Acadia National Park — Visitor Information
Acadia is New England's only national park, spread across Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut. General park entry needs no reservation, but driving to the summit of Cadillac Mountain does — and there's no backcountry camping anywhere in the park. Here's what to know before you go.
Page content last verified: July 2026
Visitor Centers
Tap a visitor center for its official NPS hours & facility info.
Hours vary seasonally — confirm current hours on the official NPS operating hours page before you go.
Entrance Fees & Passes
Every vehicle entering Acadia needs a park pass — the park is cashless, so bring a credit or debit card, or use one of a few listed third-party sellers if paying cash.
- Private vehicle: $35, valid 7 days (covers all passengers)
- Motorcycle: $30, valid 7 days
- Per person (on foot/bike, age 16+): $20, valid 7 days
- Acadia Annual Pass: $70 (Acadia only)
- America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $80 — covers Acadia and every other federal fee site
Note: non-U.S. residents (age 16+) pay an additional $100/person fee unless entering with an Annual or America the Beautiful pass.
Free Entrance Days (2026)
Feb 16 · May 25 · Jun 14 · Jul 3–5 · Aug 25 (NPS's 110th birthday) · Sep 17 · Oct 27 · Nov 11
Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass
Every U.S. 4th grader (and their family, in the same vehicle) can get a free annual pass covering entrance to Acadia and every other federal fee site. Get it at everykidoutdoors.gov or at any entrance station.
Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservation
A separate $6 vehicle reservation is required to drive Cadillac Summit Road, roughly May 20–Oct 25. It's per vehicle (not per person), gives a timed entry window but no set departure time until the 9pm road closure, and doesn't allow re-entry. Walking, biking, or taking a taxi up doesn't require a reservation, and Cadillac isn't served by the Island Explorer shuttle.
Island Explorer Shuttle
A free bus system runs late June through early October, connecting campgrounds, carriage road entrances, many trailheads, local communities, and the Bar Harbor airport. You can flag it down anywhere safe along its route.
Schedule and routes on the official getting-around page — dates shift year to year.
Campgrounds & RV Options
There is no backcountry, out-of-bounds, overnight parking, or winter camping anywhere in Acadia — all camping is at four developed campgrounds, booked entirely through recreation.gov. Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods release 90% of sites 6 months ahead (1st of the month, 10am ET) plus the remaining 10% at 14 days out; Duck Harbor releases its whole season on April 1. Fees change year to year — use the link below for current pricing.
In-park lodging is limited — most visitors stay in nearby Bar Harbor or other Mount Desert Island towns.
Good to Know
- Peregrine falcon closures: Jordan Cliffs, Precipice, Penobscot East, and Valley Cove trails close each spring for nesting falcons, reopening once it's safe.
- Carriage roads: close every spring during "mud season" to protect the historic gravel surface.
- Weather swings fast: conditions atop Cadillac and Acadia's other peaks can be dramatically different from Bar Harbor at sea level.
- Storm damage: recent winter storms have affected trails like Ocean Path and Otter Cove Causeway — check current conditions for repairs in progress.
More National Parks
See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.
Fees, the Cadillac Summit Road reservation window, and seasonal trail/road closures change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Acadia National Park site before you go.
Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Cadillac Summit Road Reservations · NPS – Getting Around · NPS – Campgrounds · NPS – Current Conditions & Alerts
