Known as the “Crown Jewel” of New England, Acadia National Park lives up to the hype. This is where you’ll find some of the most dramatic and iconic coastal views in the region, epic hikes, and awesome nature trails. And since it also experiences all four seasons, it can be tough to figure the best time to visit Acadia National Park. But good news, you’ve come to the right place 😉
I’ve been to Acadia so many times over the last 15+ years, and I’ve visited in all four seasons, including winter! So, I’m here to guide you in the right direction, offer up my opinions on the best time to visit, and also give you a monthly breakdown on what to expect throughout the year.
Ready to jump in? Let’s go!
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So, What’s The Best Time To Visit Acadia National Park?
Personally, I think late May through mid-June and then mid-September into mid-October are the best times to visit. Why? You’ll avoid some of the bigger crowds in the summer season, while still enjoying pleasant weather.
During these timeframes, most seasonal business are open, with a few exceptions, as some may begin to close down after Labor Day, but generally, you’ll find everything still open. I also personally prefer more mild weather for outdoors activities like hiking, so the cooler temperatures during these times of the year are really nice.
I also like that hotel and accommodation prices aren’t as high during these times, which allows you to save a little bit of money during your trip.
That said, this really depends on what you’re looking to get out of your trip. If you want the absolute best weather and longest days, then July and August will be an ideal time for you to visit. There’s a very good reason why this is high tourist season, and that’s because the summer weather in New England truly is the best along the coast, and all seasonal business are open for you to enjoy!
The biggest trade off with July and August is you’ll run into the highest prices at hotels and vacation rentals, and you’ll experience the most crowds. If you plan accordingly, though, and know what to expect, it’s really not too bad, though (in my opinion, at least 😉).
And lastly, if you’re looking for a fall foliage trip, you’ll want to visit in October, and I’ll get more into that later in the post!
What’s The Worst Time To Visit Acadia National Park?
Acadia offers fun things to do all year long, but I do think winter is the worst time to visit, but it’s not necessarily a bad time to visit, if that makes sense. Having been in all four seasons, I can say that I loved my winter trip, but that was largely because I’ve already experienced Acadia in the spring, summer, and fall. However, if you’re a first-time visitor, I would highly recommend visiting any other time to really get the most out of your trip.
Why? Well, because this region is very seasonal, and most businesses are closed during the winter. While you’ll still find some hotels, shops, and restaurants open for a cozy winter getaway, the majority are closed. Winter weather can also close down parts of the park depending on the severity, including some that typically remain open in the winter, so it can also be a bit risky if you don’t have some flexibility in your itinerary.
That said, if winter is the only time you can visit, or you really want to visit in the true off-season, there are still some wonderful ways to enjoy Acadia, which I’ll get into later in the post. I’d absolutely recommend a winter trip if this is the only time you can visit.
Best Time To Visit Acadia National Park: FAQ
Most Crowded Times To Visit Acadia
July and August are the most crowded months to visit, but June, September, and even October are also gaining popularity. However, July and August are still when you can expect the most crowds inside the park. These are also the most expensive months to visit.
Least Crowded Times To Visit Acadia
Winter and early spring (mid-November through April) are when you’ll experience the fewest crowds inside Acadia. It usually doesn’t begin to see a dramatic increase of people visiting until May. These are also the cheapest months to visit.
Best Time To Visit Acadia For Fall Foliage
October, and more specifically, mid-October. As with fall foliage anywhere else in the world, it’s never an exact science, and it’s impossible to guarantee when peak color will happen. However, Acadia usually sees the best foliage color around mid-October.
Best Time To Visit Acadia For Whale Watching
Whale watch tours around Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park usually begin around the end of May, and continue through mid-October, and this perfectly coincides with the best time to see whales in the area. Tours in this area head out to the Gulf of Maine, and it’s likely you’ll see humpback, minke and finback whales.
Best Time To Visit For Lobster & Seafood
Fresh lobster and seafood is harvested year-round in Maine, but to visit the best seafood shacks, you’ll want to visit June-Labor Day, as that’s when all the seasonal restaurants are open. Many of the seafood shacks up in this part of Maine do begin close down after peak season, or offer more restricted hours once Labor Day is over, so if you’re excited to eat all the best seafood, you’ll want to plan your visit for that timeframe.
However, it’s good to know that even if you visit earlier in the spring, or later in the fall when seasonal businesses may close down, many restaurants in the towns are still open and serving up awesome seafood. But for the most options, June through Labor Day is ideal.
Best Time To Visit Acadia For Sunrise On Cadillac Mountain
You’ve probably seen in your Acadia research that the top of Cadillac Mountain is one of the first places in the U.S. to see the sunrise, but the important thing to know that it’s one of the first places. The first sunrise location in the U.S. really depends on the time of year, and Cadillac Mountain experiences the first sunrise October 7 through March 6.
