Last updated: 11/13/25, 8:30 am

The government shutdown ended last night (November 12) clearing the way for National Park Staff at Acadia, and federal workers around the country, to return to work. The shutdown lasted 43 days, the longest in history. More than half of Acadia’s staff were on furlough. We are thankful that the signed bill provides back pay to everyone who was not paid during the shutdown. The current bill funds the government through Jan. 30. We continue to work with our congressional delegation to stress the importance of stable funding and staffing for the National Park Service and the need to lift the hiring freeze.

During the shutdown, Acadia National Park operated in accordance with the Department of Interior’s 2025 contingency plan, which directed national parks, including Acadia, to remain mostly open, while operating with significantly reduced staff and visitor services.

Government Shutdown Implications for Acadia, Visitors, and Staff:

Visitor services:

Open/accessible to visitors:

• Park roads, including Park Loop Road, carriage roads, and trails are open.
• Cadillac Summit Road is open to motor vehicles. The reservation system ended for the season on Oct. 26. Park Loop Road, including Cadillac Summit Road, close for the season on Dec. 1. (Check Acadia National Park’s website for current conditions, including temporary closures due to ice and winter weather.)
• Most restrooms are open and being maintained.

Closed/not accessible to visitors:

• The Hulls Cove Visitor Center, the Sieur de Monts Nature Center, Rockefeller Hall on the Schoodic Peninsula, and the Wild Gardens of Acadia were closed in October due to the government shutdown and are now closed for the season. (Learn more about their regular seasonal operating dates here.)
• Ranger programs, family programming, school field trips, and outdoor education experiences are canceled.

Note: The fare-free Island Explorer bus system, the Acadia Gateway Center, Wildwood Stables, Jordan Pond Restaurant, park campgrounds, and concessionaire-operated gift shops are now closed for the season. See the full list of seasonal closures.

Staff:

• During the shutdown, the majority of Acadia National Park Service staff were furloughed, with exceptions made for a small number of staff deemed “necessary to protect life and property” and basic sanitation services, including law enforcement, fire safety, and custodial staff.
• Most staff were not paid during the shutdown.

Volunteer programs:

• Friends of Acadia’s Drop-In Stewardship and Wild Gardens volunteer programs were paused within the park during the shutdown; however, volunteer work continued on community trails outside park boundaries.
• Take Pride in Acadia Day, scheduled for Nov. 9 (after being postponed from the original date of Nov. 1), had to be canceled due to the federal shutdown guidelines. Learn more and sign up for future volunteer events here.

Ongoing construction:

• Most construction projects within the park, including work on the Maintenance Building and the Harden Farm staff housing complex, were permitted to continue during the shutdown.

Fee collection and revenue:

• Friends of Acadia estimates that Acadia National Park generated roughly $1.5M in fee revenue last October, one of the park’s busiest months. During the shutdown, fee collectors and visitor center staff, who usually aid visitors with park pass purchases, were furloughed. This resulted in a significant loss in park revenue, needed for next year’s operations.
• We are grateful to all of the park visitors who supported the park by donating the value of a park entrance pass through our Entrance Fee Donation program and to all of the individuals and businesses who helped us get the word out to visitors. Through this program, we raised over $30,000 for the park.

Implications for Our Community:

• The timing of the shutdown was particularly difficult, as fall foliage season is among Acadia’s busiest periods and a major driver of the regional economy. In September, the National Park Service released new data showing visitors to Acadia spent an estimated $539 million in local gateway communities in 2024, supporting 5,300 local jobs and generating $745 million in total economic output for Downeast, Maine.

How You Can Help:

• Engage with policymakers: Contact your state’s congressional delegation to stress the importance of stable funding and staffing for the National Park Service. Urge policymakers to lift the hiring freeze and restore full staffing levels at national parks.
• Recreate responsibly: Check out tips on how to stay safe and reduce your impact on the park’s incredible natural and historic resources. Small acts of care—like carrying out your trash or taking the Island Explorer bus when possible—make a big difference.
• Express appreciation: Thank essential National Park Service personnel for continuing to serve during this period.
• Support local businesses and organizations: Help keep our community vibrant by supporting local businesses and organizations through this challenging time.
• Share information about community resources: Several local organizations and food pantries are available to help furloughed federal workers and others impacted by the shutdown.
• Consider a donation: Help Friends of Acadia support the park by becoming a member or donating. Your gift will fund programs at Acadia including trail maintenance, habitat restoration, youth education, and conservation efforts to protect our cherished park.
• Park visitors who were unable to purchase a park pass during the shutdown can support Acadia by donating the value of an entrance fee at friendsofacadia.org/entrance.
• Stay informed: Stay connected with Friends of Acadia for updates on the shutdown’s impacts and volunteer opportunities. Sign up for our email newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you to everyone for helping support our park and our community!