In A Nutshell

PLANNING YOUR STAY

Getting to Acadia

Acadia National Park lies two-thirds of the way up the Maine coast, approximately 164 miles from Portland, 270 miles from Boston and 475 miles from New York City. 

By Car: From Bangor (47 miles from the park), take U.S. 1A South from Bangor to Ellsworth, then take Route 3 East to the Hulls Cove park entrance. From Portland (164 miles from the park), take Route 1 north along the coast to Ells-worth, then take Route 3 East to the Hulls Cove park entrance. 

There are four entrances to the popular Park Loop Road section of Acadia on Mount Desert Island: the Hulls Cove Entrance, located on Route 3; the Cadillac Mountain Entrance, located on the outskirts of Bar Harbor on Route 233; the Sieur de Monts Entrance, located on Route 3 south of Bar Harbor; and the Stanley Brook Entrance, also located on Route 3 in the town of Seal Harbor. Other sections of the park are reachable from various public byways on Mount Desert Island. The Schoodic Peninsula section of the park is located off Route 186, near the town of Winter Harbor. Isle au Haut is easy to get to by mail boat from the village of Stonington.

By Air: The Bar Harbor/Hancock County Airport, located on Route 3 in Trenton, is served by Colgan Air, a US Airways affiliate, with direct connections to Boston.

You must rent a car and drive to Acadia from the closest major airports, Bangor International Airport (45 miles away) and Portland International Jetport (164 miles away). Both airports offer convenient service from most U.S. metropolitan areas on American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways.

By Train: There is no passenger rail service to Acadia National Park.

By Bus: Greyhound/Vermont Transit Lines and Concord Trailways offer bus service between Boston and Bangor year-round; please call (800) 894-3355 or (800) 639-3317 for more information. Downeast Transportation runs year-round on Mount Desert Island, and between Bar Harbor and Ellsworth; please call (207) 667-5796 for more information.

By Ferry: The ferry sails between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, from June 1 through October 9; please call (888) 249-7245 for more information. A 2.5-hour ferry ride on "The Cat" connects Acadia with another well-known scenic area, Canada's Nova Scotia. Isle au Haut may be reached via mail boat between Isle au Haut and Stonington on Deer Isle; call (207) 367-5193 for more information. Reservations are not taken and the number of day visitors allowed on the island is limited. The state-owned Swans Island Ferry provides year-round service from Bass Harbor to Swans Island; call (207) 244-3254 for more information.

Getting Around Acadia

Travel through the park by automobile, bicycle or foot. Taxis are available in Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor, and rental cars are available at the aforementioned airports.

The Island Explorer shuttle runs mid-June through the Columbus Day holiday, however routes may be subject to change after Labor Day. For more information, see the centerfold map.

-General Information

The park is open year-round, 24 hours daily. Most park roads are closed during winter.

Entrance Fees

A user fee is required if you are anywhere in the park. This fee is $20 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. An annual Acadia Park Pass is $40 and is good for one year from the date of purchase. Beginning in 2007, the new America the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which permits entrance into all federal recreation fee areas, will be sold. The Annual Pass ($80) allows entrance for your entire family for one year. The Senior Pass ($10) is a lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents 62 and older. The Access Pass (free) is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Acadia weekly passes are available at the Cadillac Summit Center. All passes are available at the Sand Beach entrance station, Thompson Island Information Center, park headquarters and the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, as well as the two park campgrounds and the Village Green in Bar Harbor. You must purchase a pass in order to camp in Acadia.

Weather

Acadia's coastal location makes for plenty of ever-changing weather, including days of brilliant sunshine and occasional mornings when the island is wrapped in a soft blanket of fog. Acadia's coastal location also takes the edge off the summer heat and the winter chill. During July and August, high temperatures usually range between 70—80°F, often accompanied by a sea breeze. In spring and fall, expect highs in the 50s and 60s. In November, the real winter season sets in and persists well through March, when daytime temperatures hover in the 30s and may dip to zero at night. Whatever season you visit Acadia, be prepared for changes in weather and dress in layers.

Park Headquarters and Visitor Centers

Acadia National Park Headquarters is located on Route 233, not far from the northern end of Eagle Lake. During the off-season, it serves as the park's visitor center.

During the summer season, there are two visitor centers at Acadia. The NPS runs Hulls Cove Visitor Center, located just off Route 3 at the start of the Park Loop Road. This two-story, granite-and-shingle building houses an auditorium, bookshop, information booths and restrooms. The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., April 15 to October 31 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m., July and August).

