Acadia in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 30/100 · #11 of 12 months

December is a quiet month with trade-offs at Acadia National Park: crowds run 2% of the August peak (15,739 average visits). Weather: highs average 38°F and lows 22°F, with 5.7″ of precipitation and 8.9 hours of daylight. Headline access is typically closed this month — see the access warning below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Acadia in December: what the park service says

December at Acadia falls outside the Cadillac Summit Road reservation season, which in 2026 ran from May 20 to October 25, so no vehicle reservation is required then. Reservations, when the season returns, cost $6 per vehicle on Recreation.gov and are not sold in the park; 30 percent of slots open 90 days ahead and the rest two days before, at 10 a.m. Eastern.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Acadia averages 15,739 recreation visits in December — 2% of what August, the peak month, draws — this is the third-quietest month of the year. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

Days are cold (highs average 38°F), and nights drop below freezing (lows average 22°F). This is one of the wetter months (5.7″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 8.9 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station ACADIA NP, ME US (2 mi from park coordinates, 470 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Acadia in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 22°F, below freezing
• Rain shell + pack cover — 5.7″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Headlamp — only 8.9 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 5.7″ of precipitation is normal this month

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Acadia are May and June.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24