Entire home

Large house on 3 acres in woods, 5-minute walk to ocean, 5-minute walk to town

Photo gallery for Large house on 3 acres in woods, 5-minute walk to ocean, 5-minute walk to town

A rustic cabin with a wooden exterior, a window with a view of the forest, and a table with chairs outside.
A cozy living room with a fireplace, wooden walls, a sofa, a coffee table, and a bookshelf.
A dining area with a wooden table and chairs, a window with curtains, and a door leading outside.
A wooden interior with a dining area, bookshelves, and a dog.
A wooden house with a screened porch surrounded by a garden with various plants and flowers.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Garage parking available
    Enjoy the convenience of garage parking - a rare offering in the area.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • Toys
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Garage parking available
  • Internet

Explore the area

View in a map
Southwest Harbor, ME
  • Place, Wendell Gilley Museum
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Acadia National Park
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Acadia National Park's Visitors Center
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Airport, Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 13)

Bedroom 1 (First Floor)

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2 (Second Floor)

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3 (Second Floor)

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4 (Second Floor)

1 Double Bed

Sleeping Porch (Second Floor)

1 Double Bed and 2 Single Beds

Study & Twin Bedroom (Second Floor)

1 Single Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Full bathroom with bathtub (Second Floor)

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet · Hair dryer

Full bathroom with shower (First Floor)

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Full bathroom with shower (Second Floor)

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Powder Room (for guests in first floor bedroom)

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

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Exterior
Mountain view home - views of Acadia mountains and harbor on the edge of town
Southwest Harbor
  • Ocean view
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (6 reviews)
Mountain view home - views of Acadia mountains and harbor on the edge of town

About the area

Southwest Harbor

Located in Southwest Harbor, this holiday home is by the sea. Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Acadia National Park and Acadia National Park's Visitors Center. Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the ice skating and snowmobiling.
View more Holiday homes in Southwest HarborOpens in a new window
Map
Southwest Harbor, ME

What's nearby

  • Wendell Gilley Museum - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Acadia National Park - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co - 20 min drive - 28.0 km
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center - 22 min drive - 25.8 km
  • Cadillac Mountain - 31 min drive - 33.7 km

Getting around

  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Jordan Pond House - ‬30 min drive
  • ‪Shell - ‬12 min drive
  • The Salty Fisherman
  • ‪Beal's Lobster Pier - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Thurston's Lobster Pound - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Large house on 3 acres in woods, 5-minute walk to ocean, 5-minute walk to town pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking at Large house on 3 acres in woods, 5-minute walk to ocean, 5-minute walk to town?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Large house on 3 acres in woods, 5-minute walk to ocean, 5-minute walk to town?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Large house on 3 acres in woods, 5-minute walk to ocean, 5-minute walk to town?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Large house on 3 acres in woods, 5-minute walk to ocean, 5-minute walk to town located?

Situated by the sea, this holiday home is 0.6 mi (0.9 km) from Wendell Gilley Museum and 1.7 mi (2.7 km) from Acadia National Park. Flying Mountain Trailhead and Somes Sound are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 21 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfortable, private house. Great for large families.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2026
Response from Management on 16 Oct 2026
Glad it workeD for You all! Come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Knollen. We were a family of eight and all had plenty of room with the six bedrooms and four baths. The kitchen was well supplied, we prepared full meals for everyone and didn’t lack for anything. The views from every room were beautiful and the sleeping porch was stunning! We enjoyed fires at night and walks during the day. The house is in a perfect location and Southwest Harbor has plenty to offer. We enjoyed this lovingly cared for family home and would definitely come back!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Sept 2026
Thanks for choosing oUr hOme!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
classic, old Maine house. perfect for large gatherings. plenty of cooking supplies. small showers but not surprising for this type of house. Awesome location and setting in the woods. Hope to come back!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2026
We would be delighted to host you and your crew again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A charming large clean cottage in a beautiful wooded area near the ocean and town. We enjoyed everyday, even the one rainy cold one when we explored the town and had a fire in the fireplace in the evening. Cozy and comfortable. The home has everything you need, just bring your clothes and hiking gear.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug 2026
Your photos capture beautiful vistas, family, relaxation, popcorn, and cribbage. Very happy to host you!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
To say our entire group of 10 loved the Knollen would be an understatement! It’s completely set up to make guests feel truly at home and provide comfort to the entire group. The property itself was so peaceful and secluded- enough to easily enjoy the natural beauty, wildlife, and family time without being too far from other things to do. We loved the access to the causeway and the owners recommendations to visit there and other areas nearby and within Acadia were incredibly enjoyable and helpful. The communication with the owners was the best! They were always prompt, pleasant and helpful. We are so grateful that the owners allow others to enjoy their home. We traveled across the country to see Maine and Acadia National Park. We would easily come back and choose to stay here again. Our only complaint is that we didn’t get to stay longer.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Sept 2026
Thanks so mUch for this Informative, lovely review And for taking goOd care of our hOme. Come again!! Adair
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This home/property is a slice of heaven. We traveled as a group of three families, totaling 6 adults and 3 children ages 1-4. We had plenty of room to get comfortable, and have privacy. The property is well equipped with everything you’ll need for a comfortable stay from extra sheets and towels to dish and laundry pods, trash bags, kitchen essentials, and even some ingredients. Adair & Ken were so welcoming. The rich history of the property added to its uniqueness. This is truly a beloved family home. The book of recommendations was super helpful as we got acquainted with Southwest Harbor. The causeway was one of our favorite spots nearby, and we took easy walks to downtown. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Jul 2026
I’m so glad our home was a good fit for your clan and that you had a lovely week. Come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely place

