Acadia National Park

When Is the Best Time

The best time to visit Acadia National Park in terms of pleasant weather is between late spring and fall. However, it’s often crowded. A less busy time with great weather is the two weeks after Labor Day in September until mid-September, just before the leaf-peeping crowds arrive.

Read our complete overview for every season below with many useful tips. Tip: Make your hotel reservation via this link for the best rates: Acadia National Park – Bar Harbor Hotels via booking.com with a low-price guarantee (save the link when booking later)

One of the best guidebooks out there for Acadia N.P.: Acadia – The Complete Guide (via Amazon)

We visited Acadia National Park during every season and collected the best tips for short hikes and walks, as well as insider tips on how to avoid the crowds during peak season and fall color tips:

1. 7 Best Hikes and Easy Walks
2. 7 Must-Know Fall Color Tips
3. Our Accommodation Tips
4. Rental Car Deals

Season Tips for Acadia National Park

May – June | Spring

Both months bring warmer and drier conditions. However, in May, the trees aren’t green yet, and it might be too cold for water activities. Temperatures: Up to 51-75°F / 11-22°C in June. It’s pleasant weather for hiking and other outdoor activities.

June is one of our preferred times to visit Acadia National Park. Every time we visited during this month, the weather conditions were great, and it wasn’t too crowded until mid-June.

The downside is, depending on how rainy it has been before, there are biting bugs from mid-May until mid-June.

Many facilities are open, and May is still a quiet month, except for Memorial Day Weekend (end of May). From what we usually see, it gets already busier in June but not as crowded as in July and August.

July – August | Summer

The summer months are warm with the most pleasant temperatures. It’s also peak season. It gets very busy, even more in August. Booked accommodations, waiting lines, crowded parking lots, congested Park Loop Road, and busy viewpoints.

To avoid crowds during peak season, we always get to the park early in the morning or in the late afternoon around dinner time.

More tips we found out during our visits on how to avoid crowds can be found below.

September – October | Autumn – Fall Colors

Early September after Labor Day until mid-September is a nice time to visit the park: The weather is pleasant (49-68°F / 9-20°C), it’s not super quiet, but the heavy summer crowds are gone, and the ‘leaf peeping’ crowds haven’t arrived yet.

It gets very busy again from late September until mid-October as thousands want to see the leaf color explosion in the fall. The best time to experience the amazing colors is usually mid-October.

Tip: Read our ‘7 Must-Know Fall Color Tips’ below in the main text. Book ahead of time if you need accommodation during the ‘leaf peeping’ weeks. After Columbus Day in mid-October, crowds dissipate, and rates drop. This is another sweet spot time without the heavy crowds. The last week of October is often still ok for watching the fall colors, but it also gets cold and rainy.

November | Late Autumn

Even in early November, it’s usually too late to spot the beautiful fall colors. Temperatures drop (33-48°F / 1-9°C ), try to visit until mid-November. It’s colder but still worth visiting the park without the crowds, almost in solitude. Many facilities are closed, though.

Definitely, drive the Park Loop Road, which is usually still open in November. The last time we visited Acadia, the road was fully accessible in late November.

December – March | Winter

It’s off-season and very cold. Average temperature in January: 14-32 °F / 0-(-)10 °C . Time for snowmobiling and skiing. Most hotels, restaurants, campsites, and attractions are closed.

The scenic Park Loop Road is also closed from December until mid-April (weather dependant). More winter activity info: NPS Acadia Winter Activities

April | Early Spring

Many visitors would say that April is still not pleasant enough, with melting snow and muddy ground. Average temperatures are between 25-41° F / 1-11° C. However, we’d definitely recommend this month. You might be wondering why? First of all, from mid-April, the scenic Park Loop Road usually opens.

Second, it’s still quiet without any heavy crowds of other tourists. You’ll have no issues with parking and can enjoy some places almost in solitude.

While there are still signs of winter, the scenery is just breathtaking. Some say the views are even more amazing with no leaves on the trees. Bottom line: From our experience, a visit between mid and late April is a great time!

Weather

Regardless of the monthly temperatures, we described above, you should know that in Maine the weather can change dramatically during the year. However, temperatures along the coast in Acadia N.P. are moderated by the ocean.

In the graph below you’ll find the average monthly highs. The least rainfall is in June, July, and August. But still, keep in mind that the weather is often unpredictable and can change instantly. Be prepared for rain at any time.

Read our complete guide with weather conditions during each season in Acadia National Park.

