Carroll Farmhouse in Acadia National Park
The Carroll Homestead is a typical Maine mountain farm that was first settled by John Carroll and his family in 1825. They raised cows, sheep, and chickens on their 45 acres. Four generations of Carrolls lived on the farm, with the last full-time residents moving to Southwest Harbor in 1917 for more modern conveniences. However, the property remained in the family until it was acquired by the National Park Service in 1982 for Acadia National Park. Between 1917 and the park’s involvement, the Carroll family still grew hay on the fields and rented the house to summer tourists. Today, only the house remains standing.
The homestead is located at the end of a side road off of Highway 102 on the west side of Mount Desert Island. A gate keeps vehicles from driving all the way to the homestead except for when the house is open, and even then only disabled and elderly visitors can park at the house. Everyone else must use the parking lot at the gate and walk from there. The trail, which starts near the gate, is only a quarter mile long and is flat and easy.
Trail from the parking area to the Carroll Homestead at Acadia National Park
Visitors are welcome to visit the Carroll Homestead on their own at any time during daylight hours, but the house itself is only open on select days of the week starting in late June and continuing through the end of August, plus a few Saturdays in September. For the latest schedule, see the National Park Service’s Calendar web page for Acadia National Park.
Grounds of the Carroll Homestead at Acadia National Park
In truth, visiting the Carroll Homestead when it is closed is pretty much a waste of time. All you can do is walk around a few acres of the farm—the rest is forest—and see the house from the outside. The only other remnant of the former farm buildings is the site of a barn that was built in 1831 .
Barn site of the Carroll Homestead in Acadia National Park
The Carroll House is not very big, so stepping inside to take a look does not take much time. The rooms—main room, family room, laundry room, and two bedrooms—are furnished as they might have been when the Carrolls lived in the house in the mid-1800s. The family room has a loom exhibit. None of the furniture is original to the house or ever belonged to the family.
Dining room in the Carroll House, Acadia National Park
Family room with a loom exhibit in the Carroll House, Acadia National Park
Bedroom in the Carroll House, Acadia National Park
Bedroom in the Carroll House, Acadia National Park
Washroom in the Carroll House, Acadia National Park
When the Carroll Homestead is open, there are exhibits and games to play on the grounds. I spent 45 minutes at the homestead, including the half-mile, round-trip walk to and from the site, but I did not partake in any of the activities. If you come with kids, you might want to budget more time for your visit. If the house is not open, give yourself 20 minutes.
Visitors play games on the grounds of the Carroll Homestead in Acadia National Park
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Last updated on July 4, 2026
