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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Southwest Harbor
Spend 1–2 days in Southwest Harbor: a day for the Gilley Museum and kayaking, another for exploring nearby villages or a relaxed beach walk.
Southwest Harbor is a small Maine port town on Mount Desert Island. Its main draws are the Gilley Museum, local kayak tours, and easy access to Bar Harbor and nearby coastal villages. Most visitors fit the highlights into a single day; a second night lets you enjoy sunrise on the harbor and a slower pace.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited services)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–100 excl. bed · Mid $120–180 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | $2–4 |
| Lobster roll | $12–18 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | $15–20 |
| Kayak tour (half‑day) | $80–120 |
| Gilley Museum entry | $5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BHB · Bar Harbor Airport
- 15 min drive north via Route 102
Typical fares
- Bar Harbor Airport → Southwest Harbor (taxi)
- about $30–45, 15 min (check)
- Ferry Bar Harbor ↔ Southwest Harbor
- about $15–25 each way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Most sights are within walking distance; bicycles are popular. Seasonal ferry service connects to Bar Harbor. Car rentals are available at Bar Harbor Airport for trips to the island’s interior.
See and do
Known for
- The Gilley Museum
- Acadia Park kayak tours
- Harbour‑front inns
- Proximity to Bar Harbor
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Harbor | Drive north 15 min on Route 102 or take the seasonal ferry | ≈30 min total |
| Somesville | Drive south 10 min on Route 102A | ≈20 min total |
| Hulls Cove | Drive south 12 min on Route 102A | ≈25 min total |
Sleep
- Ann's Point Inn
- Four‑diamond inn on a peninsula; rooms with water views.
- The Claremont Hotel
- Shorefront resort with rooms, cottages, and on‑site dining.
- Harbour Cottage Inn
- $165–289 per night B&B with specials.
- Pier One Vacation Rentals
- $1,029–1,820 weekly waterfront rentals.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moiexcusez‑moi |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?combien ça coûte |
| Where is the restroom? | Où sont les toilettes ?où sont les toilettes |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- The Carroll Homestead opens only on specific days; call park headquarters to confirm tours.
- Ferry schedules vary by season; check times before planning a day trip.
Southwest Harbor is generally safe; typical concerns are icy sidewalks in winter and occasional summer crowds. Keep valuables secure and follow local advisories.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Southwest Harbor yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- The Gilley Museum
- Acadia Park kayak tours
- Harbour‑front inns
- Proximity to Bar Harbor
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Southwest Harbor: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Southwest Harbor, revision 5340178 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5340178
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Southwest Harbor
À cette adresse, s’il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consulates are in Portland (ME) and Boston (MA).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/southwest-harbor). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.