Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations

 

Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road from Wed May 21 through Sun Oct 26, 2025. Reservations for 2025 will open April 15th.

• 30 percent of the Cadillac Summit Road Sunrise and Daytime vehicle reservations will be available for purchase at 10 am (ET) 90 days in advance of the reservation date.

• 70 percent of the Cadillac Summit Road Sunrise and Daytime vehicle reservations will be available for purchase at 10 am (ET) two days in advance of the reservation date.

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 48 seconds

Are you planning a visit to Acadia National Park? Before you get here, it's important to know the difference between an entrance pass for the whole park, and a vehicle reservation just to drive up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. You can buy both before you leave home at Recreation.gov.

 

Vehicle Reservations Required for Cadillac Summit Road

Acadia is among the top ten most popular national parks in the United States, with more than 4 million visits a year. Visitation has surged almost 60 percent in a decade, leading to severe crowding at many park destinations. In 2019, the National Park Service completed a five-year process to approve a comprehensive Transportation Plan that may take a decade or longer to implement fully. Actions are decided with an adaptive management strategy that continually monitors, evaluates, and refines solutions toward best possible outcomes.

• Vehicle reservations are not required for any other areas of the park, or for visitors who enter the area by foot, bike, or taxi. Cadillac is not served by the Island Explorer bus system.
• Visitors must have a park entrance pass to enter the park in addition to purchasing a vehicle reservation for Cadillac Summit Road. Park entrance passes are available at the park or online at Recreation.gov.
• Vehicle reservations cost $6. They are sold online in advance at Recreation.gov. They are not available for purchase at the park.

• Please print or save a digital copy of the vehicle reservation with the confirmation QR code, which will be scanned to verify the reservation. Connectivity is unreliable in the park.

 

Map of Cadillac Summit Vehicle Reservation Area

Cadillac Summit Road

Cadillac Summit Road offers a three-mile drive to the top of the highest peak in the park. Along the way, there are several scenic pullouts to enjoy the view. Parking is available in two locations at the summit, where restrooms, a gift shop, and scenic overlooks connected by paved walks can be found. There is no Island Explorer bus service on the Cadillac Summit Road. Sunrise times range from 4:45 am in mid-June to 6:15 am in mid-October.

Road Conditions

The narrow, two-lane road winds to the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain. Drivers should use caution when traveling the road and yield to pedestrians. Recreational vehicles and trailers are prohibited.

Parking availability

Paved pullouts are located along the road for short-term parking to enjoy the views. Do not cross traffic to pull out on the opposite side of the road. Parking is available at two locations at the Cadillac Summit.

Vehicle Length Limit

Vehicles over 21 feet long (including bike racks and hitch attachments), recreation vehicles, and trailers are prohibited on Cadillac Summit Road. Vehicles that exceed this limit will be denied entry even with a valid reservation.

 

Vehicle Reservation Particulars

Booking Windows

• Vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road from Wed May 21 through Sun Oct 26, 2025.

• 30 percent of the Cadillac Summit Road Sunrise and Daytime vehicle reservations will be available for purchase 90 days in advance of the reservation date.

• 70 percent of the Cadillac Summit Road Sunrise and Daytime vehicle reservations will be available for purchase at 10 am (ET) two days in advance of the reservation date.
  
  
  

Sunrise
Month	Start	End
May 21 - July	4 am	5:30 am
August	4:30 am	6 am
September	5 am	6:30 am
Oct 1-15	5:30 am	7 am
Oct 16-27	6 am	7:30 am

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Daytime
Month	Start	End
May 21 - July	6 am	8 pm
August	6:30 am	7:30 pm
Sept 1-15	7 am	7 pm
Sept 16-30	7 am	6:30 pm
Oct 1-15	7:30 am	6:pm
Oct 16-26	8 am	5:30 pm

• Sunrise reservations have a 90-minute entry window. Daytime reservations have a 30-minute entry window.
• Vehicle reservations provide a timed entry, but do not require a departure time until 9 pm, when the road closes to vehicles. Reservations do not permit re-entry
• The number of vehicle reservations are limited as follows:

Sunrise: One vehicle reservation per seven days
Daytime: One vehicle reservation per day
.

• Vehicle reservations are per vehicle, not per person. Motorcycles, motor scooters, and mopeds are considered vehicles, and a vehicle reservation is required for each.
• Vehicle reservations do not assign a specific parking space. Parking is prohibited outside of designated spaces. Parking is available at two locations at the Cadillac Summit.
• Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to use it. Vehicle reservations may be changed at no cost to another time and/or date prior to the time and date of the reservation.
• Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) holders are be required to have a CUA vehicle reservation to access Cadillac Summit Road May 21 through Oct 26. Visit our Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations for Commercial Use Authorization Holders page for details.

 

Image of a sample vehicle reservation confirmation email attachment. Please print or download fully before you arrive since connectivity is unreliable throughout the park.

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Learn More

• Off-season opportunities at Operating Hours & Seasons and Winter Activities
• Explore the five-year Planning Process that led to the Vehicle Reservation System
• Avoid Crowds At Peak Season.
• Frequently Asked Questions

 

Acadia Goes Mobile: Buy Your Vehicle Reservation Online

Before you visit, make sure your phone or tablet is fully equipped with two official apps designed by and for Acadia. Swipe through location details, check real-time availability, and reserve a campsite right from your phone or tablet. Buy a Cadillac Summit Vehicle Reservation, then download or screen capture your confirmation code to display at the check station.