Cadillac Summit Road Acadia National Park

Did you know that you can drive up Acadia’s popular Cadillac Mountain? You don’t have to hike to get to the summit of this well-known mountain! Simply take the Cadillac Summit Road to the top for some stunning views!

About Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is a popular and well-known mountain located within Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. At 1530 feet tall, it is the highest point in the park! The top of the mountain offers stunning views of a glaciated coastal and island landscape.

What makes this mountain so special is it’s the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Because of this, it is the first place to see the sunrise in the United States in the winter! People travel from all over to get the first glimpse of the sunrise in the country.

What You Need To Drive Up Cadillac Mountain

To drive up to the summit, you will need two things. You’ll need a park entrance pass and you’ll also need to make a vehicle reservation to access the Cadillac Summit Road.

Getting Park Entrance Passes

The first thing you will need to get is a park entrance pass. You need to have a valid National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or an Acadia specific park pass.

A park pass can be purchased at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center near the Paradise Hill Road entrance to Acadia National Park. You can also purchase one online.

A park pass gives you the ability to drive up the mountain as well as access to drive around the rest of the park! So, be sure to check out the rest of the park before or after you make the drive up the Cadillac Summit Road!

Making a Vehicle Reservation

The second thing you will need is a vehicle reservation to access Cadillac Summit Road. To get this, you will have to use an online vehicle reservation system. The total cost for a reservation is $6, which I feel is a very reasonable price!

When you go to make a reservation, you will select what time you would like to drive up the mountain. Simply show up to the mountain road at your reserved time. You’ll be asked for the name you put for the reservation and then the park rangers will let you go up!

Despite having to reserve a time to go up to the mountain, you do not have to go back down at a certain time. You are allowed to stay at the summit for as long as you’d like! Just make sure you drive back down before the road closes.

Getting to The Cadillac Summit Road

Once you leave the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, you’ll take the Park Loop road. Take Paradise Hill Road to Jordan Pond Road. You’ll then take a left on to Cadillac Summit Road. If you’re worried about getting lost, don’t fret! There are plenty of signs so you’ll know exactly which way to go!

The Drive Up

Cadillac Summit Road is a narrow, two-lane road that winds to the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain. The road itself is only three and a half miles long. The drive up is very scenic. You’ll get views of the surrounding landscape including mountains, ponds, and the ocean.

views of ocean along cadillac summit road.

As you drive up, there are several spots to pull-off. Be sure to stop at these pull-offs to take in the amazing views! These spots also make for some great photo spots. They are much less crowded than when you get to the summit!

view of pond from one of the pull-offs on cadillac mountain. — Views from one of the pull-offs.

The Summit

At the summit, there is a paved parking lot. There are a small amount of accessible parking spaces at the top. Cadillac Mountain Gift Shop also has an accessible entrance as well as restrooms. The gift shop is the perfect spot to get souvenirs. They also sell ice cream and tasty Bar Harbor sodas on the top!

Aside from the facilities mentioned above, there is plenty to see and do once you’re on the top! Most notably, the views at the summit are unbelievable! There are various paths at the top to walk and enjoy the views of the surrounding landscape.

girl sitting on top of cadillac mountain.

There are also several hiking paths that you can explore from the summit. The best part about hiking from the top of the summit is you can go as far or as short of a distance as you want. You can explore the paths that hikers take to the top without having do walk all the way up and all the way down!

Reasons To Take the Cadillac Summit Road

This road makes the views at the summit accessible to those who might not be conditioned to hike the paths up. This is also a great option for families with young children to enjoy all that the summit has to offer!

views of lake from top of cadillac mountain.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Cadillac Summit Road take?

The drive up to the summit will take about 30 minutes from the road entrance to the parking lot at the summit.

When is Cadillac Mountain Summit Road open?

The road is open from May 25th to October 22nd. Sunrise times range from 4:45 am in mid-June to 6:15 am in mid-October. The road closes at 10pm.

Does it cost money to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain?

Yes. You will need to purchase a park entrance pass at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. After you get your pass, you will need to pay for a vehicle reservation which must be bought online using a vehicle reservation system.

Can you drive up Cadillac Mountain without a pass?

No. You will need to purchase a park entrance pass at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center as well as a vehicle reservation before you can drive up the mountain.