Plan Your Trip to Acadia National Park
Granite peaks meet the Atlantic on Mount Desert Island, Maine: passes, Cadillac Mountain reservations, and parking, sorted out.
Granite peaks meet the Atlantic on Mount Desert Island, Maine: passes, Cadillac Mountain reservations, and parking, sorted out.
If you only need a standard entrance pass for Acadia National Park, buy from the official park service or recreation portal when you can: fees, timed-entry rules, and closures come from the managing agency. If you want a smoother booking flow for tours, shuttles, or guided experiences around the park (mobile tickets, free cancellation on many offers), a trusted partner can help. Confirm pass type and the visit date before you book.
Best for park entrance fees, America the Beautiful-style passes where accepted, and official timed-entry reservations for Acadia National Park.
Useful for guided day tours, scenic add-ons, and digital vouchers when exploring Acadia National Park or nearby gateways without buying only a basic pass.
Use the official site for required park entry. Use a partner when you want guided transport, activity tickets, or flexible cancellation around United States.
Hand-picked tours, tickets, and day trips related to Acadia National Park. Compare inclusions and cancellation terms before you book.
Cadillac Mountain is among the first places in the continental US to see the sunrise for part of the year, with 360-degree views over Frenchman Bay.
Forty-five miles of historic crushed-stone carriage roads, built by John D. Rockefeller Jr., are open only to walkers, cyclists, and horses, crossing stone bridges through the woods.
Thunder Hole's crashing surf, Sand Beach's cold-water swimming, and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse make Acadia one of the few national parks where mountains meet the Atlantic.
A timed vehicle reservation is required to drive the Summit Road from late spring through fall. Without one, hike up one of the trails or ride the Island Explorer shuttle instead.
The small lots at the park's most popular stops fill by mid-morning in summer. The free Island Explorer shuttle links Bar Harbor to all of them without needing a parking spot.
Carriage road trailhead parking is more spread out and less crowded. Schoodic, the park's mainland section across Frenchman Bay, is quieter and has its own free shuttle loop in season.
Hours, prices, and access rules change. Confirm details on the official Acadia National Park site (or your partner booking confirmation) before you go.
The highest point on the US Atlantic coast, with 360-degree views and a seasonal sunrise reservation for the Summit Road.
A clear glacial pond framed by the rounded twin hills called The Bubbles, famous for popovers and tea at the Jordan Pond House.
A narrow ocean inlet where incoming waves compress and burst with a booming sound, most dramatic around mid-tide.
A rare sandy beach, made largely of crushed shells, tucked between granite headlands, with cold Atlantic swimming.
A 27-mile scenic drive linking most of the park's highlights along the coast and up Cadillac Mountain.
A 19th-century lighthouse on the island's quiet side, a classic spot for sunset photos over the water.
Forty-five miles of car-free crushed-stone roads with 17 stone bridges, built for biking, walking, and horseback riding.
Do I need a park pass to visit Acadia?
Yes. Every vehicle needs an Acadia National Park pass, sold as a 7-day pass or an annual pass. An America the Beautiful annual pass, covering all US national parks, also works.
Do I need a separate reservation for Cadillac Mountain?
Yes, from late spring through fall. Driving the Summit Road requires a timed vehicle reservation booked through recreation.gov in addition to your park pass; without one, you can still hike up or ride the shuttle.
How do I get around without fighting for parking?
Take the free Island Explorer shuttle, which runs from late June through Columbus Day and connects Bar Harbor to Sand Beach, Jordan Pond, campgrounds, and most trailheads.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer has the warmest weather and the fullest shuttle schedule, but the biggest crowds. September and early October bring cooler weather and fall foliage with fewer visitors. Winter closes much of the Park Loop Road.
Can I bike the carriage roads?
Yes. The 45 miles of car-free carriage roads are open to cyclists and walkers, with bike rentals available in Bar Harbor.
Is Acadia good for a day trip?
Yes, though the main highlights (Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Sand Beach) can fill a full day on their own. Consider two days if you also want to explore Schoodic Peninsula or the quiet side of Mount Desert Island.
Acadia National Park protects most of Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine, along with the nearby Schoodic Peninsula and outlying islands. Established in 1919, it was the first national park east of the Mississippi River, largely thanks to land donated by conservationists including John D. Rockefeller Jr., who also financed the park's carriage roads.
The park is unusual for combining granite mountains, including Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the US Atlantic coast, with a rocky Atlantic shoreline. It draws visitors for hiking, biking the historic carriage roads, and watching the sunrise from the summit.