So, if it’s really important to you to see the first actual sunrise, you’ll want to plan your visit for this timeframe. My suggestions would be October 7 through the end of October for the nicest weather and, of course, the beautiful fall foliage!
It’s good to know that the auto road to Cadillac Mountain is only open mid-April to mid-November, and the exact dates can change each year based on weather. However, you can hike to the summit year-round.
Pro Tip: Late May through the end of October, you’ll need to make a reservation and pay a small fee to drive the auto road to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Click here for more information, and to make your reservation.
Best Time To Visit For Camping
Campgrounds in Acadia are open May 1 – October 31 only, and off-season camping is not allowed inside the park. I’ve noticed a lot of misinformation out there about camping in the winter, and many other websites state that the Blackwoods Campground is open in the winter, but that is simply not true.
I’ve even confirmed with a few park rangers during my visits, and received an e-mail confirmation from the parks department saying that winter camping is absolutely prohibited inside the park.
Click here for more information about camping in Acadia.
Best Time To Visit Acadia To Get Around With The Island Explorer Bus
One of the wonderful services offered inside the park is the Island Explorer bus system, which is a free bus that takes visitors to a lot of popular places around the park. If you don’t want to drive around the park, or are visiting during the peak summer season and are worried about parking, this is a nice option.
The Island Explorer bus runs from late-June through mid-October, and the fall season may have reduced schedules. Click here for more info!
Best Time To Visit If Also Traveling to Nova Scotia
Now that there is ferry service between Bar Harbor, Maine and Nova Scotia, many visitors also plan to visit parts of Canada during their trip to Acadia. If you plan to do this as well, June – September, and maybe October is the best time to plan your adventure. Many parts of Nova Scotia can be highly seasonal, and some restaurants and shops tend to open for the year a bit later than the ones in Maine.
Psst! I have a detailed guide on traveling from Bar Harbor, Maine to Nova Scotia, and a DREAMY Maine To Canada Road Trip Itinerary if you’re like more information on that type of trip 😉
Seasonal Guide To Acadia: Weather & What To Expect
Acadia National Park In Spring: Is April A Good Time To Visit?
April in this part of Maine typically experiences unpredictable weather, and it’s usually not an ideal time to visit if you don’t have a lot of flexibility with your itinerary. It can often be cold and rainy, and snow is also still likely. For example, in early April 2024, Bar Harbor experienced a snow storm with over 6 inches of snow accumulation, after a stretch of mild weather. You really just never know!
However, usually by the end of April, the chance of snow is highly unlikely, so that’s the best time to visit during the month for the nicest weather.
April also still sees a lot of winter store and restaurant closures, as businesses have yet to open back up for the season just yet.
However, if you’re looking to visit at an inexpensive time, and don’t mind the business closures, and are also okay with being flexible in case of bad weather, this is a great time to visit to avoid crowds and not spend a lot of money.
Average temperatures in Acadia in April: 53°F during the day, and 33°F at night.
Acadia In May
May is the first month the park starts to see an uptick in visitors, but it’s not usually all that crowded just yet. Some weekends later in May may see some crowds, but if you’re able to visit during the week, it’ll still feel relatively quiet, especially the first half of the month.
However, the biggest exception will be Memorial Day weekend, which is a popular time to visit, and you’ll want to anticipate big crowds and higher prices during this weekend.
And as mentioned, but it bears repeating: You need a reservation to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain late-May through October. This is for any time of the day, including sunrise. Sunrise at the top of the mountain is one of the most popular things to do, so if you want to enjoy this during your visit (and I recommend it!), then you’ll want to plan ahead for this.
Many local businesses begin to open in May, including boat tours and seafood shacks, but some of them don’t begin to open until the second half of the month or later, so that’s one thing to keep in mind. May is also the first month of the year that the campgrounds officially open.
Weather in May is generally more pleasant than April, with fewer rain days and warmer temperatures. I’ve visited in May to go hiking, and found the trails were much less muddy, and the weather was perfect for being outdoors all day. But it’s still the spring season, so you’ll want to anticipate some rain, depending on how long your visit is.
Average temperatures in Acadia in May: 66°F during the day, and 43°F at night.
Acadia In June
Of all the spring months, June is probably the best to visit, especially if you’re looking for long days and weather that most closely resembles summer. There’s also one special reason to visit that makes a June visit extra exciting, and that’s the lupines, which bloom all over Mount Desert Island. If you love flowers and spring blooms, seeing the small fields of them around this area is really a fun treat! The lupines typically begin to bloom in early June, with peak being around mid-June.
