This amazing national park is one of my most-recommended elopement locations for couples looking for epic mountain views, lakes, dense forests, and endless hiking trails. The park is extremely diverse and offers something for everyone (even your furry friends)! If you’re looking to plan your very own elopement in Acadia, you’ve come to the right place. From the best time of year to elope to the best places to elope, everything you need to know about Acadia National Park is located in this guide. Let’s get into it!
ready to book your acadia elopement?
BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR YOUR Acadia National park ELOPEMENT
1. Get your Wedding Permit for Acadia
Depending on how many people you plan on having at your ceremony and where you want to have your marriage take place will depend on if you will need a wedding permit for the park. If you have 10 or more people, below is the group restrictions for the park.
Cadillac Mountain – 20 (No ceremonies during sunrise or sunset.)
Blue Hill Overlook – 20
Sand Beach – 30
Ocean Drive – 30
Otter Cliff – 20
Otter Point – 30
Fabbri Picnic Area – 30
Little Hunters Beach – 20
Seawall Picnic Area – 35
Thompson Island – 50
Schoodic Point – 25
Frazer Point Picnic Area – 50
2. Marriage License
You will need to obtain a marriage license for the state of maine for all elopements. You will also need 2 witnesses to sign on the marriage license and make it legal!
3. Get needed park passes + permits
Once you decide on how many guests you'd like, make sure to fill out any required permits on their website. This is something I would be happy to take care of for you as I'm familiar with their process!
A car pass is also required to enter the park - $30
The Legal Stuff
Summer:
Summer is a perfect time to elope in Acadia National Park, specifically from mid-July to August. Not only are these the warmest months in the park, but also some of the greenest. During the month of August, the park is covered in wildflowers, and all trails are snow-free. However, summer is one of the busiest seasons for the park. I highly recommend planning your elopement during a weekday with a ceremony during sunrise or sunset if you’re hoping for a crowd-free experience during the summer season.
Fall:
Fall is my favorite time to visit the park, and most-recommend season for Acadia elopements. Not only are the trails still snow-free, but vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows cover the park during the fall. The weather is still pleasant however this is the busiest time of year in the park due to the fall foliage. A weekday elopement with sunrise/sunset ceremony id ideal.
Winter
Winter is the longest season in Acadia National Park. Most of the parks roads are closed during this time and only accessable by hiking in. I recommend staying clear of planning your elopement here in the winter season, as most of the locations are completely inaccessible, the weather is unpredictable, and snow can make driving on the windy roads very dangerous.
Spring
Spring is similar to winter, in that the weather is still very unpredictable and most of the locations are inaccessible. While the park starts to see some its snow melt, many of the more accessible locations are often covered with mud and puddles, which isn’t the best for adventuring around in. It’s best to hold off just a little longer into the summer season that starts in July.
Best Places to Elope in acadia National Park
Cadillac Mountain - reservations required
otter cliffs
jordan pond
little hunters beach
sand beach
bass harbor head lighthouse
otter point
blue hill overlook
ocean drive (with this option you can stop at multiple locations)
activities to include in your acadia elopement
Walk the trails at Jordan Pond
Watch the sunrise/sunset from Cadillac Mountain
Take a boat out to Isle au Haut
Horseback riding on the carriage roads
Visit Bass Harbor Lighthouse
Bike the carriage roads
Drive the scenic park loop road
Rent a kayak or canoe
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