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Acadia sits on Maine's Mount Desert Island, right next to the town of Bar Harbor. Most visitors drive the 280 miles up I-95 from Boston or rent a car at the Bangor airport.
Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine
The drive north from Boston covers roughly 280 miles. Take Interstate 95 north to Augusta. From there, merge onto Route 3 east toward Ellsworth, which leads directly onto Mount Desert Island. Alternatively, you can stay on I-95 all the way to Bangor, then pick up Route 1A east to Ellsworth before dropping south on Route 3. Both routes take about four and a half to five hours. You'll need a $35 vehicle entrance pass valid for seven days to enter the park once you arrive.
Direct flights from Boston Logan land right outside the park at Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport. The flight takes about 45 minutes. From the terminal, it is a 10-mile drive into Acadia. Car rentals operate directly out of the airport, allowing you to pick up a vehicle and head straight to your accommodation. This gets you on the ground much faster than driving from Massachusetts. You still need a way to move around Mount Desert Island once you land, though the free park shuttle connects to the airport during the summer.
Bangor International Airport sits about 50 miles away from Acadia. National airlines fly into this hub regularly. After landing, you can pick up a rental car at the terminal and drive the remaining distance—about an hour down Route 1A east and Route 3. This is a practical alternative if direct flights to the smaller Bar Harbor airport are unavailable or too expensive for your dates.
The Island Explorer is a fare-free, propane-powered bus system funded largely by park entrance fees. It runs continuously from mid-June to mid-October. Routes connect Bar Harbor, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and the Schoodic Peninsula directly to the park. The buses drop passengers at major trailheads, campgrounds, and carriage road entrances. Using the shuttle lets you skip the severe summer parking congestion at spots like Sand Beach and Thunder Hole. You simply leave your car at your hotel or a regional lot and ride in.
Isle au Haut is the most remote section of Acadia. To get there, you must first drive 60 miles from Bar Harbor to the mainland town of Stonington. That drive takes about an hour and a half. From Stonington, board the mail boat ferry for a 45 to 60-minute crossing to the island. This route accesses rugged trails, a small village, and the historic Duck Harbor campground. It takes effort to reach, but delivers isolation you won't find on Mount Desert Island.
Parking at major spots like Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Cadillac Mountain is covered by the $35 vehicle pass, though lots fill completely by mid-morning in summer. Thunder Hole reserves two accessible spaces with a ramp straight to the granite viewing platform. Skip the roadside congestion and ride the fare-free Island Explorer shuttle instead.
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| From | Mode | Time | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, Massachusetts | Car | 4.5 to 5 hours | Fuel costs (mostly toll-free) | Take I-95 north to Augusta, then switch to Route 3 east through Ellsworth straight onto Mount Desert Island. |
| Boston Logan International Airport | Flight | 45 minutes | Varies by airline and season | Direct flights land at Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport. Rent a car there for the final 10-mile drive to the park. |
| Bangor International Airport | Car | About 1 hour | Varies by rental agency | Rent a car at the terminal and drive 50 miles south to reach the main park entrances. |
| Bar Harbor | Island Explorer Shuttle Bus | Varies by route | Free | Ride this propane-powered bus from mid-June to mid-October. It drops you right at campgrounds, trailheads, and carriage road entrances. |
| Stonington, Maine | Mail boat ferry | 45 to 60 minutes | Varies by operator | This passenger ferry is the only way to reach the remote Isle au Haut section. Leave yourself 1.5 hours to drive here from Bar Harbor. |
Purchase your $35 vehicle entrance pass through recreation.gov before arriving to skip the lines at fee stations. Several park locations don't accept cash. Bring a physical credit or debit card for any on-site payments.
Driving the Cadillac Summit Road between late May and late October requires a $6 timed vehicle reservation. Secure this on recreation.gov as soon as possible. Spots sell out fast during the peak summer season.
Lots at major stops like Sand Beach and Thunder Hole fill to capacity by mid-morning from June through September. Get there before 8 am or wait until after 5 pm. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in roadside congestion.
Ditch the car and take the fare-free Island Explorer shuttle. It runs continuously from mid-June to mid-October, connecting Bar Harbor to trailheads, carriage roads, and campgrounds. This saves you the headache of hunting for parking.
For a quieter trip, drive an hour and a half from Bar Harbor to Stonington. From there, a mail boat ferry takes 45 to 60 minutes to reach Isle au Haut. It's the most remote, least-visited section of the park.
The drive takes about 4.5 to 5 hours and covers 280 miles. Take I-95 north to Augusta, then follow Route 3 east through Ellsworth directly onto Mount Desert Island. Alternatively, stay on I-95 up to Bangor and take Route 1A east to Ellsworth before hitting Route 3.
Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport sits just 10 miles from Acadia and receives direct flights from Boston Logan. Bangor International Airport is the next closest option, located about 50 miles or a one-hour drive away. Both airports offer car rentals for the final leg of the trip.
A standard private vehicle pass costs $35 and covers everyone in the car for seven days. Individuals entering on foot or a bicycle pay $20, while a motorcycle pass is $30. Plan to bring a credit or debit card, since several park locations do not accept cash.
You only need a vehicle reservation for the Cadillac Summit Road from roughly May 20 to October 25. This costs $6 and must be booked in advance through recreation.gov. The rest of the park, including the Park Loop Road, just requires your standard entrance pass.
The Island Explorer bus runs from mid-June to mid-October and costs nothing to ride. These propane-powered shuttles connect Bar Harbor and other Mount Desert Island towns with major trailheads, campgrounds, and carriage road entrances. Using the shuttle helps you skip the heavy summer traffic.
Get to popular spots like Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Cadillac Mountain before 8 am or after 5 pm. Peak season parking lots regularly fill to capacity by mid-morning from June into September. If you arrive midday, take the Island Explorer shuttle instead of fighting for a spot.
You cannot drive directly to Isle au Haut. First, drive 60 miles from Bar Harbor to Stonington, which takes about an hour and a half. From there, catch the mail boat ferry for a 45 to 60-minute ride to the island.
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