News Release

National Park Service wishes visitors a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend

There are lots of great places to catch a sunrise or sunset in Acadia besides the summit of Cadillac Mountain. (Photo courtesy of visitor Jens Alejos, of Redwood, CA)

Photo courtesy of Jens Alejos

News Release Date: August 26, 2019

Contact: Christie Anastasia, 207 288-8806

BAR HARBOR, MAINE – Acadia National Park is on the top ten list of most visited national parks in the United States, welcoming more than 3.5 million visits a year. Labor Day weekend is anticipated to be an especially popular time to visit. Visitors are encouraged to plan carefully and use the fare free Island Explorer bus system to access the Park Loop Road, carriage roads, and hiking trails. Parking is limited and expected to fill early.
 
“We want people to enjoy their visit to Acadia,” said Superintendent Kevin Schneider. “Knowing what to expect helps people plan better and enjoy their time in the park.”
 
The most congested areas that routinely fill to capacity will be Cadillac Summit Road (especially sunrise/sunset), Jordan Pond area, Park Loop Road, Sand Beach parking lot (routinely full by 9 am), Eagle Lake Carriage Road parking lots (Route 233), Acadia Mountain parking lot (Route 102), Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse parking lot, and Echo Lake Beach parking area. All of these areas, except the Cadillac summit and the lighthouse, can be reached by using the Island Explorer bus system.  
 
If you visit the Park Loop Road with a vehicle, please park legally and responsibly. Certain areas on the one-way section of the Park Loop Road allow right-hand lane parking. When parking in designated areas, make certain that all wheels remain on the pavement. Roadside parking outside of designated areas is prohibited. Oversized vehicles, such as recreational vehicles (or vehicles pulling trailers) are prohibited in certain areas. 

Here are some tips to enjoy the park:

·       What to know before visiting Acadia Learn about how to visit your national park.

·       Read our tips for staying safe in the park Ticks, trail safety, poison ivy, hiking, biking, boating rules and browntail moths.

·       Arrive before 8 am or after 5 pm Most vehicle congestion occurs midday.

·       Take the Island Explorer The Island Explorer connects communities to the park and has routes across Mount Desert Island and on the Schoodic Peninsula. A free mobile phone application (myStop) showing the location of Island Explorer buses can be downloaded at islandexplorertracker.availtec.com. Beginning on Tuesday August 27, the Island Explorer will be operating in the shaded times only on the schedule for Mount Desert Island. Fall service begins on September 1 for Schoodic. Please note that the frequency and end times for the buses will decrease.

·       Make camping reservations early All Acadia National Park campsites can be reserved online. Many private campgrounds are also available.

·       Explore new locations (facing east or west) to view sunrise and sunset Parking on Cadillac Mountain fills quickly and is prohibited outside of designated spaces.

·       Enjoy getting to your destination Hike a village connector trails from local communities or use a bicycle as transportation to your destination.

·       Always visit Acadia with a back-up plan If parking lot is full when you arrive, choose another destination, use another mode of transportation, or arrive at your destination during a non-peak time of day.