Maine’s Acadia National Park increases entrance fees

Entrance move charges for Acadia Nationwide Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, will enhance on April 1, 2023, shifting it into the costliest nationwide park pricing tier alongside parks such because the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.

Except for an annual move, Acadia solely provides weekly entrance passes. All of the weekly passes will enhance by $5, whereas the annual move will enhance by $15.

In line with the Nationwide Park Service (NPS), 80% of the income generated from entrance move charges is utilized in Acadia. Up to now few years, it mentioned, the income has been used to enhance park facilities, add new climbing trails, and enhance day by day custodial work on the park.

“The vast majority of Acadia’s entrance charge income is retained regionally to fund the Island Explorer bus system and different tasks that instantly profit guests and shield park sources,” the NPS mentioned in a information launch Tuesday. “The elevated charge income will permit Acadia to broaden Island Explorer service over the approaching years to assist alleviate visitors and parking congestion.”

The doorway charge enhance doesn’t have an effect on industrial entrance charges for companies working within the park underneath a industrial use authorization move, the NPS mentioned. It additionally doesn’t influence passes that permit entry to all nationwide parks.

Guests underneath 16 years of age are nonetheless exempt from entrance charges, and nationwide park entrance fee-free days will nonetheless be noticed in Acadia, the NPS mentioned.

Upcoming Entrance Payment-Free Days:

• April 22 – First Day of Nationwide Park Week
• August 4 – Nice American Outside Day
• September 23 – Nationwide Public Lands Day
• November 11 – Veterans Day

The NPS mentioned it beforehand requested for public suggestions on the proposed charge enhance throughout a 30-day remark interval which closed on Dec. 30, 2022. It mentioned the suggestions it acquired was largely optimistic, and that it additionally met with Maine’s congresspersons and different stakeholders whereas deciding whether or not to approve the charge enhance.

The NPS accepted the charge enhance on Tuesday. Acadia’s entrance move charges have been final elevated in 2018.

Acadia Nationwide Park, New England’s solely nationwide park, is incessantly acknowledged as probably the most stunning locations to go to in New England. In 2022, it was the fifth most visited nationwide park within the nation.