Families and groups
Leans DIY on entry cost
One $35 vehicle fee covers everyone in the car, so a party of five pays $7 each to enter. A per-seat tour price has no such discount, so compare it with your whole-car cost.
Source: NPS fees, Oct 26, 2026
Maine · National Park
Acadia: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
Acadia charges $35 per private vehicle, good for 7 days, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). Visitors 16 and older who live outside the US pay an extra $100 unless they hold a pass. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $8.75 each to enter, which favors driving yourself.
Our verdict, from the fee data
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $35 vehicle fee is paid once for everyone in the car. A tour only beats driving yourself if it saves you real money or time on fuel, parking, shuttles and planning.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
| Party | Entrance total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $35 | $35 |
| 2 people | $35 | $17.50 |
| 4 people | $35 | $8.75 |
| 6 people | $35 | $5.83 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $35. The vehicle fee covers all passengers, so cost per person falls as the group grows. Non-US residents 16+ add $100 each.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $6 | Vehicle reservations are not required for any other areas of the park, or for visitors who enter the area by foot, bike, or taxi. Vehicle reservations provide a timed entry, but do not require a departure time until 9 pm, when the road closes to vehicles. |
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $35 | Valid for seven days. Admits private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. This includes rental cars, RVs, and vans with fewer than 16 passengers. If the vehicle pass is purchased, no other pass is necessary. |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $30 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Entrance - Per Person | $20 | Valid for seven days. Admits one individual with no car (bicyclist, hiker, pedestrian). Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. |
| Entrance - Education/Academic Groups | $0 | School groups and other academic institutions may qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver. If not qualified, please check fees for large or commercial groups. |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $0 | Groups entering Acadia by bus, van, or other high-capacity vehicles (16 people or more) must pay an organized group entrance fee. Adults (16 years old and over): $20/per person Youth (15 years old and under): Free |
| Commercial Entrance - Per Person | $20 | Are you operating a business that provides leisure or recreational services while in the park? If so, it is considered a commercial group and you are required to have a Commercial Use Authorization. |
| Nonresident | $100 | Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Acadia National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless they are admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Acadia via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Visiting from outside the US? Acadia is one of 11 parks that charge non-US residents aged 16+ a $100 nonresident fee on top of the regular entrance fee, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The Non-Resident Annual Pass costs $250. Source: nps.gov passes, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Pass math
- The $80 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass equals 3 visits at $35 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- Acadia also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $70.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. August had 21% of the year; February was the quietest month, with about 1% of the busiest month’s visits.
BusierQuietest month
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 13,183 |
| February | 10,352 |
| March | 26,000 |
| April | 95,200 |
| May | 323,243 |
| June | 631,333 |
| July | 797,030 |
| August | 844,268 |
| September | 659,471 |
| October | 599,253 |
| November | 68,005 |
| December | 11,980 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
3 active NPS alerts when we checked on Oct 26, 2026, including 3 closures. Showing the most serious first.
Park Closure Eastern Section of Beech Mountain Loop Trail Closed for Repairs
Starting Sept 21, the eastern section of the Beech Mountain Loop Trail will be closed for repairs from a junction just beyond the parking lot to just below the summit at the fire tower. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Schoodic Mountain Road Closed for Repairs
Starting Aug 31, the Schoodic Mountain Road will be closed for repairs from Schoodic Loop Road to the summit of Schoodic Head. Workers will be operating heavy equipment for resurfacing, regrading and ditching. Details on nps.gov
Park Closure Southern Section of Ocean Path Closed for Repairs
Starting Aug 31, a section of Ocean Path will be closed for repairs from a trailhead across from the Otter Point parking lot to the trail's southern terminus. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
Acadia National Park is open year-round. Check our website for park facilities operating hours, such as Hulls Cove Visitor Center.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Arts and Culture
- Astronomy
- Biking
- Birdwatching
- Boat Tour
- Boating
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Citizen Science
- Climbing
- Compass and GPS
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Freshwater Fishing
- Freshwater Swimming
- Front-Country Hiking
- Geocaching
- Group Camping
- Guided Tours
- +22 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Acadia?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for AcadiaWho fits what at Acadia
Built from NPS and NOAA data, not opinion. “Leans” is a plain reading of the fee model, not a recommendation.
Seniors (62+)
A senior pass cuts DIY cost
US residents aged 62 and over can buy an annual pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80. The NPS API we use has no per-park accessibility data, so check the park page for trail and shuttle accessibility before choosing.
Source: nps.gov passes, Oct 26, 2026
Visitors without a car
Transit is listed
The NPS tags “Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour” here. Guided options tagged: Boat Tour, Boating, Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour and Guided Tours. Confirm routes and seasons on nps.gov.
Source: NPS activities, Oct 26, 2026
First-timers
Start at a visitor center
The NPS lists 6 visitor centers, 5 with passport stamps. It also publishes 5 self-guided tours, taking 30 min to 10 h, which cost nothing beyond entry.
Source: NPS visitor centers and tours, Oct 26, 2026
Short visits
Entry is valid 7 days
The vehicle fee is good for 7 days, so a one-day trip pays the same gate fee as a long one. NPS self-guided tours here run up to 10 h. February was the quietest month in 2025, which helps if you only have a day.
Source: NPS fees and IRMA Stats, Oct 26, 2026
What to book ahead
Check reservations early
The NPS campground listings (4) tag 577 sites as reservable and 0 as first-come; those tags can lag, so confirm on the park page.
Source: NPS alerts and campgrounds, Oct 26, 2026
Season
August is busiest
August drew 21% of 2025 recreation visits; its average high is 78°F at the nearest NOAA station. February was quietest, with an average high of 35°F. Mild months below the average crowd: April and May.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats; NOAA normals 1991–2020 (ACADIA NP, 4 km away)
Parking and shuttles
2 related alerts
“Eastern Section of Beech Mountain Loop Trail Closed for Repairs” and “Southern Section of Ocean Path Closed for Repairs” (active NPS alerts on Oct 26, 2026).
Source: NPS alerts, Oct 26, 2026
Questions
How much does it cost to enter Acadia by car?
The NPS lists $35 per private vehicle for 7 days (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
Is there an extra fee for visitors from outside the US at Acadia?
Yes. Acadia is one of 11 parks where non-US residents aged 16 and over pay a $100 nonresident fee on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass (NPS, checked Oct 26, 2026).
When is Acadia busiest?
August had the most recreation visits in 2025 (21% of the year). February had the fewest, so August drew about 81.6 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.