Getting to Acadia: Acadia National Park lies two-thirds of the way up the Maine coast, approximately 164 miles from Portland, 270 miles from Boston and 475 miles from New York City.

By Car: From Bangor (47 miles from the park), take U.S. 1A South from Bangor to Ellsworth, then take Route 3 South to the Hulls Cove park entrance. From Portland (164 miles from the park), take Route 1 north along the coast to Ellsworth, then take Route 3 South to the Hulls Cove park entrance.

There are four entrances to the popular Park Loop Road section of Acadia on Mount Desert Island: the Hulls Cove Entrance, located on Route 3; the Cadillac Mountain Entrance, located on the outskirts of Bar Harbor on Route 233; the Sieur de Monts Entrance, located on Route 3 south of Bar Harbor; and the Stanley Brook Entrance, also located on Route 3 in the town of Seal Harbor. Other sections of the park are accessible from various public byways on Mount Desert Island. The Schoodic Peninsula section of the park is located off Route 186, near the town of Winter Harbor. Isle au Haut is accessible by mail boat from the village of Stonington.

By Air: The Bar Harbor/Hancock County Airport, located on Route 3 in Trenton, is served by Colgan Air, which is affiliated with U.S. Airways, with direct connections to Boston.

You must rent a car and drive to Acadia from the closest major airports, Bangor International Airport (45 miles away) and Portland International Jetport (164 miles away). Both airports offer convenient service from most U.S. metropolitan areas on American, Delta, Northwest, Pan Am and U.S. Air.

By Train:There is no passenger rail service to Acadia National Park.

By Bus: Vermont Transit Lines offer bus service between Boston and Bar Harbor from mid-June to Labor Day; please call (207) 772-6587 for more information. Downeast Transportation runs year-round on Mount Desert Island, and between Bar Harbor and Ellsworth; please call (207) 667-5796 for more information.

By Ferry: The ferry sails between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, from May 28 through October 30; please call (888) 249-7245 for more information. A two-and-a-half hour ferry ride on "The Cat" connects Acadia with another well-known scenic area, Canada's Nova Scotia. Isle au Haut may be reached via mail boat between Isle au Haut and Stonington on Deer Isle; please call (207) 367-5193 for more information. Reservations are not taken, but the number of day visitors allowed on the island is limited. However, it is very rare to be turned away. The state-owned Swans Island Ferry provides year-round service from Bass Harbor to Swans Island; please call (207) 244-3254 for more information.

Getting Around Acadia: Travel through the park by automobile, bicycle or foot. Taxis are available in Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor, and rental cars are available at the above-mentioned airports. Several shuttle buses operate in the park from late June through Labor Day.

Entrance fees are collected at a fee station on the Park Loop Road just north of Sand Beach. Entrance to the park is $10 per vehicle for seven days. An annual Acadia park pass is $20 and is good for one year from the date of purchase. The 12-month Golden Eagle Passport, good in all federal recreation areas and national parks, is available for $65. The National Park Pass allows entrance for your entire family into all parks and recreation areas, and is available for $50. The Golden Age Passport is available for a one-time fee of $10 to U.S. citizens or residents who are age 62 and older. The Golden Access Passport is available free to U.S. citizens or permanent residents with lifetime disabilities. Passes are available at the entrance station, park headquarters and the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, as well as the two park campgrounds and the Village Green in Bar Harbor.

Acadia's coastal location makes for plenty of ever-changing weather, including days of brilliant sunshine and occasional mornings when the island is wrapped in a soft blanket of fog. Acadia's coastal location also takes the edge off the summer heat and the winter chill. During July and August, high temperatures usually range between 70°F and 80°F, often accompanied by a sea breeze. In spring and fall, expect highs in the 50s and 60s. In November, the real winter season sets in and persists well through March, when daytime temperatures hover in the 30s and may dip to zero at night. Whatever season you visit Acadia, be prepared for changes in weather and dress in layers.

Acadia National Park Headquarters is located on Route 233, not far from the northern end of Eagle Lake. During the off-season, it serves as the park's visitor center at Acadia.

During the summer season, there are three visitor centers at Acadia. The NPS runs Hulls Cove Visitor Center, located just off Route 3 at the start of the Park Loop Road. This two-story, granite-and-shingle building houses an auditorium, bookshop, information booths and restrooms. The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., mid-April to October 31 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m., July and August).

Here, you can watch a 15-minute orientation program on the natural and cultural history of Acadia which is shown every half hour. Study the scale model of the park, complete with mountain peaks and island-dappled bays. Shop for books, maps and posters, and then sign up for a bird walk, the "Life Between the Tides" walk and other programs. A full schedule of ranger-led activities is available to help you plan your stay.

At the entrance to Mount Desert Island, on Route 3, is the Thompson Island Information Center, jointly run by the NPS and local chambers of commerce. The center provides park information such as lodging and dining details for all the island communities. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 30 through October 15.

In Trenton, a half-mile from the bridge to Mount Desert Island on Route 3, is the privately owned Acadia Information Center which opened in 1995. It offers a wealth of data such as brochures, floor displays, wall boards and an interactive TV with referrals for dining, lodging, camping and cruising . Nine courtesy phones are available for bookings. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 1 to October 15.

National Park Service
Since its founding in 1916, the NPS has endeavored to preserve America's parklands for generations to come. The NPS, federal custodian of Acadia National Park, is responsible for preserving and protecting the environmental and cultural values of our national parks, protecting the fish and wildlife therein and providing for public use and enjoyment of the parks. Please contact the NPS at Park Headquarters, P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609;(207) 288-3338 for more information.

Acadia Corporation
The Acadia Corporation is a Maine-owned company operating under contract with the NPS to provide traditional food service and merchandising facilities in the park. The Acadia Corporation has served as concessioner for the Jordan Pond House restaurant since 1947. It also operates the park's three gift shops at Jordan Pond, Cadillac Summit and Thunder Hole. Please contact Acadia Corporation, P.O. Box 24, Bar Harbor, ME 04609; (207) 288-5592 for more information.

Eastern National
Chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1948, Eastern National is a nonprofit, cooperating association that promotes the historical, scientific and educational activities of the NPS. It also supports park research, interpretation and conservation programs. At Acadia, the association manages the well-stocked bookstore at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center as well as the smaller outlets at the park's Nature Center and at two campgrounds. Please contact Eastern National at P.O. Box 177, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME 04609; (207) 288-4988 for more information.

Friends of Acadia
Founded in 1986, Friends of Acadia is a nonprofit, independent organization that works to preserve and protect the park and its surroundings. Its goals are to involve citizens, offer volunteer support and raise money for resource protection programs. Please contact the organization at P.O. Box 725, Bar Harbor, ME 04609; (800) 625-0321 or (207) 288-3340 for more information.

Mount Desert Island Area Chambers of Commerce
You can obtain helpful information from the following local chambers of commerce: Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 158, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, (207) 288-5103; Mount Desert Chamber of Commerce (representing the villages of Hall Quarry, Northeast Harbor, Otter Creek, Pretty Marsh, Seal Harbor and Somesville), P.O. Box 675, Northeast Harbor, ME 04662, (207) 276-5040; and Southwest Harbor - Tremont Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1143, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679, (207) 244-9264.