Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park: Address, Phone Number, Cadillac Mountain Reviews: 5/5
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain
5
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The East Coast's highest mountain at 1,530 feet and Acadia's best known sight.
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Top ways to experience Cadillac Mountain and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
98 within 3 miles
Island Take Out (ito)
2
446 ftAmerican

The Links Pub
13
1.9 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub

Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream
274
2.4 mi$ • Dessert • American

Havana
1,407
2.4 mi$$$$ • Latin • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options

Burning Tree
390
2.4 mi$$$$ • American • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly

Cafe This Way
2,842
2.5 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly

Salt & Steel
104
2.4 mi$$$$ • American • Contemporary • Vegan Options

Project Social Kitchen & Bar
189
2.5 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options

Peekytoe Provisions
280
2.5 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly

Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen
194
2.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • American • Cafe
Attractions
74 within 6 miles

Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail
172
178 ftHiking Trails

Precipice Trail
259
1.6 miHiking Trails

Egg Rock Light
170
1.2 miLighthouses

Bubble Rock
377
1.7 miHiking Trails

Champlain Mountain & Beehive Loop Trail
589
2.3 miHiking Trails

Acadia National Park
2,149
2.3 miNational Parks

Carriage Roads
557
1.9 miBiking Trails

Gorham Mountain Trail
321
2.6 miHiking Trails

Eagle Lake Acadia National Park
144
2.1 miBodies of Water • National Parks

Great Head Trail
225
2.8 miHiking Trails
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
3,594 reviews
Excellent
3,000
Very good
511
Average
65
Poor
13
Terrible
5
Schmitty86
Langhorne, PA228 contributions
Jun 2021
We visited here in mid June. You can't visit unless you use the new reservation system which costs about $6.00. You will also need a ticket to get into the park. I booked a sunrise visit a few months beforehand. By the week before, I saw that the weather wasn't going to be good that day. Two days beforehand, they release more tickets. I went on at 10 am 2 days before and I tried to change the tickets. Because I was in a spot with bad cell service, I couldn't do it. Instead, I booked new tickets for another day at 12:30 pm. Later in the day I got better cell service and rebooked my sunrise tix. On the day of our sunrise tix, the sun was due to come up at 4:48 AM. You really need to be there before the sunrise time to see first light. Our ticket time was 3:30 - 5:30 am. We arrived at the gate at 3:25 am and there were already about 6 -10 cars in line waiting. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get up the hill at that time because it is extremely dark and you have to drive slow. We then had to use our phones as flashights in order to see to find a good spot on the rocks for viewing. We dressed in layers and brought our beach towels to use a blankets because it was cold. We did see some of the sunrise but then clouds moved in and we didn't see too much. We went home at 5:30 and took a nap. Then we came back up for the 12:30 pm reservation. The view at that time was just beautiful. It was a clear day and we really had a nice time walking down the path a bit and enjoying the beautiful view and a snack on the rocks! We ended up staying there for about 2 hours. There are bathrooms and a gift shop up there too. If you are trying to decide whether or not to take the effort and get up for the sunrise up here, my opinion is to skip it. I am SO glad that we went up there later in the day because it was beautiful.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Molly C
Merrifield, VA46 contributions
Sep 2021
Our experience would have been a lot better if the weather wasn't so bad! We reserved a spot to watch the sunrise one morning on our visit. At the time, the weather looked like it was going to be okay but due to the nature of the system and how the reservations work (2 days ahead of time and RIGHT at 10am or they'll sell out), you just have to take the risk. Well, it ended up being very cloudy that morning and we felt jilted, but again- nothing anyone could have done about it! We did see a peek of the sunrise on the horizon.
Rangers were there directing parking during the sunrise time and that was very helpful. Bring your headlamp- it's very dark before the sun comes up and you want to climb over some rocks to get the best view. It's also pretty chilly, even in the summer months so make sure you bring layers and a blanket to sit on.
