Acadia National Park is one of the oldest which provides beautiful & breathtaking views for over 2 millions of Americans every year. It was started in the year 1916 [ almost 109 years back ] and is regarded as first national park on the east coast.
Before knowing about the best time visit What is the best time to visit Acadia National Park , lets have a brief introduction about it. Here on this page we have covered information about Acadia National Park like, how many acres the park was spread, what are islands near the park, where it is located etc. In our upcoming articles we will cover more information about Acadia National Park like History and culture , Activities to enjoy and top tourist attractions near or within the Park.
Acadia National Park is located at the Maine’s coastline and roughly spreads over an area of almost 50000 acres encompassing most of Mount Desert Island, some of the surrounding Islands and the Schoodic Peninsula. Apart from this park area includes terrains, rugged coastlines, dense woods, and mountains which provide splendid views to the Atlantic Ocean. Another interesting feature it has 60 miles of coastline, 33 miles of scenic motor roads, 45 miles of carriage roads, and more than 150 miles of hiking trails provide numerous ways to explore the park.
It has long-standing history, amazing geophysical features, and plenty of fauna, which means that the park caters to almost every tourist. Whether you go in search for an adrenaline rush or in search of escaping to the wilderness of nature, Acadia does not disappoint.
The park was started by President Woodrow Wilson in the year 1916 and it is one of the first places to see the sunrise. During the summer, Acadia provides fantastic opportunities like hiking, biking, bird-watching, and fishing. Not only the summer, but it is also a paradise for winter sports, where people go cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, ice fishing etc.
Hope the above intro is more than enough to gain a decent knowledge about Acadia National Park. Now without wasting our time let dive into our main topic i.e. What is the best time to visit Acadia National Park?
What is the best time to visit Acadia National Park?
There are many things that you can watch throughout the year, but during certain periods of the year you can have more scenic views and of course the crowd would be less. Below we are going list out the each season and what you can enjoy during the season.
April – June:
Acadia Park gradually regains it liveliness after winter. The snow starts melting, waterfalls become more active and you can start seeing the flowers. Another important reason to visit during this time period is , the Park is comparatively less crowded and is a perfect time to appreciate the quite beauty of nature.
Temperatures during the season may vary from 40F to 70F. Sometimes we may want to put on our overcoats in the morning while the afternoon may be warm so you might want to take off your jacket.
Some of the roads may be closed up to mid to late April due to snow and the classic example of this is “Park Loop Road”. During this period the loop road remains closed. If you don’t want yourself or your family to get disturbed by mosquitoes and black flies, then its preferable to quit visiting Acadia Park in this season.
July to August [ Summer ] :
The summer season is the busiest when it comes to visitors traffic within Acadia National Park. All recreational areas, motor vehicle roads and trails are accessible and this season is ideal for hiking, kayaking and scenic drives.
The Summer Season is not only for outdoor activities which we have mentioned above, but you also enjoy other outdoor marine activities such as use of boats and soaking in the textured water of the shoreline.
Generally temperatures fall between 55 and 80 F and the climate is mostly warm yet comfortable because of cool sea breezes. This cool sea breezes makes your day pleasant without making you feel like as if you are in the warmer months.
As we have already said, in the months of July to August, you can see huge crowd at the park and you may face difficulty in enjoying the sight of Cadillac Mountain and the Jordan Pond. Another major problem you may face is “you may experience jam because of the huge gathering” and of course getting parking space for your car would be another issue.
September – October :
Undeniably the most suitable season if you are planning to visit Acadia. Most of tourists from allover the world visit the park during the autumn season when the trees have developed beautiful pink, orange and yellow color. You can enjoy major outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and photography during this period.
Temperature drops steadily and they range between 40°F to 70°F. You may experience warmth during the day time [ of course not the warmth you experience in Summer], and the nights can be cold.
It is recommended to make reservations and bookings for the accommodation as early as possible, as the season is quite busy with regular travelers. Another point to mention is, try to come in the early days of the season as some of the park’s facilities start to be shutdown by end of October.
November – March :
This season transforms Acadia into a snow world and you can enjoy activities like snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and winter walk and trekking. Generally families don’t prefer this season, as the roads may become slippery and winter climate is not suitable for older people or people with health issues. Food and accommodation might be a problem because majority of restaurants and mid-range hotels in Bar Harbor shut during the winter season.
During this season the park is calm and peaceful, so people who love to be lonely can enjoy the stay. Unlike the summer, visitor count is very low so there would be no issue of parking. But you may face the Winter problems like “winter storms hampering your travel” and slippery roads etc.
This season is very cold with temperature varying between 15 °F and 45 °F you can physically see snow and ice. Take necessary precaution i.e. proper clothing and footwear that are necessary for a Winter travel. You can rent winter wears like snow shoes and ski wears in Bar Harbor since the place offers winter seasonal. This season is ideal for those who love challenges and do not mind freezing.
Conclusion :
Best Time to visit “Acadia National Park” as per our analysis in the months of September and October. During this season the temperature is reasonably warmth and cold, so you can enjoy the location without any disturbance. Incase if you miss out this season then we recommend you to visit the Park during Summer i.e. from July to August. Any suggestions about the article please, do let us know in the comments section.