Website: AcadiaBike.com Bean pledges $1 million in the form of a qualified sponsor agreement to support the Island Explorer. Jordan Pond 6. For easy, comfortable transportation to and from the island, consider a charter bus rental from Metropolitan Shuttle. MAPS & TIMETABLES Route Finder 1. Operates between Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor serving Somesville, Manset, Seawall, Bass Harbor, and Bernard. Island Explorer buses do not serve the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Bike: The historic carriage roads of Acadia draw many visitors to explore the beauty of the park without bringing their cars. Congestion problems in MDI communities become severe enough that the Mount Desert Island League of Towns (MDILOT) begins to explore options. Runs every 30 minutes throughout most of the day, hourly in the evening, and only hourly in the fall. Subscribe to our newsletter to received exlusive specials and travel deals! While there is no on-site lodging, park and private campgrounds dot the islands for those who want to rough it in a tent under the open sky. FOA is the designated recipient of the funding, 99 percent of which will support system operations in order to extend service past Labor Day to Columbus Day. This free bus offers transportation all over Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, and to/from the Bar Harbor Airport. Operates between the Bar Harbor Airport and the Bar Harbor Village Green, connecting five private campgrounds with the village center. One of the most visited national parks in the United States, Acadia National Park covers more than 46,000 acres of the eastern coast of Maine and provides visitors with opportunities to hike, bike, camp, horseback ride, boat, fish, and ski against a landscape of largely unspoiled forest and coastline. Local support not only attracts funding but also helps to make the system viable over the long term as NPS units respond to local needs and meet local expectations. -Acadia National Park visitor from England, "This makes the week a 6 Healthy Travel Tips Getting sick is no fun, but it can be a bigger pain when it happens during , If youre planning a vacation, we recommend taking a break from the well-grooved tourist tracks of popular destinations like , If youre making plans to run to the border, follow these tips from the travel experts at Metropolitan Shuttle and . Winter in Acadia National Park Acadia National Park is open in the winter with many activities for those who enjoy snow with their outdoor fun. Use the 45 miles of carriage roads (31 of which are groomed) and unplowed park roads. Many people do not even realize the park is open during the winter. The Island Explorer is a complimentary shuttle that brings guests to center of downtown Bar Harbor, hang out it town and grab an ice cream or jump on another shuttle to explore Acadia National Park. Downeast Transportation, Inc. There are 3 ways to get from Trenton to Acadia National Park by bus, taxi or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. For more information about how to improve your visit to Acadia please use this link: https://www.nps.gov/acad/traffic.htm. Acadia National Park Tide Tables, Charts & Schedule - AllTrips Tide Tables Going fishing or boating? As a voting member of MDILOT, Acadia National Park participates and presents the transit concept from its GMP as a possible solution. Acadia is a perfect destination for a family reunion, weekend getaway, or camping trip with friends and relations. The Bicycle Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The system remains voluntary and without fare and carries more than 142,000 riders in its first season of operation. (207) 667-5796. have been combined into a single route. Local taxi service and custom tours of Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park's most iconic attractions. 1. In its first three years of service, the system experiences a 75 percent increase in ridership, with the largest increases on routes that serve campgrounds. The park now hosts more than four million visits every year. Express will not operate in the fall of 2022. For individual maps and timetables, click on the route names below. The Island Explorer operates on Mount Desert Island June 23 through October 10, 2022. Acadia National Park adopts a general management plan (GMP) that recommends that the National Park Service (NPS) work with Mount Desert Island (MDI) municipalities and others to implement an island-wide transportation system. Visitors can see the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, bike along the miles of carriage road, or just relax among the woodland pines. The system, which began operating in 1999 with six buses, is now comprised of 17 shuttle buses that in 2001 carried nearly 240,000 passengers. This shuttle service features 10 different bus routes that connect the park to hotels, trails, village centers, and campgrounds on Mount Desert Island. This torch was later picked up by George B. Dorr, a scholar and lover of nature who dedicated his life to building and preserving Charles W. Eliots vision. Provides service to Acadia National Park's Schoodic Point, with stops in Winter Harbor, Prospect Harbor, and Birch Harbor. Happy drivers." -Island Explorer passenger from Texas, "Using the bus really helped us to see and Throughout Acadia, parking is very limited and can often be frustrating. e-mail: [emailprotected], Website: TourAcadia.com Eden Street 3. Bus 1, Bar Harbor Road, and Bus 9, Trenton, ). There is no Brown Mountain service in the fall. Shuttle: The Island Explorer operates from June 23 e-mail: [emailprotected]. Schedules on this web site are effective November 14, 2022. WebFor more information about how to improve your visit to Acadia please use this link: https://www.nps.gov/acad/traffic.htm. Call 877-359-3760 for details and tickets. Bar Harbor is home to many bike rental shops that offer a variety of bike types, childrens bikes, tandems, tagalongs, child seats, and child trailers. Fall service begins on August 23. Runs every hour. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. DTI begins operating the Island Explorer on six routes from June 23 through Labor Day. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive useful information, general travel tips and an occasional promotional offer. The Island Explorer expands to seven routes in 2000. Our fleet features luxury vehicles including sedans, sports utility vehicles, vans, shuttles, limousines and an antique show-stopper 1962 British Bentley. It was Eliots idea to treat the entire island like a park. Operations and maintenance funding is provided by the CMAQ program, Acadia National Park entrance fees (through the NPS fee demonstration program), FOA, MDI towns, and businesses with shuttle stops. Downeast Transportation, Inc. Park entrance fees help support the Island Explorer bus system. Providing transportation to and from the Bangor International Airport to all points in the Northeast. Acadia is only four hours from Boston by charter bus, and our professional staff makes it easy to plan, schedule, and organize a trip. The CAT, the most well known of the ferries, flew on the water at highway speeds. Hop on the Island Explorer shuttle bus, departing within 500 feet of the Acadia Inn driveway, late June through mid October. Bus 2, Eden Street, and Bus 12, Highbrook, have been combined into a single route. The bus connects with the Bar Harbor-Winter Harbor ferry. Fall service operates every half hour. Bus 2, Eden Street, and Bus 12, Highbrook, have been combined into a single route. The Island Explorer was established in the late 1990s as a unique partnership between: Downeast Transportation, Inc., a nonprofit organization, operates the fleet of propane-powered buses. Operates between Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor, connecting to Bubble Pond and Jordan Pond. There is a large parking lot at the summit, where paved paths will take you to the mountains high point. Flag Day: Celebration of the Stars and Stripes, Experience the Fair Saint Louis with Metropolitan Shuttle, Metropolitan Shuttle Environmental Science Studies Scholarship, Metropolitan Shuttle Maine Scholarship Program, Paul J. Orloff Memorial Veterinary Scholarship, 6 Destinations to Visit in the U.S. That Will Soon Be Gone, Things to Remember When Road Tripping to Mexico, Best Cities to Travel to in Winter 2018/2019. Eliot saw the incorporation of the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations, which devoted itself to acquiring and holding the lands for public use. Acadia National Park is located in the northeastern corner of the state of Maine, United States on Mount Desert Island. The national park boundaries encompass an area of 76.7 square miles (198.6 sq km) and account for about half of the total island territory. Since 1995, we've built travel guides that promote great outdoor destinations. "A wonderful service. Whether youre getting Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. Search. Operates by starting and ending at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and provides service to Sieur de Monts, Sand Beach, Wildwood Stables, Jordan Pond, and Bubble Pond. Fall service begins August 23, 2022. Afterward, guests can dine in the Jordan Pond House Restaurant, which serves lunch, tea and dinner from May to October. Since 1995, we've built travel guides that promote great outdoor destinations. Partnerships produced the financial support necessary to plan the system, purchase the first fleet of buses, and operate the system for four years without making service mandatory or requiring riders to pay a fare. Fall service operates every half hour. The system has one route and is supported by Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funds. WebAll schedules operate June 23 to August 30. Bike and Shuttle: The Island Explorer can accommodate bikes, making it possible to bike one direction and take the shuttle the other. Bus 1, Bar Harbor Road, and Bus 9, Trenton, Runs every thirty minutes from 9:15 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. from June 23 through September 30. A 'tube-style' map that displays information about the Island Explorer bus routes in Acadia National Park. National Park Maine Info; Alerts; These natives hunted, gathered, fished, traded, and made their home in Acadia. National Park Service Logo National Park Service. All services operated by Downeast Transportation, Inc. are open to the general public. Acadia NP and its partners begin working closely with Maine DOT in order to implement the approved system. The majority of the acreage of Acadia National Park is located on Mount Desert Island (MDI), with additional facilities on the Schoodic Peninsula