Acadia National Park is Totally Free for Everyone this Weekend

I could be wrong, but Acadia didn't always seem quite so busy.

It seems when I was a kid, we went several times a year. And while it was certainly a popular tourist destination, it seems recent years have seen the region grow into one of the nation's top spots for tourism. So these days, I'm more apt to go when it's just a smidge quieter. Like the fall, which is a magical time in Acadia.

In addition to the bigger crowds over the years, it's gotten a bit more expensive to go into the Park. I'm not complaining at all, because it's a huge natural wonder in our state, and should be maintained to the highest degree. But lucky for us, there are a handful of times each year when the Park is accessible for free.

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One of those free days is this weekend...

Conny Pokorny

Coming up this Saturday, the 28th of September, Acadia National Park will be free to get into as the Park celebrates National Public Lands Day. On this day, and others like it, national parks across the country suspend their admission fees to allow people to come in and check it all out without having to get out their wallet.

Ultima_Gaina

A carload of people would normally set you back $35 for a one-time entrance into Acadia. Of course, there are season passes you can use multiple times at a discounted rate. So being able to skip that entrance fee preeeeetty much pays for lunch. Well, for two people, hahaha.

Dmitriy Melnikov

What other days are free?

We've already had a handful of days starting back in January. After this weekend, the next will be on Veteran's Day. Previously, there are days set aside to honor the beginning of National Park Week, Martin Luther King's birthday, and Juneteenth. All these days, plus a couple others, are all free admission.

At a time when it costs something to get into anything, it's nice that the National Park Service sets aside some of these days. Whether it's locals that use them the most, or people are driving a couple hundred miles to get here, it's just nice to get a break every now and then, from having to get out your wallet to have some fun.

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Filed Under: Acadia National Park, Maine

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