Overall, we felt the price for the reservation ($6) was worth the experience!
Rangers were there directing parking during the sunrise time and that was very helpful. Bring your headlamp- it's very dark before the sun comes up and you want to climb over some rocks to get the best view. It's also pretty chilly, even in the summer months so make sure you bring layers and a blanket to sit on.
Overall, we felt the price for the reservation ($6) was worth the experience!
Written September 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Eric F
Fort Myers, FL139 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
You must get a reservation to go up this mountain, but if you get to the top of the mountain it is worth it. The sunrise is colorful, grand, and gorgeous. The sunset is almost as stunning and the area is beautiful at any time of day. Overlooking the ocean, mountains, and islands is great and I highly recommend this place. It is the best of Acadia National Park.
Written June 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Tazbigdog
Chandler, AZ302 contributions
Sep 2021
OK, the scenery is beautiful, glad we were here for our anniversary and had an awesome time, BUT...
Try to get a ticket for the sunrise here on Cadillac Mountain is like getting a ____ (you fill in the blank). The website said that 30% of the tickets are pre-sold up to 6 months ahead of time. the remaining tickets, 70%, are dumped at 10 AM EST 48 hours before. I tried three times, exactly at 10 AM to get tickets, and the screen allowed me to get to the next page, and then it said it was sold out. Heck, it wasn't even 10:01 AM yet.
I did this 3 days at 10 AM and unless the tour companies scored them all, or some person in another country, my sunrise ticket did not happen.
II have found other better areas to view the sunrise, and not worth all the aggravation.
Try to get a ticket for the sunrise here on Cadillac Mountain is like getting a ____ (you fill in the blank). The website said that 30% of the tickets are pre-sold up to 6 months ahead of time. the remaining tickets, 70%, are dumped at 10 AM EST 48 hours before. I tried three times, exactly at 10 AM to get tickets, and the screen allowed me to get to the next page, and then it said it was sold out. Heck, it wasn't even 10:01 AM yet.
I did this 3 days at 10 AM and unless the tour companies scored them all, or some person in another country, my sunrise ticket did not happen.
II have found other better areas to view the sunrise, and not worth all the aggravation.
Written October 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Indyphan
Indianapolis, IN5 contributions
Jun 2022
Due to its popularity you have to schedule your visit to go up and with everything to do it is tough to know your 60 minute window. We tried to get tickets for the sunrise as they went on sale the day before at 10 AM. I was hitting refresh at 9:59. At 10 it refreshed and was sold out. The road to get up there can send up the blood pressure a little, but the view is worth it.
Written June 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
KayJazz
Bedford, TX375 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
FINALLY made it to Cadillac Mountain. We reserved our reservation ($6) for 8:30am (previously was scheduled at 11am and was so thankful we could modify our time slot).
The views from the vista's were simply gorgeous!!! The peace & quiet feeds the soul and let's you enjoy God's beautiful scenery.
Acadia NP is a park to behold. Our weather for the 2 days (27-28Sep21) was 64-66°.
Some leaves were just beginning to turn into their fall colors. 🍁🍂
Starting about Oct 09. 2021 I bet the leaves will be putting on a full fall showing.
No matter when you visit Cadillac Mountain & Acadia NP, just do it! ❤
The views from the vista's were simply gorgeous!!! The peace & quiet feeds the soul and let's you enjoy God's beautiful scenery.
Acadia NP is a park to behold. Our weather for the 2 days (27-28Sep21) was 64-66°.
Some leaves were just beginning to turn into their fall colors. 🍁🍂
Starting about Oct 09. 2021 I bet the leaves will be putting on a full fall showing.
No matter when you visit Cadillac Mountain & Acadia NP, just do it! ❤
Written September 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AJOhio
Cleveland, OH109 contributions
Oct 2021
Cadillac Mountain is the tallest peak at Acadia National Park and offers amazing views in all directions. It can be reached by hiking up several trails or driving up the road. Timed tickets are needed to use the road and these can be purchased online (there is a link from the Acadia National Park main page). The drive up is itself a great experience with multiple overlooks where you can stop by. At the top there is a gift shop and a few short trails. Like most of Acadia, this can get busy. I recommend going to the "true summit" near the cell phone tower which is less busy (although you don't get 360 views because of the trees).
