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Acadia National Park in December

Very quiet0.1× average month · best-time score 1/100

December at Acadia National Park averages a daytime high near 38°F and an overnight low around 22°F, with about 5.7" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.1× the park's average month, which makes December a very quiet month here.

Average low
22°F
Average high
38°F

Range across the year: 15°F to 79°F

Crowds
0.1× averageVery quiet
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
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  8. A
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  12. D
Precipitation
5.7 in
Daylight
8.7 hours

Check access before you plan around December

December draws about 5% of the visits Acadia sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around December. Official Acadia park page.

Roughly 0% of the park's yearly visitors come in December: about 15,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the August peak (2.5×) and the February low (0×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 1/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.

The daily average of about 30°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2.5 miles from the park.

Because June, July and August together draw about 56% of annual visitors, choosing December instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 8.7 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 4,079,318 recreation visits, up 3% from 3,961,661 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 21.3%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.

How December compares with the months around it

MonthAvg high / lowCrowdsBest-time score
November48°F / 33°F0.2× