Sand Beach Entrance

Acadia National Park Vehicle Reservations

The vehicle reservation for Sand Beach Entrance provides access to a 2-mile section of the Park Loop Road along the shore that includes Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and trailheads for Ocean Path, The Beehive, Great Head, and Gorham Mountain. The Park Loop Road continues beyond the vehicle reservation area to the Fabbri Picnic Area and Jordan Pond. 

Island Explorer bus system is not operating in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Need to Know

• Locations Included in Reservation Area

  The vehicle reservation for Sand Beach Entrance provides access to a 2-mile section of the Park Loop Road along the shore that includes Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and trailheads for Ocean Path, The Beehive, Great Head, and Gorham Mountain. 

• Reservation Limits

  Two Sand Beach Entrance reservations are allowed per vehicle each day.

  A separate reservation is required for each reservation area and entry time.

  Reservations are per vehicle, not per person.

• Entry Times

  Vehicles must enter the reservation area within 30 minutes of the designated start time indicated on their ticket. 

  Reservations provide a timed entry, but do not require a departure time. 

  If you leave the reservation area with your vehicle, you need another reservation to re-enter.

• Printed/Digital Tickets

  You must have a printed or digital copy of your vehicle reservation available to be scanned to enter the reservation area.

• Road Conditions

  The road beyond the entrance station is a two-lane, one-way road with parking allowed in the right lane in most places and a speed limit of 25 mph. Drivers should use caution when traveling the road and must give 3-foot clearance when passing bicyclists and pedestrians.

• Parking Availability

  Finding a parking spot while traveling one-way road requires that you park where there is availability as you are prohibited from backing up, reversing direction, or re-entering the Sand Beach Entrance without another vehicle reservation. Parking areas are located at Sand Beach and at five locations along the length of the vehicle reservation area. 

  Parking in the right travel lane is permitted unless otherwise posted. 

  Reservations do not assign a specific parking space.

• Recreation Vehicles

  While RVs are permitted to drive the Park Loop Road, there are no designated RV parking spaces and most parking areas have limited turning room. RVs are prohibited from parking in spaces designated for buses. RVs may use the right lane to park unless otherwise posted.

• Weather

  Reservations are non-refundable under all circumstances, including emergency road closures and inclement weather (fog, clouds, rain).

• Park Entrance Pass Required

  Reservation holders must have a park entrance pass in addition to purchasing a vehicle reservation. 

  They may be obtained at the park or online at the Acadia National Park Site Pass page. 

  Lifetime and annual pass holders do not receive a discount on vehicle reservations.

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