Acadia National Park by Month: Weather, What’s Open & When to Go (2026)
Acadia National Park · every month
Pick a month. Stand on the granite.
Average temperatures from NOAA, daylight from the sun's math, road and reservation dates from the park's own pages. Choose a month and the page changes to what Acadia is actually like then.
average highaverage lowprecipitationsnowhours across the top = daylight
McFarland Hill, Acadia NP, 470 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USC00170100). Tap a column or pick a month below.
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Showing all twelve months. Pick one and the page becomes that month.
Last updated September 3, 2026 How we research
Acadia's year is written by the Atlantic. Summer is mild, with highs near 79 and sea fog rolling over the Park Loop Road on many mornings; winter brings nor'easters, sea wind, and enough snow that the paved park roads close to cars from December 1 through April 14. The months between are where the decisions live: April 15 when the Park Loop Road reopens, May 20 when Cadillac Summit Road reservations begin, mid-October when the maples peak, and December 1 when the gates swing shut.
The chart shows the whole year at McFarland Hill inside the park. Below it, every month answers the same five questions: what the weather feels like, how much daylight you get, what is open, how busy it is, and what to do. Road, campground, and reservation dates are the park's published 2026 dates and shift a little every year, so check nps.gov/acad before you drive.
When does it first snow?
The NOAA station inside the park reports temperatures and precipitation, not a monthly snowfall column, so this page does not claim a first-snow date. What the park's own descriptions say: winter snow arrives in waves off the Atlantic, a coastal storm can drop heavy, wet snow and a thaw can strip it back within days, and Bar Harbor averages roughly 8 to 12 inches of snowfall in each of December, January, February, and March. March can still deliver a snowstorm. The season's real markers are the paved-road closure on December 1 and the Park Loop Road reopening on April 15.
Acadia National Park in January
January: sea smoke, snow, and the carriage roads on skis
Highs near freezing, lows in the teens, and the NPS puts winter anywhere from 14 to 35 degrees. Coastal wind makes 30 feel far colder, and the sun is gone before 4:30. This is Acadia's quietest stretch, a spruce-dark coastline in sea smoke that very few of the park's four million annual visitors ever see.
- 32° / 15°avg high / low
- 9.2 hdaylight, 7:05 am to 4:17 pm
- 4.5 inprecipitation
What’s open
- The Park Loop Road and the park's other paved roads are closed to vehicles December 1 through April 14. The park itself stays open year-round.
- The carriage roads stay open, with seasonal closures, and become the park's cross-country ski and snowshoe network. The Schoodic Loop Road on the mainland peninsula remains drivable year-round.
- Most lodges, campgrounds, and visitor facilities are closed, and Bar Harbor runs at a fraction of its summer pace.
- Entrance is $35 per vehicle and the park is fully cashless.
How busy
December through February is the park's quietest period.
Best for
- solitude
- skiing and snowshoeing
What to do
- Ski or snowshoe the carriage roads after a storm; they need skis or snowshoes, not boots.
- Walk Wonderland, the low coastal trail that stays walkable on many winter days when interior trails are iced over.
- Cadillac Mountain catches the first sunrise in the continental U.S. from October to early March; with the paved roads closed to cars, that means going up on foot.
Pack
- Traction devices for icy trail
- Windproof shell over warm base layers
- Snowshoes or skis for the carriage roads after a storm
Acadia National Park in February
February: still deep winter, an hour more light
Cold and snowy, with highs in the mid-30s and lows in the teens, but the day is more than an hour longer than January. Nor'easters come off the Atlantic with strong wind, and exposed headlands and the open Cadillac summit are dramatically harsher than sheltered village streets.
- 35° / 18°avg high / low
- 10.4 hdaylight, 6:34 am to 5:00 pm
- 3.8 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Paved park roads, including the Park Loop Road, remain closed to vehicles through April 14.
- Carriage roads open for skiing and snowshoeing; the Schoodic Loop Road is drivable year-round.
- Lodges, campgrounds, and visitor facilities are closed for the season.
How busy
Weekends bring skiers to the carriage roads; weekdays are empty.
Best for
- winter solitude
- skiing
What to do
- Cross-country ski the carriage roads, Acadia's winter trail network.
- Drive out to the Schoodic Peninsula, the one park road that stays open, for winter surf on the granite.
- Walk the Bar Harbor Shore Path from town when the trails are iced over.
Pack
- Full winter kit: insulated boots, hat, gloves
- Traction devices
- A marine forecast for Mount Desert Island, not inland Maine
Acadia National Park in March
March: late-winter snow, then mud season
Highs in the low 40s, lows in the mid-20s, and nearly twelve hours of daylight. The NPS calls spring foggy with temperatures anywhere from 30 to 70, and March still delivers snowstorms. Mud season begins on the low trails while ice lingers in the shade.