Avoiding Tourist Crowds

It gets crowded in Acadia National Park in summer and fall. A sweet spot time without the heavy crowds but mostly pleasant temperatures used to be those two weeks in September (after Labor Day until mid-September). However, it’s not that quiet anymore during this time, especially in recent years, as visitation increased.

Otherwise, there are two different sweet spot weeks with mostly pleasant weather and few visitors:

1. The weeks after Columbus Day (mid-October) until early November.
2. Early June until mid-June: Although it’s already busy at places like Bar Harbor, visitors report that most hiking trails in the park are not crowded.

 

However, if you plan to visit during the summer and leaf-peeping time in fall, we have three great tips to avoid crowds:

 

1. Be Early or Late:
The majority of people tend to visit Acadia from mid-morning to the afternoon. Get up early and try to be at the most visited spots or trailheads before 9:00 AM. Usually, the crowds start to arrive around 10:00 AM. Incredibly popular spots like the summit of Cadillac Mountain can be crowded earlier. Be there at 8:00 A.M., and you’ll dodge the heavy crowds at the top.

Another advantage of visiting early is the great light for photos and the higher chance of spotting wildlife. Check out this great Ranger Early Bird Video.

Alternatively, visit the favorite spots later around dinner time, or head out on a short trail just before sunset. Just after 5 P.M. is a perfect time since most are heading back for dinner around that time. However, make sure to be back when there is still daylight. It’s too dangerous to hike in the dark.

Important: Cadillac Mountain can only be accessed via the summit road in 2021/22 with a timed entry vehicle reservation. Try to get a sunrise or sunset ticket! However, it’s still worth seeing at any time of day.

2. Visit Quieter Areas:
Head to the less traveled places and trails. On the ‘quiet side’ of Mount Desert Island west of Somes Sound, try out Acadia Mountain Loop or the Beech Cliff Trail (see below in the hiking section). Or you could head to Schoodic Peninsula (Google Maps) on the mainland, or the quietest side of Isle au Haut, accessible only by mail boat.

3. Use the Shuttle:
If you are visiting between late June and Columbus day, use the free Island Explorer Shuttle. It takes away all the worries of full parking lots at trailheads and congested parking areas at popular places like Cadillac Mountain or Bar Harbor.

There are bus stops in all the well-known places. They even added one for the trailhead of Caddilac North Ridge Trail (see below in the hiking section). Additionally, you can always ask the bus driver to let you off, even if it’s not an official stop.

Our Accommodation Tips (Bar Harbor vs. Remote Locations)

Bar Harbor Hotel

Wondering where you should stay in Acadia National Park? The most convenient place is Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Check the best hotels deals with price guarantees here:

Bar Harbor Hotels – booking.com (with price guarantee. Bookmark the link if you like to save time and money later). Bar Harbor has:

• The most lodging and dining establishments, as well as a variety of shops
• The most possible activities  like whale watching, harbor tours, kayak tours, and many bike rental places
• The easiest access to the Island Explorer Shuttle

Alternative: Southwest Harbor Hotels – booking.com (with price guarantee). It’s a great alternative to Bar Harbor, but with less facilities: Google Maps Shouthwest Harbor to Bar Harbor

Both areas are almost equally ‘pricey’. To save money, book well in advance if possible! If you don’t mind a 40-minute drive (Google Maps – Ellsworth to Bar Harbor), then you might find slightly cheaper alternatives in this slight remote location: Hotels in Ellsworth

Rental Cars: There is a massive rental car shortage in 2021. Avoid running the risk of paying extremely high rates or even not getting a car at all by booking far enough in advance! Search deals for Alamo, National, Dollar, SIXT:

• Bangor Airport, Maine
• Portland Airport, Maine
• Boston Airport, Massachusetts

 

More Tips

Awed by its beauty and diversity people are drawn to Acadia National Park every year. It’s home to many plants, animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery. Visit must-see places and areas like Park Loop Road or the Bass Harbor Lighthouse.

Maine Guide Tip: We just compiled a brand new guide for Maine. If you’d like to visit more than Acadia N.P. check out our Maine Season Guide with 10 Must-Visit Coastal Towns and tons of helpful tips.

