Acadia National Park — Interstate Access, 2026 Fees & Truck Notes

01 Park overview

Acadia is the only national park in New England — a 49,000-acre patchwork of granite headlands, glacially-scooped ponds, and mixed Atlantic forest spread across Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut. It became Lafayette National Park in 1919 (renamed Acadia in 1929) on land donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and other private benefactors, who also financed the 45-mile carriage-road system that now serves as the park's signature pedestrian and bike network. From I-95 the standard route is Exit 182A in Bangor, then southeast on I-395 / US-1A / ME-3 — about 45 miles — to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center on Mount Desert Island. Cadillac Mountain (1,530 ft) is the highest point on the US Atlantic seaboard and is the first place to see the sunrise in the continental US most of the year.

Only national park in New England (designated as Lafayette in 1919, renamed Acadia in 1929)
Cadillac Mountain (1,530 ft) is the highest peak on the US Atlantic seaboard
About 4 million visitors per year — most-visited park in the Northeast
45 miles of historic carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Includes 26 named lakes and ponds and 158 miles of hiking trails

02 Photos

Granite headlands of Acadia National Park Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA

03 Don't miss

Park Loop Road (27-mile scenic drive)
Cadillac Mountain Summit Road
Jordan Pond House popovers
Thunder Hole
Schoodic Peninsula (the quieter mainland section)

04 Getting there & truck/RV access

Route from interstate

From I-95

Exit 182A (Bangor)

45 mi southeast on I-395 and US-1A to Ellsworth, then ME-3 onto Mount Desert Island

Big rigs & RVs

Truck access

I-395 and US-1A from Bangor to Ellsworth are unrestricted for all vehicle sizes. ME-3 onto Mount Desert Island narrows but is still passable for semis up to the park entrance. Inside the park, the Park Loop Road has a 2-way section and a 1-way section with limited oversized parking.

Parking: RV/oversized parking is concentrated at Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Eagle Lake parking, and Sand Beach. The Cadillac Mountain summit lot and most carriage-road trailheads do not accommodate vehicles over 22 ft. Truck stops are limited near the park — Bangor Pilot/TA is the closest staging.

Restrictions: Cadillac Summit Road requires a separate vehicle reservation in summer (May 24–October 22, 2026 expected). The carriage roads are closed to all motor vehicles, by design.

05 Seasonality & road closures

Best months: June through early October — full road access, 65-75°F days, fall color in late September.

Closures: Park Loop Road and most secondary roads close December 1 through April 14 to support winter use (cross-country skiing, snowmobiling on designated routes). Hulls Cove Visitor Center is closed winter; Acadia Welcome Center in Trenton is open year-round.

Notes: Fog is common — Cadillac sunrise can be socked in even when the rest of the island is clear.

06 Entrance fees (2026)

Pass	Price
Private vehicle (7-day)	$35
Motorcycle (7-day)	$30
Individual / walk-in (7-day, age 16+)	$20
Park-specific annual pass	$70 (Acadia Annual Pass)
America the Beautiful (annual, all NPS sites)	$80 U.S. residents · $250 non-residents

2026 nonresident fee — applies at this park

Each non-U.S. resident aged 16 and older pays an additional $100 per person on top of the standard entrance fee. The fee is waived for visitors holding the $250 America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass (which also covers up to three additional adults). Children under 16 are exempt. U.S. residency is verified with a U.S. passport, U.S. driver's license / state ID, or Permanent Resident Card.

Fee-free days available for U.S. residents only beginning January 1, 2026.

Note: A separate vehicle reservation ($6) is required for the Cadillac Summit Road from late May through mid-October.

Official NPS fee page →

07 Current alerts

No active NWS weather alerts or FEMA disaster declarations in Acadia National Park's state(s) right now.

08 FAQ

How far is Acadia from I-95?

45 miles from I-95 Exit 182A in Bangor — take I-395 east, then US-1A and ME-3 southeast through Ellsworth and onto Mount Desert Island. The Hulls Cove Visitor Center is the standard first stop.

Do I need a Cadillac Summit reservation?

Yes — between roughly late May and mid-October, every vehicle driving the Cadillac Summit Road needs a $6 timed-entry reservation booked at recreation.gov. The reservation is separate from the entrance fee.

Is Acadia open in winter?

Yes, but most park roads are closed to vehicles December 1 through April 14. The park is open for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling on designated routes.

How much does Acadia cost in 2026?

$35 for a 7-day private vehicle pass for U.S. residents. The America the Beautiful pass is $80 for U.S. residents, $250 for non-residents. Beginning January 1, 2026, each non-U.S. resident aged 16+ pays an additional $100 nonresident fee unless they hold the $250 non-resident annual pass.

From I-95

Truck access

2026 nonresident fee — applies at this park

Acadia National Park on the live map