Spring is the quiet season at Acadia National Park, and that’s exactly why I like it. The last of the snow melts off the carriage roads, the trees and ponds come back to life, and you can drive the Park Loop Road without sitting in a line of brake lights. The tradeoff is weather that swings hard and a couple of nuisances (mud and ticks) that summer visitors never deal with. This guide covers what to expect month by month, what’s open, and how to plan a spring trip that works.
Acadia in Spring: Know Before You Go
- Best stretch: Late April through May. Snow gone, crowds light, roads and trails reopening.
- Weather: Wide swings, from the low 30s to the upper 60s, with regular rain.
- Park Loop Road: Typically reopens to vehicles by mid-April, weather permitting. Cadillac Summit Road opens later in spring.
- Cadillac reservations: The vehicle reservation for the Cadillac Summit Road usually kicks in around late May. Check the park site before you drive up.
- Ticks: Active and abundant in spring. Use repellent and do a full-body check after every hike.
- Fee: $30 per vehicle, good for 7 days.
Spring in Acadia, Month by Month
Spring in Acadia is a season of transition. The snow melts, the wildflowers return (trillium, lady’s slipper, and violets among them), and animals come back into view, from warblers and thrushes to deer, beaver, and the occasional black bear. But how the park feels depends a lot on which month you pick.
April is typically cold and windy, improving toward the end of the month. Late April is one of my favorite times to visit. The notorious summer crowds simply aren’t here yet, and you can cruise the roads and trails with ease. Expect some trails to still be muddy or icy in shaded spots.
May brings warmer, more pleasant weather for hiking, biking, and exploring. By now the snow is gone and the park’s usual attractions are open. This is the sweet spot: good weather before the summer crush.
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June has wonderful weather, blooming flowers, and lush green forest. The downside is that Maine’s biting insects peak around now, and visitation climbs fast as the summer season begins. Plan for bugs and busier trailheads.
Ticks and Biting Insects
Ticks are very active in Acadia in spring, and they carry real disease risk. Even with precautions, check your clothing and skin after every hike. Wear long sleeves and pants in brushy areas, treat your gear, and use a repellent rated for ticks and mosquitoes. This is the single most important thing first-time spring visitors underestimate.
Spring Temperatures in Acadia
| Average High | Average Low | |
| April | 50°F | 31°F |
| May | 61°F | 40°F |
| June | 71°F | 49°F |
Spring Activities in Acadia
- Hike the carriage roads and trails. The 45 miles of carriage roads are perfect once the mud firms up.
- Drive the Park Loop Road. Best done before the summer traffic arrives.
- Explore the coast. Otter Cliff, Sand Beach, and Thunder Hole are far quieter in spring.
- Catch the wildflowers. Trillium and lady’s slipper appear as the woods green up.
- Go birdwatching. Spring migration brings warblers, thrushes, and raptors through the park.
- Watch the sunrise. From the right vantage on the coast, you can be among the first in the country to see the sun.
Things to Know Before You Visit
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. An America the Beautiful pass also works.
Crowds: Acadia is a small park that draws big numbers. Spring is the calmest of the warm seasons, but parking still fills at popular trailheads by midday in May and June. Arrive early.
Getting around: Most of the park is reachable by car, and the driving itself is scenic. The free Island Explorer shuttle typically begins its season in late spring, which is the easiest way to skip the parking problem.
Dogs: Acadia is one of the more dog-friendly national parks. Leashed dogs are welcome on most trails and carriage roads, with a few exceptions like the ladder trails.
RELATED: Our full Acadia National Park guide
Our Acadia National Park Film
This film is the result of several weeks spent exploring Acadia National Park. It’s dedicated to George Dorr, who was instrumental in saving the land and founding the park. Sculpted by glaciers and shaped by beavers, Acadia is full of unique natural features: rounded mountains, quiet ponds, rocky coastline, and some of the finest trails in the national park system.
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What to Bring to Acadia
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More Than Just Parks Film Watch our film of Acadia We spent weeks in Acadia, one of our favorite public lands destinations, capturing it the way it deserves. Take a few minutes and see it for yourself.