Written October 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ricochan
New York347 contributions
Jul 2021
Must visit while visiting Acadia National Park! I purchased a timed ticket ahead, and I was glad! Our reservation was at 7 PM, and we were allowed to enter at 6:30 PM. Because of the reservation requirement, parking was plentiful. We ate our packed dinner up here (and threw everything away in a trash bin afterward). We could see beautiful sunset while relaxing on a large rock.
If I were to come to Acadia again, maybe I could try sunrise! This is the highest point on the Eastern Coast.
If I were to come to Acadia again, maybe I could try sunrise! This is the highest point on the Eastern Coast.
Written July 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
tinaNtravel
San Jose, CA1,582 contributions
Sep 2021
You need reservations to drive up Cadillac Mountain. During the busy season, the best times (sunrise and sunset) sell out quickly. If you find they are sold out, check back again, 2 days before at 10am, as new tickets are released, however, they go fast. We got a reservation for approx. an hour and a half before sunset. We drove up to the top parking lot on the right, parked, walked around and then approx. a half hour before sunset, walked down to the parking lot area on the left, where we were told is the best view. This area quickly filled up with perhaps hundreds of people sitting on the rocks, some having picnics, waiting for the sunset – and it was worth the wait. It was beautiful and well worth the effort to get there.
Written September 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
CatherineG1605
Memphis, TN74 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain is NOT to be missed. This truly was the highlight of our trip to Acadia national park. We had reservations, which everyone must have now, for 4AM through Recreation.gov. The reservations allows you to enter for 120 minutes up to 2 hrs before or after. We entered the park at 4:10 AM and there was already a crowd gathering as the light was already beginning. There were clouds, but we were surprised at how much those clouds added to the color of the shy. The photos posted here were taken beginning at 4:17 AM, so you can see that it was already an amazing experience. Bring a blanket or heavy jacket because the wind really blows on the mountain and the temps are cooler than in town. Rangers make sure that people stay out of the marked areas, but there is plenty of room for everyone to spread out and find their own zen as the sun rises to tough first light on the USA. It is not to be missed!
Written June 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Nj121
8 contributions
Judy,
We are planning to go to Acadia national park in few weeks. I have a fear of height. Your review will be a big help to me. I have a few questions for you:
Based on your experience, for the perspective of Fear Of Height, Do I need to worry about drive to Acadia national park? Driving inside the park (other than Cadillac Mountain)? Any other area i should be worry about?
Your reply will help me to make better decision.
Thank you for your support
leaholden
175 contributions
Hello! I've got a pretty strong fear of heights and I had little to no issues with the park.
I would even recommend Cadillac Mountain. The road is really well done and not super close to the edge, and you can go slowly if you need to. You don't have to get anywhere near the edge to enjoy the view.
If at any time fear does start to creep up, just take a couple of careful steps back and give yourself time to reevaluate.
Amanda K
Iowa City, IA13 contributions
Other than sunrise and sunset, when is the best time of day to be at the top of Cadillac Mountain in June?
Is it better to hike up or drive up? (we are comfortable with moderate hikes between 2-4 miles).
Thanks!
Tazbigdog
Chandler, AZ302 contributions
Better to drive up, it's all uphill, and single lane (not much shoulder). Depending on temperatures, I would say anytime from 8 AM - 11 AM is best.
mrshoneybear
Miller Place, NY203 contributions
How long was your visit to Cadillac Mountain by driving up? How long did you stay?
JenniferandAlan
Easton, PA610 contributions
Driving up if you don't stop is really quick--less than 10 minutes. But there are viewpoints along the way that you may want to stop at. We went during the day (not for sunrise or sunset) and spent about an hour walking the trails on the mountain. From the top you can see Bar Harbor and Bar Island and the Porcupine Islands as well as Schoodic Peninsula and the Cranberry Islands. There are signboards that tell you what you are looking at. The mountain is almost bare of vegetation which is something to see. This is more common farther north. My husband and I have visited Acadia probably about 25 times and Cadillac Mountain is our favorite! Enjoy!
