Accessibility

 
Smiling man in wheelchair parked on a path with mountains and pond behind him.
Harold Johnson, of West Hartford, CT, shares a photo from Jordan Pond in Oct 2021. "The NPS does a great job of making as many paths accessible as possible. On this day we were able to wheel all the way down to the water where we enjoyed a picnic lunch."

Photo courtesy of visitor Harold Johnson. Used with permission.

 

FOR PEOPLE WITH ...

About a Million People with Disabilities Visit Acadia Each Year

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in four adults in the United States lives with some form of disability. That means there may be about a million people coming to Acadia each year who need some form of accommodation related to mobility, cognition, hearing, or vision impairments. Reducing and removing barriers for physical access to buildings and spaces is a big part of accessibility. But it's also about addressing a person's functional capacity to participate in the experiences that Acadia offers.

The National Park Service is legislatively mandated to provide accessible facilities and programs for their visitors with disabilities. Thanks in large part to a comprehensive accessibility assessment funded by Friends of Acadia and conducted in 2021 by the National Center on Accessibility and the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University, Acadia National Park is committed to making its landscapes, programs, and information accessible to people of all abilities.

  • If you have an accomodation request for any scheduled event or activity, please email us at least two weeks in advance.



 

 
A hand holds an Access Pass card in front of a sandy lake beach
Echo Lake Beach

NPS Photo

Access Pass

U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are permanently disabled may be eligible for the Interagency Access Pass. This free, lifetime admission pass is valid at National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation sites.

  • Must be obtained with valid identification
  • Does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners

Download the free NPS app

The official NPS app offers current accessibility details for facilities and select trails. Download the free app before your visit to enhance your experience using your device’s built-in accessibility features.

 
A white bus with green and white stripes is parked along a bend in a road with several cars in traffic passing beside it
A bus pauses at a trailhead along the Park Loop Road.

Photo courtesy of Evie Linantud, Friends of Acadia

Island Explorer

Fare-free Island Explorer buses are accessible for wheelchair users, but not Bicycle Express vans. Regularly scheduled buses stop at destinations throughout the park, including campgrounds, carriage road entrances, and many trailheads.

People with disabilities may call 207-667-5797 to request a pickup at a location up to three-quarters of a mile off a regular bus route.

  • Buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Please see bus driver for assistance.
  • Well-behaved and leashed or crated pets are allowed on buses and must remain on the floor.
  • Island Explorer shuttles are powered by propane fuel. By leaving your car behind, you help reduce air pollution while avoiding parking and traffic congestion.
  • Download myStop® Mobile and select Acadia National Park to access real-time interactive location and schedule information for buses on the Island Explorer shuttle system.

 
In a parking lot with mountains in the distance, a woman in a wheelchair transitions to the driver seat of a minivan
In the Eagle Lake Boat Ramp Parking Lot, a woman transitions from a wheelchair to the driver seat of an automobile.

NPS Photo by Robyn Smyth

Accessible Parking

All striped and paved parking lots have at least one parking space that is designated accessible, including van parking with access aisles. Unmarked spaces are generally paved and even. Some, however, include slopes or limited space.

Videos of Select Parking Areas

 

Accessibility Information for Popular Park Destinations

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    Local Services

    Tours

    Two companies currently hold Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permits to offer narrated interpretive bus tours in Acadia. Please contact them directly for information about the availability of accessible offerings:

    Lodging

    Please consult our listings of local Chambers of Commerce for accommodations with accessibile ammenities.

    Medical Facilities

    Call 911 for emergency medical or police assistance, or to report accidents or injuries.

    Mount Desert Island Hospital
    10 Wayman Lane, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
    (207) 288-5081
    http://www.mdihospital.org/site/


    Maine Coast Memorial
    50 Union Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605
    (207) 664-5311
    http://mcmhospital.org/site/


    Eastern Maine Medical Center
    489 State Street, Bangor, ME 04402
    (207) 973-7000
    http://www.emmc.org/

    Air Quality Monitoring

    Air pollution is often carried into Maine by the wind. When conditions may be harmful to people with respiratory concerns, park staff post alerts through our Current Conditions page.

     

    Last updated: August 7, 2026

    Contact Info

    Mailing Address:

    PO Box 177
    Bar Harbor, ME 04609

    Phone:

    207 288-3338

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