June is also the most crowded of all the spring months to visit the park, especially the second half, and you’ll start to see an increase in hotel and accommodation pricing around this time. However, pretty much all seasonal businesses open are in June, so this is a great time to visit if you’re looking to avoid July and August, but also want nice weather.
Average temperatures in Acadia in June: 74°F during the day, and 51°F at night.
Acadia National Park In Summer: What To Expect In July & August
As mentioned, summer is the busiest season in Acadia, but there’s a good reason for that. With the longest days and lowest chances of rain, you’ll have a lot of time to spend outdoors. This is also when you’re more likely to enjoy spending a day at Sand Beach, which is the only beach in Acadia (and it’s beautiful!). With Acadia being so far north in Maine, the water at this beach may be too cold for a lot of people, but it feels really nice on a hot day in July and August.
The summer season is also the most humid, and while New England in general tends to get pretty humid this time of the year, Acadia doesn’t feel quite as humid as other places in the region. The evenings stay pretty cool, and because it’s a coastal destination, there’s typically a consistent, light breeze throughout the day. However, it’s likely that you’ll experience some very hot and humid days in July and August.
The best perk of visiting in the summer, in addition to the longest days, is that all the seasonal businesses are open, so you’ll have your pick of boat tours, seafood shacks, and all the cute little shops in the area.
Hydrangeas in the area are typically in bloom in July, too, which are quite famous in New England! And the nearby town of Bar Harbor does a fireworks show for the Fourth of July, so definitely plan for that if you’re visiting during the holiday.
Average temperatures in Acadia in July: 80°F during the day, and 57°F at night.
Average temperatures in Acadia in August: 80°F during the day, and 56°F at night.
Acadia In September
September brings the end of the summer season in Acadia, and this has become another popular month to visit. However, you’ll start to see hotel and rental prices go down slightly once the Labor Day holiday is over, and it tends to be a bit cheaper than peak July and August pricing.
Most of September still very much feels like summer, and while temperatures begin to go down, the first part of the month is typically pretty warm and humid. Once mid-September hits, you’ll start to notice cooler temperatures, especially at night.
Most seasonal businesses remain open through September, too, which makes this a great month to visit.
Curious if you can visit in September for fall foliage? Not really. I’ve been to Acadia at the end of September a few times, and there was just a hint of fall color in random places each time. Since peak foliage hits Acadia in mid-October, you’ll want to visit then if you want to see the colorful foliage.
Average temperatures in Acadia in September: 68°F during the day, and 50°F at night.
Acadia In The Fall: Foliage, And What To Expect In October & November
October is when to visit Acadia for the best fall foliage, and since this is becoming another popular time to visit, many seasonal businesses will remain open through Indigenous People’s weekend in mid-October. While the days are shorter and the weather is cooler and more rainy, the awesome fall color more than makes up for it!
With peak color typically hitting Acadia in mid-October, it usually sticks around for two weeks on average, but this depends entirely on weather. If there’s been a lot of rain or high winds, the foliage will fall off the trees a lot quicker. However, under normal weather patterns, it should stick around for about two weeks or so.
And as mentioned, the timing of fall color is never an exact science, so it’s possible it could arrive early, or make a later appearance each year – it’s all determined by weather throughout the year, including the weeks leading up to peak season.
Weather in October usually brings a bit more rain, but you’ll still get plenty of sunshine on an average year, too. You’ll also want to pack light jackets to stay warm, and even better if they’re waterproof.
October 7th is the start of the official sunrise season in Acadia, too, and this is the first date in the fall where Cadillac Mountain is the actual first sunrise location in the U.S.
November in Acadia is a transitional season, and the weather is usually unpredictable. Much like April, November can be mild, cool, and pleasant or, it can feel more like winter with snow and high winds. November tends to be the first month where you’ll see a dramatic decrease in hotel rates for this season, and also when you’ll see the first major snowfall of the season.
The first part of November tends to have the best weather, and you’ll start see more unreliable weather later in the month. This is also the first month where you don’t need a vehicle reservation to drive the auto road to the Cadillac Mountain summit.
It’s good to know that many seasonal businesses will begin to close down in mid-October, and more continue to close down in November. The camping season in the park also concludes at the end of October.
Average temperatures in Acadia in October: 57°F during the day, and 41°F at night.
Average temperatures in Acadia in November: 46°F during the day, and 32°F at night.
Acadia National Park In Winter: Is It Worth It?
So, is it even worth visiting Acadia in the winter? The answer is a bit complicated, and it really depends on what you’re looking to get out of your trip. Generally, I hesitate to recommend winter because so many places are closed down for the season outside of the park, and it’s usually a tough time to enjoy a lot of the scenic hiking trails. December 1 is when the park closes down part of Park Loop Road for the winter, which is the most scenic drive in the park.