Jill W
7 contributions
The rec.gov website says one reservation per vehicle, but they don't ask for any vehicle information. Do you have to provide that info when you check in? I want to make a 2nd reservation because it looks like solid cloud cover the morning of our reservation. Thanks!
JenniferandAlan
Easton, PA610 contributions
Sorry, can't help. We went in early May off season and didn't need to make reservations.
Debbie B
Cumberland Center, ME6 contributions
As requested, I went on Recreation.gov at 10:00 2 days prior (looking for the 12th of June) and there were none available. Is there a glitch in the system? Looking for suggestions. Dates are not flexible!
JenniferandAlan
Easton, PA610 contributions
My advice is this and it won't help you now--go on the off season and you will not have to make reservations. Also you will avoid crowds. This is what my husband and I did this spring and had the park almost to ourselves.
eager2c
Nashville, TN39 contributions
Hey folks, my and a group are looking to go early June. We don't want to take a car, is there a shuttle that takes us to the peak from downtown Bar Harbor?
Len
5 contributions
My husband and I are planning to go on Monday. Just wondering if anyone can share their recent experience about buying a reservation ticket to access Cadillac mountain for sunrise. I saw one post about going in before 0430am to avoid paying, but just wondering too if this has changed. Thanks!
My-Honest-0pinion
Indianapolis, IN36 contributions
We saw sunrise in August. No charge. We arrived an hour before sunrise and had great parking. Tip-leave before crowd does or it may take a while to come back down.
Andres C
Newington, CT342 contributions
I’ll be traveling to Acadia this Saturday. I just found out you need a reservation for a certain time slot to drive up to the summit. There aren’t any available for Saturday as this is news to me. However, the reservations are for 4:30a until (idk when). My plan was to arrive before 4:30a anyway. Has anyone gone since this began and did they have any issues driving to the summit without a reservation?
Andres C
Newington, CT342 contributions
I’ll answer my own question for anyone who’s wondering as well. I ended up going this Saturday (first Saturday in October). I had no issues getting in the mountain without a reservation before 4:30a. Rangers get there at 4:00a so I’d get there earlier to avoid any questioning.
This may change is what the rangers told me, but right now they’re only enforcing reservations between 4:30-6:30, but not keeping people out outside of this time.
Sushruth S
Amherst, MA
Hi ,
Kindly let me know What is the location of entry point to drive up the mountain for sunrise .
Colleen C
Troy, NY1,767 contributions
When you enter Mt. Desert Island you will be on Eden st (Rt 3) stay on the left, from there your only going to go a few miles and look for Eagle Lake Rd on the left as you enter Bar Harbor, then take another left onto Paradise Rd. that leds to Park Loop Rd. ~ finally there is one last left to turn onto Cadillac Summit Rd. Biggest tip is get ther about an hour before sunrise~ it truly gets packed quickly and parking goes onto the 2 lane road come closer to the time of the sunrise. Good luck and have fun ~ bring a blanket!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cadillac Mountain
- We recommend booking Cadillac Mountain tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 6 Cadillac Mountain tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Cadillac Mountain:
- Narrated Bus Tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (Classic - 2.5 Hours) (From $54.55)
- Premium Narrated Bus Tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (3.5 Hours) (From $83.77)
- 3 Hour Private Tour: Acadia National Park, Cadillac Summit & Park Loop Road (From $500.00)
- 5 Hour Private Tour: Acadia, Cadillac Summit, Somes Sound & Lobster Pound (From $800.00)
- Ultimate Acadia National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour (From $10.00)
- Hotels near Cadillac Mountain:
- (2.39 mi) The Primrose
- (2.55 mi) Maples Inn
- (2.53 mi) Atlantean Cottage
- (2.38 mi) Holbrook House
- (2.65 mi) Saltair Inn Waterfront B&B
- Restaurants near Cadillac Mountain:
- (0.08 mi) Island Take Out (ito)
- (0.08 mi) Everyday Joe's
- (2.59 mi) Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen
- (2.72 mi) The Stadium
- (2.36 mi) Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream
- Attractions near Cadillac Mountain:
- (0.03 mi) Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail
- (1.62 mi) Precipice Trail
- (1.16 mi) Egg Rock Light
- (2.43 mi) At Your Service Tours
- (2.38 mi) Massage Bar Harbor