Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million visits a year, it's one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. Visitors enjoy 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads.
Alerts
- ClosureEastern Section of Beech Mountain Loop Trail Closed for Repairs
Starting Sept 21, the eastern section of the Beech Mountain Loop Trail will be closed for repairs from a junction just beyond the parking lot to just below the summit at the fire tower. Three alternate routes to the summit are available: the outer loop of the Beech Mountain Loop Trail, Beech South Ridge Trail and Beech West Ridge Trail.
- ClosureSchoodic Mountain Road Closed for Repairs
Starting Aug 31, the Schoodic Mountain Road will be closed for repairs from Schoodic Loop Road to the summit of Schoodic Head. Workers will be operating heavy equipment for resurfacing, regrading and ditching.
- ClosureSouthern Section of Ocean Path Closed for Repairs
Starting Aug 31, a section of Ocean Path will be closed for repairs from a trailhead across from the Otter Point parking lot to the trail's southern terminus.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleValid for seven days. Admits private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. This includes rental cars, RVs, and vans with fewer than 16 passengers. If the vehicle pass is purchased, no other pass is necessary. | $35 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. | $30 | |
| Per PersonValid for seven days. Admits one individual with no car (bicyclist, hiker, pedestrian). Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. | $20 | |
| Education/Academic GroupsSchool groups and other academic institutions may qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver. If not qualified, please check fees for large or commercial groups. | Free | |
| Non-commercial GroupsGroups entering Acadia by bus, van, or other high-capacity vehicles (16 people or more) must pay an organized group entrance fee. Adults (16 years old and over): $20/per person Youth (15 years old and under): Free | Free | |
| NonresidentEach non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Acadia National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless they are admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group. | $100 | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| Per PersonAre you operating a business that provides leisure or recreational services while in the park? If so, it is considered a commercial group and you are required to have a Commercial Use Authorization. A commercial group is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that… | $20 | |
| Tours & reservations | ||
| Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations ↗May–OctVehicle reservations cost $6. They are only sold online in advance at Recreation.gov. They are not available for purchase at the park. | $6 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkThe Acadia Annual Pass is valid only at Acadia and may be purchased online or in person. You do not need an additional entrance pass if you already have a federal lands pass. It is valid for 12 months from purchase month. | $70 | |
A park entrance pass is required year-round at Acadia National Park. All vehicles must display a pass clearly visible through the windshield. Display federal lands passes, such as annual and military passes, on your dashboard with the signature and expiration date facing up. Passes are non-transferable and passholder must be present.
Vehicle reservations are not required for any other areas of the park, or for visitors who enter the area by foot, bike, or taxi. Vehicle reservations provide a timed entry, but do not require a departure time until 9 pm, when the road closes to vehicles. Reservations do not permit re-entry.
Hours
| Acadia National Park | Daily · All Day |
When to go
August draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Blackwoods Campground | 292 sites | |
| Blackwoods Campground facility is open seasonally, usually from early May to mid-October. | ||
| Seawall Campground | 210 sites | |
| $30 a night · Seawall Campground is open seasonally, typically from the Wednesday before Memorial Day to Columbus Day. | ||
| Schoodic Woods Campground | 94 sites | |
| $22 a night · Schoodic Woods Campground facility is open seasonally from the Wednesday before Memorial Day Weekend until Columbus Day. | ||
| Duck Harbor Campground | 5 sites | |
| 5 reservable | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Hulls Cove Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Located close to Bar Harbor off Route 3, the Hulls Cove Visitor Center is Acadia’s main visitor contact station and transportation hub from May into October. It is a popular, and often crowded, first stop for many visitors.
- Sieur de Monts Nature Center ↗Passport stamp
Sieur de Monts Nature Center has visitor services, hiking information, and interactive exhibits. It acts as a trailhead for many hiking trails starting in the Sieur de Monts area. Park rangers are present during the spring, summer, and fall months.
- Acadia Gateway Center ↗
The Acadia Gateway Center is an intermodal transit and welcome center located on Route 3 in Trenton three miles north of Mount Desert Island. Facilities include an Island Explorer bus stop, day-use parking, and an 11,000-square-foot welcome center with tourism information, a store, waiting area…
- Islesford Historical Museum ↗Passport stamp
The Islesford Historical Museum continues its mission of celebrating Islesford’s cultural history. Historical exhibits showcase life on and around Cranberry Isles from the 1700s to present.
