Acadia National Park Travel Guide – Attractions & Tours

Featured Lists

Acadia National Park Essentials

Acadia National Park preserves the rugged landscape of the Maine coast, characterized by granite peaks, glacial lakes, and rocky shorelines. This selection covers the park's geographical variety, from Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast, to the 5-mile-long Somes Sound fjard. Key sites include the historic Bass Harbor Head Light, the shell-fragment Sand Beach, and the technical iron-rung trails of the Beehive. The list also features the mainland’s Schoodic Point and the unique wave-carved inlet at Thunder Hole.

10 places

Editor's Choice

This selection highlights the geological and cultural diversity of Acadia National Park, from the 110-foot granite faces of Otter Cliff to the rare shell-based sands of Sand Beach. The list includes the freshwater Echo Lake, the Japanese-inspired Asticou Azalea Garden, and the historic Sieur de Monts area. These locations showcase the park’s unique landscape of glacial fjords, inland sea cliffs, and rugged cobblestone shorelines.

13 places

Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0

Lighthouses & Coastal Landmarks

Acadia’s rugged shoreline is defined by granite cliffs and historic maritime structures. This collection features the 1858 Bass Harbor Head Light, the park's most photographed lighthouse, alongside the offshore Baker Island and Bear Island Lights. Natural landmarks include Thunder Hole, where incoming tides create booming sounds in a narrow rock inlet, and Somes Sound, a deep glacial fjard. The Bar Harbor Town Pier serves as a central hub for boat tours exploring the Mount Desert Island coastline.

6 places

Ray Heininger / CC-BY-SA

Peaks and Nature Trails

Acadia National Park’s landscape is defined by glaciated granite peaks and a rugged Atlantic coastline. This selection highlights the park's diverse topography, from the summit of Cadillac Mountain—the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard—to the technical iron-rung climbs of The Beehive and Champlain Mountain. These trails traverse ancient geological formations, offering views of Somes Sound, the only fjord on the U.S. East Coast, and freshwater glacial basins like Echo Lake. The routes feature historic stone masonry and varied ecosystems ranging from maritime forests to subalpine ridges.

10 places

Acadia National Park — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: July, August

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

-2° (feels like -9°) · extremes -20°–6°
-9° at night
12 rainy days
9 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
5°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

-2° (feels like -9°) · extremes -18°–5°
-9° at night
10 rainy days
10 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
4°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

1° (feels like -5°) · extremes -14°–7°
-5° at night
11 rainy days
13 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
3°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor

6° (feels like 0°) · extremes -4°–11°
1° at night
12 rainy days
12 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
4°C · too cold to swim
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Poor

11° (feels like 6°) · extremes 2°–16°
6° at night
12 rainy days
11 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
7°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

15° (feels like 12°) · extremes 6°–20°
10° at night
11 rainy days
10 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
10°C · too cold to swim
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Great

18° (feels like 16°) · extremes 11°–22°
14° at night
10 rainy days
12 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
13°C · too cold to swim
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Great

18° (feels like 17°) · extremes 11°–22°
14° at night
9 rainy days
13 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
14°C · too cold to swim
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in September

Good

16° (feels like 13°) · extremes 7°–20°
11° at night
9 rainy days
14 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
13°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Poor

11° (feels like 6°) · extremes 1°–15°
6° at night
10 rainy days
11 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
12°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Poor

5° (feels like 0°) · extremes -6°–11°
1° at night
11 rainy days
9 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
10°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

1° (feels like -6°) · extremes -14°–8°
-5° at night
13 rainy days
7 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
7°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency: US Dollar USD $ · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers: 911 Police · Ambulance · Fire brigade
Electricity: Type A / Type B
120 V · 60 Hz

Languages: English
Tap water: Safe to drink
Driving side: Right
Calling code: +1

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Tours & Activities

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Acadia National Park

Featured Lists

Acadia National Park Essentials

Editor's Choice

Lighthouses & Coastal Landmarks

Peaks and Nature Trails

Acadia National Park — Map

Climate & when to visit

Typical weather in January

Typical weather in February

Typical weather in March

Typical weather in April

Typical weather in May

Typical weather in June

Typical weather in July

Typical weather in August

Typical weather in September

Typical weather in October

Typical weather in November

Typical weather in December

Practical information

Tours & Activities

Acadia National Park – Plan Your Days

Related destinations

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