- 42° / 25°avg high / low
- 11.8 hdaylight, 6:47 am to 6:37 pm
- 4.9 inprecipitation
What’s open
- The Park Loop Road and other paved roads stay closed to vehicles until April 15.
- Carriage roads remain the ski and snowshoe network after storms; the Schoodic Loop Road is open.
- Campgrounds and the Hulls Cove Visitor Center do not open until May 1.
How busy
Quiet; the roads are still closed and facilities are still shut.
Best for
- late-season snow
- empty trails
What to do
- Catch the last of the first-in-the-nation sunrise window from Cadillac Mountain, which runs October to early March.
- Ski or snowshoe the carriage roads while the snow lasts.
- Walk the Jesup Path boardwalk at Sieur de Monts, where the low woods green up first.
Pack
- Waterproof everything: snow or rain, sometimes both
- Traction for icy shaded trail
- Light-colored long layers, the NPS recommendation for fog season
Acadia National Park in April
April: the Park Loop Road reopens and the fog season starts
Highs in the low 50s, lows in the mid-30s, and the wettest stretch of spring. Sea fog becomes a regular feature as warming air crosses the still-cold Gulf of Maine, and it can erase coastal views for hours. Summits stay raw while the low woodland corridors go green.
- 53° / 35°avg high / low
- 13.4 hdaylight, 5:50 am to 7:15 pm
- 5.2 inprecipitation
What’s open
- April 15: the Park Loop Road and the park's other paved roads reopen to vehicles. Unpaved roads follow on May 15.
- Cadillac Summit Road is first-come, first-served until reservations begin May 20.
- Blackwoods Campground and the Hulls Cove Visitor Center open May 1; plan on Bar Harbor for beds and food.
- Entrance is $35 per vehicle, cashless.
How busy
Late April is one of the emptiest windows with the roads open. Estimate: the campgrounds and visitor center are still closed.
Best for
- roads open, nobody on them
- lower lodging rates
What to do
- Drive the Park Loop Road the week it reopens, before the season's traffic.
- Walk the Ocean Path past Thunder Hole with the coast to yourself.
- Sieur de Monts Spring, where the low woods green up first while the granite summits stay bare into May.
Pack
- Waterproof boots for mud
- Rain shell; April is wetter than any summer month
- Long sleeves and pants for the fog
Acadia National Park in May
May: everything opens, a few weeks before everyone arrives
Highs in the mid-60s, lows in the mid-40s, and nearly fifteen hours of daylight. A sunny May afternoon feels like early summer, though fog still owns many mornings. By late May the park is effectively in summer condition with a fraction of the crowds.
- 64° / 45°avg high / low
- 14.7 hdaylight, 5:06 am to 7:51 pm
- 4.5 inprecipitation
What’s open
- May 1: Blackwoods Campground and the Hulls Cove Visitor Center open. May 15: unpaved roads open. May 16: the Jordan Pond House restaurant opens. May 20: Seawall and Schoodic Woods campgrounds open.
- May 20 through October 25: every vehicle on the Cadillac Summit Road needs a $6 timed-entry reservation from Recreation.gov, on top of the park entrance pass. Before May 20 the summit road is first-come, first-served.
- Entrance is $35 per vehicle; the park is fully cashless.
How busy
Trails are clear and campgrounds open, but Bar Harbor lodging rates have not hit their July peak.
Best for
- budget travel
- open facilities without crowds
What to do
- Camp at Blackwoods the first weeks it is open.
- Popovers at the Jordan Pond House once it opens May 16, then the pond path.
- The Wild Gardens of Acadia at Sieur de Monts as spring reaches the island.
Pack
- Rain shell and a warm layer for foggy mornings
- Light-colored long layers for fog season
- A Cadillac reservation if you arrive after May 20
Acadia National Park in June
June: the foggiest summer month, and the longest days
Highs in the mid-70s, lows in the mid-50s, sunrise before 5 and more than fifteen hours of light. June is Acadia's foggiest summer month: fog banks regularly swallow the Park Loop Road coastline and burn off by midday, or don't.
- 74° / 54°avg high / low
- 15.5 hdaylight, 4:47 am to 8:18 pm
- 4.3 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Park Loop Road, unpaved roads, campgrounds, and the Jordan Pond House are all open.
- Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservations are required ($6, Recreation.gov). Sunrise reservations are non-refundable when fog wins, so build flexibility into summit plans.
- The fare-free Island Explorer shuttle is the sane way to move around the east side once lots fill.
How busy
Builds through the month toward the July peak.
Best for
- long days
- everything open
What to do
- Cadillac sunrise with a reservation and a backup morning.