- Schoodic Institute Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall ↗Passport stamp
The Schoodic Institute Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall is located on Schoodic Peninsula off the one-way loop road. Exhibits about the old Navy base and park information can be found here.
- Winter Information: Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce ↗Passport stamp
During winter and spring, information and sales of some passes are available at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, 2 Cottage Street, at the corner of Cottage and Main streets (GPS coordinates = 44.398633, -68.204933). The center is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 4 pm.
Explore
Things to do
- Hike Beehive Loop1-3 Hours
This is a 1.4 mile loop trail that ascends a 450 ft cliff face. Exposed cliffs, iron rungs, and granite staircases climb this trail revealing scenic ocean views.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Jesup Path and Hemlock Path Loop30-60 Minutes
This forested path continues to a boardwalk with multiple interpretive signs and benches. It opens up to a meadow before looping back on an old fire road. Views of Dorr Mountain are interspersed in this walk along a birch and hemlock forest.
Opens on the Park Service site - Waysides at Schoodic Woods Ranger Station
There are two waysides featured on a wall at the Schoodic Woods Ranger Station. "Exploring Schoodic," offers an aerial view of a peninsula with a rugged coastline. The land-mass is partially surrounded by deep blue water.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Perpendicular and Razorback Loop1-2 Hours
The loop features a gravel shoreline path along Long Pond and a steep ascent on granite staircase of over 300 stone steps built by the CCC to reach the summit of Mansell Mountain.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Bar Island Trail45-90 Minutes
Walk along a gravel sand bar during low tide to reach Bar Island. Once on the island, hike another mile to the highest point on the island for views of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Wonderland Trail30-60 Minutes
This 1.4 out and back trail on an old gravel fire road is family-friendly and provides direct access to the coastline with birding opportunities.
Opens on the Park Service site
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- Hike Ship Harbor Trail30-60 Minutes
Ship Harbor Trail is a 1.3 mile figure-8 loop near Seawall. Great for families and birders, and a variety of habitats can be seen along the shore.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Ocean Path Trail2-4 Hours
The ocean path is a spectacular 2.2 mile long out and back trail takes you along the bold coast of Maine with ocean views, granite slabs, and rocky cliffs.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Compass Harbor Trail30-45 Minutes
Explore a historic site near Bar Harbor and enjoy a dramatic shoreline with views of Frenchman Bay and Ironbound Island.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Cadillac Summit Loop1-3 Hours
The Cadillac Summit Loop, located on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, is well known as one of the most scenic paths at Acadia National Park.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Great Head Trail2-4 Hours
This 1.7 mile trail has spectacular ocean views along a coastal headland with some wooded sections. This historic trail also includes the ruins of an early 1900's tea house.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Schoodic Peninsula Trails
This 7.5 mile network of hiking trails leads across the peninsula, from Winter Harbor in the north through spruce-fir forests, pine woodlands, and a shrubland, terminating on the southern end at Blueberry Hill.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Webcams
Camera images load live from the National Park Service and partner agencies
Events
- Hawk Watch10/1409:00 AM · runs through Oct 16 · free · registration required200 yards down the Cadillac North Ridge Trail from Cadillac Mountain East Summit Parking Lot.
- Carriage Road Bike Tour10/1408:30 AM · runs through Oct 16 · registration required
- Blackwoods Campground Program: The Tree of Life – Exploring Acadia's Animal Connections10/1405:30 PM · freeBlackwoods Campground Amphitheater
- Wetland Revival – Walking the Path of Restoration10/1410:30 AM · freeOutside Sieur de Monts Nature Center
- 08:15 AM · runs through Oct 31 · freePark and meet at the Hulls Cove Storage Facility, located near the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Visitor Center Rd, Bar Harbor, ME…
- Bird Walk10/1509:00 AM · free · registration requiredLocation given with reservation
Show all 7Hide
- 08:30 AM · free
News
- Acadia National Park Advisory Commission to meet on September 14 ↗2026-09-11
The Acadia National Park Advisory Commission will meet on Monday, September 14, at 1 pm at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center (119 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, Maine).