Useful Links

• Season overview of roads, campgrounds and more: NPS Acadia – Plan Your Visit
• Great list of insider tips: Things You Might Not Know About Acadia N.P.
• Ranger Pro Tips: NPS Acadia – Ranger Pro Tips with Videos
• Festival in September: Acadian Night Sky Festival
• Seven Must-See Photo Spots: Huffington Post – 7 Acadia Locations for Great Photos

7 Must-Know Fall Color Tips & Facts

1. Start: The leaves in Acadia National Park usually start turning in late September. Check foliage conditions here: Maine’s Official Fall Foliage Website
2. Peak Time: The foliage peak in Acadia National Park is in mid-October. The best weeks are the first until the third week in October.
3. Crowds: During autumn it’s very busy in the park from the end of September until mid-October (Columbus Day weekend).
4. Hotels & Facilities: Prices are often at their highest until mid-October. Book well in advance. They drop a little after Columbus Day.  Most lodging establishments remain open during October as well as most restaurants and shops. However, a few close after Columbus Day weekend. Booking tips: Hotels Acadia
5. Weather: The weather is often pleasant throughout October. Crisp and brilliant days. Gorgeous orange red and yellow leaves against a crisp blue October sky. Temperatures range between 40-60°F (7-15°C).
6. Sweet Spot Week: Without the heavy crowds and lower rates, the week after Columbus Day is still great to watch the fall colors.
7. End: The last week of October is usually still good, but sometimes the best leaves already have fallen then. The first week of November is definitely too late, leaf peeping season is already over.

Guides/Books

For your Acadia National Park visit, we definitely recommend a guidebook. There are so many wonderful details you would miss otherwise. Below are two guides/books we highly suggest to take a look at (click on the images to look inside):

 

 

7 Best Short Hikes and Walks

Acadia National Park has over 120 miles of the most scenic hiking trails at the east coast. Most trails are best used between early May and October/mid-November. Below is our selection of the best must-do hikes, from very easy to strenuous, including 2 must-do hikes at Cadillac Mountain.

One easy yet amazing hike is the  Bar Island Trail, which can only be done during low tide (read below). More great hikes can be found at AllTrails – Trails in Acadia National Park (check the right sidebar). Make sure to read our hotel tips above. It’s great to stay nearby, as you can start your hike early without the crowds.

We did every one of these seven amazing hikes ourselves:

Wonderland Trail | Very Easy

‘Wonderland Trail’ by Heidi, CC BY-SA, cropped

• Length: 1.4 miles (2.2 km) round-trip
• Details: Maine Trail Finder – Wonderland Trail
• Maps: Topo Map, Trailhead Google Maps (send to your phone)
• Crowds: Moderate, during mid-day you’ll share the trail with others
• Trail & Tips: Very easy, family-friendly but still beautiful and unique hiking trail through a pine forest towards the rocky shoreline. Great to explore various tide pools. Although located on the quieter western side of Mount Desert, it’s a popular trail. That means you’ll share it with others during the day. Parking is also limited, although additional roadside parking lots are available. We always arrive early in the morning, especially on weekends during peak seasons.

Bar Island Trail | Easy

Honeymoon Acadia by Ryan Hyde, CC BY-SA, color corrections

• Length: 2 miles round-trip (can vary)
• Details: Maine Trail Finder – Bar Island Trail
• Maps: Topo Map, Trailhead Google Maps (send to your phone)
• Crowds: Popular trail, you may have to share it with many others in peak season
• Trail & Tips: Easy, family-friendly hike (1-2 hours round-trip) to the highest point of Bar Island. It’s a unique hike since the sandbar is only accessible for about 3 hours each day: 1.5 hours before and after low tide (Tide Table). Park somewhere in downtown Bar Harbor (not on the sandbar!). The hike starts at the end of Bridge Street. First, you walk across the sandbar to the island, then on a wide forest trail and a footpath over rocky terrain. Try to avoid weekends during peak season to dodge the crowds. Caution: You only have 3 hours during low tide. Starting too late means you’ll be stuck on the island!

 

Ocean Path | Easy

‘Ocean Path View’ by NPS

• Length: 4.4 miles (7.1 km) one way
• Details: Maine Trail Finder – Ocean Path
• Maps: Topo Map, Trailhead Google Maps (send to your phone)
• Crowds: Popular, especially the parking lot at Sand Beach fills up fast
• Trail & Tips: Also known as ‘Ocean Trail’ or ‘Coastal Trail’. An easy, yet probably the most scenic and popular hike on a mostly level gravel trail. It starts at Sand Beach and ends at Otter Point (or vice versa), running parallel to Park Loop Road. The views are awesome with many stopping points to enjoy the stunning scenery. If you don’t want to hike the whole trail, you can also access it from multiple parking areas along Park Loop Road. Due to its popularity and easy accessibility, the parking lot, as well as the trail, get crowded after 10 AM. During peak season, start your hike early in the morning, preferably around 8:30 AM.

