Cadillac Mountain is a scenic drive at Acadia National Park that is so popular that a reservation system had to be implemented. From the top of the mountain, you’ll get views of the surrounding mountains and out to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a beautiful view, especially at sunrise, or so I’ve been told—my visit to Cadillac Mountain didn’t quite have those amazing views.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about planning your visit so you can get a perfect Cadillac Mountain sunrise.
Tickets for Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain
First and foremost, you need to know that tickets are required to drive up Cadillac Mountain. Even for sunrise when you’ll be driving up in the dark, you’ll need to have a ticket. And don’t think you can just sneak up. Rangers are stationed at the entrance of the Cadillac Mountain Road and will be checking for tickets even before the sun comes up.
The exact time of your reservation will vary throughout the year, since sunrise varies throughout the year. Your ticket will come with an hour and a half time window where you’ll need to enter Cadillac Mountain Road. That window will include plenty of time to allow you to make it up the mountain for sunrise. Once at the top of Cadillac Mountain, you can stay for as long as you’d like.
Tickets cost $6 and you can make one reservation per week. The reservation is good for everyone in your vehicle.
Cadillac Mountain Sunrise tickets go on sale 90 days prior to the date of the reservation. 30% of the tickets are released at this 90 day mark while the other 70% are held until two days before.
For some examples:
For May 22, book on February 22 at 10:00 am EST
For June 1, book on March 3 at 10:00 am EST
For July 1, book on April 2 at 10:00 am EST
For August 1, book on May 3 at 10:00 am EST
I picked up my ticket as soon as it went on sale. Having experienced reservations that sell out almost instantaneously (Glacier National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park come to mind), I wasn’t taking chances. At least for the day I was looking for, it didn’t seem to be a big deal and there wasn’t a mad rush. Tickets still sold out that first day, but it wasn’t within the first five minutes.
One final piece of advice before we get to more tips about the actual sunrise on Cadillac Mountain. Download your ticket to your phone or print off your reservation. Service is spotty in Acadia National Park and you don’t want to miss your reservation just because you can’t get the reservation to pull up.
Tips for Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain
Ok, enough about the reservations, let’s talk more about what I recommend to make your Cadillac Mountain sunrise experience the best it can be.
Arrive Early
It’s sunrise, so it’s going to be an early day regardless, but I recommend getting to Cadillac Mountain early. When I visited, sunrise was at about 6:15 am, so I timed my arrival to about 5:45 am. I was late compared to everyone else. The big parking lot at the top of the mountain was full and while I got a spot at a nearby spot, I was amazed at how early everyone came.
This also means that everyone who gets there before you not only gets a better parking spot, but gets first choice at where they want to sit for sunrise. You’ll want to get out of your car and go out to the mountain itself so the earlier you arrive, the more choice you’ll have on where you can watch.
I still got a nice spot for sunrise, but I do wish I had gotten there even earlier than I did. Especially since the fog rolled in later and blocked the sunrise. Had I arrived earlier, I would have had a better chance of seeing something before sunrise.
Set Your Expectations Appropriately
A Cadillac Mountain sunrise is supposed to be one of the best in the United States. That already sets your expectations high, but I think it’s important to lower your expectations. Yes, from some photos I’ve seen, sunrise on Cadillac Mountain can be beautiful, but it’s not a guarantee.
You may have clouds. You may have fog. You may have rain. There’s any number of things that could go wrong and prevent you from seeing that beautiful sunrise. It’s disappointing when it doesn’t live up to the expectations in your head.
Since weather along the coast and at the top of the mountain can be unpredictable, it’s best to set your expectations reasonably.
If It’s Foggy, Go Lower
About 20 minutes before the sun rose, fog rolled in and covered the top of Cadillac Mountain and we couldn’t see anything. If there was a nice sunrise that morning, no one on the top of Cadillac Mountain saw it. It was a bummer, but it’s what happens some times.
However, as I drove down the mountain and stopped at some of the pull outs, I noticed something. The top of the mountain was foggy, but the pullouts along the mountain had some decent views and I could see out to the coast.
So, my advice for you is that if it gets very foggy on top of the mountain, try jumping in your car and heading down to the mountain for a bit. It might not be the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain, but it may give you a better view. There’s no guarantee of course, but I think for me, it would have made a difference.
Remember, once you pass through the ranger check point, you can stay on Cadillac Mountain as long as you’d like. That means you could go to the top of the mountain, decide it’s too foggy, head lower and watch the sunrise, and then go back up for one more view (hoping the fog cleared) before descending a second time and exiting Cadillac Mountain.
Be Prepared for Crowds
Cadillac Mountain is so popular that they had to implement a reservation system to cut back on the overcrowding. That means, you will not have the sunrise views to yourself. There will be plenty of other visitors and you need to be prepared for that. Arrive early to claim your spot, but don’t be afraid to move if it gets too busy.