and the island of Isle au Haut. Acadia is only four hours from Boston by charter bus, and our professional staff makes it easy to plan, schedule, and organize a trip. Fall service begins August 23, 2022. WebA partner of the Island Explorer, Downeast Transportation offers shuttle service between Bangor and Bar Harbor every Monday and Friday. Whether youre getting together with a few friends or taking the whole clan on a party bus, Metropolitan Shuttle can help make your trip unforgettable. See the timetable pages Ellsworth, ME 04605 The Bicycle -Island Explorer passenger from Massachusetts, "Free is the way to Trenton $0 - $18 The Wabanaki was a collection of four different tribes: the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and the Penobscot. Maine DOT purchases eight propane buses with funding from the Federal CMAQ program, a local match provided by Acadia National Park, and a NPS grant. Fun to ride. Sand Beach 4. Acadia National Park is a United States National Park located in the state of Maine, near Bar Harbor. (207) 667-5796. Phone: 207-288-3886 ), and points of interest (trailheads, geographic features, etc. Read More Bar Harbor Tide Charts UsHarbors Tide Charts Stay at a Cabin Reports Local Articles Tide Tables Road Report Protect Your Vacation advertisement Operates between Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor along Route 198. Year-round buses offer new ways to save Downeast operates commuter buses to Bar Harbor from Bangor, Brewer, Franklin, Milbridge, and Ellsworth. 2022 Metropolitan Shuttle. Established as a national park in 1929, Acadia National Park was created through private donations of land, money, and expertise, and today sits within a days travel of a few major East Coast cities and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. A partner of the Island Explorer, Downeast Transportation offers shuttle service between Bangor and Bar Harbor every Monday and Friday. Bus 1, Bar Harbor Road, and Bus 9, Trenton, have been On Schoodic Peninsula, spring service begins on May 25, summer service begins on June 23, A diverse team, including NPS, USDOT, Maine DOT, town governments, the Friends of Acadia (FOA), and a myriad of other public and private organizations came together to create and support the Island Explorer, which has altered the experience of visiting MDI and Acadia National Park. Runs every 75 minutes during the summer. Jackson Lab Commuter Routes Bar Harbor-Bangor Bar Harbor-Ellsworth Bucksport Shuttle Ellsworth Shuttle Bar Harbor Shuttle Stonington-Ellsworth Ellsworth-Blue Hill POLICY STATEMENTS: Non-Discrimination & Civil Rights Maps and timetables for Island Explorer bus service Runs every 30 minutes from 6:45 am until 3:15 pm. The Island Explorer is one of the most successful. Due to driver shortages, fall schedules for some routes have changed. With financial support from the Friends of Acadia (FOA), DTI eliminates the $2 fare for riders on the campground route. Clean propane-powered Operates on Route 3 connecting the hotels there and provides service to the CAT ferry terminal and the Natural History Museum. Loop Road 5. Fall schedules go into effect on September 1. Local residents, organized by MDILOT, have led system planning, contributed financially to operations and maintenance, and received annual public updates on system performance. Long before the islands became a national park, Acadia was occupied by the Wabanaki, a Native American people that lived in Maine for over 12,000 years. Sand Beach Bus for more detailed information. PO Box 914 Regularly scheduled buses stop at specific destinations in the park-including campgrounds, carriage road entrances, and many trailheads. WebRuns every 30 minutes from 6:45 am until 3:15 pm. Now is the perfect time to book a charter bus rental to Acadia National Park on Maines Mount Desert Island. Some continue to October 10, 2022. Acadia National Park covers over 49,000 acres of beautiful island country. Operates every half hour between the Bar Harbor Village Green and Acadia National Park's carriage road system at Eagle Lake. Northeast Harbor 7. Riding a bike, taking the shuttle, or a combination of both can save visitors time and difficulty. The creation of Acadia as a national park is credited to Charles W. Eliot. Phone: 207-460-4431 It also serves Blackwoods Campground. This Site All NPS. have been combined into a single route. This free bus offers transportation all over Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, and to/from the Bar Harbor Airport. Give us a follow if you want to be kept up to date about whats happening. Bikers dont need to be in Tour de France shape to tackle the winding, 275-foot climb to the top either. How far is Acadia National Park from New York City? Here's the quick answer if you are able to make this entire trip by car without stopping. Nonstop drive: 486 miles or 782 km Driving time: 7 hours, 56 minutes Realistically, you'll probably want to add a buffer for rest stops, gas, or food along the way. Downeast Transportation also operates the seasonal Island Explorer serving Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island towns, and Schoodic Peninsula. Island Explorer bus service runs from late June through October. Note: the Island Explorer does not go up Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. These routes run from late June to early October. Thousands