- Sand Beach and the Ocean Path once the fog lifts; the Atlantic here only reaches 50 to 60 even in August.
- Nearly sixteen hours of daylight: hike the Jordan Pond Path after dinner.
Pack
- Rain shell
- A warm layer for the mornings; fog and sea breeze can drop felt temperatures 15 degrees or more on the coast
- Sun protection for when it clears
Acadia National Park in July
July: the warmest, most reliable month, and the start of the crowds
Highs near 79, lows near 60, and the driest month of the year by the NOAA numbers. The NPS notes daytime ranges anywhere from 45 to 90 across the park. Every facility is open and the full trail and carriage road network is available.
- 79° / 60°avg high / low
- 15.2 hdaylight, 5:01 am to 8:15 pm
- 3.3 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Everything is open: Park Loop Road, all campgrounds, Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Jordan Pond House.
- Cadillac Summit Road reservations required, $6 via Recreation.gov, on top of the $35 vehicle entrance fee.
- Sea fog still blankets the coast in early July as warm air crosses the cold Gulf of Maine.
- The fare-free Island Explorer shuttle runs the east side; use it instead of circling for parking.
How busy
The start of Acadia's most crowded stretch. Parking at Jordan Pond and Sand Beach fills by mid-morning.
Best for
- warmest weather
- every trail open
What to do
- Go early or late: the pressure points are Cadillac, Jordan Pond, and Sand Beach.
- Shift to the Schoodic Peninsula or the west side, the quiet side, for the same granite-and-spruce coast with a fraction of the traffic.
- Swim in the lakes, 55 to 70 degrees, rather than the ocean at 50 to 60.
Pack
- Sun protection
- A rain shell and warm layer for foggy mornings
- A Cadillac reservation booked ahead
Acadia National Park in August
August: the warmest water, the busiest weeks
Nearly identical to July, with highs near 78 and the season's warmest ocean and lake temperatures. Crowds peak in the first half of the month. By late August the evenings cool noticeably, a preview of the fall to come.
- 78° / 60°avg high / low
- 14.1 hdaylight, 5:35 am to 7:40 pm
- 3.5 inprecipitation
What’s open
- All roads, campgrounds, and facilities open.
- Cadillac Summit Road reservations required through October 25.
- Island Explorer shuttle running; Jordan Pond and Sand Beach lots fill by mid-morning.
How busy
Busiest month; the first half of August is the peak of the peak.
Best for
- swimming
- warmest ocean
What to do
- Swim: inland lakes reach 55 to 70, the ocean tops out at 50 to 60 and is a genuine cold plunge even now.
- Ocean Path at first light before the lots fill.
- Base on the quiet side around Southwest Harbor or at Schoodic Woods to skip the east-side traffic.
Pack
- A swimsuit for the lakes
- Sun protection
- A warm layer; late-August evenings turn cool
Acadia National Park in September
September: the same park, fewer cars, and the least fog
Highs near 71, lows in the low 50s, and the clearest air of the year. The fog machine of early summer eases, the ocean is as warm as it gets, and the park's exposed granite ridgelines are at their year-round best. Widely considered Acadia's best month.
- 71° / 53°avg high / low
- 12.6 hdaylight, 6:10 am to 6:45 pm
- 4.2 inprecipitation
What’s open
- All facilities remain open through September: Park Loop Road, campgrounds, Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Jordan Pond House.
- Cadillac Summit Road reservations still required, $6 on Recreation.gov, through October 25.
- Entrance $35 per vehicle, cashless.
How busy
Crowds thin after Labor Day while every facility stays open.
Best for
- best overall conditions
- hiking
- photography
What to do
- The exposed ridge hikes: Precipice, Beehive, Gorham Mountain, Cadillac's South Ridge.
- Jordan Pond House popovers without the July line.
- Bass Harbor Head Light at sunset on the quiet side.
Pack
- Layers for cool mornings and warm afternoons
- Rain shell
- Waterproof boots; granite is slick when wet
Acadia National Park in October
October: peak foliage, the second surge, and the wet season begins
Highs in the upper 50s, lows in the low 40s, and red maples against dark spruce and pink granite. Fall foliage typically peaks in mid-October and draws a second visitation surge; October weekends can rival summer. It is also the start of the year's wettest stretch.
- 58° / 43°avg high / low
- 11.1 hdaylight, 6:46 am to 5:50 pm
- 5.9 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Campgrounds close through the month: Seawall and Schoodic Woods run through October 12, Blackwoods through October 19.
- Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservations end October 25; after that, no reservation is needed.
- The Hulls Cove Visitor Center closes October 31. The Park Loop Road stays open to vehicles until December 1.
- From October to early March, Cadillac Mountain sees the first sunrise in the continental U.S.
How busy
Mid-October weekends rival summer. Book lodging far ahead.
