GENERAL INFORMATION
Hulls Cove Visitor Center is Acadia National Park’s main information station. Park Rangers and volunteers are on duty to answer any questions you may have, and there is a theater where you can watch a film about the park, but other than a relief map and a few information panels on the walls, there is no museum or other exhibits.
At the parking lot is a covered pavilion that serves as a bus stop for the free Island Explorer Shuttle Bus that runs from late June through Columbus Day. The parking lot is very large, so the Visitor Center is a great staging area if you plan to ride the bus. I highly recommend it, especially on the weekends, and anytime if you are heading to Bar Harbor, Sand Beach, the Jordan Pond House, or any of the trails that start along the Park Loop Road.
Hulls Cove Visitor Center itself is located up the hill from the bus stop at the top of a 52-step staircase. If you have a handicap parking permit, there is a parking lot closer to the building that you can use.
The Visitor Center is also where the Park Loop Road begins. This is a 27-mile scenic drive that covers the eastern half of Mount Desert Island. There are a number of overlooks, trailheads, and attractions along the road.
OPERATING HOURS
The Hulls Cove Visitor Center is open daily from early May through the end of October from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. From November until the facility reopens in May, visitor information is available at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at 2 Cottage Street. Hours are from 8 AM to 4 PM daily.
Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to visit the official National Park Service Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Acadia National Park.
AMENITIES
- Information desk where you can get a park brochure and the schedule for the day’s Ranger activities
- Purchase an Acadia National Park entrance pass
- Sign up for tours
- Purchase a detailed trail map
- Book and souvenir store
- Theater
- Restrooms
PARK FILM
The 12-minute film Acadia Always: The Story of Acadia National Park shows in the Visitor Center theater on a set schedule. Announcements are made to alert guests as to when the next showing will take place. This is actually an edited version of a one-hour film narrated by Jack Perkins (included below). The film is a guided tour of the park’s most popular features and is a great way to make a checklist of spots to hit during your visit. There is no objectionable material, so the film is suitable for all ages.
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
Other than taking time to watch the film, time spent at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center depends on what information you need, and to an even greater extent, how packed the place is. When I visited, I had to stand in line to talk with Rangers at the information desk. If you need to purchase a parking pass, there is a separate desk and line for that.
You can get a pass and information at the Thompson Island Visitor Center as well. You drive right by this when coming onto Mount Desert Island, and everyone else drives by as well. I recommend stopping there and avoiding the crowds at Hulls Cove.
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Last updated on August 18, 2023