An Acadia national park pass is required year-round for park entry. As of November 2026, a private vehicle pass costs $35 for seven days, but it does not let you drive Cadillac Summit Road during the reservation season. For that, you also need a separate $6 vehicle reservation.
What does an Acadia National Park pass cover?
It covers park entrance, not every special-access road or activity. As of November 2026, the official Acadia fees and passes page says every vehicle must display a valid entrance pass clearly through the windshield year-round.
If you enter in a private, non-commercial vehicle with 15-passenger capacity or less, the $35 vehicle pass covers the vehicle and everyone inside for seven days. A motorcycle pass costs $30 for seven days and admits up to two private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to four total passengers. If you walk or bike into the park and you are 16 or older, the per-person pass is $20 for seven days. Youth 15 and under enter free, as of November 2026.
You can also use a valid America the Beautiful pass instead of buying an Acadia-only entrance pass. The Acadia Annual Pass costs $70 and is valid only at Acadia for 12 months from the purchase month, as of November 2026.
| Pass or reservation | Cost as of November 2026 | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle entrance pass | $35 | Covers one private vehicle and occupants for seven days |
| Motorcycle entrance pass | $30 | Covers up to two motorcycles and four total passengers for seven days |
| Per-person entrance pass | $20 | Covers one hiker, bicyclist, or pedestrian age 16 or older for seven days |
| Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation | $6 | Gives timed vehicle entry to Cadillac Summit Road during the reservation season |
Do you need a reservation for Acadia National Park?
You need a reservation only for driving Cadillac Summit Road during the posted season. As of November 2026, the official NPS Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations page says reservations are required from Wednesday, May 20 through Sunday, October 25, 2026.
You do not need a vehicle reservation for other areas of Acadia. That means no timed-entry reservation is required just to drive the Park Loop Road, hike from most trailheads, visit Jordan Pond, head to Schoodic Peninsula, or enter the park on foot or by bike. You still need the park entrance pass.
Think of it this way: the entrance pass gets you into Acadia. The Cadillac reservation gets your vehicle onto one specific summit road during one specific time window.
How do Cadillac Mountain vehicle reservations work?
They are timed-entry reservations for one vehicle, not parking-space guarantees. As of November 2026, Cadillac Summit Road reservations cost $6, are sold online in advance, and are not sold at the park.
The reservation system applies to Cadillac Summit Road, the 3-mile [4.8 km] road to the 1,530-foot [466 m] summit of Cadillac Mountain. The road has pullouts, summit parking, restrooms, a gift shop, and paved walks near the top, according to the NPS. The Island Explorer bus does not serve Cadillac Summit Road, so you cannot count on the park shuttle for this one.
Booking windows matter. As of November 2026, 30 percent of Cadillac Summit Road Sunrise and Daytime reservations are released at 10 a.m. Eastern Time 90 days before the reservation date. The remaining 70 percent are released at 10 a.m. Eastern Time two days before the reservation date.
Sunrise reservations have a 90-minute entry window. Daytime reservations have a 30-minute entry window. Once you enter during your window, you do not need to leave until the road closes to vehicles at 9 p.m. Re-entry is not allowed on the same reservation.
There are limits. As of November 2026, the NPS allows one Sunrise reservation per vehicle every seven days and one Daytime reservation per vehicle per day. Motorcycles, motor scooters, and mopeds count as vehicles, so each needs its own reservation.
How do you buy an Acadia National Park pass and Cadillac reservation?
Buy before you arrive if you can. Cell service in Acadia can be thin right when you need it most.
- Go to the official Recreation.gov Cadillac Summit Road reservation page or the NPS Acadia fees page.
- Buy your Acadia entrance pass, unless you already have a valid America the Beautiful pass or Acadia Annual Pass.
- If you plan to drive Cadillac Summit Road between May 20 and October 25, 2026, book the separate $6 vehicle reservation.
- Print your entrance pass before you arrive if you bought a printable pass online; NPS says printed passes must be displayed on the dashboard.
- Download or screenshot the Cadillac reservation QR code so a ranger can scan it even if your phone has no signal.
As of November 2026, Acadia does not accept cash at park sales outlets. The NPS says entrance fees in the park are paid by mobile payment, credit card, or debit card. If you can pay only with cash, the park lists third-party pass vendors on its fees page.
Can you drive Cadillac Summit Road without a reservation?
During the reservation season, no, not in a private vehicle. As of November 2026, the NPS says vehicle reservations are required to drive Cadillac Summit Road from May 20 through October 25, 2026.
There are practical exceptions for how you reach the area. A reservation is not required if you enter by foot, bicycle, or taxi. The NPS also says vehicle reservations are not required for any other area of Acadia.
Vehicle size matters. Cadillac Summit Road prohibits vehicles over 21 feet [6.4 m] long, including bike racks and hitch attachments, as of November 2026. Recreation vehicles and trailers are prohibited. The Acadia Superintendent’s Compendium also lists Cadillac Summit Road under the park roads where vehicles or vehicle combinations over 21 feet may not operate.
Do not try to wing it with a long van, RV, or trailer because you snagged a reservation. The NPS says vehicles over the length limit will be denied entry even with a valid reservation.
What should you have ready before you arrive?
Have your pass, reservation, and backup proof ready before you lose service. Acadia is not the place to depend on one spinning app screen.
- Printed entrance pass or valid physical/digital federal lands pass
- Cadillac Summit Road reservation QR code, downloaded or screenshotted
- Photo ID if using an America the Beautiful pass
- Credit or debit card for in-park purchases
- Vehicle length checked, including bike racks and hitch gear
- Warm layers for Cadillac sunrise; the summit can feel far colder than town
- Plan B trailhead if Cadillac reservations sell out
What happens if you miss your Cadillac reservation time?
You may lose your entry for that reservation window. As of November 2026, Sunrise reservations have a 90-minute entry window and Daytime reservations have a 30-minute entry window.
Build in extra time for Bar Harbor traffic, slow-moving Park Loop Road stretches, wildlife stops, and wrong turns. If you cannot use your reservation, the NPS asks visitors to cancel it. Reservations may be changed at no cost to another date or time before the reservation time, if space is available.
Related reading
- National Park Pass Changes for 2026
- Every Kid Outdoors: The Free 4th Grade National Park Pass
- Logan Pass and Going-to-the-Sun Road: Opening and Access
- Parks Canada Discovery Pass: Price and Coverage
FAQ
Do I need both an Acadia National Park pass and a Cadillac Mountain reservation?
Yes, if you are driving Cadillac Summit Road during the reservation season. As of November 2026, the NPS requires a park entrance pass for Acadia plus a separate $6 Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation from May 20 through October 25, 2026.
Is the Acadia entrance pass required all year?
Yes. As of November 2026, Acadia requires a park entrance pass year-round, and vehicles must display it clearly through the windshield.
Can I buy a Cadillac Mountain vehicle reservation at the entrance station?
No. As of November 2026, Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservations are sold online in advance and are not available for purchase at the park.
Does a Cadillac reservation guarantee a parking spot?
No. The NPS says the reservation provides timed entry but does not assign a specific parking space. You still must park only in designated spaces.
Can I take the Island Explorer bus to Cadillac Summit?
No. As of November 2026, the NPS says Cadillac Summit Road is not served by the Island Explorer bus system. You can reach the road area by permitted vehicle, taxi, bicycle, or on foot, depending on season and conditions.
Are Acadia free entrance days also free for Cadillac reservations?
No. Free entrance days waive the entrance fee only for eligible visitors. As of November 2026, the NPS says other fees, including timed-entry or reservation fees, may still apply.