Best for
- fall foliage
- photography
- budget travel late in the month
What to do
- Drive the Park Loop Road for the color, early on a weekday if you can.
- The Jesup Path and Hemlock Path loop at Sieur de Monts for maples at eye level.
- Cadillac sunrise after October 25 with no reservation.
Pack
- Insulated jacket
- Waterproof boots; October begins the wettest months and granite is slick
- Hat and gloves for a summit sunrise
Acadia National Park in November
November: the wettest month and near-total solitude
Highs in the upper 40s, lows near freezing, and the rainiest month of the year by the NOAA numbers. Expect raw, wet, windy weather, sunset before 4:15, and almost nobody else on the Park Loop Road.
- 48° / 33°avg high / low
- 9.7 hdaylight, 6:28 am to 4:07 pm
- 5.9 inprecipitation
What’s open
- The Park Loop Road and paved roads stay open to vehicles through November; they close December 1.
- No Cadillac Summit Road reservation is needed after October 25.
- Campgrounds and the Hulls Cove Visitor Center are closed for the season.
How busy
Near-total solitude, with the roads still open.
Best for
- solitude with roads open
- Cadillac sunrise
What to do
- Cadillac sunrise, first in the continental U.S. this time of year, with the summit road still open and no reservation.
- Storm-watching at Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs when a nor'easter comes through.
- One last Park Loop Road drive before the December 1 closure.
Pack
- Insulated jacket and waterproof boots
- Hat and gloves
- A headlamp; the sun sets before 4:15
Acadia National Park in December
December: the roads close, the snow arrives
Highs in the upper 30s, lows in the low 20s, and the shortest days of the year, with sunset just before 4. Bar Harbor averages roughly 8 to 12 inches of snowfall in the month. Snow arrives in waves, and a thaw with ocean air can strip it back within days.
- 38° / 22°avg high / low
- 8.9 hdaylight, 7:01 am to 3:54 pm
- 5.7 inprecipitation
What’s open
- December 1: the Park Loop Road and the park's other paved roads close to vehicles until April 15.
- Carriage roads stay open, with seasonal closures, for skiing and snowshoeing; the Schoodic Loop Road remains drivable year-round.
- Most lodges, campgrounds, and visitor facilities are closed; Bar Harbor runs at a fraction of its summer pace.
How busy
The quietest period of the year begins.
Best for
- winter solitude
- sea smoke and snow
What to do
- Snowshoe or ski the carriage roads after the first storm.
- Walk Wonderland or Ship Harbor on the quiet side, the low coastal trails that stay walkable in winter.
- Drive the Schoodic Loop Road for winter surf with the peninsula to yourself.
Pack
- Traction devices
- Windproof shell and warm base layers
- Snowshoes or skis after a storm
Which month is yours?
Questions people ask about Acadia’s seasons
What is the best month to visit Acadia National Park?
September, for most people: highs near 71, the least fog of the year, the warmest ocean, every facility open, and crowds that thin after Labor Day. Mid-October adds peak foliage at the cost of weekends that rival summer. July and August are the warmest months and the busiest.
When does fall foliage peak in Acadia?
Fall foliage typically peaks in mid-October, which is also the park's busiest shoulder-season stretch. Book lodging far ahead. Campgrounds close through October (Seawall and Schoodic Woods after October 12, Blackwoods after October 19), and Cadillac Summit Road reservations end October 25.
Is Acadia National Park open in winter?
Yes, the park is open year-round, but the Park Loop Road and the other paved park roads are closed to vehicles from December 1 through April 14. The carriage roads become the cross-country ski and snowshoe network, the Schoodic Loop Road stays drivable, and most lodges, campgrounds, and visitor facilities are closed. The NPS puts winter conditions anywhere from 14 to 35 degrees.
When does the Park Loop Road open and close?
The Park Loop Road and the park's other paved roads are open to vehicles April 15 through December 1. Unpaved roads open May 15.
Do I need a reservation for Cadillac Mountain?
From May 20 through October 25, every vehicle on the Cadillac Summit Road needs a $6 timed-entry reservation from Recreation.gov, on top of the $35 per vehicle entrance fee. Outside that window the summit road is first-come, first-served, and from October to early March Cadillac sees the first sunrise in the continental U.S.
What is the weather in Acadia in October?
NOAA normals at McFarland Hill give October an average high of 58.5 and low of 42.8, with 5.86 inches of precipitation; October and November are the wettest months of the year. Expect peak color mid-month, slick granite after rain, and busy weekends.
Every month on this page is built from NOAA normals for the McFarland Hill station inside the park, the sun's position, and the park's published road, campground, and reservation dates, not from a visit, and the page says so where it matters. Temperatures: McFarland Hill, Acadia NP, 470 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USC00170100).
