Acadia National Park in Maine Hits Visitor Milestone Not Seen Since the ’80s

When it comes to living in Maine, there are just some things you have to accept. You have to accept that it's cold about 8 months our of the year. You have to accept that everything is expensive and lastly, you have to accept that it is a tourist magnet.

If you thought Acadia National Park felt a little crowded this summer… you were right. July was the park’s busiest month since 1989, according to the KJ.

According to the National Park Service, 797,030 visitors explored Acadia last month. That’s more people than in any single month in the last 35 years. The only times the park has seen bigger crowds were the summer of 1989 — with over 999,000 visitors in July — and its all-time record of 1,045,060 visitors in August of that year.

1989 still holds the crown for Acadia’s busiest year ever, with more than 5.4 million visitors. But recent years have been no slouch: the park welcomed over 4 million people in 2021, the highest annual total since that record-breaking year, the newspaper said.

The KJ goes on to explain that last year, Acadia had 3.9 million visitors, and other than the pandemic year of 2020, it’s drawn at least 740,000 people every July and August since 2017.

For a park known for jaw-dropping views, stunning hikes, and plenty of Instagram-worthy spots, it’s no wonder the crowds keep coming. Just remember — if you’re planning a trip, maybe set that alarm early. You won’t be alone out there.