In June, that number soared to about 500,000, and in July and August, the totals hovered between 760,000 and 770,000. Statistics from Acadia National Park show that in 2018, about 250,000 people visited the park in May. Summer is the season that most people associate with a Maine visit, so of course that means that most people will be visiting during the summer months. Sunny days might be plentiful, but you could just as easily encounter rain or fog. Although May’s average high temperatures are in the 60s, the weather is more erratic in the spring. The restaurant usually doesn’t open its doors until the middle of May, so an early-May visit could result in disappointment.Īnd then there’s the weather. Likewise, the gift shop at Jordan Pond will likely still be stocking its shelves in early May.Īnother problem could arise if you’re set on trying the famous popovers at Jordan Pond House. For instance, you might find that the restrooms along the Park Loop Road are not yet open for the season. Of course, visiting Bar Harbor in the spring comes with its disadvantages as well.įor one thing, the fact that the national park is just coming back to life means that some services and attractions will not be available until later. The bugs are said to be at their worst from about mid-May through the end of June. If you visit in early May, you’ll miss out on Maine’s dreaded black-fly season. In May, you might spend around $150 a night at a chain hotel, while in July, the rate for the same room could be as high as $350 a night. Traffic jams are common in the summer, but in the springtime, it can feel like you’re truly in the countryside.īar Harbor’s lodging is also much more affordable in the spring. While you might encounter hundreds of parkgoers at those sites in mid-July, in May, you’ll likely only see a handful of others.Īnother advantage is the drive along Acadia’s Park Loop Road. That means that popular park attractions such as Sand Beach and the Great Head Trail will be relatively less crowded in May. ProsĪcadia National Park is just coming back to life in May, so the throngs of visitors tend to stay away until the summer months of June, July, and August. Maine in May: It might seem a bit counterintuitive to visit a locale so far north in the springtime. So here is a seasonal breakdown, including the pros and cons of visiting Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park during each season. Of course, vacation times are dictated by a range of priorities and scheduling challenges. Most businesses are open in May - especially after about midmonth, and daytime temperatures should be in the 60s. “May is one of the best times to come,” she said. Sandwiched between those popular times are a few periods when the traffic dies down a bit.Ĭrowder said that late spring is one of those times. The bulk of that visitation occurs over the summer months and during autumn’s changing colors. Statistics from the National Park Service list Acadia National Park as the seventh most-visited national park in the country the park welcomed more than 3.5 million visitors in 2018. Many of Bar Harbor’s businesses remain open year-round, Crowder said, and plenty of activities are available, regardless of the season. Maine tourism consultant Megan Crowder, who works with the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce to promote the area, points out that while summer is undoubtedly the busiest season, Bar Harbor (along with the nearby Acadia National Park) has become a year-round destination. Well, it turns out that you can get a lot of what makes the summer months so fabulous - without the traffic jams and sky-high hotel rates - during Bar Harbor’s shoulder seasons in the spring and fall (or even in the off-season from November through March). Sure, summertime in Maine is lovely: sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s, all framed by the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. If so, you might want to arrive in the nearby town of Bar Harbor during May or September rather than July or August. Does your dream visit to Maine’s spectacular Acadia National Park include secluded beach walks and peaceful hikes along forest trails?
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