Operating Hours/Seasons
Acadia National Park is open all year long. However, this does not mean that all facilities and roads are open and accessible. The Park Visitor Center, museums, picnic areas, Seawall Campground, and many of the roads close during the winter. The road to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, as well as most of the Park Loop Road, closes from December 1 through April 14. Some sections do remain open as weather permits.
Off Season Access
Two short sections of the Park Loop Road remain open all year. One is a scenic one-mile section along the ocean that goes by Sand Beach and Thunder Hole, accessed via Schooner Head Road, two miles south of downtown Bar Harbor. The other gives access to Jordan Pond via the Jordan Pond Road in Seal Harbor. There is an additional section of public access road that comes off Route 3 on the south side of Bar Harbor called the Otter Cliff Road. This goes close to Park Loop Road and Otter Point. For additional information, contact the National Park Service directly or visit their Temporary Closures page for recent postings.
Visitor Center GPS: Latitude 44.409286; Longitude -68.247501
Entrance Station GPS: Latitude 44.338797; Longitude -68.183168
Visitor Centers
Visitor Center at Hulls Cove
Open May 6 - October 31.
Closed November 1 - May 5.
The hours are:
May 6 to June 30: 8:00 AM - 4:30 AM
July & August: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
September: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
October: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Park Headquarters
Per a National Park Service Press release, dated October 31, 2017, “…the Acadia National Park Headquarters contact station on Eagle Lake Road (Route 233) closed permanently on May 1, 2017 and has no pass sales, information, services, or restrooms.” The National Park Service began a collaboration with the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce for them to provide visitor services during winter and spring seasons at their downtown location at the corner of Cottage and Main Street. For more specific information on holiday closures and other information about the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, please call (207) 288-5103.
Contact the National Park Service for current closure information at the phone number given below, or check online at Temporary Closures.
Acadia Regional Chamber of Commerce at Thompson Island
Located between the mainland and Mount Desert Island, many people that cross over to MDI are not even aware that they drove over Thompson Island to get there. This facility usually has a Park Ranger on duty to answer any questions. (Check out the picnic area.)
Open mid-May to mid-October - Hours may vary.
Museums
Islesford Historical Museum
The Islesford Historical Museum is located off Mount Desert Island in Islesford, the main village on Little Cranberry Island. This is a small but very interesting and informative museum with lots of local history as well as content with a mariner focus. The hours are:
Open late June through September
Sieur de Monts Nature Center
Sieur de Monts Spring holds special significance in the history of Acadia National Park. This is a good place to start the exploration of Acadia as it helps create a foundation of understanding and appreciation for the amount of dedication and hard work that went into the Park's creation. The Nature Center, and Wild Gardens of Acadia, are also at this location. The Nature Center Hours are:
Open May to early October
Closed early October (on or after Columbus day) through April
May: Open weekends only. Hours vary.
June: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
July & August: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
September to early October: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Campgrounds
Blackwoods Campground
Open May 6 through October 17 in 2022. It is no longer open off-season and through the winter..
Seawall Campground
Opens May 25 through October 10.
Duck Harbor Campground
Open May 15 through October 15 • A camping permit is required.
Campsite Reservations: 1-800-365-2267
International: 518-885-3639
Acadia National Park Contact Information
National Park Service
Acadia National Park
P.O. Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-3338
Many Options Available
Keep in mind that there are numerous options for museums and other forms of entertainment throughout the many towns and communities that border Acadia National Park. To view some of these, access the “Things to Do” or “Activities” in the top navigation menu. There are also many excellent campgrounds bordering the park on Mount Desert Island as well as there being some on the mainland in Trenton and near Schoodic Peninsula. To learn about these options, access the Lodging link at the top and then select Campgrounds or Camping. Contact those resources directly. The National Park Service is available to answer questions about issues not found here.