Acadia National Park

State: Maine. Type: U.S. National Park spanning Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut, the Schoodic Peninsula and sixteen smaller islands in Hancock and Knox counties. Size: 49,075 acres (198.60 km²) as of 2017. First designated Sieur de Monts National Monument on July 8, 1916; renamed Lafayette National Park in 1919; became Acadia National Park on January 19, 1929 - the first national park established from privately donated land. 2025 visitation: 4,079,318.

Acadia National Park protects a rugged stretch of Maine's mid-coast, centered on Mount Desert Island but also reaching Isle au Haut, the Schoodic Peninsula, and a scattering of smaller islands in Hancock and Knox counties. Its landscape mixes granite mountains, spruce-fir forest, rocky Atlantic shoreline and the fjord-like Somes Sound. The park exists because wealthy summer residents and philanthropists, led by George B. Dorr, donated land to preserve the island from development in the early 20th century, and John D. Rockefeller Jr. financed the 45 miles of carriage roads that still wind through the interior. Cadillac Mountain, at 1,530 feet the tallest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast, is one of the first places in the country to see sunrise for part of the year and is the park's best-known feature, alongside the 27-mile Park Loop Road. The land itself was home to the Wabanaki Confederacy for more than 12,000 years before European exploration began with Samuel de Champlain, who named Mount Desert Island in 1604.

Acadia National Park sits on Mount Desert Island and the adjoining Schoodic Peninsula on the coast of Down East Maine, in Hancock and Knox counties. The main visitor center, Hulls Cove Visitor Center, is at 25 Visitor Center Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, with the town of Bar Harbor serving as the principal gateway community.

Acadia has a warm-summer humid continental climate with an average annual temperature of 47.3°F. Winters are cold, averaging 23.8°F in January, while summers are mild to warm, averaging 69.7°F in July. Annual precipitation is about 55.5 inches, spread through the year, with meaningful winter snowfall.

Summer (June-August) offers the mildest weather and full services but the heaviest crowds; fall (September-October) brings cooler, drier conditions and foliage color and is a favorite with repeat visitors. Winter is cold, with many park roads and facilities closed or reduced. Confirm current seasonal closures on the park's operating-hours page before planning.

The Wabanaki Confederacy inhabited this coastline for more than 12,000 years before European contact. Samuel de Champlain explored and named Mount Desert Island in 1604. In the 19th century, artists and "rusticators" popularized the island, which by the late 1800s had become a summer retreat for wealthy families who built large estates. George B. Dorr, later called the "Father of Acadia National Park," led a land-donation and advocacy campaign that led to federal designation as Sieur de Monts National Monument on July 8, 1916. It became Lafayette National Park in 1919 and was renamed Acadia National Park in 1929, making it the first national park created primarily from privately donated land. John D. Rockefeller Jr. subsequently financed the park's 45-mile system of carriage roads.

Popular activities include driving the 27-mile Park Loop Road, hiking trails ranging from the easy Ocean Path to strenuous routes like the Precipice Trail, biking or horse-drawn carriage rides on the 45-mile carriage road network, and driving or biking to the summit of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise or sunset views. Somes Sound, a fjord-like inlet, and the park's rocky coastline draw kayakers and tide-poolers, and ranger-led programs run seasonally from the visitor centers.

Key sites include Cadillac Mountain (1,530 feet, the tallest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast), the historic carriage road system, Somes Sound, Jordan Pond, and the many overlooks along Park Loop Road. The Hulls Cove Visitor Center near Bar Harbor is the main orientation point, with additional access points on the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut.

By car from Boston: I-95 north to Augusta, then Route 3 east to Mount Desert Island (an alternate route runs via Bangor). By air: Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport is about 10 miles from the park, and Bangor International Airport is roughly an hour away. There is no direct rail service to Mount Desert Island.

The park is generally open year-round, though many roads, visitor centers and campgrounds operate on seasonal schedules and some facilities close in winter. The separate Cadillac Summit Road vehicle-reservation system operates May 20-October 25 each year. Check the park's official operating-hours page for current, season-specific details before visiting.

As of research: a 7-day vehicle pass is $35, a 7-day motorcycle pass is $30, and a 7-day individual (bike/foot) pass is $20; children under 16 enter free. An annual Acadia pass is $70 (U.S. citizens/residents only). Driving Cadillac Summit Road also requires a separate $6 per-vehicle reservation, booked via recreation.gov, valid May 20-October 25; foot, bike or taxi entry to the summit doesn't require this reservation. Confirm current pricing at nps.gov/acad before visiting.

A single full day covers the Park Loop Road highlights and a short hike, but two to three days allow time for multiple trails, Cadillac Mountain, and a visit to quieter areas like the Schoodic Peninsula or Isle au Haut.

Bar Harbor, the main gateway town, has the largest concentration of hotels, inns and vacation rentals immediately outside the park. The park itself operates campgrounds on Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut and the Schoodic Peninsula for those wanting to stay within park boundaries; specific site availability and seasons should be checked on the NPS site.

Bar Harbor offers the widest range of dining near the park, from casual seafood shacks to sit-down restaurants, reflecting its role as the principal tourism hub for Mount Desert Island. Smaller villages on the island, such as Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor, also have restaurants and are quieter alternatives to Bar Harbor's busier core.

Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor and Winter Harbor are the principal gateway towns bordering the park. The Schoodic Peninsula section of the park, reached via a separate access road, offers a quieter counterpart to the busier Mount Desert Island side.

Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (about 10 miles from the park) and Bangor International Airport (about an hour away) are the nearest airports. A seasonal free Island Explorer shuttle bus serves the park and Bar Harbor area in summer, per park visitor information; a car remains the most flexible option outside that season.

Coastal rocks near the shoreline can be extremely slippery and dangerous in surf; stay well back from the water's edge on the rocky coast, particularly at Thunder Hole and Ocean Path during storms. Trails vary widely in difficulty, and some, like the Precipice Trail, involve iron rungs and exposure not suitable for those uncomfortable with heights. Weather can change quickly, especially on Cadillac Mountain; carry layers and check conditions before hiking.

Sturdy hiking shoes, layered clothing, rain gear, sun protection, and plenty of water are recommended given the variable coastal weather and rocky, uneven terrain. A paper map or downloaded offline map is useful since cell service is spotty in parts of the park.

Book the Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation in advance during the May-October window if you plan to drive up for sunrise, since reservations are timed and limited. Visiting in the shoulder seasons (early June or September) helps avoid the heaviest summer crowds while keeping most services open. Using the seasonal Island Explorer shuttle can reduce parking headaches in the busiest areas.

For any emergency, dial 911. For general park information, call the Acadia National Park office at 207-288-3338.

Acadia National Park (National Park Service) - https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.