Bring Layers
It is cold on the top of Cadillac Mountain, especially at sunrise, so make sure to bring plenty of layers. I wore a fleece and a puffy jacket with a hat and gloves. I was ok and warm enough (though I’ll still admit it was chilly).
What I wish I had brought with me was a blanket. I had nowhere to sit on Cadillac Mountain except for the rocky ground. That was pretty cold and I wish I had had something to put between me and the ground.
Maybe it’s warmer in summer, but during mid September, extra layers are definitely a good idea.
How Long Do You Need at Acadia National Park?
At a minimum, you’ll need one full day at Acadia National Park. This gives you enough time to see the main sights along Park Loop Road and get in a few short hikes.
With two days at Acadia National Park, you can go a bit further. On your first day, spend your time exploring Park Loop Road. Then on your second day, branch out into some of the lesser visited areas of the park. I recommend the Beech Cliffs, Flying Mountain, and Bass Harbor areas.
If you have more than two days, you’ll still have things to do including visiting the small islands nearby. That said, if it were up to me, I’d spend my additional time exploring elsewhere in Maine. Acadia is beautiful, but so is much of Maine.
Entrance Fees for Acadia National Park
Entrance to Acadia National Park costs $35 per vehicle and your pass will be valid for seven consecutive days. Annual passes, such as the America the Beautiful pass are also accepted.
Note that visiting Cadillac Mountain Road comes with an additional fee. To visit Cadillac Mountain Road, you’ll need to pick up a reservation which comes with a timed entry. You can stay as long as you want, but you must have a valid entrance ticket in order to be permitted to drive up the mountain. Reservations cost $6 per vehicle.
Getting Around Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park surprised me with its transit system. While many national parks through the United States force visitors to have their own form of transportation, Acadia is different. You can bring your own vehicle, but if you don’t have a vehicle, you can still get to most places in the park.
A handy shuttle service connects Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Then within park, additional shuttles help to move visitors around. In total, there’s 11 lines that take visitors to all of the main sights throughout Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. And the best part? This shuttle is completely free thanks to a massive donation that LL Bean makes to Acadia National Park each year.
Where to Stay at Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor is the closest town and sits right outside Acadia National Park. This is where most visitors stay as it’s the most convenient. You’ll have about a 15 to 20 minute drive to the popular Park Loop Road. That said, prices for hotels in Bar Harbor are understandably high. Make sure to budget accordingly.
I travel on a budget so my accommodation situation looked a little different. I spent the night in Bangor, which is about an hour and a half away from Acadia National Park. I left Bangor early in the morning and spent the day exploring Acadia National Park. Then I spent one night in Bar Harbor since I had tickets for sunrise at Cadillac Mountain the next morning. After a second day of exploring Acadia National Park, I drove back to Bangor where hotels were cheaper.
When to Visit Acadia National Park
Acadia is best visited from May through October as this is when the top sights are open. During the winter months, you can still visit Acadia National Park, but some roads close and the hiking can become dangerous.
In summer, you’ll have the warmest weather, but you can also expect a decent amount of tourists. Normally as it gets later in the season, crowds thin out, but this is New England which is famous for its fall foliage. In late September and October, you can expect big crowds who come not just to see Acadia National Park, but also to see all the bright fall colors.
I visited in mid September and had really great weather. The trees had barely started to turn colors so if it’s important to you that you see the fall colors, I’d recommend early October. That said, there’s no guarantee when you’ll get peak colors as it changes slightly every year based on weather.
Final Thoughts
A Cadillac Mountain sunrise is supposed to be one of the best in the United States. While it’s true that I didn’t get that experience, I still think that there are things you can do to make the most of your time, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Continue Your Adventure
Acadia National Park: Tackle the popular Beehive Trail or simply hike around Jordan Pond. While much of Acadia National Park is rocky, here’s my favorite easy hikes. For non-hikers, check out the best stops along Park Loop Road. Loop the highlights of Acadia together in this one day itinerary or if you have more time, try my two day itinerary.
More in Maine: Visit the city of Portland where you can get out on the water on a Mail Boat Cruise. Nearby is Cape Elizabeth with its gorgeous lighthouse.
More in New England: Maine is just the beginning of adventures in New England. In Rhode Island, tour the over the top mansions in Newport. In Connecticut, visit the historic fishing village of Mystic or one of its many state parks. Take a quick detour through New York to visit Albany. And don’t miss out on Stowe, Vermont – it’s a favorite among many travelers.
US National Parks: Start planning your national park vacation with my US National Park Travel Guide. You’ll find information about each park, photos, itineraries, budget tips, advice for non-hikers, the best scenic drives, and more. Plus, don’t forget to book your timed entry reservations in advance!