Acadia National Park Photo: John Manard / CC BY-SA 2.0
United States › Maine

Acadia National Park

ByWilderness Experts

Acadia is where the mountains meet the sea on the rugged coast of Maine, a park of pink-granite peaks, surf-battered headlands, spruce forest and quiet ponds, crowned by Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Compact but astonishingly varied, and laced with historic carriage roads, it is New England’s beloved coastal wilderness.

Fast facts

  • Established: 1916 (as Sieur de Monts; became Acadia in 1929)
  • Size: about 49,000 acres (200 km²), mostly on Mount Desert Island
  • High point: Cadillac Mountain, 1,530 feet (466 m)
  • Carriage roads: 45 miles (72 km) of historic gravel roads for walking, cycling and horses
  • Gateway: Bar Harbor, Maine
  • Managed by: National Park Service

The landscape

Glaciers rounded Acadia’s granite domes and carved the only fjord on the U.S. East Coast, Somes Sound. Bare pink-granite summits rise above spruce-fir forest and glacial ponds, and the coastline alternates rocky headlands, cobble coves and the famous Thunder Hole, where surf booms into a chasm. It is rich in wildlife, peregrine falcons on the cliffs, seabirds and seals offshore, and deer and foxes in the woods.

Best time to go

Summer is peak season, with warm days, full services and long hours, and crowds. Fall is spectacular, when the hardwoods blaze and the air turns crisp, drawing foliage seekers. Spring is quieter and muddy, and winter is cold and largely unplowed, offering solitude, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on the carriage roads for the hardy.

Getting there and around

The main part of the park is on Mount Desert Island, reached via ME-3 through Bar Harbor, with the Schoodic Peninsula and remote Isle au Haut as separate units. In season, the free Island Explorer shuttle links trailheads, beaches and town, easing the notorious parking crunch; a timed-entry reservation is required to drive up Cadillac Mountain.

Things to do

Drive or ride the Park Loop Road past Sand Beach, Thunder Hole and Jordan Pond, and hike everything from gentle pond loops to the exposed, iron-runged Precipice and Beehive trails. Cycle the carriage roads, catch sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, sea kayak the island’s coves, and finish with popovers at the historic Jordan Pond House.

Staying safe

The ocean is cold and the shoreline rocks are slick and swept by big tides and rogue waves, so keep back from the surf and mind the tide when exploring coves. The famous ladder trails involve real exposure and iron rungs on cliff faces. Know your limits and avoid them when wet. Fog rolls in fast, ticks are common, and coastal weather can change quickly, so pack layers.

Know before you go

A park pass is required, a timed-entry reservation is needed to drive Cadillac Summit Road in season, and campgrounds should be reserved well ahead for summer and fall. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current conditions, reservations and closures with the National Park Service before your trip.

Navigation
Coordinates
44.2164, -68.3455
Magnetic declination
15.1° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

85 places in Acadia National Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it.

Getting there 8

Park entrances

Visitor centre

Ranger stations

On the trail 8

Trailheads

Campgrounds

Picnic sites

Sights 69

Viewpoints

Waterfalls

Beachs

Heritage site

Point of interests

Islands

Peaks 30

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeScenic driveCyclingCar campingSea kayaking
Terrain
CoastMountainsForestLakes
Key hazards
Cold oceanbig tides & slippery shore rockExposed cliff & iron-rung trailsFogTicksSudden coastal weather
Best seasons
Summer, Fall (foliage)
Difficulty
Easy to strenuous
Access / trailheads
Mostly on Mount Desert Island in Maine, reached via ME-3 through Bar Harbor; the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut are separate units. A seasonal Island Explorer shuttle serves the park.
Water
Drinking water at developed areas; carry water on trails and treat any backcountry sources.
Cell / satellite coverage
Decent coverage near Bar Harbor; patchier on trails and outer units.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Contact park rangers; marine emergencies: U.S. Coast Guard (VHF 16); life-threatening emergencies: 911.
Permits & regulations
Per-vehicle entry fee (America the Beautiful pass accepted); a timed-entry reservation is required to drive Cadillac Summit Road in season, and campgrounds are reservable.
Leave No Trace
Stay on trails to protect fragile summit plants, keep off closed areas, pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.
Conditions by month

September This month

Average high71°F(22°C)
Average low53°F(12°C)

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Acadia National Park station, 4 miles (7 km) away at 470 feet (143 m). Conditions change with elevation: expect it colder higher up.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-07-21