Visiting Acadia In The Fall – Magical Fall Foliage + Epic Hikes You Can’t Miss

If you’re planning a visit to Acadia in the fall then you’re in for a treat! While Acadia National Park is a special place to visit during the summer and winter, I think it’s even more beautiful in the fall when the leaves are exploding in color.

Acadia in the fall is a great stop along a New England fall road trip.

This guide covers tips for planning, fall weather, the best things to do, where to stay and a packing list for visiting Acadia in the fall.

Visiting Acadia In The Fall Guide

Visiting Acadia in the fall is a magical experience. The air is crisp, the leaves are exploding with reds, oranges and yellows and the weather is perfect for hiking. 

This also means that September and October can be really busy times. The National Parks Service has put together a forecast to show daily visitors which you can reference when planning your trip. This helpful tool will also show you how many spaces are open in each parking lot.

If you’re looking for a less crowded experience, Acadia is one of the best National Parks to visit in the winter.

Quick Tips – Acadia National Park

Entrance Fee – The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, which is good for up to 7 days. Or, you can buy an annual America The Beautiful park pass for $80, which is good for 12 months from date of purchase and saves you money if you visit more than 2 parks per year.

Campgrounds – There are 4 campgrounds in Acadia National Park. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance, but no walk-in reservations are available on-site. I recommend booking in advance because these can fill quickly.

Pets – Acadia is one of the more pet-friendly National Parks. There are 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads where pets are allowed.

Cadillac Mountain – watching sunrise at Cadillac Mountain is a highlight of any trip to Acadia in the fall. Advanced reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road and can be made 90 days in advance, or you can take your chances at getting a reservation two days in advance. You cannot get reservations on-site in the park.

Planning Links For Acadia In The Fall

• Maine Foliage Map (updated every Wednesday during foliage season)
• New England Peak Fall Foliage Map
• Where to stay
• Rent a car
• Rent a campervan or RV

Weather – Acadia In The Fall

Acadia in the fall has the best temperatures for exploring the park. Temperatures range from 40-70 degrees and you can expect a bit more rainy and cloudy days. About half the days in fall are cloudy.

I recommend planning your fall visit with a few days to explore the park, and a few days to explore Bar Harbor (which is right next door!). Reserve any rainy days in your schedule for shopping and dining in Bar Harbor – and don’t forget to get a fresh Lobster Roll!

Best Spots For Leaf Peeping – Acadia In The Fall

The best places to see fall foliage in Acadia National Park are a few hikes (detailed below) as well as sunrise at Cadillac Mountain and driving the Park Loop Road.

Watch Sunrise At Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is the first sunrise in the country, which makes it a great place to watch sunrise and catch some fall foliage. It overlooks Mount Desert Island and has great 360 degree views of the colorful landscape.

From May – October you must have an advanced reservation to access Cadillac Mountain. 30% of vehicle reservations are available 90 days in advance of the reservation date. The remaining 70% become available two days in advance.

There are two types of reservation permits: sunrise and daytime. Because sunrise permits are the most popular they sell out quickly. If you’re unable to get a sunrise permit, aim for a daytime permit, which is easier to get, and come for an equally stunning sunset!

Sunrise times at Cadillac Mountain range from 4:45am to 6:15 am. In October, sunrise is closer to 6:15am – which means you can sleep in a little longer!

Note: vehicles over 21 feet long are prohibited from this road.

Drive Park Loop Road For The Best Leaf Peeping At Acadia In The Fall

Park Loop Road is the scenic drive around Mount Desert Island (the primary section of Acadia National Park). It’s a 27-mile loop with access points to popular areas like Sieur de Monts, Sand Beach, Otter Point, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain.

For an ideal Park Loop Road experience during your trip to Acadia in the fall I recommend this itinerary:

Start at Hulls Cove Visitor Center. My first stop in any National Park is the visitors center because you can pick up paper maps, speak to rangers and get up-to-date park information such as trail closures and wildlife information. I also make a point to get a stamp in my National Parks Passport book for each new park I visit.

Next, drive south along Paradise Hill Road before you start the one-way loop section of the road. Follow signs to Sand Beach.

If you’re stopping at Cadillac Mountain (with your reservation permit) I recommend you do so before you start the one-way portion of Park Loop Road. Traffic can get congested along the road and could make you miss your timed entry.

You’ll follow Park Loop Road clockwise around Mount Desert Island.

Paddle Jordan Pond Or Eagle Lake

If the weather is nice, I recommend catching the fall foliage in Acadia from the water! Jordan Pond or Eagle Lake are both great options. Keep in mind that both of these bodies of water are reservoirs that provide drinking water to nearby towns so swimming and paddleboarding are not allowed.

