Visiting Acadia National Park: The Complete Guide

If you’re looking for a place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Acadia National Park is the perfect spot. The park encompasses over 50 miles of coastline with spectacular views, hiking trails that lead up to panoramic vistas and plenty of places to explore. It’s also home to Cadillac Mountain, which has been called “the most photographed mountain in America” due to its iconic image on postcards and calendars.

Acadia National Park is located on Mount Desert Island in Maine and is one four National Park Service sites in the state of Maine. The park spans most of the island and a few of the smaller associated islands. Acadia is the oldest national park in the U.S. east of the Mississippi. The park is home to mountains, woodlands, lakes, and ocean shorelines. The park is one of the first places in the United States to see the sunrise and has one of the best sunrise spots on the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Much of the park’s early infrastructure was built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Here is the National Park Obsessed guide for visiting Acadia National Park.

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Are you planning a trip to Acadia National Park? Click here for the complete guide to visiting Acadia National Park written by a National Park Expert.

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The Quick Guide to Visiting Acadia National Park

Map of Acadia National Park

Click on the Acadia Map above to download the official brochure map. If you’d like a PDF copy of this Acadia Map click here.

Acadia National Park Basics

Region: Northeast / New England

Park Size: 52,485.17 acres (82.00 sq miles) (212.40 sq km)

Location: Hancock and Knox counties

Closest Cities: Bar Harbor, Maine

Busy Season: May to September

Visitation: 3,437,286 (in 2019)

How much does Acadia National Park Cost?

Acadia National Park costs the following:

7-day Passenger Vehicle Pass – $30
7-day Motorcycle Pass – $25
7-day Individual Pass – $7

An annual Acadia National Park Pass costs $55 but it is not recommended you buy this pass. For an extra $25 you can get an American the Beautiful Pass. This $80 pass offers free admission to all 116 fee-charging National Park Units.

When is Acadia National Park Open?

Acadia National Park is open year-round.

Are dogs allowed in Acadia National Park?

Yes, Acadia is one of the most dog-friendly National Parks. Dogs are welcome on most of the park’s trails and carriage roads. Please review the Acadia Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Acadia.

Where are Acadia National Park’s visitor centers?

Rockefeller Welcome Center – Open Year Around

Hulls Cove Visitor Center – April to October

Islesford Historical Museum – June to September

Sieur de Monts Nature Center – May to October

Thompson Island Information Center – May to October

Village Green Information Center – May to October

Land Acknowledgments for Acadia National Park

The National Park known as Acadia National Park sits on Monacan and Manahoac land.

Thank you to the Native Land Digital for making the Indigenous territories accessible to all. They have mapped the known territories to the best of the current knowledge and is a work in progress. If you have additional information on the Indigenous nations boundaries, please let them know.

Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.

When was Acadia National Park created?

Acadia National Park was created on July 8, 1916 as Sieur de Monts National Monument. On February 26, 1919, Congress re-designated the national monument as Lafayette National Park. The park was named after the famed American Revolution participant, Marquis de Lafayette.

Finally, on January 19, 1929, the park’s name was changed again to Acadia National Park to honor the former French colony of Acadia.

Acadia National Park protects ecological integrity, cultural history, scenic beauty, and scientific values within the Acadia archipelago and Schoodic Peninsula and offers visitors a broad range of transformative and inspiring experiences among the park’s diverse habitats, glacially sculpted mountains, and bold, rocky coastline.
Acadia National Park Foundation Document

Fun Facts about Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is about the size of Pine Island, Florida. (Learn more about the size of the national park)

Acadia is one of a handful of parks made from land donated by private invidiauls inculding John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. designed the park’s carriage roads and stone bridges.

There are 1.4 million objects in the Curatorial Program.

The highest point in Acadia National Park is the summit of Cadillac Mountain which is 1,530 ft (470 m) above sea level.. This is the highest view on the east coast.

The lowest point in Acadia National Park is the Atlantic Ocean at 0 ft (0 m)..

Acadia by the numbers
- 26 mountains
- 45 miles of carriage roads
- 158+ miles of hiking trails
- 24 archeological sites

When to Visit Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park Visitation

Acadia is busiest from June to October.

Acadia National Park Weather

Acadia National Park is located on the coast of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean. The region is known for hot and humid summers with cold winters.

Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book?

Looking for a cheap National Park souvenir? The National Park Passport Books is one of the best and cheapest souvenirs. If you have don’t have a National Park Passport Book click here to learn more about the program or click here to buy.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT stamp your government issued passport.

There are 14 official stamps in Acadia along with a handful of bonus stamps in the park.

