NP.GUIDE / FIELD GUIDE / FALL 2026

Acadia National Park

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Conditions change. Follow signs and ranger orders.

Current conditions

All Acadia campgrounds are closed for the 2026 season, and there is no winter camping or overnight parking in the park. Cadillac Summit Road needs a vehicle reservation through Sunday, October 25, 2026; after that you can drive up without one until the Park Loop Road and Summit Road close to vehicles on December 1. Seawall Road (Route 102A) remains closed for construction until further notice.

[HOURS] Late-season closures

All campgrounds are closed for 2026 (Duck Harbor Oct 5, Seawall and Schoodic Woods Oct 12, Blackwoods Oct 19). No winter camping or overnight parking is allowed anywhere in the park. Hulls Cove Visitor Center and Carroll Homestead are open through Oct 31; Rockefeller Welcome Center through Oct 27. Jordan Pond House Restaurant, Cadillac Mountain Eco-Store and Carriage Road Carry Out close Oct 26; Jordan Pond House Store Nov 2. Unpaved roads close Nov 15. Park Loop Road and other paved roads, including Cadillac Summit Road, close to vehicles Dec 1 (Schoodic Loop stays open year-round).

[CELL] Do not depend on cell service

Cellular service is very limited on most trails and along Ocean Drive. Public Wi-Fi is not available. Open this guide before leaving town.

[ROAD] Seawall Road closed from Oct 5

Seawall Road (Route 102A) in Southwest Harbor is closed to all users for construction starting Monday, October 5, until further notice. Follow posted detour signs to Seawall Campground and picnic area. Island Explorer buses use the detour.

[PARK] Parking fills

Sand Beach, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac lots fill early. Do not stop on Park Loop Road or block traffic.

[TRAIL] Trail and road repairs

The southern section of Ocean Path is closed for repairs, from the trailhead across from the Otter Point parking lot to the trail's southern end. The eastern section of the Beech Mountain Loop Trail is closed from just beyond the parking lot to just below the fire tower; use the outer loop, Beech South Ridge, or Beech West Ridge trails instead. Schoodic Mountain Road is closed for repairs from Schoodic Loop Road to the summit of Schoodic Head.

NPS conditions (large page)

Services by place

Major places list all five services. Seasonal services may be closed.

Bar Harbor / Hulls Cove ↑

Do this: Buy food, fuel, water, and supplies in Bar Harbor before entering the park.

  • Food, fuel: Yes in Bar Harbor.
  • Water: Yes in town and at the visitor center.
  • Signal: Usually good in town; weak in the park.

Hulls Cove Visitor Center is the main information stop on Mount Desert Island.

Sand Beach / Ocean Drive ↑

Do this: Use the restroom before hiking and carry food and water from town.

  • Food: No dependable food.
  • Water: Seasonal at developed facilities.
  • Toilets: Yes when open.
  • Signal: Weak or unavailable.

Ocean Path, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliff are nearby. Parking fills early.

Jordan Pond ↑

Do this: Eat at the seasonal restaurant if open, then carry water for the loop.

  • Food: Seasonal restaurant and limited store.
  • Water: Yes at developed facilities when open.
  • Signal: Weak or unreliable.

The parking lot is small for the demand. Arrive early or use the Island Explorer shuttle when available.

Cadillac Mountain ↑

Do this: Through Oct 25, reserve the summit vehicle time before leaving service; after that no reservation is needed until the road closes to vehicles Dec 1. Bring layers and water.

  • Food: Limited seasonal snacks when open.
  • Water: Seasonal at summit facilities.
  • Signal: Limited; do not depend on it.

Weather at the summit can be colder and windier than in Bar Harbor.

Other places

Report park conditions

Drive times

Summer estimates without long stops. Traffic, wildlife, weather, and road work can cause delays.

Bar Harbor to Sand Beach

Bar Harbor → 10 min → Hulls Cove Visitor Center → 20 min → Sand Beach

Park Loop Road is one-way in places. Summer traffic and full lots add time.

Sand Beach to Jordan Pond

Sand Beach → 15 min → Otter Cliff → 10 min → Jordan Pond

Use the Park Loop Road. Food is seasonal at Jordan Pond; buy supplies in Bar Harbor.

Bar Harbor to Cadillac Mountain

Bar Harbor → 15 min → Cadillac Summit Road turn → 20 min → summit

A vehicle reservation is required for the summit road during the reservation season.

Bar Harbor to Schoodic

Bar Harbor → 60–75 min → Winter Harbor → Schoodic Peninsula

Schoodic is a separate mainland section. Fuel and full food service are outside the park.

Help

Emergency: call 911. Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, vehicle, and problem.

Park information: 207-288-3338

This independent guide is not the National Park Service and is not an emergency service.

Permits

Hours and entrance fees

A park entrance pass is required year-round at Acadia. 7-day pass: $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person. Acadia annual pass: $70. America the Beautiful pass: $80 for US residents, $250 for non-US residents. Non-US residents 16+ also pay $100 per person unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Card only; cashless at park sales outlets. Cadillac Summit Road also needs a vehicle reservation through Oct 25, 2026.

Official fees and passes

Cadillac Summit Road

Reserve a vehicle time for Cadillac Summit Road during the reservation season. Walking or biking does not use a vehicle reservation.

Official Cadillac reservations

Camping

All campgrounds are closed for the 2026 season, and there is no winter camping anywhere in Acadia. Sleeping in a vehicle outside a campsite is not allowed. 2027 reservations for Blackwoods, Seawall and Schoodic Woods start Dec 1 at 10 am EST (90 percent of sites, six months ahead); Duck Harbor opens April 1.

Official camping information

Boating and fishing

Some lakes and ponds have separate boating or fishing rules. Check the current park rules before launching or fishing.

Official boating information

Short hikes

Distances are one way unless marked as a loop. Check trail closures.

Plan ahead

All park guides · Planning pages · Park statistics · Closures and alerts

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