Jordan Pond Loop | Easy

‘Jordan Pond – The Bubbles’ by Heidi, CC BY-SA, cropped

• Length: 3.4 miles (5.5 km) round-trip
• Details: Maine Trail Finder – Jordan Pond Loop
• Maps: Topo Map, Trailhead Google Maps (send to your phone)
• Crowds: Popular, especially the parking lot fills up after 10:00 AM
• Trail & Tips: This is a classic Acadia hike around the Jordan Pond in a beautiful scenic setting. It’s an easy trail on gravel path. However, there are some wooden planks to walk and also some larger rocks to climb over. Nothing too difficult. However, it makes the hike even more exciting. In peak seasons you should arrive early around 9:00 AM at least, as the Jordan Pond North parking lot fills up really quick later. Alternatively the Shuttle Explorer Bus (check our tips section) is a great choice. After the hike, you may eat at the Jordan Pond House restaurant. Famous for its excellent food.

Cadillac Mountain – South Ridge | Moderate/Strenuous

Atop Cadillac Mountain (South Ridge) by Liza, CC-BY, cropped

• Length: 7.7 miles (12.4 km) round-trip
• Details: Main Trail Finder – Cadillac Mountain South Ridge
• Maps: Topo Map , Trailhead Google Maps (send to your phone)
• Crowds: Only the summit is very crowded since most visitors drive up there by car
• Trail & Tips: This is probably the best hike with incredible views along its way. It starts near Blackwood Campgrounds and ends there. The first half of the way to the top is a forest scenery, the second half takes you through granite formations and offers spectacular views. At the summit, you’re very likely to encounter heavy tourist crowds, even at sunrise during peak season. However, over 90% of the visitors drive up there by car. While you could choose to drive as well, you’d miss all stunning spots on the trail. South Ridge loop is actually the most interesting hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain, but not the only one. In fact, several trails lead to the summit. Besides using the South Ridge Loop only, we can highly recommend the alternative below:

Cadillac Mountain – North/South Ridge | Moderate/Strenuous

‘Cadillac Mountain’ by NPS

• Special: With the Island Explorer Shuttle
• Trail & Tips: You’ll hike the complete North Ridge and South Ridge trails, utilizing the Explorer Shuttle. This is a great alternative to hiking the South Ridge Loop only. It allows ‘point to point hiking’ while taking away all the worries about parking and getting back to your starting point. You get out of the Explorer shuttle at the trailhead of the North Trail (Google Maps), hike to the top, then down the South Ridge and get picked up again by the Explorer at Blackwood Campgrounds. Variation: While going down south, you go right at ‘The Featherbed’ and take the Pond Trail to the Jordan Pond House. You can get back into the shuttle right there as well. This is explained in more detail in this great TripAdvisor Post (first and second reply)

Acadia Mountain Loop | Moderate

‘Acadia Mountain – Somes Sound’ by Wayne Boardman, CC BY

• Length: 2.7 miles (4.3 km) round-trip
• Maps: Topo Map, Trailhead Google Maps (send to your phone)
• Crowds: Less busy. Acadia Mountain is on the ‘quiet side’
• Trail & Tips: A great hike which leads to beautiful views including the majestic view into Somes Sound. It’s a moderately strenuous hike, although some websites marked it as easy. The whole trail is very well maintained with excellent trail markers, including the trailhead. You’ll be hiking through a forested area as well as gorgeous granite formations. The views near the summit are spectacular. Optional: You could extend this loop with a hike up to St. Saveur Mountain (total: 3.8 miles) for an even more challenging hike. Details and reviews can be found here: AllTrails – Acadia Mountain and St. Saveur Mountain Loop

Beech Cliff Ladder Trail | Strenuous

‘Beech Mountain Cliffs’ by NPS

• Length: 2.4 miles (3.9 km) round-trip
• Maps: Topo Map, Trailhead Google Maps (send to your phone)
• Crowds: Quiet trail, not crowded at all. On the ‘quiet side’
• Trail & Tips: Wonderful views, spicy sections and … the ladders. This is one of the many Beech Cliff hikes. We chose this instead of the others, because of its unique ladder section. Great fun but not suitable for those with fear of heights. Due to its challenging character combined with its location on the ‘quiet side’, you won’t see many others on the trail. An alternative to this one is the Precipice Trail. Even more exposed and challenging, using iron rungs and ladders. More like a Via Ferrata. The Precipice Trail is located near Bar Harbor: AllTrails – Precipice Trail