Is Acadia National Park Open Year-Round? Weather, Hours, and Closures

Acadia National Park is a spectacular place full of amazing hiking trails and big adventures on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. But this park is quite seasonal, so you’ll want to plan your trip with the weather in mind. I am here to walk you through what to expect in Acadia year-round.

Acadia National Park is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. However, many of the most popular trails and amenities close down during the long winter season.

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My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I have spent a ton of time in Acadia (it’s one of my favorites!), and I can’t wait for you to visit.

Read on for more information about visiting Acadia year-round, including the hours, closures, and weather you can expect while you vacation in this magnificent national park.

Is Acadia National Park Open Year-Round?

Acadia National Park is open 365 days per year, 24 hours a day.  This means that if you want to hike a trail at sunrise, you will be able to get in, and if you want to stargaze at 2 a.m., you’ll be able to get out.

Just because the park stays open year-round doesn’t mean that all of the activities and points of interest will be open for you at all times. You’ll encounter a variety of closures in Acadia year-round.

For example,

• Most official park buildings, such as the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Sieur de Monts Nature Center, and the Jordan Pond House are only open seasonally.
• The entrance stations might not always be staffed.
• Every campground in this park closes seasonally.
• Popular roads such as the Park Loop Road and the Cadillac Summit Road close for the winter.
• Several trails in this park close because of wildlife that utilizes the area.
• Carriage roads close down during “mud season”.

Closures like these are common year-round, so let’s discuss what may be closed even if the park itself is open.

Operating Hours for Acadia National Park

Acadia Visitor Center Hours

Acadia has one official visitor center — the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. This visitor center is typically open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. from May-October. It is completely closed from November-April.

When the Hulls Cove Visitor Center is closed, you can visit the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce in downtown Bar Harbor for information about the park. 

If you’re hoping to chat with a ranger or ask your questions about the park, you can also visit the Thompson Island Information Center (open mid-May through Mid-October), the Sieur de Monts Nature Center (open mid-June through mid-October), the Carroll Homestead (open May-October), or the Islesford Museum (open July-September).

Acadia Entrance Station Hours

You can access Acadia National Park from several different roads near Bar Harbor, but the park only has one official entrance station that collects fees. This entrance station is located along the main Park Loop Road near Sand Beach.

Entrance station hours vary and are not published. This station will almost always be staffed early in the morning until late at night during the summer, with shorter hours during the spring, fall, and winter.

If an entrance station is staffed, you will be required to pay the park entrance fee before exploring the Park Loop Road.

If the entrance station is not staffed and the road is open, you can drive on through, but you are still required to purchase and display an entrance pass! You can purchase a pass in advance online and print it out. You can also purchase an entrance pass at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center or at one of the in-park campgrounds.

You’ll also want to note that you will get stopped near Cadillac Mountain at the Cadillac Mountain Vehicle Reservation Check Station. This is where they will check for your Cadillac Summit Reservation if you’re hoping to drive to the top of the mountain, and this check station is staffed most of the time during the summer.

Common Closures in Acadia National Park

Acadia Lodging Closures

There are no in-park lodges/hotels in Acadia, but you can stay in a nearby community year-round. For my lodging recommendations, read more about where to stay here.

Acadia does have four campgrounds if you’re hoping to stay within the park boundaries. All of these campgrounds are seasonal — they are typically only open from about mid-May through mid-October. All campsites must be reserved online.

Common Road Closures in Acadia

Alright, this is where it gets a little confusing! But in general, the main roads in the park (the Park Loop Road, Cadillac Mountain Summit, Jordan Pond, Schoodic Point, and all paved roads on the “Quiet Side”) are open from mid-April through November. If you are hoping to get to the main sights in the park, you should be able to do so during these months.

From December through mid-April, the Park Loop Road partially closes down. You can still drive a small portion of it (Sand Beach to Thunder Hole). You will not be able to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain, but you can snowmobile it!

If you will be visiting Acadia during the off-season, read through this page and study the map extensively to see which roads will be open for you.

Acadia Trail Closures

In theory, all hiking trails in Acadia are available year-round.

Some trails may close during the winter due to weather conditions, especially summit trails. And during the winter, even if the trail is technically open, you may have a difficult time accessing it due to road closures and weather.

If you’re visiting the park from April-November when most roads are open, you’ll be able to do a ton of hiking! But there are a few things you’ll want to be aware of during this time.

From about March-August, several popular trails, including the Precipice, are closed due to the nesting peregrine falcons.

During the park’s “mud season”, which is typically from March-early June, the carriage roads often close due to muddy conditions. If you have your heart set on exploring the carriage roads, I recommend planning your trip for a different time of year.

Trail conditions can change at any time, so be sure to check the current conditions in the park before you head out.

What is the Weather Like in Acadia?

Acadia is the easternmost national park in the U.S., and it’s located right on the ocean. The weather in this park may be slightly different than you’re used to!

For instance, average highs rarely exceed 80 degrees, and precipitation is common each month—you might even want a sweater when you visit because the nightly lows hang around 50 degrees in the summer.

Take a look at the average highs and lows (in degrees Fahrenheit) and precipitation levels (in inches) at Acadia National Park:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High (F)	31	33	40	51	61	70	75	74	67	56	46	36
Avg Low (F)	15	17	25	35	44	52	58	57	51	41	32	21
Avg Snow (“)	12.7	11.3	8.9	1.8	0	0	0	0	0	0.3	3.3	9.9
Avg Rain (“)	1.9	2	2.6	3.4	3.4	3.2	2.8	2.6	3.4	4.1	4.2	3

Winter in Acadia (November – March)

Winter is the least crowded season in Acadia. You’ll find very few visitors, cold temperatures, and heavy snow. Most facilities aren’t operational during the winter, and many outdoor hikes and beaches are closed until things thaw out.

If you love snow activities, you’ll love Acadia in the winter! Visiting the park at this time is a great way to beat the crowds and see the park from a unique perspective.

Spring in Acadia (April and May)

The busy season in Acadia National Park doesn’t start until June, but many activities and facilities that close in the winter start to open up again in April and May. Visiting during these months can provide peace and quiet in areas that are normally very busy in the summer or closed in the winter.

Spring weather in Acadia is pretty chilly, with lows in the 30s and 40s and highs occasionally peeking into the 60s. These are also the rainiest months of the year, so bring a good jacket and expect some weather-related closures.

Summer in Acadia (June – August)

Summer brings warmer temperatures, more activities, and larger crowds to Acadia National Park. Expect temperatures to be pleasant for most of the summer, rarely reaching above 80 degrees or below 50 degrees.

Bring a rain jacket — the summer months still get some nice rainstorms.

The crowd levels are at their absolute highest during these months, so it is critical to have a solid plan for avoiding the crowds and seeing the best sights.

Fall in Acadia (September and October)

The temperatures in Acadia drop during the fall, along with the crowd levels. Fall is a great time to visit Acadia because you benefit from smaller crowds and beautiful scenery. The changing leaves are a spectacular sight this time of year!

Most park facilities start to close down for the winter in September and October. The weather can be unpredictable this time of year as well, so be prepared with cold weather gear and rain gear if you’re hoping to fully experience the park.

So now you may be asking yourself, when is the best time to visit Acadia National Park?

Now that you know you can visit Acadia year-round, click here to see my specific month-by-month recommendations for the best time to visit Acadia.

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