Acadia National Park

Rugged Shores, Sunrise Peaks, Wild Beauty

Acadia National Park spans coastal mountains, forests and rocky shorelines along Maine’s eastern edge. The park includes Cadillac Mountain the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast where sunrise can be watched from early morning. Trails wind through spruce and pine stands while carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. provide quiet paths for walking or biking. Tide pools reveal crabs and starfish at low tide. Visitors find lighthouses historic sites and seasonal wildflowers along the park’s 47-mile coastline.

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National Park in United States

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.9

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	9

Read details

5/5

English is universally spoken in the park and surrounding towns. Visitor centers, rangers, and most guides are fluent. Spanish is also common in hospitality and service jobs, but English is all you’ll need.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Acadia National Park Summary

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Excellent for coastal hiking and scenic drives. Walk granite cliffs, cycle carriage roads, kayak quiet coves and watch sunrise from Cadillac Mountain.

Place score

8.4

Best at:

Natural sites

Spotless

Wildlife

Guided tours

Autumn foliage

Personal score

Suited for

👶 9

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

❤️ 10

Couples

♻️ 9

Sustainability

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Acadia National Park, United States

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🌥️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

❄️

Dec

High season:	July - Oct.
Shoulder season:	May - June
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Park Loop Road partly closed December to mid-April, Cadillac Summit Road closed in winter

Most campsites, shuttles and restaurants operate only late May to mid-October

Vehicle reservations required for Cadillac Summit Road, book ahead for summer and autumn

Don't miss

🌅 Watch sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain
🥾 Hike the scenic Jordan Pond Path surrounded by nature
🚗 Drive the Park Loop Road for coastal and forest views
🚴‍♂️ Cycle the historic Carriage Roads through granite bridges
🛶 Kayak along the rocky shoreline near Bar Harbor

You've been here?

Why travel to Acadia National Park?

Acadia is a dream for anyone who loves the outdoors. The 27-mile Park Loop Road takes you to iconic sights like Thunder Hole, Sand Beach and Jordan Pond, while 150 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of historic carriage roads offer endless ways to explore on foot, bike or horseback. The views from Cadillac Mountain are legendary and the park’s mix of rugged coastline, lakes and forests means every season brings something new – think wildflowers in spring, cool swims in summer, blazing foliage in fall and peaceful snowshoeing in winter. But Acadia’s popularity comes with crowds, especially in summer and during fall foliage. Parking can be tough at peak times and you’ll need a vehicle reservation for Cadillac Mountain in high season. Some trails are steep and rocky and coastal weather can change fast-fog, rain and wind are common. Cell service is spotty in places. Still, if you plan ahead and start early, you’ll find plenty of quiet corners and unforgettable views.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Wild Gardens of Acadia
2 Bass Harbor Head Light
3 Park Loop Road

🎡Places for activities

1 Jordan Pond House
2 Beehive Trail
3 Precipice Trail
4 Cadillac Mountain Eco-Store
5 Great Head Trail
6 Bar Island Trail

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Isle au Haut
2 Sand Beach
3 Thunder Hole
4 Jordan Pond
5 Cadillac Mountain
6 Eagle Lake
7 Otter Cliffs

🎈Events

Acadia Night Sky Festival
Bar Harbor Fourth of July
Mount Desert Island Marathon
Acadia Winter Festival
Ranger-led summer programs

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Reserve Cadillac Mountain vehicle pass ahead.
Drive Park Loop Road early morning to beat shuttle-free crowds and parking hassles.
Bike carriage roads for peaceful Rockefeller-built paths through forests and stone bridges.
Catch sunrise from Cadillac summit; first US mainland spot year-round for dramatic ocean views.

How to travel to Acadia National Park

Fly into Bangor International Airport (about 1.5 hours away) or Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (20 minutes). Bar Harbor is accessible by car via Route 3. Regional buses connect Bangor and Bar Harbor in season. Ferries run from nearby towns to Mount Desert Island and Isle au Haut. Book accommodations and Cadillac Mountain vehicle reservations early in peak season.

Access summary

From Bar Harbor Airport (BHB): Taxi or shuttle, roughly 15–20 min.
From Bangor: Drive or shuttle down Route 1A, usually about 1–1.5 h.
From Boston: Drive up coastal Maine, commonly 4.5–5.5 h by car.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Acadia National Park

Options range from classic campgrounds and rustic cabins to charming inns and hotels in Bar Harbor and surrounding villages. Campgrounds fill quickly in summer-reserve ahead. There are no hotels inside the park, but plenty of choices nearby, from budget motels to luxury B&Bs. Some sites are open year-round for winter adventurers.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Holiday Inn Bar Harbor Regency Hotel By IHG

8.5

Best Western Acadia Park Inn

9.1

Hampton Inn Bar Harbor

9.5

The Inn on Mount Desert

9.7

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel

9.8

Days Inn by Wyndham Bar Harbor

6.7

Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Conference Center

Bar Harbor Villager Motel - Downtown

9.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Acadia National Park

The Park Loop Road is the main scenic drive – travel by car, bike or the free Island Explorer shuttle (summer/fall). Parking fills up fast, especially at Sand Beach and Cadillac Mountain. The carriage roads are car-free and perfect for biking or walking. Ferries connect to Isle au Haut and other islands. Bar Harbor is the main gateway, with bike rentals and tour operators.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-14 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 14% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Bangor, United States - 73 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£56	£137	£356
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£68	£150
🍝 Food per day	£29	£63	£181
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£6	£25

Notable additional fees: US$35 (£26.29) per vehicle (7 days) plus a US$100 (£75.11) non-resident fee per person 16+, new since Jan 2026. Cadillac Summit Road is a separate booking. The US$250 (£187.78) non-resident pass waives both.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£26
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£12
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£9.50
☕ Cappuccino	£4.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£8
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£105
🤧 Cold medication	£6.50
💇 Basic haircut	£15

Safety information overview

General safety

Acadia is very safe, with low crime rates. Main risks are from weather, slippery rocks and steep trails — always check conditions, stay on marked paths and watch for tides on coastal hikes. Wildlife is generally shy but don’t feed or approach animals.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good in Bar Harbor and nearby towns. Bring any prescription meds and a basic first aid kit. Bug bites and poison ivy are possible. Emergency services are available, but some areas are remote — know your route and carry a map.

Accessibility

Many main sights and carriage roads are accessible, but some trails are steep or rocky. The Island Explorer bus and visitor centers are wheelchair-friendly. Check accessibility for specific trails and attractions before visiting.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and available at visitor centers, campgrounds and some trailheads. Bring a refillable bottle — public fountains are limited on trails. Water from streams/lakes should be filtered before drinking.