Acadia National Park

By Staff Posted on Education

 Acadia is lovely during any of New England's distinctly different seasons. Although summer is by far the most popular, it's by no means the only time to enjoy the park. From mid-May to late fall, Bar Harbor is swarming with tourists; expect higher lodging prices. On the other hand, summer is the best time to take advantage of shopping, dining out, and touring on Mount Desert Island; the town of Bar Harbor virtually shuts down in winter.

Because the park is also heavily trafficked in summer, you might try the fall foliage season or winter to avoid crowds. Opportunities to cross-country ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile are plentiful, and camping is available year-round. Though some roads are left unplowed in winter (but remain open to skiers and snowmobilers), almost all of the park is accessible by one means or another.

Because of its island setting, Acadia is both cooler in summer and more moderate in winter than is the mainland. Average summer temperatures are in the mid-70s, although windless summer days can drive the thermometer into the 90s. Rain and fog are frequent at this time: After the Pacific Northwest, the Maine coast receives more annual precipitation than any other U.S. climate; be prepared for sudden weather changes. Fall temperatures drop into the 40s and 50s, and rainfall increases slightly. Winter temperatures fall into the 20s and below, with an average monthly snowfall of 12 to 17 inches. Spring rolls in around late April, delivering highs in the 50s. Several trails, particularly those at higher elevations, are covered with ice and snow until this time.

Memorial Day is the start of the migration to the beaches and the mountains, and summer begins in earnest on July 4. Those who are driving to the Maine coast on its feeder roads, I-95 and U.S. 1., in July or August, should know that Friday and Sunday are the days weekenders clog the overburdened Route 6; traffic to the beach areas and the islands dies down after Labor Day.

In spring, despite mud season, maple sugaring goes on in Maine, and the fragrant scent of lilacs is never far away.