Acadia National Park in Maine, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Acadia National Park brings Maine's rocky Atlantic shore, wooded trails, lakes, and mountain summits into one trip. Mount Desert Island near Bar Harbor contains many of the park’s main visitor stops. Schoodic Peninsula is a separate mainland outing, while Isle au Haut requires a boat journey. Choose your area before planning the day's stops.

Highlights of Acadia

• Park Loop Road: The 27-mile (43 km) road system connects coastal stops such as Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliffs with Jordan Pond and access to Cadillac Mountain.
• Cadillac Mountain: Drive the summit road for high coastal views when it is open. A separate vehicle reservation applies during the designated season.
• Carriage roads: Walk or bicycle on a network that offers a different pace from the motor roads.
• Schoodic Peninsula: Visit the mainland section for Schoodic Point, Blueberry Hill, and coastal scenery.
• Isle au Haut: Plan a separate boat-based visit for the park's more remote island trails and Duck Harbor.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Coastal and trail safety

Wet rock can be slippery, and some summit routes have exposed cliffs, ladders, or iron rungs. Choose a trail that suits everyone in your group. Carry water, a trail map, rain protection, and warm layers. Cell service is unreliable, so save essential information before entering the park.

Watch the ocean while exploring the shore. Waves can reach exposed rocks, and a rising tide can block a return route. Keep children close near the water. Stay on established trails, leave trail markers in place, and check for ticks after walking. Call 911 in an emergency.

Visit responsibly with or without a pet

Keep wildlife at a distance and take your litter away. Lakes and ponds used for public drinking water have restrictions on swimming and wading. Follow the signs at each location rather than assuming every lake is a swimming spot.

Dogs must stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet (1.8 m). Clean up after them and keep them attended. Pets are allowed on many trails and carriage roads, but not on ladder trails such as Beehive and Precipice. Sand Beach and Echo Lake have seasonal pet restrictions. Duck Harbor Campground does not allow pets.

What needs a reservation?

The entrance pass and Cadillac vehicle reservation serve different purposes. The pass pays admission; the reservation controls entry onto Cadillac Summit Road during its reservation season. Other park areas do not require this vehicle reservation. The Island Explorer bus does not serve the summit.

Book through the Cadillac Summit Road reservation guide. Save the confirmation code before arrival. RVs, trailers, and vehicles longer than 21 feet, including racks and hitches, cannot use the road.

All park campsites require an advance online reservation. Use the Acadia campground guide to choose a campground and check its booking window. Camping fees are separate from entrance fees. Backcountry camping, winter camping, and overnight parking are not permitted.

Maps, location, and access

For Mount Desert Island, follow Route 3 from Ellsworth toward Bar Harbor. Hulls Cove Visitor Center is at 25 Visitor Center Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Use this visitor address instead of the park's mailing address.

Schoodic Peninsula has its own road approach through the Winter Harbor area. Isle au Haut is reached by boat from the Stonington area; it is not another stop on Park Loop Road. Download the official Acadia maps for the area you intend to visit. For hiking, use a detailed trail map rather than relying only on the general park map.

The seasonal Island Explorer offers a way to reach several trailheads without moving your car between stops. Check its route and operating schedule when planning a walk with different start and finish points.

Nearby parks

• Lamoine State Park: Reach this Frenchman Bay park from Route 184, southeast of Ellsworth, near the mainland approach to Mount Desert Island.
• Fort Point State Park: This park in Stockton Springs is a short detour from US Route 1 on the coastal approach from the southwest.

Ways to explore the coast and trails

For a first visit, choose a few Park Loop Road stops and one walk instead of trying to cover every district. This keeps the day focused and leaves room to change plans when parking or weather affects access.

• Walk or hike: Acadia has coastal, forest, lake, and summit routes. A modest summit elevation does not guarantee an easy climb; inspect the route's terrain before setting off.
• Ride the carriage roads: Bicycles share these routes with walkers and horses. Riders must yield to other users and slow down on loose gravel. Bicycles are not allowed on hiking trails.
• Explore with children: Ask about Junior Ranger activities and the current ranger program schedule. These provide a way to learn about the park between outdoor stops.
• Watch birds: Look for woodland birds inland and waterbirds along the coast. Seasonal ranger activities can help visitors recognize what they see.

Visitor services and places to stay

Hulls Cove is a useful starting point for maps and trip advice. Its main approach includes 52 steps, but accessible parking and a paved access route are available behind the building. Check the suitability of individual trails and campsites separately; access at a visitor center does not establish access across the park.

Blackwoods and Seawall campgrounds are on Mount Desert Island. Schoodic Woods serves the mainland section. Duck Harbor has five lean-to shelters on Isle au Haut. Blackwoods has no showers; paid showers are available in nearby Otter Creek. Schoodic Woods offers electric-only sites and sites with both water and electricity. Select the site type you need when booking. Blackwoods and Seawall do not have hookups. Hotels and other lodging are available in nearby towns.

Cadillac's summit area has designated parking, restrooms, and a gift shop. A vehicle reservation does not assign a parking space. At Duck Harbor, there is no potable water; bring drinking water or use an appropriate treatment method. Do not assume a remote trailhead has a water refill point.

About Acadia National Park

A landscape with a long human history

People have lived in this region for more than 12,000 years. Wabanaki communities remain part of its cultural life. Trails, roads, waterfronts, and historic structures also reflect generations of local work and changing uses of the land.

Federal protection began with Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916. It became Lafayette National Park in 1919 and received the name Acadia National Park in 1929.

Wildlife from forests to tide pools

Acadia's forests, freshwater habitats, and shoreline support different wildlife communities. Its birds include warblers, woodpeckers, loons, ducks, eagles, and peregrine falcons. Observe quietly and let animals move away without following them. No particular sighting is guaranteed.

Contact Acadia National Park

• Park information: +1 207-288-3338.
• Visitor location: Hulls Cove Visitor Center, 25 Visitor Center Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.
• Mail: Acadia National Park, PO Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609-0177.
• Online contact: The official park contact page provides an email contact option.