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Acadia National Park: Cadillac Mountain vehicle reservation
A vehicle reservation is required to drive Cadillac Summit Road during the peak season. It is separate from the park entrance pass, which is required year-round.
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- Reservation season: Vehicle reservations are required on Cadillac Summit Road from May 20 through October 25, 2026. After October 25, 2026, no vehicle reservation is required to drive the road until the winter vehicle closure.
- Reservation hours: Sunrise and Daytime reservations use month-specific entry windows published by NPS. Sunrise reservations allow a 90-minute entry window; Daytime reservations allow 30 minutes. During the reservation season, vehicles must leave by 9:00 p.m., when the road closes to vehicles.
- Cost and sales channel: Vehicle reservations cost $6 and are sold only on Recreation.gov in advance. They are not sold at the park.
- Release schedule: Thirty percent of Sunrise and Daytime reservations open at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time 90 days ahead. Seventy percent open at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time two days ahead.
- Winter vehicle closure: From December 1 through April 14, weather permitting, the Park Loop Road system (including Cadillac Summit Road) is closed to private vehicles. NPS lists Park Loop Road and paved roads as open to vehicles from April 15 through December 1.
- Entrance pass: A park entrance pass is required year-round at Acadia National Park in addition to any Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation during the reservation season.
- Sunrise and sunset: From October 7 through March 6, Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the United States where the sun rises. NPS recommends arriving about an hour before sunrise or sunset; parking at the summit is often full at those times.
Do you need a Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation?
Vehicle reservations are required to drive Cadillac Summit Road from May 20 through October 25, 2026. After October 25, Acadia National Park does not require a Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation, and you may drive the road without one until the seasonal winter closure. While reservations are in effect, buy a Sunrise or Daytime vehicle reservation on Recreation.gov for the timed entry window you plan to use. You also need a valid park entrance pass at all times of year. Reservations are not required if you reach Cadillac by foot, bicycle, or taxi. Download or print your reservation confirmation with its QR code before you arrive; cell service is unreliable in the park. During the reservation season the road closes to vehicles at 9:00 p.m., and a reservation does not allow re-entry. From December 1 through April 14, weather permitting, the Park Loop Road system—including Cadillac Summit Road—is closed to private vehicles; NPS typically reopens Park Loop Road and paved roads to vehicles on April 15. When the loop is closed to cars, permitted recreational uses on most of the Park Loop Road include walking, running, bicycling, snowshoeing, and skiing, and snowmobiles may use designated routes including the road up Cadillac Mountain. The narrow, two-lane summit road demands caution; yield to pedestrians. Vehicles over 21 feet long, recreation vehicles, and trailers are prohibited even with a reservation. Sunrise and sunset are extremely popular; arrive about an hour early, because parking at the summit often fills. Weather at the summit can change quickly—be ready for wind, fog, rain, and cold. NPS advises against walking down Cadillac Summit Road, especially when vehicle traffic is heavy.
Sources
- Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservations · checked
- Acadia operating hours and seasons · checked
- Acadia fees and passes · checked
- Visiting Acadia in winter · checked
- Cadillac Mountain · checked
- Acadia current conditions · checked