farm RV Park (Dover NH) or Sea-Vu RV Park (Wells ME)
Day 4: Portsmouth → Portland ME
- Drive: Portsmouth to Portland — 50 miles, 1h via I-95 North
- Stops: York Beach, Cape Neddick (Nubble Lighthouse)
- Afternoon: Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park
- Evening: Portland Old Port; dinner at Eventide Oyster Co or Duckfat
- Camp: Wassamki Springs (Scarborough) — $55-$75/night
Day 5: Portland → Acadia
- Drive: Portland to Acadia (Bar Harbor area) — 165 miles, 3h via I-95 and US-1
- Stops: Camden Hills State Park (Camden, ME) viewpoint, Belfast historic district
- Afternoon: Arrive Acadia; set up at Blackwoods Campground (book 6 months out)
- Evening: Cadillac Mountain sunset (reservation required May-October)
- Camp: Blackwoods Campground ($30/night)
Day 6: Acadia full day
- Morning: Park Loop Road drive (Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, Otter Cliff)
- Afternoon: Jordan Pond House (popovers and tea)
- Evening: Bar Harbor dinner; whale watching tour option
- Camp: Blackwoods
Day 7: Acadia → Boston return
- Morning: Cadillac Mountain sunrise OR final Park Loop drive
- Drive: Bar Harbor to Boston — 290 miles, 5h 30min via US-1 and I-95
- Late afternoon: Empty tanks, refuel, return rental at Boston
All-in budget breakdown
For two people, 7 days, Class C 24-28 ft:
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class C rental: $195/night × 7 nights | $1,365 |
| Booking fees + insurance + cleaning | $400-$550 |
| Fuel (600 miles @ 8 mpg @ $3.95/gal Northeast) | $297 |
| NPS America the Beautiful pass | $80 |
| Campground fees (mix of state park, NPS, private) | $300-$450 |
| Cadillac Sunrise reservation | $6 |
| Food, lobster, dining (2 people) | $500-$800 |
| Total all-in for 7 days | $2,948-$3,548 |
Lobster pound stops add up; budget $100-$200 for seafood-heavy dining.
Reservation timing
Critical for July-October peak: Acadia Blackwoods Campground books 6 months ahead via Recreation.gov.
- Blackwoods (Acadia): opens 6 months ahead at 7 AM Eastern via Recreation.gov
- Seawall (Acadia, west side): same system
- Cadillac Mountain sunrise reservation: released 90 days in advance, separately from camping
- Nickerson State Park (Cape Cod): opens 11 months ahead via ReserveAmerica
- Private RV parks: book 3-4 months ahead for July-August
What can go wrong (and what to do)
- Couldn’t get Acadia Blackwoods: try Seawall Campground (west side of Mount Desert Island), Bar Harbor Campground (private, just outside park), or Schoodic Woods Campground (Schoodic Peninsula, less crowded)
- Hurricane season impact: Late summer through fall can see weather impact. Travel insurance recommended for September-October trips.
- Lobster prices: $20-$45 per pound at restaurants; cheaper at retail pounds. Plan if budget-sensitive.
- Boston traffic: plan Day 7 return drive for early afternoon to avoid Boston commuter traffic.
- Salt spray: confirm cleanup fees with rental company.
Variations
Shorter 5-day version
- Skip Portsmouth and Portland; go direct Boston to Cape Cod, then Acadia
- Compress Acadia to 2 days
Extended 10-day version
- Add 1 day each at Portsmouth and Portland
- Add Mount Washington / White Mountains side trip from Portland
- Add Schoodic Peninsula day from Acadia
Off-season alternative (October fall foliage)
- Peak fall colors mid-October in Maine
- Cooler weather, fewer crowds
- Some seasonal businesses closed
- Reservation pressure shifts
Class choice math
| RV Class | New England Coastal Fit |
|---|---|
| Class B under 22 ft | Fits everything, parking flexibility in Cape Cod towns |
| Class C 24-28 ft | Sweet spot — fits Acadia campgrounds, manageable coastal |
| Class C 30-35 ft | Acadia restricted at 35 ft, Cape Cod state parks vary |
| Class A 30-35 ft | Difficult on Cape Cod and Acadia narrow roads |
For most renters, Class C 24-28 ft is ideal.
Bottom line
The 7-day New England Coastal trip from Boston to Acadia is the Northeast’s flagship RV experience. Budget $3,200-$3,800 for two people. Class C 24-28 ft. Book Acadia 6 months ahead. Plan around fall foliage if October trip.
See related guides: Massachusetts state, Maine state, Acadia NP guide.