Park Entrance Station on the Park Loop Road

Park Entrance Fees

This shows the Park Entrance Station located on the Park Loop Road just north of Sand Beach. Normally, you could simply pay the entrance fee here (if open) or choose to pay at several other locations before driving into the park. It has gotten more complicated now. (See Updated Information below.) There are a variety of ticket choices including individual, per vehicle, senior, weekly, yearly, and commercial. You may also purchase non-commercial passes Online here:

Passes Online   Phone   Operating Hours   Bar Harbor

Park Passes Now Required Year-Round


7-Day Pass

The following are for entrance into Acadia National Park for 7 days, including date of purchase. (New rates April 1, 2023)

  • Private Vehicle: $35
    Admits private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all vehicle's occupants.
  • Motorcycle: $30
    Admits one individual on a private non-commercial motorcycle.
  • Per Person: $20
    Admits one individual with no car (pedestrian, hiker, bicycle). Youth 15 and under admitted free of charge.

One Year Pass

Good for one non-commercial vehicle (driver and occupants) for one year from the date of purchase.

  • Acadia Annual Pass: $70

Senior Pass (Note Price Change!)

This pass is for U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. It provides access to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee. The pass is non-transferable and generally does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.

  • Lifetime Senior Pass (New): $80 (began selling on August 28, 2017)
  • Annual Senior Pass (New): $20 (began selling on August 28, 2017)

Non-Commercial Organized Group

For organized groups such as scouts, rotary clubs, youth groups, churches, reunions, etc. that do not qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver are charged as follows.

  • $30 per vehicle: Non-commercial vehicles with 15 or less capacity
  • $15 per person: Non-commercial vehicles with 16 or greater capacity • Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge

Please refer to Educational Fee Waivers for more information.

Disabilities Pass

This is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have a permanent disability (documentation required). It provides lifetime access to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee. The pass is non-transferable and generally does not cover or reduce the cost of any special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.

  • Access Pass: Free

Military Pass

This is a free pass for active duty military personnel and their dependents, with valid documentation (CAC Card or DD Form 1173).

  • Access Pass: $0.00

Veterans

Free entry is available to veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and is able to present one of the following forms of identification when entering a national park:

  • Department of Defense Identification Card (CAC Card)
  • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
  • Veteran ID Card
  • Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card

Learn about passes for Veterans and Gold Star Families.

Where to Purchase?

You may purchase non-commercial passes online.

All passes, including those for commercial tour vehicles, can be purchased at the following locations:

  • Hulls Cove Visitor Center
  • Village Green Park in Bar Harbor
  • Blackwoods Campground
  • Seawall Campground
  • Schoodic Woods Campground
  • Acadia Regional Chamber on Thompson Island
  • Park Loop Road Entrance Station

In addition, tickets may also be purchased here:

  • Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce
  • Cadillac Mountain Gift Shop
  • Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce
  • Jordan Pond Gift Shop
  • LL Bean in Freeport, ME
  • Mount Desert Town Office, Northeast Harbor
  • Schoodic Institute, Rockefeller Hall (Welcome Center)
  • Southwest Harbor & Tremont Chamber of Commerce

If you have needs not covered here, contact the National Park Service at: (207) 288-3338.

Additional contact information can be found on the Park Headquarters Information page.

Info from Acadia National Park Service web site as of June 20, 2018. Check to verify.

Updated Information:

Visiting areas of the park, even driving along sections of the Park Loop Road, may have some added restrictions and/or requirements depending on the time of year and how busy it is. Just having the normal Park Pass is no longer enough to access the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. A reservation is now required and MUST be purchased online at Recreation.gov before the visit (Sunrise or during Daytime). The fee is minimal but the arrival time is very specific. Because of the changes and resulting confusion, matters may be in a state of adjustment for a while. The days of people who live in Maine being able to decide to take a spontaneous Sunday drive to Cadillac Mountain are over. When on Recreation.gov, search "Acadia National Park Vehicle Reservations" to learn more.

Note: Reservations will not be sold at the park and are non-refundable.

Commercial Tours

Note: A commercial tour is now defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provisions of the service. A commercial use authorization is required for all tours entering the park.

For some, the requirements and procedures about what is broadly defined as Commercial Tours has become more complicated and relatively constrictive, especially for small operators and creative endeavors. Consequently, further details and pricing information is no longer included here.

For up-to-date information, including details about procedures, required forms and pricing, view Doing Business Within the Park.

Nevertheless, Bus drivers are asked to turn their engines off at all stops. The noise and pollution are distracting, irritating, and lessen the visitor's enjoyment of the area. The park's and your patrons and visitors will appreciate your compliance.

If you have further questions concerning commercial tour fees and requirements, please call: (207) 288-3338.

Additional contact information can be found on the Park Headquarters Information page.

Park Reservations

Additional Information

Greg A. Hartford, photographer, author, publisherIf at all possible, purchase your tickets Online before arriving. This will save much time and possible confusion or miscalculation. The National Park Service has recently begun more stringent enforcement measures against anyone not having their passes shown in vehicle's windows. If your accommodations are in Bar Harbor or elsewhere on the North side of Mount Desert Island, there are several options where you can purchase your park entrance pass. As a matter of fact, even before you pass onto Mount Desert Island, there is a little information center on the right side of the road on Thompson Island. If you have already checked into your place-of-stay, or are about to, ask them where to purchase. In the case where you want to enter the park upon arriving, I suggest either accessing the Park Loop Road at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center or take Route 3 straight through Bar Harbor, past Jackson Lab, then take a right at the entry point near where Route 3 crosses over the Park Loop Road. (View Acadia MDI Map.) Tip: Very early in the morning, before anyone is at the Entrance Station, the gates are still open. Policy is that you must have a pass when in the park, and that it should be displayed. However, the doors are wide open. If you are issued a ticket for invalid entry, you may have 24 hours to purchase a valid entrance pass. Inquire with the National Park Service.

Acadia and Bar Harbor Resource Guide