Very homey house. Felt right at home when we walked in. Loved the yard and privacy.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jun 2025
Bethany- we are grateful that you chose our family home for your family gathering. Come back anytime!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming Home

The location was great. Felt homey inside. Good communication with host. Would totally stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul 2024
Thsnks for taking great care of our home. We would be happy to host you again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect family vacation

Me, my husband, our four children, my in laws and parents stayed. We had the best time. The home was beautiful. We loved having a home base to play games together, eat and read. I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful vacation home.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Jun 2025
Cary- I’m glad the space worked for your crew and hope you will return someday! Best- Adair
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We all absolutely loved our stay! It is definitely a family home and very comfortable and welcoming. The kitchen has everything a cook would need. Beautiful surroundings and the causeway was amazing and changes throughout the day with the tides. We were all sad to leave. We would happily stay there again. :) Thank you for giving us the privilege of staying in such a wonderful place!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Sept 2025
I’m so glad you enjoyed your stay! We would of course be happy to host you again. Thanks for posting your photos, too. I love the night photo
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Family Stay in Maine

Our immediate family stayed in this beautiful home during a larger family reunion in Southwest Harbor. The house was spacious and clean and had everything you needed to cook a small intimate dinner to a Thanksgiving feast. The kids loved the porch room where the cousins would play for hours. We saw deer, chipmunks, lots of birds. We loved the quietness of the area and the close proximity of the causeway and town Would definitely stay again
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Jul 2025
And we would love to host you again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing charming house in perfect location!

This house is wonderful. Beyond charming and a perfect family house for our family. We spent mornings drinking coffee sitting in the lovely screened in porch, lots of walks to the causeway to see the starfish and crabs (and stunning views) and loved coming back each day after our daily adventures. Such a great location in walking distance to several happy hour and dinner spots. It’s really a special place with so many original, super unique little details. The host was incredibly responsive and directions around the house were super easy. We were sad to leave and can’t wait to come back!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Jul 2025
Christina- Thanks for being such conscientious, appreciative guests! I’m glad we could facilitate a lovely vacation for your family. Best- Adair
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

We had a great stay at the Knollen. It was large enough for our group, kitchen was well stocked, outdoor screen porch was a favorite hangout. We were able to walk to town (easy 10 minutes) and to Beal's. We made it to the Causeway to see the supermoon and the bioluminescence. We've been going to SWH on and off for 35-40 years and this is one of our favorite places we've stayed. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Oct 2023
Stephanie- Thanks for being conscientious, appreciative guests. I’m glad you enjoyed the house, causeway, and island
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful place to stay

What a beautiful family home - so, so special. We felt very lucky to be able to stay somewhere with so much personal history. We often cooked and the kitchen had everything we needed. The sun porch was lovely for lounging and the fireplace was fantastic for chilly mornings. Our 4yo loved the books, train set, beach toys, and woodpecker doorknocker. The property and its location were fantastic - lush woodland, a big lawn for games, near a causeway for tide pool exploring, and not far from town. Adair made us feel really welcomed and was available for any inquiries. Highly recommended!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Oct 2024
Eva - I'm so glad that you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for being such conscientious guests in our family home. Come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Waking up to a birdsong

It's hard to describe how perfect of a location for a family "Maine" vacation this place actually is. In the immediate vicinity there is so much. From harvesting mussels near the causeway and making an amazing dinner in the rustic but not kitchen, to the birdsongs every morning on the porch, this place has it all. With sadness we had to pull out one last time from the driveway and go home but before we did that we hiked all that we could and walked to town every chance we could. Southwest Harbor is a phenomenal location as well, it's perfectly pointed with all the things you need, but none of the traffic of Bar Harbor! Come and enjoy, you will not be disappointed!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul 2024
Tony- thanks for being conscientious, appreciative guests! Adair
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memory Maker!

