OVERVIEW: Planning an Acadia National Park elopement
Acadia national park is considered the “crown jewel” of the Northeastern US coastline. It’s a place for couples who love the outdoors to explore on their elopement day year round. Located on the rugged coastline of Maine, it’s a half day’s drive from major cities like Boston, NYC and Montreal.
The seasons in Acadia, like most of the North Atlantic coast, have a broad range. Summer temperatures can be hot, getting as high as 90F, while winters can be bitterly cold, dropping into the single digits and teens.
Best Months to Elope in Acadia National Park
June and October.
June is ideal for greenery and warm weather. Summer tourism hasn’t yet peaked but temperatures are still pleasant. Businesses in Bar Harbor are generally open and things are green and lush. As June turns to July, however, things get hot and extremely crowded. July and August are nice, but not my first choices.
PRO TIP: watch out for the extremely long June days in Acadia national park. In June, the days are 15.5 hours long! You will have to choose between sunrise and sunset.
October is ideal for those wanting a quintessential New England fall. The colors start to change in the trees, turning vibrant shades of crimson, gold and orange. The air is crisp and dry, and the day length means you can have both sunset and sunrise light on an 8-10 hour day.
Acadia winters can be cold, stormy and bitter, but there’s plenty to enjoy all year round. If you are interested in a winter elopement in Acadia, here’s more winter information from the national park service. It’s a popular spot for snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
Acadia National Park Elopement: best nearby Airbnbs for your stay
There are a lot of Airbnb options near Acadia. A lot of it depends on if you plan to have guests with you, in which case it’s great to choose rentals which offer multiple rooms and sleeping arrangements.
Each of these 5 cottages have over a hundred 4.5+ star ratings and are perfect for groups or just yourselves.
12 guests: Entire home with bay view and plenty of room for family and friends
5 guests: Entire lakefront cabin inside Acadia National Park
2 guests: Entire cottage near hiking trails
2 guests: Entire cottage with beach access
For my full list of recommended Airbnbs, go to this link here.
Best Locations for your Acadia National Park Elopement
Sand Beach: a quiet cove at the end of Beehive Laggon. It’s a beautiful place for a seaside ceremony, especially at sunrise when there are less crowds. In summer, this place fills up quickly! Having a ceremony here is best early or late in the day.
Cadillac Mountain: this is the first place in the US where the sun rises. Due to its popularity and crowds at sunrise though, the park put in a reservations system for driving up the road between May 25th and October 22nd. Go here to read more details and reserve a parking spot. If you prefer the 1 hour hike to the top instead, here is a map showing you where parking is located.
The Bubbles Hike: a moderate 1.5 mile in and out trail with views of Jordan Pond and some interesting boulders.
Beech Mountain Trail: short 1 mile loop hike with views of Long Pond. The fire tower is often open for people to go up for an even better look.
Otter Point: another great spot to watch sunrise, or some rock climbers! Because it’s right off the road and easy to access, it’s a great option for eloping in Acadia with families or guests.
Schooner Head: like Otter Point, this is a great place to get ocean views with very little hiking.
Best Areas to stay in for an Acadia National Park Elopement
There are three main areas to stay when planning your Acadia elopement. Each has its pros and cons, so consider the following points when choosing:
Area 1: Bar Harbor. Bar Harbor is the most expensive option, but it is walking distance to shops, restaurants, and the waterfront.
Area 2: Mt. Desert Island. If you don’t stay in bar harbor, staying secluded in nature at an airbnb somewhere on the island is a great option.
Area 3: Off Island. Options off the island are potentially a bit cheaper (especially in the off season) and will provide more options. They are, obviously, further from the park. Just consider drive time in your plans if you go with this option.
Do I need a Permit for my Acadia National Park elopement ceremony?
There is a fee to enter the park, and some locations, like Cadillac Mountain, require an extra parking reservation. This pass must be visible on your car’s dashboard at all times.
Vehicle entrance fees:
Private vehicle: $30
Motorcycle: $25
Pedestrian: $15
If your group is under 10 people, you do not need a special use permit for your wedding ceremony.
If your Acadia National Park elopement group is over 10 people, these are the allowed ceremony locations and their group limits:
Cadillac Mountain - 30 IMPORTANT NOTE: A Vehicle Reservation is required to drive the Cadillac Summit Road May 25 through Oct 22, 2022 and no ceremonies are allowed during sunrise and sunset.
Fabbri Picnic Area - 30
Frazer Point Picnic Area - 50
Little Hunters Beach - 20
Ocean Drive - 30
Otter Cliff - 20
Otter Point - 30
Seawall Picnic Area - 30
Sand Beach - 30
Schoodic Point - 25
Thompson Island - 50
For the most updated Acadia National Park permit rules, please visit their webpage here: Acadia Special Use Permits, weddings and elopements
Can I bring my dog to Acadia National Park?
Yes! Acadia is very dog friendly and most trails allow dogs. Please make sure to bring extra water and poo bags for the dogs so we can keep the parks clean.
Activities to include during your Acadia elopement day
Hiking. There is a ton of hiking in the park, and the trails range from easy walking paths to hard, steep and rocky climbs. When choosing a hike, consider your general fitness and what you’re comfortable doing on your elopement day.
Boating. Being an island, there is obviously a lot of sailing trips, nature views, wildlife watching etc. to be done. Chartering a boat is a great group activity. I recommend bringing a charcuterie and some champagne so you can sit back and relax as you glide over the water.
My favorite boat charters and tour guides are:
http://sailacadia.com/
Rock climbing. Climbing is popular at otter cliffs. If you and your partner are passionate about rock climbing, you can hire a local guide to assist!
Picnic. If you want help catering or designing a beautiful picnic for your day, Luxury Picnics Acadia will handle everything for you.
Eat a lobster roll. There are several lobster shacks around the island and it’s a classic Maine activity you should try at least once during your visit!
How to Prepare for Bad Weather during your Acadia elopement
There is no cell service in much of the park, so study the weather the day before and have a rain jacket and extra layer with at all times.
Change locations. Some locations are less exposed than others, so in case of poor weather, be open to switching things up.
Be flexible on time of day. Weather can change quickly, so if you remain flexible on the timeline of things, we can move things around to make the most of the situation.
Bring clear umbrellas and embrace moody weather! Believe it or not, clouds provide great lighting for midday photos, and a little rain adds a very romantic vibe to things.
The content on this blog was written and curated by Mariah Arianna, copywriter and content blogger for photographers