- Spring Prescribed Burns Planned for Acadia National Park ↗2026-04-24
The National Park Service (NPS) is planning to conduct prescribed burns in Acadia National Park throughout the weekend of April 25, provided weather and fuel conditions are within the prescribed ranges established in…
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Acadia National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Local history books for Acadia National Park
Revisiting Seal Harbor and Acadia National ParkLydia Vanderbergh and Jr. Earl Shettleworth, 1997Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthNorth American Porcupine 16× · Bald Eagle 8× · Belted Kingfisher 4× · Greater Yellowlegs 4× · Common Loon 4× · Barred Owl 3× · Harbor Seal 3× · Grey Seal 3×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 215 birds, 38 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Golden Eagle · American Hawk Owl · American Kestrel · American Long-eared Owl · American Marsh Hawk · American Osprey · American Peregrine Falcon · American Rough-legged Hawk · Bald Eagle · Barred Owl · Broad-winged Hawk · Cooper's Hawk · Eastern Horned Owl · Eastern Pigeon Hawk · Eastern Red-tailed Hawk · Eastern Screech-Owl · Eastern Turkey Vulture · Northern Red-shouldered Hawk · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Northern Sharp-shinned Hawk · Snowy Owl
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Bittern · American Black Duck · American Coot · American Egret · American Merganser · American Pintail · American Wigeon · Black-crowned Night Heron · Blue Goose · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Common Loon · Common White-fronted Goose · Double-crested Cormorant · Eastern Glossy Ibis · Eastern Green Heron · Eastern Harlequin Duck · Eurasian Wigeon · Great Blue Heron · Greater Scaup · Green-winged Teal · Hooded Merganser · Least Bittern · Little Blue Heron · Northern Virginia Rail · Pied-billed Grebe · Red-breasted Merganser · Ring-necked Duck · Snowy Egret · Sora Rail · Tricolored Heron · Wood Duck · Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Avocet · American Herring Gull · American Woodcock · Bartramian Sandpiper · Black-bellied Plover · Common Snipe · Common Tern · Eastern Dowitcher · Eastern Solitary Sandpiper · Great Black-backed Gull · Greater Yellowlegs · Hudsonian Curlew · Killdeer · Laughing Gull · Least Sandpiper · Lesser Yellowlegs · Pectoral Sandpiper · Purple Sandpiper · Ring-billed Gull · Ruddy Turnstone · Semipalmated Sandpiper · Spotted Sandpiper · White-rumped Sandpiper
Gamebirds & dovesCanada Grouse · Canada Ruffed Grouse · Eastern Mourning Dove
WoodpeckersAmerican Three-toed Woodpecker · Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker · Common Flicker · Downy Woodpecker · Eastern Hairy Woodpecker · Eastern Red-bellied Woodpecker · Northern Pileated Woodpecker · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsChimney Swift · Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Also on the checklistAcadian Boreal Chickadee · Alder Flycatcher · Alder Traill's Flycatcher · American Brant · American Crow · American Eider · American Golden-eye · American Goldfinch · American Gyrfalcon · American Pipit · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Baltimore Oriole · Barn Swallow · Bay-breasted Warbler · Belted Kingfisher · Black Guillemot · Black and White Creeper · Black-billed Cuckoo · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-throated Blue Warbler · Black-throated Green Warbler · Blackburnian Warbler · Blackpoll Warbler · Blue Jay · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Blue-headed Solitary Vireo · Blue-winged Warbler · Bluebird · Bohemian Waxwing · Bronzed Grackle · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Butter Butt · Canada Gray Jay · Canada Warbler · Canvasback · Cape May Warbler · Catbird · Cedar Waxwing · Chebec · Chestnut-sided Warbler · Chipping Sparrow · Cliff Swallow · Common Gallinule · Common Mallard · Common Nighthawk · Common Oven-bird · Common Raven · Common Yellowthroat · Connecticut Warbler · Crested Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Field Sparrow · Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet · Eastern Goshawk · Eastern Hermit Thrush · Eastern Kingbird · Eastern Meadowlark · Eastern Nashville Warbler · Eastern Orange-crowned Warbler · Eastern Phoebe · Eastern Purple Finch · Eastern Red-wing · Eastern Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Eastern Savannah Sparrow · Eastern Snow Bunting · Eastern Song Sparrow · Eastern Swamp Sparrow · Eastern Towhee · Eastern Veery · Eastern Vesper Sparrow · Eastern Warbling Vireo · Eastern Whip-poor-will · Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch · Eastern Winter Wren · Eastern Wood Pewee · Eastern Yellow Warbler · Eastern Yellow-billed Cuckoo · Gadwall · Golden-winged Warbler · Gray-cheeked Thrush · Hooded Warbler · Horned Lark · House Finch · Indigo Bunting · Kentucky Warbler · Lincoln's Sparrow · Long-billed Marsh Wren · Magnolia Warbler · Mourning Warbler · Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow · Northern Parula · Northern Pine Siskin · Northern Prairie Warbler · Northern Purple Martin · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Waterthrush · Northern White-eyed Vireo · Olive-backed Swainson's Thrush · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Palm Warbler · Philadelphia Vireo · Purple Gallinule · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-eyed Vireo · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Rusty Blackbird · Scarlet Tanager · Sedge Wren · Tennessee Warbler · Townsend's Warbler · Tree Swallow · White-throated Sparrow · White-winged Crossbill · Wilson's Pileolated Warbler · Wood Thrush · Yellow-bellied Flycatcher · Yellow-throated Vireo · Yellow-throated Warbler
Small mammalsAmerican Beaver · Boreal Redback Vole · Cooper Lemming Mouse · Deer Mouse · Eastern Gray Squirrel · Hoy's Pygmy Shrew · Hudson Bay Jumping Mouse · Masked Shrew · Mearns Flying Squirrel · Mole Shrew · Northeastern Chipmunk · Northern Smoky Shrew · Northern Water Shrew · Snowshoe Hare · Star-nosed Mole · White-footed Mouse · Woodland Jumping Mouse
PredatorsAmerican Mink · Bay Lynx · Black Bear · Black Fox · Bonaparte Weasel · Common Raccoon · Coyote · Long-tailed Weasel · Otter
Hoofed mammalsMoose · Northern White-tailed Deer
BatsBig Brown Bat · Eastern Red Bat · Hoary Bat · Keen's Myotis · Little Brown Bat · Silver-haired Bat
Also on the checklistBlackcat · Chickaree · Groundhog · Hedgehog
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Canoeing and kayaking in the national parks · Fishing in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Horseback riding in the national parks · Rock climbing in the national parks · Skiing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
All 41 activitiesHide
Weather & climate
Located on Mount Desert Island in Maine, Acadia experiences all four seasons. Summer temperatures range from 45-90F (7-30C). Fall temperatures range from 30-70F (-1-21C). Typically the first frost is in mid-October and first snowfall begins in November and can continue through April with an average accumulation of 73 inches (185 cm). Winter temperatures range from 14-35F (-10 - 2C). Spring temperatures range from 30-70F (-1-21C).
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Acadia?
Entrance is $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, and $20 per person on foot or bike. Valid for seven days.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Acadia?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Acadia-only annual pass is $70.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Acadia takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
Do international visitors pay more at Acadia?
Yes. Visitors who are not US residents, age 16 and up, pay a $100 surcharge on top of the entrance fee, or carry the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass.
Source: The nonresident fee, explained
When is entrance to Acadia free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Acadia?
Vehicle reservations are not required for any other areas of the park, or for visitors who enter the area by foot, bike, or taxi. Vehicle reservations provide a timed entry, but do not require a departure time until 9 pm, when the road closes to vehicles.
Source: Timed entry, by park
Is Acadia open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Acadia?
Yes. The Park Service lists 4 campgrounds in Acadia: Blackwoods, Seawall, Schoodic Woods, and Duck Harbor. 4 take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which Acadia campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Dump station: Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods. Electric hookups: Schoodic Woods.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Acadia include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Seawall is $30 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Acadia right now?
3 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Eastern Section of Beech Mountain Loop Trail Closed for Repairs; Schoodic Mountain Road Closed for Repairs; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Acadia?
4,079,318 recreation visits in 2025, number 18 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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