Acadia National Park is launching a significantly expanded free shuttle bus system for the 2026 season, adding new routes, increasing frequency, and extending service hours in a comprehensive effort to reduce the traffic congestion and parking shortages that have diminished the visitor experience at one of America’s most beloved national parks.
The expanded Island Explorer bus system, operated in partnership with Downeast Transportation, will add four new routes connecting trailheads, beaches, and scenic overlooks that were previously accessible only by personal vehicle. Total fleet size will increase from 31 to 42 buses, with peak-season frequency on the most popular routes improving to every 10 minutes.
“Acadia is being loved to death by traffic, and the shuttle system is our most powerful tool to address it,” said park superintendent Kevin Schneider. “We want visitors to have an incredible experience, and sitting in a traffic jam on Park Loop Road isn’t it.”
Acadia welcomed 4.1 million visitors in 2025, making it one of the 10 most-visited national parks in the country despite being among the smallest in acreage. The park’s narrow roads, limited parking lots, and concentrated attractions create severe congestion during peak summer months, with popular lots at Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountain, and Sand Beach frequently full by mid-morning.
The new routes include service to the quieter western side of Mount Desert Island, where lesser-known trails and swimming spots offer a less crowded alternative to the park’s eastern highlights. A new route connecting the village of Bar Harbor directly to Cadillac Mountain will offer an alternative to the vehicle reservation system that has been required for the summit road since 2021.
“We want to spread visitors across the park, not just concentrate them at the most famous spots,” Schneider said. “There are amazing places in Acadia that most visitors never see because they can’t get to them easily.”
The shuttle service is free for all riders and is funded through park entrance fees, federal transportation funds, and contributions from local businesses and the Friends of Acadia nonprofit.
Local business owners in Bar Harbor and surrounding communities have enthusiastically supported the expansion. “Every car we take off the road makes the park more enjoyable and our town more walkable,” said Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce president Eben Salvatore.
The expanded service runs from late May through mid-October. Route maps and schedules are available at exploreacadia.com.
