Summer in Acadia National Park

Hands Down... The Perfect Maine Vacation!

Ahh... summer in Acadia National Park... that's my idea of heaven...

Otter Cliffs Photo: Chuck/Theresa MacNaughton

In essence, most of this website is about summertime in Acadia, because that is our frame of reference. All six of our vacations in Acadia National Park thus far have been during the summer, four of them in late June/early July and two in August.

And, of course, summer is the best time to plan your Maine vacation if you're hoping for fair, warm weather and maximum accessibility to all facilities. It's beautifully green throughout Acadia in the summer too. Abundant foliage, green grasses and wildflowers can be found almost everywhere you look.

Unfortunately, summer in Acadia is also the most crowded time to visit. 3 million people each year visit the Park, most of those during the summer months, when school is on hiatus and people most often schedule their vacations.

So, if you do go to Acadia National Park in the summertime, just be prepared for crowds, lines, and not a lot of peace... unless you are a hiker. And then, even on the most popular trails, you can pretty easily get away from the crowds, just by venturing into the forest and/or up a peak... especially if you go to the western side of the park.

Summer Weather in Acadia

But then at other times, the sun shone brightly nearly every day! Nights will be cool, and on top of the taller mountain peaks, it is often very windy and cold too — even on the warmest of days down at sea level. So, be sure to bring a jacket or sweatshirt on every outing if you want to be prepared for anything. A rain hat can be handy too.

Things To Do in the Summer in Acadia

I'm not going to go into too much detail here, because this topic is covered in our Experience Acadia section of the site. But summer is the perfect time for activities like hiking, bicycling, sea kayaking, rock climbing and canoeing.

Finding lodging that's open shouldn't be a problem this time of year... finding a vacancy if you haven't planned ahead might be. The restaurants and shops should all be open, many late into the night, but they may also be crowded. Be prepared to wait.

Driving the Park Loop Road may be slow due to heavy traffic and finding a parking place in the various pull offs and trailhead parking lots may be impossible. Try the Island Explorer bus instead. Buses run frequently and go all over the island, not just in the park.

Whatever you decide to do, summer in Acadia National Park is sure to be a super experience for your Maine vacation!

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