A little planning before your trip can make your stay on Mount Desert Island even more relaxing and enjoyable. Summer and fall are busy seasons in Acadia National Park, and many of the island’s most popular activities, restaurants, tours, and experiences can book up well in advance, so reservations are often recommended. Please note that Acadia operates on a cashless system for entrance fees and purchases at all park sales outlets.

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Cadillac Summit Road Reservations – (between May 20 and October 25)

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• If driving to the summit of Cadillac Mountain is on your Acadia bucket list — whether for the famous sunrise or the sweeping daytime views — be sure to reserve a vehicle pass in advance through Recreation.gov.

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• Reservations cost $6 / vehicle. Because cell service in Acadia can be unreliable, we strongly recommend downloading and saving your digital QR code or printing your reservation before entering the park.

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• For visitors who like to plan ahead, 30% of reservations are released 90 days in advance. The remaining 70% are released at 10:00 a.m. ET two days prior to each date, to allow visitors a bit more trip spontaneity.

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Purchase Your Park Pass: 

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• Buy your 7-day vehicle pass online via Recreation.gov. to skip the lines at the park entrance stations.

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Download Offline Maps: 

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• Cellular and GPS signals can easily drop out in the remote parts of Mount Desert Island. Download offline versions of trail maps on the National Park Service App or via all-trail apps before leaving your hotel or home.

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Book Dining and Tours Early: 

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• Popular tours such as whale watches, sailing cruises, lobster boat tours, fishing charters, and kayaking excursions often sell out during peak season. We recommend booking at least 1–2 weeks in advance, and even earlier for July, August, and holiday weekends. Sunset cruises and morning departures are especially popular and tend to fill first.

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• The best downtown Bar Harbor restaurants (like Havana, Galyn's or Jordan Pond House) fill up quickly during peak season. Make sure to book your dinner tables weeks ahead of time to avoid long waits.

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Bike Rentals: 

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• If you plan on exploring Acadia’s famous car-free Carriage Roads, consider reserving your bikes weeks in advance with local Bar Harbor outfitters like Acadia Bike or Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop.

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Download the ParkMobile App Before You Arrive:

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• If you plan to drive into downtown Bar Harbor, we highly recommend downloading the ParkMobile app before your trip. The app allows you to quickly pay for parking, monitor your remaining time, and receive reminders before your session expire.

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• Setting up your account and adding your vehicle information ahead of time can save valuable vacation time—especially when cell service is slow or parking areas are busy. While parking can also be paid through a mobile web browser or kiosk, the ParkMobile app is by far the easiest and most convenient option.

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Bring Cash

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• There are some small local vendors, lobster shacks, and shops in the area that are cash-only. If you opt not to use the app or kiosk for parking you will need quarters.

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Packing for Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park

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Bar Harbor's weather can change quickly—even during the summer. A sunny morning can turn into a cool, foggy afternoon, and temperatures near the ocean are often 10–15 degrees cooler than inland areas. Dressing in layers is the key to staying comfortable.

 

Recommended Clothing

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• Light jacket or fleece for cool mornings and evenings

• Rain jacket or waterproof shell (showers can appear unexpectedly)

• Comfortable pants and shorts depending on the season

• Moisture-wicking shirts for hiking

• Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen

• A warmer layer for boat cruises, Cadillac Mountain sunrise trips, or windy days along the coast

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Footwear for Acadia Hiking:

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Many of Acadia's trails feature exposed granite, uneven terrain, roots, and occasional wet or slippery sections. While some carriage roads and easy nature trails can be enjoyed in sneakers, sturdy footwear is highly recommended for most hiking adventures.

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We recommend:

• Hiking shoes or hiking boots with good traction for mountain trails and rocky terrain

• Comfortable walking shoes for carriage roads, village strolls, and easy walks

• Extra socks are always a good idea—morning dew, rain, and stream crossings can leave feet damp

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A Note About Acadia Trails:

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Even some of Acadia's "moderate" hikes involve scrambling over granite ledges and uneven footing. Proper footwear will make your hike safer, more comfortable, and much more enjoyable.

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Local Tip:  The granite surfaces in Acadia can become surprisingly slippery when wet. If rain is in the forecast, consider saving steeper mountain hikes for a drier day and exploring the carriage roads, Jordan Pond area, or shoreline trails instead. Spring and early summer are also excellent times to visit some of the island's waterfalls and cascades, which are often at their most impressive after seasonal rains and snowmelt.