Acadia National Park is a National Park in Maine. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 17 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Acadia
We matched 17 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Acadia. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (3)
Waterfalls (3)
Mountain Peaks (1)
Lakes (1)
Beaches (1)
Lighthouses (6)
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
LighthouseFire Lookouts (1)
State Parks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Acadia the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:07 AM | 7:52 AM | 3:34 PM | 4:19 PM | 241° | 9h 13m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:02 PM | 253° | 10h 28m |
| March | 6:46 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:39 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:50 AM | 6:29 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:17 PM | 285° | 13h 27m |
| May | 5:07 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:54 PM | 298° | 14h 47m |
| June | 4:49 AM | 5:33 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:20 PM | 305° | 15h 31m |
| July | 5:03 AM | 5:47 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:16 PM | 302° | 15h 13m |
| August | 5:37 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:40 PM | 291° | 14h 03m |
| September | 6:13 AM | 6:51 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:46 PM | 275° | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:50 PM | 259° | 11h 02m |
| November | 6:30 AM | 7:14 AM | 3:23 PM | 4:07 PM | 245° | 9h 37m |
| December | 7:03 AM | 7:51 AM | 3:07 PM | 3:55 PM | 238° | 8h 52m |
Computed for the park's reference point (44.4093, -68.2475); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Acadia, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:06 AM | 0.7 | 13° |
| April | 2:24 AM – 3:54 AM | 1.5 | 16° |
| May | 12:30 AM – 2:50 AM | 2.3 | 17° |
| June | 10:48 PM – 2:18 AM | 3.5 | 17° |
| July | 10:34 PM – 12:54 AM | 2.3 | 17° |
| August | 9:34 PM – 10:54 PM | 1.3 | 16° |
| September | 8:25 PM – 8:55 PM | 0.5 | 13° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Located on Mount Desert Island in Maine, Acadia experiences all four seasons. Summer temperatures range from 45-90F (7-30C). Fall temperatures range from 30-70F (-1-21C). Typically the first frost is in mid-October and first snowfall begins in November and can continue through April with an average accumulation of 73 inches (185 cm). Winter temperatures range from 14-35F (-10 - 2C). Spring temperatures range from 30-70F (-1-21C).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 53% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (72%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $6.00 |
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $35.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $20.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From Boston take I-95 north to Augusta, Maine, then Route 3 east to Ellsworth, and on to Mount Desert Island. For an alternate route, continue on I-95 north to Bangor, Maine, then take I-395 to U.S. Route 1A east to Ellsworth. In Ellsworth, take Route 3 to Mount Desert Island.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Group Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Compass and GPS
- Geocaching
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Boat Tour
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Hiking
Nearby parks
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