For this reason, winter is the cheapest time to visit, with the fewest crowds.
Most hiking trails, carriage roads, and parts of Park Loop Road remain open in the winter, though. If you’re an experienced hiker, know how to tackle the trails in the winter, and want to visit the park when it sees the fewest visitors, winter may be a great option for you!
The part of Park Loop Road that remains open is also very scenic, and you can visit Sand Beach, walk on a beautiful part of the flat and easy Ocean Path trail, see Thunder Hole, and take in views of the Otter Cliffs. The lesser-known part of Acadia, Schoodic Peninsula, is also open in the winter.
December is a festive time to visit Bar Harbor, and while a select few shops may close down for the season, some will open to welcome holiday shoppers during the month. Downtown Bar Harbor is decorated for Christmas, and you can enjoy the Village Holidays celebration the first weekend in December.
Average temperatures in Acadia in December: 36°F during the day, and 19°F at night.
January, February, and March tends to be cold, snowy, and icy. However, recent trends in New England have shown that winters going forward will have more dramatic shifts due to global warming.
For example, you’ll have a week of cold temperatures and a snow storm, followed by a week or warm, mild weather with sun that begins to melt all the snow – and this has been my personal experience traveling throughout New England in the winter recently, too. Weather is just more sporadic in the winters now, but still generally cold with a good amount of snow.
Once January rolls in, you can expect that all seasonal businesses are closed by now, with just a few year-round shops and restaurants open in the surrounding towns.
Since Acadia is along the coast, expect a lot of ice on the trails inside the park, and come prepared with crampons or microspikes to stay safe.
During the winter, the park will close certain trails and roads for safety reasons if there’s severe weather, and they do a great job on their main website updating visitors of these closures. It’s a good idea to check each day if you visit in the winter to ensure what’s open, and what’s closed.
Average temperatures in Acadia in January: 30°F during the day, and 12°F at night.
Average temperatures in Acadia in February: 33°F during the day, and 15°F at night.
Average temperatures in Acadia in March: 42°F during the day, and 25°F at night.
→ I have an entire guide on visiting Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in the winter, if you’re looking for more information!
My Tips For Visiting Acadia National Park
→ Have a general plan of what you’d like to do to maximize your time inside the park, especially if you visit in the summer during peak tourist season. Arriving early at the parking lots is usually a good idea 😉 And since Park Loop Road is mostly a one-way loop, you want to know what order to do things in so you don’t have to drive far just to loop back around.
→ Purchase your park pass online ahead of time, and be sure to print it out. Not all parking areas have a gate entrance where you can show your pass, so you need to keep your pass visible on your car’s dashboard any time you park inside Acadia. If you have the America The Beautiful Pass, it can be used in Acadia!
→ Bring light layers, even if you visit in the summer. Mornings and nights can be cool in Acadia and the surrounding towns. This is especially handy if you take any boat tours in the area, as it’s always colder out on the water.
→ Offline Google Maps to your phone before your trip. You will likely lose cell service once you’re inside the park, and it’s good to have a back up plan to get around.
→ Make dining reservations ahead of time when you can. Not all places accept reservations, but places like Jordan Pond House inside the park, and a few other places in nearby towns will take reservations. Casual seafood places don’t typically take reservations, so plan for a longer wait in peak summer season.
→ Pack casual clothes. Unless you’re planning to dine at fancier places during other parts of your trip, this area of Maine is very casual.
→ Be safe. I know this goes without saying, but since much of the park’s best sites are coastal, and situated on dramatic cliffs, please be aware of your surroundings, and don’t get too close to the edge of any bluffs or cliffs to get the perfect picture. It’s just not worth it, and there are tons of great ways to enjoy the park while staying safe.
More of my Maine travel guides you may find helpful:
- My PERFECT Acadia National Park Itinerary
- Best Places & Towns To Stay When Visiting Acadia National Park
- My Unforgettable Boston To Bar Harbor Road Trip Itinerary
- Is Acadia National Park Worth Visiting?
- Ultimate Guide To Maine In The Summer
- Ultimate Guide To Maine In October: Where To See Fall Foliage
- Maine In November
- Maine In The Winter
- The Ultimate Maine Lighthouse Road Trip Itinerary
That’s A Wrap On The Best Time To Visit Acadia National Park
There you have it! Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on the best time to visit Acadia National Park, hopefully you’re feeling more prepared to decide when you should plan your own visit. Whether the fall foliage season is more your style, or you’re excited to experience everything during the peak of summer, or see the beautiful lupines in June, it’s honestly always enjoyable depending on your priorities. Happy planning!