Best Hikes for Fall Foliage In Acadia

Bubbles Nubble Loop

• Distance: 3.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 935 feet
• Rating: Moderate
• Time To Hike: 2 hours
• Trailhead: Bubbles Divide Trailhead

Jesup Path and Hemlock Path Loop

• Distance: 1.7 miles
• Elevation Gain: 42 feet
• Rating: Easy
• Time To Hike: 30 minutes
• Trailhead: Sieur de Monts Nature Center

Dorr Mountain South Ridge Loop

• Distance: 3.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,151 feet
• Rating: Hard
• Time To Hike: 2 hours
• Trailhead: Dorr Mountain

Beehive Loop Trail

• Distance: 1.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 508 feet
• Rating: Hard
• Time To Hike: 2 hours
• Trailhead: Sand Beach Parking Lot

This trail has some technical parts which makes it more challenging. Expect exposed cliffs, iron rungs, and granite staircases. I recommend hiking counterclockwise so you go up the rungs and ladders instead of down, and you’ll also hit the harder part of the trail early on instead of last.

Jordan Pond Path

• Distance: 3.1 miles
• Elevation Gain: 42 feet
• Rating: Easy
• Time To Hike: 1 hour
• Trailhead: Jordan Pond

Jordan Cliffs Hike

• Distance: 5.1 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,610 feet
• Rating: Hard
• Time To Hike: 3-5 hours
• Trailhead: Jordan Pond

Jordan Cliffs Loop is an extremely challenging 5 mile hike. It includes rock scrambles, several steep slopes and iron rungs to climb up Sargent Mountain. However, the views from the top are stunning.

Dogs and children under 12 are not permitted due to the difficulty of this hike.

Precipice Loop

• Distance: 3.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,059 feet
• Rating: Hard
• Time To Hike: 2 hours
• Trailhead: Bubbles Divide Trailhead

If you have a fear of heights or experience vertigo I do not recommend this hike.

Where to Stay At Acadia In The Fall

There are four campgrounds in Acadia National Park, and many additional hotel and vacation rental options nearby in Bar Harbor.

Camping In Acadia National Park

There are four campsites in Acadia National Park. However, Duck Harbor is only accessible via boat, and Schoodic Woods has very limited sites (just 5). I recommend trying to get a reservation for either Blackwoods Campground or Seawall Campground.

• Blackwoods Campground is located on the east side of Mount Desert Island close to Park Loop drive, and is ideal for exploring the main part of Acadia in the fall.
• Seawall Campground is located on the west side of Mount Desert Island near the coastline.
• Duck Harbor Campground is located on Isle au Haut and only accessible by mailboat.
• Schoodic Woods Campground located on the Schoodic Peninsula.

Hotels Near Acadia National Park

Little Fig Hotel (Formerly Quimby House Inn & Spa) – A cozy, boutique-style hotel that offers a central location with charming, comfortable rooms and easy access to downtown Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

Bar Harbor Manor – A mix of historic and modern accommodations, featuring spacious rooms and suites, landscaped gardens, and proximity to local shops and restaurants.

Bass Cottage & Ullikana – A historic inn offering luxurious accommodations, gourmet breakfast, and a serene atmosphere near the waterfront.

Acadia Inn – Family-friendly with amenities like a pool, continental breakfast, and easy access to Acadia National Park. Offers special packages and park shuttle services.

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel – Modeled after a historic 19th-century hotel, it provides classic elegance with modern amenities, including a heated pool and complimentary breakfast.

Moseley Cottage Inn – A charming, Victorian-style inn with a mix of traditional rooms and modern amenities, known for its homemade breakfast and personalized service.

Acadia In The Fall Packing List

Given the weather can be highly variable in Acadia in the fall, I recommend packing layers, waterproof gear, and a few hiking essentials.

Here’s a practical packing list for visiting Acadia National Park in the fall:

Reservations Needed For Acadia In The Fall

While Acadia National Park does not have a vehicle timed entry requirement for the park, it does have reservations required for two activities: camping in the park and driving Cadillac Summit Road up to Cadillac Mountain (from May – October only).

Camping – You can make reservations in advance on the recreation.gov website for any of the four campgrounds in Acadia National Park. Sites can be reserved up to 2 months in advance with the exception of Duck Harbor which can be reserved starting April 1. There are no first-come, first-serve sites, you must book in advance.

Cadillac Mountain via Cadillac Summit Road – From May – October vehicle traffic to Cadillac Summit Road is restricted to only those with timed vehicle entry permits. You can reserve these online in advance (there is no ability to reserve these permits on-site). Reservations are available on a rolling 90-day basis, or some permits are available 2-days ahead.