Acadia National Park guide · 1 min read
Island Explorer Shuttle and Beating the Parking Crunch
Parking in Acadia is extremely limited. With roughly four million visits a year, drivers often face long waits and crowded lots.
The simplest way around it is to leave the car behind and ride the Island Explorer, a free shuttle that links the area's hotels, motels and campgrounds with park destinations.
The system runs seventeen clean-fuel propane buses on seven routes, each with its own schedule. Buses connect to many spots in Bar Harbor and to the Bar Harbor Airport. Every bus carries bicycle racks and offers full access for passengers with disabilities, though not every stop is wheelchair accessible. Schedules are posted at visitor information centers and on the Island Explorer website.
Buses stop at campgrounds, many trailheads and carriage road entrances, and drivers will also pick you up anywhere along the route where it is safe to stop. That makes one-way hikes easy. You can start at the Village Green in downtown Bar Harbor, walk about an hour to Sieur de Monts, and catch a bus from there. At Jordan Pond, the Jordan Pond Path traces the shoreline with views of steep mountains shaped by glaciers, a walk of one to three hours.
With a bike on the rack, the shuttle also opens up the park's forty-five miles of carriage roads, where motor vehicles are not allowed. These historic roads include sixteen stone bridges and are shared by hikers, cyclists and horseback riders.
One exception to plan for is Cadillac Mountain. The Island Explorer does not go to the summit, and driving up requires a Cadillac Summit Vehicle Reservation. Save or screenshot your confirmation code so you can show it at the check station.
