Acadia National Park Reservation System Begins Thursday

It's now reality, folks.

Before you head out on that sight seeing day trip, remember you'll need to make a reservation if you plan on visiting Sand Beach and the summit of Cadillac.

Acadia National Park will kick off a pilot program beginning this Thursday the 1st and continuing until October 18th, where in order to get you vehicle into the Sand Beach Entrance and onto the Cadillac Summit Road, you must have a reservation.

“The majority of the park is open just as it has always been, including access to all of the carriage roads and all but a few hiking trails,” said Superintendent Kevin Schneider in a Park press release. “If you want to visit the park’s most popular areas during peak times with your vehicle, you now have the opportunity to guarantee access with a reservation. If you walk or bike into a vehicle reservation area, reservations are not required.”

The reservation system will be in full effect during the 18-day period this October and then apparently every year moving forward.

The first thing you'll have to do is register an account with Recreation.gov. and then select a date to visit. Then, pay the $2 fee.

Vehicle reservations will be required for the Cadillac Summit Road between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and the Sand Beach Entrance sections of the Park Loop Road which provides access to Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Ocean Path, the Beehive, Great Head, and Gorham Mountain, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. There is a special vehicle reservation for just the Sunrise on the summit of Cadillac as well.

All other areas of the Park are accessible without a reservation. Remember, you will still need a valid Park Pass in order to visit Acadia National Park, both on Mount Desert Island and also on the Schoodic Point Peninsula.