Bar Harbor, ME
Blackwoods Campground
Cadillac Mountain
Duck Harbor
Isle au Haut
Islesford, ME
Jordan Pond
Schoodic Penisula
Schoodic Woods
Seawall Campground
Sieur de Monts Nature Center
Thompson Island
Thunder Hole
Village Green

Acadia National Park Passport Stamp Locations

Here are all the locations where you can find the Acadia National Park Passport Stamp.

Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Blackwoods Campground
Cadillac Mountain Gift Shop
Duck Harbor Campground Bulletin Board
Hulls Cove Visitor Center
Island Explorers Information Center
Isle au Haut Ranger Station
Islesford Historical Museum
Jordan Pond Gift Shop
Schoodic Peninsula Information Center at Entrance to SERC Campus
Schoodic Peninsula Welcome & Education Center at Rockefeller Hall (on SERC campus)
Seawall Campground Entrance Station
Sieur de Monts Nature Center
Thompson Island Information Center
Thunder Hole Information Center

Hulls Cove Visitor Center

Hulls Cove Visitor Center is located at 25 Visitor Center Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. It is open from April 15 to October 31. Stamps located here:

Blackwoods Campground

Blackwoods Campground is located at Blackwoods Rd, Mt Desert, ME 04660. It is open from May to October. Stamps located here:

Cadillac Mountain Gift Shop

Cadillac Mountain Gift Shop is located at Cadillac Summit Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. It is open from April 15 to October 31. Stamps located here:

Jordan Pond Gift Shop

Jordan Pond Gift Shop is located at Jordan Pond Rd, Seal Harbor, ME 04675. It is open from April 15 to October 31. Stamps located here:

Thunder Hole Information Center

Thunder Hole Information Center is located at Schooner Head Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. It is open from summer season.. Stamps located here:

Island Explorers Information Center

Island Explorers Information Center is located at 17 Firefly Lane, Bar Harbor, ME. It is open during Summer. Stamps located here:

Thompson Island Information Center

Thompson Island Information Center is located at State Highway 3, Ellsworth, ME 04605. It is open from mid-May to mid-October. Stamps located here:

Seawall Campground Entrance Station

Seawall Campground Entrance Station is located at 668 Seawall Rd, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679. It is open from late May to end of September. Stamps located here:

Schoodic Woods Ranger Station / Information Center

Schoodic Woods Ranger Station / Information Center is located at Schoodic Loop Rd, Winter Harbor, ME 04693, USA. It is open from late May to early October.. Stamps located here:

Schoodic Peninsula Welcome & Education Center at Rockefeller Hall (on SERC campus)

Schoodic Peninsula Welcome & Education Center at Rockefeller Hall is located at E Schoodic Dr, Winter Harbor, ME 04693. It is open during the summer. Stamps located here:

Schoodic Peninsula Information Center at Entrance to SERC Campus

Schoodic Peninsula Information Center at Entrance to SERC Campus is located at Acadia Drive, Winter Harbor, ME 04693, USA. It is open from April 15 to October 31. Stamps located here:

Duck Harbor Campground Bulletin Board

Duck Harbor Campground Bulletin Board is located on Duck Island. It is open from May 15 to October 15. Stamps located here:

Isle au Haut Ranger Station

Isle au Haut Ranger Station is located at Main Rd, Isle Au Haut, ME 04645. It is open from late June to September. Stamps located here:

Islesford Historical Museum

Islesford Historical Museum is located at Main Rd, Seal Harbor, ME 04675. It is open from late June to September. Stamps located here:

Sieur de Monts Nature Center

Sieur de Monts Nature Center is located at Park Loop Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. It is open from May to early October. Stamps located here:

Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce

Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce is located at 2 Cottage St Bar Harbor, ME. Stamps located here:

Acadia National Park Gift Ideas

Acadia Gift Shops

If you are looking to buy Acadia National Park themed gifts while in the park, here are the in-park gift shops

National Park Obsessed’s Detailed Guides to AcadiaNational Park

General Information on Visiting Acadia

Acadia National Park Lodging

Frequently Asked Questions about Acadia National Park

National Parks Near Acadia National Park

Are there bears in Acadia National Park?

On paper, Acadia National Park should have bears. The park has everything Black Bears love. Acadia is full of food sources for black bears such as skunk cabbage and blueberries. Realistically, your odds of seeing a black bear in Acadia are very low. There are a handful of sighting each year but that is it.

Why is Acadia National Park famous?

Acadia is famous for its sunrises and fall foliage.

Do I need a pass for Acadia National Park?

Yes, you will need pay an entrance fee to enter Acadia National Park. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per person. An Acadia annual pass is $55. If you are planning on visiting 2 or more National Park Service sites, you should get the America the Beautiful Pass.

Currently, Acadia only requires entry reservations for Cadallaic Mountain from June to October.