flock to the park each year to see the sunrise and sunset over Cadillac Mountain, or take nighttime walks to view the shooting stars and hear the owl calls. Connect with travelers planning a visit to Acadia National Park. Due to driver shortages, fall schedules for some routes have changed. Due to driver shortages, fall schedules for some routes have changed. be. Downeast Transportation, Inc. (DTI), a non-profit transit provider operating in the region, introduces seasonal shuttle service between local campgrounds and Acadia NP. In the fall, the last inbound departure from Eagle Lake is at 4:00 p.m. WebTo reach the park, you can hop on the Island Explorer, a free summer shuttle service that transports passengers from Bar Harbor Village Green to a variety of park destinations. visit a lot more of the island. " vehicles offer Mount Desert Island visitors and residents free transportation to hiking trails, From 3:155 pm until 10:45 pm, this bus runs every 15 minutes. Provide a list of bus stops with helpful information that includes the routes that access the stop, facilities (restrooms, drinking water, etc. Ellsworth, ME 04605 PO Box 914 carriage roads, island beaches, and in-town shops and restaurants. Visit Site Island Explorer Ellsworth, We frequently serve Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport and Bangor International Airport. real vacation." Eliot was a Harvard graduate who lobbied for the park when he learned that private land ownership might endanger public access to areas like Mount Desert Island. Maps and timetables on this site were updated for the 2022 fall season on August 23, 2022. 2022 Service Calendar. The Island Explorer operates on Mount Desert Island June 23 through October 10, 2022. Our tours operate rain or shine. L.L. The CAT carried 775 passengers, 250 cars and 14 motor homes or tour buses. Phone: 800-526-8615 From the ferry terminal, the shuttle enters the Schoodic Section of Acadia National Park with the second stop at the Schoodic Woods Campground and Visitor The only Acadia peak you can summit on a bike, Day Mountain is modest enough, at 584 feet, to have skirted Rockefellers prohibition on mountaintop carriage roads. Serving Greater Bangor and to all points of Maine, New England Tri-States and beyond. Bike rental hours during June, July and August are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in May, September and October. The buses are loaned to the Maine DOT through a cooperative agreement with NPS. Theres something for everyone to enjoy in Acadia. WebTo mitigate summer months' traffic congestion, DTI provides a seasonal, propane-powered shuttle service, the "Island Explore", for transportation throughout Acadia National Park Summer is here: a time for camping, picnics, and taking in all the sunshine and greenery the season has to offer. Acadia National Park is unique for several reasons, one being that the park has multiple locations. Much of the park is on Mount Desert Island near Bar Harbor, but there are also sections on the Schoodic Peninsula and part of Isle au Haut. Each piece of the park has its own special qualities and characteristics. 1. Carriage Roads and fall service operates August 23 through October 10. Runs every half hours through the day, but the evening service to Blackwoods Campground goes every 45 minutes. Nine buses are added, purchased by NPS with funds procured through the NPS Alternative Transportation Program. Bar Harbor Road 2. I like your bus service." The Island Explorer features bus routes linking hotels, inns, and campgrounds A limited number of daily trips are offered in the fall. We're open for bike rentals May 1 through October 31, and we're conveniently located at 48 Cottage Street in the heart of downtown Bar Harbor, gateway to Acadia National Park. Regularly scheduled buses stop at destinations in the park, including campgrounds, carriage road entrances, and Before you get For wildlife lovers who want a more reserved experience, the Wild Gardens of Acadia packs the abundant bird and plant life of the island into a one-acre space. WebApril 16, 2022 First Day of National Park Week August 4, 2022 Great American Outdoors Day September 24, 2022 National Public Lands Day November 11, 2022 Veterans Historical digs among the Indian sites in Acadia have found the remains of other animals as well, including cougars, gray wolves, and the now-extinct sea mink. Take a guided historic cruise around Cranberry Island and then stop in at the Islesford Historical Museum to learn more about the park and its inhabitants. WebFrom mid June to early October each year, the Island Explorer provides fare-free transit service between park destinations, local communities, and the Bar Harbor-Hancock On Schoodic Guests enjoy utilizing the shuttle service because it helps travelers enjoy a stress-free journey to and from the park. We intend to run Island Explorer for a full season [June 23 to Oct. 11], but it will be greatly simplified; it will look very different from our traditional service, said Paul Murphy, executive director of Downeast Transportation, which operates the Island Explorer. The National Park Service offers safety precautions and bike route maps. Visitors can walk or take a free bus to the Bass Harbor Head Light, a historic lighthouse on Mount Desert Island, or explore the 27-mile Park Loop Road to see breathtaking views of the