Established
1919
Size
49,075 acres
Visitors / yr
4M
Entrance
$35
Best season
May through October
Nearest airport
BHB Hancock County-Bar Harbor
01
Why Acadia is worth the trip
Maine · Established 1919
Acadia is where the mountains actually meet the Atlantic. Pink granite domes drop straight into cold surf on Mount Desert Island, and from October through March the summit of Cadillac Mountain catches the first sunrise in the United States. This was the first national park east of the Mississippi, pieced together from donated land in 1919, and it still feels handmade. The 45 miles of carriage roads John D. Rockefeller Jr. built for horse and buggy make it one of the few parks you can genuinely explore by bike.
The scale is the secret. You can watch dawn from Cadillac, hike the Beehive, eat popovers at Jordan Pond House, and still make Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse by sunset. Come in September, when the crowds thin, the water is still swimmable, and the light turns the granite pink for real.
Start with our full Acadia guide, then use the planning below.
02
Top things to do in Acadia
Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.
Start here
15 Things to Do in Acadia National Park
Read the guide
01
Hiking · nps.gov
Hike Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain Loop
A short, challenging loop hike to the summits of Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain, each over 900 feet.
02
Hiking · nps.gov
Hike Jordan Pond Path
The trail follows the shore of Jordan Pond, providing iconic views of steep, glacially sculpted mountains and the glacially carved valley that is now...
03
Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov
Hike Village Green to Sieur de Monts with Island Explorer Bus
Beginning at the Village Green in Bar Harbor and ending at the Sieur de Mont Area this hike includes the Great Meadow Loop, the...
04
Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov
Hike Pemetic Summit with Island Explorer Bus
The hike up and over Pemetic takes hikers to the shores of both Bubble and Jordan Pond and summits Pemetic Mountain. Nearly 360-degree views...
Hiking · nps.gov
Hike Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain Loop
A short, challenging loop hike to the summits of Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain, each over 900 feet.
02
Hiking · nps.gov
Hike Jordan Pond Path
The trail follows the shore of Jordan Pond, providing iconic views of steep, glacially sculpted mountains and the glacially carved valley that is now...
03
Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov
Hike Village Green to Sieur de Monts with Island Explorer Bus
Beginning at the Village Green in Bar Harbor and ending at the Sieur de Mont Area this hike includes the Great Meadow Loop, the...
04
Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov
Hike Pemetic Summit with Island Explorer Bus
The hike up and over Pemetic takes hikers to the shores of both Bubble and Jordan Pond and summits Pemetic Mountain. Nearly 360-degree views...
03
Best hikes in Acadia
The trails that define the park, with the distance and elevation numbers that decide your day.
1
The Beehive Loop
The best hike in Acadia, a steep climb on iron rungs.
2
Precipice Trail
Iron rungs up the near vertical face of Champlain Mountain.
3
Jordan Pond Loop
The best flat hike in Acadia, around the park's clearest water.
4
Schoodic Peninsula Trails
A coastal ramble on the quiet mainland side of the park.
5
Gorham Mountain Trail
Big coastal views on open granite without the rungs and ladders.
Before you go
Get the Acadia heads-up
Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Acadia guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.
04
Plan your trip
Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Acadia.
Where to stay
Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.
Maps & guides
Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass
What to bring
Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.
-
Water ShoesQuick-drying grip for shorelines, slot canyons, and river crossings. View on REI
-
Dry BagKeep your phone, camera, and spare clothes dry near water. View on REI
-
Sun HatFull-brim coverage for exposed trails with zero shade. View on REI
-
BinocularsSpot wildlife from a safe distance without disturbing them. View on REI
Getting there
- BHB Hancock County-Bar Harbor 12 mi
- BGR Bangor International 48 mi
- PWM Portland International Jetport 165 mi
Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.
Acadia map
VC Visitor Center
CG Campground
Nearby Park
05
Read our seasonal guide
When to go
Loading weather...
Month-by-Month Conditions
Tap any month for details
Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
31°
14°
Low
Open
Feb
33°
15°
Low
Open
Mar
40°
23°
Low
Open
Apr
52°
33°
Low
Open
May Best
62°
42°
Moderate
Open
Jun Best
71°
51°
Peak
Open
Jul Best
78°
57°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
77°
56°
Peak
Open
Sep Best
69°
48°
Peak
Open
Oct Best
57°
38°
Peak
Open
Nov
45°
29°
Low
Open
Dec
35°
19°
Low
Open
Best months to visit
Crowd level (low to peak)
Watch our film
Acadia National Park 4K
We shot Acadia through peak fall color for the park's centennial, and it ruined every other autumn for us. The light off the granite coast at sunrise is the kind of thing you have to see to believe, so watch this one early in the morning with coffee.
Browse all our national park films06
More Acadia guides
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Is Acadia National Park Overrated? An Honest Take
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Acadia in Winter: A Field Guide (Yes, It’s Open)
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15 Best Hikes in Acadia National Park (+ Hiking Tips)
Educational Resources
12 Facts About Acadia National Park
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Summer in Acadia National Park
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Acadia National Park in Spring
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Is Precipice Trail in Acadia Really That Dangerous?
Videos
Acadia National Park (Video) by More Than Just Parks
National Park Guides
Acadia National Park Guide
National Parks
15 Things to Do in Acadia National Park
07
Parks near Acadia
Within reach if you are building a longer trip.
Worth protecting
Acadia belongs to all of us
Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.
Stay in the Loop
Free dispatches on the parks and the policy fights around them, almost every day. Threats tracked, wins celebrated, no fluff.
Threatened Lands Map
Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.
View the Tracker