Planning to drive up Cadillac Mountain? You’ll need more than a car and a camera.
As the highest peak in Acadia National Park – and the first place to see sunrise in the U.S. for much of the year – Cadillac Mountain is one of the park’s most popular attractions. The summit offers jaw-dropping views over the coast, islands, and rolling forests below, especially at sunrise or sunset.
But with that popularity comes crowds, and to help protect the experience (and your sanity), the National Park Service now requires reservations to drive the Cadillac Summit Road.
Sound complicated? Don’t worry.
I’ve created this detailed, easy-to-follow guide to help you understand exactly how the Cadillac Mountain reservation system works. From how to book a spot to tips for getting the best views, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know so you don’t miss one of the most iconic experiences in Acadia.
Let’s make sure your trip to the top goes off without a hitch.
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Table of Contents
Type of entry tickets/ reservations
Reservations will be required for vehicle access to Cadillac Summit Road that goes to the top of Cadillac Mountain.
There are two types of timed entry Cadillac Summit Road reservation periods:
1) Sunrise reservations
This applies for entry in a 90-minute window as follows (times change with the sunrise times):
🔹 May 21 – July: 4:00 am – 5:30 am
🔹 August: 4:30 am – 6:00 am
🔹 September: 5:00 am – 6:30 am
🔹 October 1-15: 5:30 am – 7:00 am
🔹 October 16-26: 6:00 am – 7:30 am
You can enter at any time within this 90-minute timeslot. Sunrise times range from 4:45 am in mid-June to 6:15 am in mid-October.
There is a limit of one vehicle reservation within a seven-day period.
2) Daytime reservations
You reserve a time slot that gives you a 30-minute window in which to enter the road throughout daylight hours.
Reservations are required between the following hours (varies by month):
🔹 May 21 – July: 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
🔹 August: 6:30 am – 7:30 pm
🔹 September 1-15: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
🔹 September 16-30: 7:00 am – 6:30 pm
🔹 October 1-15: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
🔹 October 16-26: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
There is a limit of one vehicle reservation per day.
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Guide to the Acadia Cadillac Mountain Summit Reservation System
Some things to note
For both types of timed entry, re-entry is not permitted.
The reservation is for timed entry only and does not include a parking reservation – or guarantee a parking space.
Once you enter (on either reservation), you can stay as long as you like – you just need to be out by 10:00 pm when the road is closed for the night.
Vehicles over 21 feet long (including bike racks and hitch attachments), RVs, and trailers are prohibited on Cadillac Summit Road.
Period reservations are needed for
The ticketed timed entry Cadillac Summit reservation system will be in place between May 21 and October 26, 2025.
How to get entry tickets/ make reservations
The tickets will be released in two different allotments:
1) 30% of the tickets will become available at 10:00 am Eastern Time each morning 90 days in advance of each date.
2) The remaining 70% of them will be released at 10:00 am Eastern Time two days in advance of each date.
Entry tickets are only available online at the NPS reservation system. They will not be available at park entrance stations, visitor centers or park offices.
Cost of tickets/ reservations
Tickets cost $6 per vehicle (and all its occupants).
Note that this $6 is in addition to the park entrance fee and is not included in the national park fee.
When is it not necessary to make a reservation for the Cadillac Summit Road?
This reservation (and fee) is not required if you hike, ride a bicycle or take a taxi to the summit. The entry ticket is only required for private automobiles, not bicycles, taxis or hikers.
It’s also not required if you enter at night after the last time slot but before the road closes for the night (however, it will be dark with little visibility).
It is also not required for the few weeks that the road is open before and after the timed entry system is in effect (April 15 – May 21 and October 28 – November 30)
‼️ NOTE: If you miss out on a reservation, the Cadillac Mountain Shuttle is a privately run paid shuttle service to the top of Cadillac Mountain.
Getting a reservation for Cadillac Mountain is a very important step in planning your trip to Acadia, and I hope this guide helps.
However, as I’m sure you’re very aware, this is just one of many things that goes into planning and preparing for your trip to Acadia.
In fact, the thing that people ask me about most is how to put everything together into an itinerary that actually makes sense. They get a reservation for Cadillac Mountain, but still worry about what else there is to do (and when), how to minimize the crowds, and how to coordinate it all.
To help take away the overwhelm of planning a trip to Acadia, I’ve created several super detailed itineraries.
Without them, people often feel stressed about planning their trip. With them, they have the confidence of getting all the info they need in one spot. Plus, there’s flexibility built in, so they can easily adapt them to their own interests and activity levels.
There are 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-day options: all with detailed hour-by-hour schedules, including alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your time in Acadia National Park.
They all include the summit of Cadillac Mountain. The 2-4-day itineraries even include versions for visiting the summit either at sunrise or sunset – so you have even more flexible options.
Tips For Getting Timed Entry Tickets for Cadillac Summit Road in Acadia National Park
Read my post about which national parks require reservations for some insider tips on making reservations (and the low down on the other national parks that also require some form of reservations this summer).
Here is a simple summary of the steps to take to maximize your chances of getting a reservation for the national parks. You’re welcome to share this image on your site using this code and attribution:
You can make your Acadia National Park trip planning easy and stress free with a detailed itinerary for Acadia National Park. I have 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day itineraries for Acadia that include all the park highlights, give you choices based on your preferred activity level, and take all the stress out of planning your trip.