Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park centers on Mount Desert Island, with granite peaks, a one-way coastal loop and 45 miles of carriage roads.
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Acadia National Park covers most of Mount Desert Island on Maine's mid-coast, with parts of the Schoodic Peninsula, Isle au Haut and several smaller islands. Bar Harbor, the nearest town, lies northeast on Mount Desert Island. Visitors come for granite peaks, glacial valleys and rocky shore. Cadillac Mountain, at 1,530 feet, is the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the United States, and from October 7 through March 6 its summit is the first place in the United States to see the sunrise.
The 27-mile Park Loop Road runs one way clockwise on the island's east side, passing viewpoints, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff and Jordan Pond. Motor vehicle touring on the loop normally runs April 15 to December 1, weather permitting. Cadillac Summit Road needs a vehicle reservation in the busy season, roughly late May to late October, at $6 per vehicle on top of a park entrance pass, sold through Recreation.gov. About 45 miles of carriage roads are open to bikes, hikers and horseback riders, but motor vehicles, including electric bikes, are not allowed.
Acadia National Park in five
- Book Cadillac Summit Road before you arriveFrom May 20 to October 25, 2026, driving the summit road needs a $6 reservation from Recreation.gov. 30% of slots open 90 days out and 70% two days ahead, both at 10am ET.Cadillac reservations explained
- Budget for the $100 nonresident feeNon-US residents aged 16 and over pay $100 each on top of the $35 vehicle entrance fee, unless they hold an annual pass. Acadia is one of the 11 parks on the NPS list.The $100 fee, explained
- Ride the free Island ExplorerThe fare-free propane buses reach carriage road entrances, trailheads and Bar Harbor. A new Gateway Center service on Park Loop Road began on May 20, 2026.Island Explorer (NPS)
- Start the Park Loop Road before 9amThe one-way loop passes Sand Beach, Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs and fills fast on summer days. Early starts beat the tour buses at Sand Beach.Acadia in 3 days
- Sort your ESTA before booking flightsMost visitors from visa-waiver countries need an approved ESTA before boarding a US-bound flight. Apply on the official site only.ESTA, explained
Things to do in Acadia National Park
See all attractions in Acadia National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- $35 per vehicle for 7 days; non-US residents 16+ add $100 each Read more
- Permits
- Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation, $6, May 20–Oct 25 2026 Read more
- Season
- Open all year; Island Explorer buses run May 20–mid-Oct 2026 Read more
- Nearest town
- Bar Harbor, on Mount Desert Island
- Getting there
- Fly to Bangor or Bar Harbor airport, or drive about 5 hours from Boston
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh0°Low-7°Snow, limited roadsJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -7°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, limited roads
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh1°Low-7°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -7°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh4°Low-3°Mud seasonMarchPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Mud season
- AprilRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low2°Carriage roads openAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Carriage roads open
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Cool, uncrowdedMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, uncrowded
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Summer startsJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer starts
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Peak, fogJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, fog
- AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Peak crowdsAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak crowds
- SeptemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Night Sky FestivalSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Night Sky Festival
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Fall foliageOctoberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 145 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall foliage
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- DecemberSnow12 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh2°Low-4°Snow, quietDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 178 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, quiet
Average daily high and low in Bar Harbor, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Acadia National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 25%
Acadia National Park
02:52 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today15°9°25%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Wed15°10°23%Wednesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Thu15°11°20%Thursday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Fri16°12°65%Friday: Rain. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 65%.
- Sat13°10°73%Saturday: Rain. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Sun12°6°62%Sunday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 62%.
Updated 01:03 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.119 USD
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Schoodic Peninsulaabout 1 hour from Bar HarborThe quieter mainland section of the park, with rocky shore and a loop road.
- Midcoast Maineabout 2.5 hours south by carHarbor towns and lighthouses on the drive back toward Boston.Read the guide
- Bostonabout 5 hours by carThe usual start or end of an Acadia trip.Read the guide
Before you go to Acadia National Park
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Rules for Acadia National Park, checked
- A park entrance pass is required year-round; the park takes cards and mobile payments, with cash at some outside vendorsChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
- Pedestrians and cyclists do not need a Cadillac Summit Road reservation; vehicles over 21 feet, RVs and trailers are banned from the roadChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Acadia National Park FAQ
Do I need a reservation for Acadia National Park?
Only to drive Cadillac Summit Road from May 20 to October 25, 2026. Every visitor needs an entrance pass year-round. Walkers and cyclists skip the reservation but still need the pass.
How much does Acadia cost for international visitors?
The 7-day vehicle pass is $35. Non-US residents aged 16 and over also pay a $100 nonresident fee each, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Check the NPS fees page before you go.
How many days do you need in Acadia?
Two full days cover the Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain and one big hike. Three days add Jordan Pond, the carriage roads and a Schoodic half day. One day only works as a drive with short stops.
Is Acadia free to get around without a car?
Mostly. The fare-free Island Explorer buses serve Bar Harbor, the Gateway Center, trailheads and carriage road entrances in season. The Cadillac summit road has no bus, so car or taxi is the only way up.
When is the best time to visit Acadia?
Late June to mid-October. July and August are busiest and often foggy, September has thinner crowds, and October usually brings the fall color. Winter is quiet with limited road access and services.