invme Place
Everywhere
All cities · Everywhere →
EN
ENEnglish RURussian FRFrench DEGerman ITItalian ESSpanish PTPortuguese PT-BRBrazilian Portuguese ES-MXLatin American Spanish FR-CACanadian French EN-GBBritish English UKUkrainian PLPolish JAJapanese NLDutch KOKorean SVSwedish DADanish NBNorwegian FIFinnish CSCzech HEHebrew ELGreek ZH-HANTTraditional Chinese HUHungarian RORomanian HRCroatian SKSlovak SLSlovenian ETEstonian LVLatvian LTLithuanian BGBulgarian TRTurkish

Acadia National Park

Nature reserves & national parks ·Bar Harbor ·Open now
4.927.7K
#7Things to do in Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island MaineMost reviewed in Bar HarborTravelers' Choice 2026
Make a plan here
Directions Website Call Bookmark

Sign up free — See who's going and message them.

Is this your place? Get the badge for your website

About

Acadia National Park protects Maine’s rocky Atlantic coast near Bar Harbor, with coastal mountains, islands and lakes.

More photos 8

1 / 8
Acadia National Park

Acadia National ParkAcadia National ParkAcadia National ParkAcadia National ParkAcadia National ParkAcadia National ParkAcadia National ParkAcadia National Park

Why go

  • About 125 miles of hiking trails cross forests and mountains.
  • Cadillac Mountain is the tallest mountain on the eastern coastline of the United States.
  • Seals and whales are often seen offshore; whale-watching trips operate from Bar Harbor.
  • Explore the coast by guided boat trip or sea kayak.

Opening hours

Today00:00 – 23:59, 00:00 – 23:59Show all
Monday00:00 – 23:59, 00:00 – 23:59
Tuesday00:00 – 23:59, 00:00 – 23:59
Wednesday00:00 – 23:59, 00:00 – 23:59
Thursday00:00 – 23:59, 00:00 – 23:59
Friday00:00 – 23:59, 00:00 – 23:59
Saturday00:00 – 23:59, 00:00 – 23:59
Sunday00:00 – 23:59, 00:00 – 23:59

Don't miss

  • Bubble RockLook for the glacial erratic on South Bubble.South Bubble
  • Somes SoundThis five-mile glacial inlet nearly divides Mount Desert Island in half.Mount Desert Island
  • Bass Harbor Head LightThe lighthouse stands near Bass Harbor at the island’s southwestern tip.Near Bass Harbor, Mount Desert Island
  • Bar Island sandbarWalk from Bar Harbor to Bar Island across the sandbar.Between Bar Harbor and Bar IslandAround low tide

With kids

  • Ranger programs include children’s activities, walks, hikes, boat cruises, evening programs and raptor viewing.

Tips for your visit

  • Start at Hulls Cove, the main visitor center northwest of Bar Harbor.
  • The main sights cluster along Park Loop Road in the east; the west has hiking trails and quieter spots.
  • Allow for difficult driving and parking during peak-season traffic.
  • The 27-mile Park Loop Road is a motor touring route past coastal viewpoints and forests.

Best time to visit

  • Cadillac Mountain’s summit is the first place in the United States to see sunrise from October 7 through March 6.
  • Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice fishing.
  • Snow has been recorded from October through May, mostly from December to March.
  • A stretch of Ocean Drive between Schooner Head Road, Sand Beach and Otter Cliff stays open year-round, as does Jordan Pond Road.

Know before you go

  • The park is open 24 hours every day.
  • Backcountry camping and overnight parking are prohibited.

History

The Wabanaki people have lived in the region for more than 10,000 years. The park shares their heritage and continuing presence as the “People of the Dawnland.” George B. Dorr helped establish the park and became its first superintendent. Acadia was the first national park created from private lands given to the public.

  1. 1613A French missionary colony was established on Mount Desert Island and soon destroyed.
  2. 1901A group including John D. Rockefeller and Charles William Eliot began buying land for protection.
  3. 1915–1940John D. Rockefeller Jr. funded and directed the carriage-road network, originally about 57 miles long with 17 stone-faced bridges. Its granite coping stones became known as “Rockefeller’s Teeth.”
  4. 1916President Woodrow Wilson designated the area Sieur de Monts National Monument.
  5. 1919Congress designated it Lafayette National Park, the first national park east of the Mississippi River.
Show all
  1. 1929The park took the name Acadia National Park, honoring the former French colony.
  2. 1947A fire burned large areas of the park and island. Birch and aspen regrowth later added autumn color and forest diversity.

How to get there

  • CarMount Desert Island connects to the mainland by a short causeway. Bar Harbor, at the island’s northeastern tip, is the park’s gateway.
  • BusThe Island Explorer serves the park and helps reduce congestion.

Accessibility

  • Access for people of all abilities The park is working to improve access to its facilities, landscapes, programs and information.

Shorts

Interesting facts5

1/5

  1. At least twelve sea caves lie along the park’s coast.

    Acadia National Park - Wikipedia (part 3)

  2. Fourteen great ponds and ten smaller ponds provide habitat for fish and waterfowl.

    Acadia National Park - Wikipedia (part 3)

  3. More than a fifth of the park is classified as wetland.

    Acadia National Park - Wikipedia (part 3)

  4. The park’s rocky coastline supports intertidal wildlife, including starfish, mussels and sea cucumbers.

    Acadia National Park - Wikipedia (part 3)

  5. Sand Beach’s fine sand formed mainly from marine shells and other hard parts.

    Acadia National Park - Wikipedia (part 3)

Sources: Acadia National Park - Wikipedia · Acadia National Park - Wikipedia (part 2) · Acadia National Park - Wikipedia (part 3) · Northeast Harbor - Wikivoyage (do) · Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Servic… · Plan Your Visit - Acadia National Park (U.S. Na… · Basic Information - Acadia National Park (U.S. … · Acadia-Nationalpark - Wikipedia · Parc national d'Acadia - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026

Where
20 McFarland Hill Dr, ME, Bar Harbor

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

Do I need an entrance pass for Acadia National Park?

Yes. A pass is required year-round. If you drive, display it clearly through the windshield.

What needs advance booking at Acadia National Park?

Driving Cadillac Summit Road requires a vehicle reservation from late May to mid-October. Reserve campsites online in advance.

What is Acadia National Park’s pet leash rule?

Keep pets on leashes no longer than six feet.

How invme works
  1. See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
  2. Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
  3. Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.
Join free

Reviews on invme

Sign in to review
Comment Share
Loading comments…