The best way to appreciate Acadia National Park – its salty coastal breezes and ecological diversity – is outside of a car. Car-free exploration enables us to immerse ourselves in the park we love, and it’s a more environmentally friendly way to experience and steward the park.

With climate change challenging fragile park ecosystems, automobile traffic brings an additional burden. The exhaust expelled from visitors’ vehicles is the biggest factor in the park’s carbon footprint.

Record visitation is also putting added strain on park resources.

Below are a host of resources to help you get to Acadia and explore the park without a car.

Find more helpful pointers for your visit: Top 10 Things to Know Before Visiting Acadia

Getting to Acadia without a car:

• Fly to the Bar Harbor/Hancock County airport (BHB). In the summer and fall season, the Island Explorer bus connects to the airport.
• Fly to Bangor International airport (BGR) and ride Downeast Transportation to Bar Harbor or West Transportation’s bus to Ellsworth or take a taxi.
• Take the bus (Concord Coach or Greyhound) from Boston to Bangor. See below for options to connect to Mount Desert Island, Stonington, and Schoodic.
• Boat into Mount Desert Island, Winter Harbor, or Stonington harbors.
• Bicycle!

Getting Around

There are several ways to get from Bangor to Acadia’s gateway communities:

• Downeast Transportation provides bus service between Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, and the Bangor airport and Concord Coach bus depot every Friday and Monday.
• West Transportation provides bus service between Bangor, Ellsworth, and Gouldsboro daily.
• The Bar Harbor/Bangor Shuttle is a private shuttle service that operates June through October on a reservation basis.
• Downeast Transportation provides bus service throughout Hancock County connecting in Ellsworth.  For example, on Fridays, you can take a bus from Bar Harbor to Stonington via Ellsworth.
• The fare-free Island Explorer bus system operates in all communities on Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula from June 23^rd through the end of August.  Some routes also continue through Columbus Day.
• There are several ferries and mailboats that connect Mount Desert Island with Schoodic, the Cranberry Isles , and Swans Island/Frenchboro.
• The Isle au Haut ferry provides year-round ferry service from Stonington to the Isle au Haut town pier and seasonal service to Duck Harbor in Acadia National Park.
• There are several local taxi companies in the area to get from Bangor to Acadia’s gateway communities.

Enjoying Acadia

• Ride the Island Explorer. It’s fun, it’s convenient, and it’s FREE! Remember that all Island Explorer bus passengers should purchase a park pass before they board the bus into Acadia.
• Hike a Village Connector Trail into the park. Friends of Acadia maintains connectors from downtown Bar Harbor and the Northeast Harbor Village Improvement Society maintains trails from downtown Northeast Harbor.
• Ride your bike into and in the park. The historic carriage road system offers 45 miles of motor-free crushed stone roads throughout eastern Mount Desert Island’s interior.  All Island Explorer buses are equipped to carry bicycles, and the Bicycle Express transports cyclists from Bar Harbor to the popular Eagle Lake carriage road access point. Several area bike shops offer bicycle rentals. Please remember that bicyclists should not ride on hiking trails or on the privately-owned carriage roads in Seal Harbor.
• Take one of the commercial tour buses operating out of Bar Harbor.