Both this home and property are beautiful. If you want to spend your vacation making special memories with your family, this is the place. We enjoyed walking to the causeway several times each day, the visiting deer, playing lawn games, hunting for wild blueberries, visiting Acadia, making meals as a family... Our kids (ages 3-8) loved the sleeping porch - so many beloved books, LEGOs, a desk...just a really beautiful room that made them feel adventurous. The green space contrasts well with the surrounding woods. You feel like you're away from everyone yet really you're down the street from a cute downtown area! Loved hearing the church bells. Would definitely stay here again. The only negative was the unexpected heatwave that really made the upstairs hot. Would have loved portable fans. But truly, it wasn't that bad. I'm in my 30s and it made me feel like a kid again enjoying my summer with my grandparents. Adair was great with communication - very helpful and quick to respond.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Sept 2023
Amber- Thanks for being wonderful, conscientious guests. I am sorry the heat wave happened during your stay. We actually have fans! I wish I had directed you to them. Regardless, I’m glad you enjoyed our place, the woods, causeway, town, and Acadia. We would love to host you again
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful Perfection minutes to All things Acadia/Bar Harbor

In my opinion, I would much rather stay at this secluded home vs. dealing with the chaos of Bar Harbor and Acadia area! It was great! We got the best of both worlds. Traveling with a large group so there were limited options - and this home accommodated us perfectly. 3 full baths including a tub for the kids... plus additional half bath. My kids loved sleeping in the upstairs sleeping porch waking up to treetop views! We made several home cooked meals and had all we needed to do so! Also enjoyed nearby eateries... Upper Deck was a favorite and so close! The uniqueness of this VRBO stay was displayed by the family's love for this home sprinkled throughout. Photos on the walls, a notebook with their personal fav hikes and tips on what to do. Kids loved the causeway and we visited several times. We loved Flying Mountain!!! Highly recommend! We dipped into their board games too. Last but not least, since we traveled in the fall we got to use the floor furnace and the fireplace. So cozy!!! Wish we could have stayed longer...
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Oct 2023
Kristen- Thanks for being such thoughtful, appreciative guests. You highlighted some of my favorites- including the sleeping porch which is still my preferred sleeping spot as a middle age woman. Wishing you a good year
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Like staying with family

This large rambling house is very much like staying with relatives with lots of family pictures on the walls. It reminds me of grandma's house with all the original furniture, pots and pans, and warm wool blankets. The coffee maker is large "Mr Coffee" style and some filters were provided. The wifi was fast and easy for me to work online. The TV is in a small separate room from the large family room and only has 2 chairs. The large family room has lots of books. It was quite cool during our stay and the downstairs furnace was appreciated. There are small portable heaters for the bedrooms upstairs. The two showers are "box" style and the large bathroom with the tub is relaxing. The house is tucked back into the woods so is quite. There is a wheeled cart to help carry your luggage to the house on the gravel path. Recycling is encouraged. The owners were very responsive to questions and any issues that arose. Lots of birds in the trees and even a turkey and deer in the yard. Very close to Beal's lobster restaurant with great lobster and sweet corn on the cob. We didn't use the fireplace but there was wood provided.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun 2023
Thanks for your review, Ann. It is indeed a long-treasured family compound. We are hopeful that we provide enough modern appliances & creature comforts for those who choose to stay here. Thanks for being great guests. Best- Adair
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I can’t say enough good things about this home. It has tons of character, and feels like every need was considered. Also, I’m not sure if this is in the listing, but the living room had a minisplit AC unit which was very welcome when we got caught in a major heatwave.We took the quiet 5 minute out to the causeway almost every day to swim and were able to enjoy the milky way and bioluminescent plankton at night as the tide went out beneath the footbridge. We also spent every morning on the screened in back porch drinking coffee and watching deer.Also just a 15 minute walk down to Beal’s for some of the best lobster on MDI.If you are considering booking the Knollen, just do it already!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jul 2026
Thanks for being lovely guests. Come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This cozy family-friendly has all you need for an Acadia / Downeast Maine experience. Perfect location. Every comfort thought of.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Jul 2026
Thanks for being wonderful guests!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was perfect accommodations for our group of 6. We loved Southwest Harbor!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Jun 2026
We welcome you back anytime!
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