shoreline and mountains. Express will not operate in the fall of 2022. for detailed route information. The propane-powered Island Explorer buses-also equipped with bicycle racks-help reduce traffic congestion, parking, and air pollution problems on the island. The Island Explorer is operated by We dont have everything finalized yet, but there will be far fewer routes. Maine DOT awards funding to the Island Explorer Shuttle Bus System (Island Explorer) project through the T2000 Program and includes the proposed system in its biennial transportation improvement program (TIP). Read More The high-speed ferry service used to provide transportation between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Shuttle: The Island Explorer operates from June 23 through Columbus Day. Best way to get around. Regular service in Hancock, Washington, and Waldo Counties. Multiple daily shuttles between Bangor Airport, the Bar Harbor Airport, and many stops within Bar Harbor. Give us a follow if you want to be kept up to date about whats happening! -Island Explorer passenger from Franklin, Maine, The Island Explorer is operated by All services operated by Downeast Transportation, Inc. are open to the general public. Biking All Rights Reserved. The system experiences a 600% increase in use, from 3,000 riders in 1996 to 12,000 riders in the first year of fare-free service. WebDowneast Transportation. Operates between the Bar Harbor Village Green and Sand Beach. Note: the Island Explorer does not go up Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. Visit Island Explorer for detailed route information. You can also flag down buses along their route; drivers will pick up passengers anywhere it is safe to stop. Wildlife enthusiasts will find a treasure in Acadia: the islands are home to snowshoe hares, white-tailed deer, foxes, bobcats, black bears, bald eagles, owls, and more. It runs from Bar Harbor with various stops throughout Acadia. Covering all popular resort destination and college campus areas. Call us at 1-866-556-3545 or contact us today for a free quote. About Acadia and Its Transportation Challenges. MDILOT submits an application for funding of an island-wide transit system to the Maine Department of Transportations (DOT) T2000 Program, an initiative designed to encourage innovative local transportation projects. Acadia is the oldest designated national park east of the Mississippi, having been christened as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 before being renamed to Lafayette National Park in 1919 and Acadia in 1929. Taking in the view at Eagle Lake. Taxi: Several taxi services are available on Mount Desert Island. Park events include island walks, boat cruises, falcon watching, biking tours, and an exploration of the Missing Mansion, the former home of park creator George Dorr. It reserves much of Mount Desert Island, and associated smaller islands, off the Atlantic coast. While the Island Explorer has benefited from the involvement of key state and Federal partners, its success is due in large part to the involvement of local individuals and organizations. Subscribe to our newsletter to received exlusive specials and travel deals! Acadia offers unmatched natural beauty, featuring forests, island lakes, and breathtaking mountains. Most will offer fare estimates if you call ahead and ask. Here are up to date tide charts for Bar Harbor and Downeast Maine destinations. Hancock County's public transit provider offers shopping trips to Bar Harbor and Ellsworth, five-day-a-week bus service between Bar Harbor and Bangor, Search Open Menu Explore This Park; Acadia. Maps and timetables on this site were updated for the 2022 fall season on August 23, 2022. e-mail: [emailprotected], Web site: BarHarborBike.com Duration: 2 minutes, 48 seconds Are you planning a visit to Acadia National Park? From 3:155 pm until 10:45 pm, this bus runs every 15 minutes. The GMP includes a system concept that is based on a feasibility study. For more information on how to do this easily, see the Island Explorer Bus https://exploreacadia.com/. Users pay a $2 fare to ride. Getting around Acadia National Park is easy when you ride the free Island Explorer shuttle bus system.Ten bus routes link hotels, inns, and campgrounds on Mount Desert Island and the mainland at Ellsworth and Trenton to destinations throughout the park and neighboring towns and villages, including Bar Harbor, Northwest Harbor, and Southwest Harbor. Day Mountain. The Loop Road bus operates through Columbus Day. Drive to the summit by entering the park at the Cadillac Mountain entrance (the intersection of Eagle Lake Road/Route 223 and Park Loop Road), and head south of the Park Loop Road to the summit road. From mid June to early October each year, the Island Explorer provides fare-free transit service between park destinations, local communities, and the Bar Harbor-Hancock County Regional Airport. with destinations in Acadia National Park and neighboring village centers. Recommended option Bus 1h 9m Take the bus from Narrows Too Camping Resort to Bar Harbor - Village Green 9. Connect with travelers planning a visit to Acadia National Park. Partnerships between Acadia National Park and other stakeholders yielded particular benefits without which the Island Explorer likely would not have succeeded. Southwest Harbor 8. 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