Acadia National Park
Where the mountains meet the sea in Maine - granite peaks, rocky Atlantic shore and carriage roads, the first place to see sunrise in America.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Acadia crowns Mount Desert Island on the coast of Maine, where pink granite peaks drop to a rugged Atlantic shore of surf-pounded cliffs and coves. From the top of Cadillac Mountain you can be among the first in the country to see the sunrise, and old carriage roads and stone bridges thread the forests and lakes below.
What you actually see
- Cadillac Mountain - the summit for sunrise, among the first light in the country.
- The rocky coast - Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs and the surf-battered shore.
- The carriage roads - the car-free stone-bridged roads for walking and cycling.
- Jordan Pond - the lake, its tea house and the Bubble mountains behind.
When to go
Summer for warm weather and full services; October for spectacular New England autumn colour, though busy. Spring is quiet, and winter mostly closes the park roads.
Honest expectations
It is small and very popular, so summer and the autumn foliage weeks bring crowds, full car parks and, for Cadillac sunrise, timed reservations. The Atlantic is cold and the surf dangerous, so admire rather than swim. Bar Harbor is charming but touristy.
Nearby
Bar Harbor is the gateway town; the Maine coast and its lighthouses and lobster shacks spread around.
What to pack for Acadia National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