At Hulls Cove, you can watch a 15-minute orientation program on the natural and cultural history of Acadia, which is shown every half-hour. Study the scale model of the park, complete with mountain peaks and island- dappled bays. Shop for books, maps and posters, and then sign up for a bird walk, tidepool walk and other programs. A full schedule of ranger-led activities, including childrens' programs, is available to help you plan your stay. -

At the entrance to Mount Desert Island on Route 3 is the Thompson Island Information Center, jointly run by the NPS and local chambers of commerce. The center provides lodging and dining details for all the island communities as well as park information. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 30 through October 15.

Special Services -

Park facilities and activities that are wheelchair-accessible are marked by the wheelchair symbol (-). The America the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass waives entrance fees for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with lifetime disabilities and is available at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Park Headquarters, the Sand Beach entrance station and campgrounds.

Camping: Blackwoods Campground has 16 wheelchair-accessible sites, each with paved walkways leading to the fire grill, picnic table, water, restrooms and the central amphitheater. Seawall Campground has ten accessible camping sites.

Service Animals: Visitors may use service animals while visiting park sites and programs. Please refer to "Park Regulations & Safety" on pages 18—19 for more information.

Picnics: A wheelchair-accessible picnic site is available at the Fabbri, Thompson Island and Seawall picnic areas, where restrooms are also wheelchair-accessible. Limited access is available at other picnic areas.

Swimming: Echo Lake Beach offers wheelchair access via a boardwalk. A long set of steps bars entrance to Sand Beach.

Tours: Boat tours are accessible to wheelchair users but only with assistance. Two carriages at Wildwood Stables accommodate two wheelchairs each. A script for the visitor center's orientation film is available for the hearing- impaired. There is also a descriptive narrative available for those who are sight-impaired.

Publications: The NPS publishes a wheelchair access guide to the park. It is available at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. First compiled by a Student Conservation Association volunteer, who is also a wheelchair user, this invaluable guide contains information on parking, entryways, restrooms, water fountains, pay phones and picnic tables. 

Access America Guide to the Eastern National Parks and Easy Access to National Parks are also useful and available at the park visitor center and many bookstores. The park's TTY number is (207) 288-8800. 

VISITOR SERVICES

While Acadia is open year-round, some park facilities close between late October and mid-May. In season or out, many supplemental services are available in the local communities. 

Banks 

Banks and automated teller machines (ATMs) are available in all communities.

Camping Supplies 

Sleeping bags, air mattresses, lanterns, portable stoves, cookware, backpacks, propane fuel and firewood are available for purchase in Bar Harbor and other major surrounding towns.

Emergencies and Medical Service

In the park, call (207) 288-8791 for emergency medical or police assistance, or to report accidents. While there are no doctors stationed in the park, first aid is available island-wide—dial 911. Bar Harbor is home to the Mount Desert Island Hospital, a modern, 49-bed facility located on Wayman Lane. It provides 24-hour emergency and cardiac care as well as cardiac intensive care, pediatric and laboratory services, and respiratory therapy. Medical facilities are also available in Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Ellsworth. The region's largest hospital, Eastern Maine Medical Center, is located 45 miles away in Bangor.

Gift Shops

Area gift shops sell Maine-made crafts and delicacies including handcrafted pottery, porcupine-quill jewelry, American Indian baskets, miniature lighthouses, maple syrup, strawberry and blueberry jam, and even bottles of blueberry wine produced at a nearby winery. They also carry books, videos, T-shirts, postcards and other souvenirs of Acadia. 

Pets and Kennels

Pets are allowed in Acadia but must be kept on leashes no longer than six feet and they must be under control at all times. There are no kennel facilities within the park. Veterinary care is available in Bar Harbor.

Postal Services

Even the island's small villages have postal service. For complete postal services, visit the Bar Harbor Post Office located at 55 Cottage Street. The post office is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (207) 288-3122 for more information. 

Bar Harbor is also serviced by Federal Express. Outgoing packages must be dropped off by 2 p.m. at the collection box in front of the Swan Agency, 43 Cottage Street; (207) 288-5818. In other towns, certain stores are designated for drop-off locations.

Religious Services

Numerous churches serve the communities of Mount Desert Island and the nearest synagogue is located 20 miles away in Ellsworth. For information about services, consult the three local weekly papers, the Bar Harbor Times, the MDI Islander and the Ellsworth American. Ecumenical services are held weekly in the summer atop Cadillac Mountain, and at Blackwoods and Seawall campgrounds.

Service Stations

Several service stations are located in all towns. Auto repair shops and tire dealerships are also available in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth, located 20 miles north on Route 3.

Tide Tables

Nearly all of the local newspapers and guidebooks include seasonal tables of daily tides, sunrise and sunset.