Getting started.
Who this helps
Open to everyone. Completely free, no fare required.
How to get started
Check exploreacadia.com for current routes and schedules. Flag the bus with two hands from a safe place along its route; the driver decides where it is safe to stop. The service is fare-free. Check the route timetable for stops and times.
How they can help.
The Island Explorer is a fare-free bus system serving Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, and neighboring villages. Operated by Downeast Transportation with propane-powered vehicles, the Island Explorer's 2026 Route Finder lists 11 bus routes serving hotels, campgrounds, Acadia destinations, and village centers. Service runs from late June through mid-October, with spring Gateway Center service starting in May.
- 11 bus routes plus Bicycle Express across Mount Desert Island and Acadia.
- Free transportation to trailheads and beaches
- Village center connections
- Campground and hotel pickups
- Bicycle racks on buses
- Gateway Center park-and-ride
What to have ready.
A National Park entry pass is required to ride into Acadia National Park.
Call with your questions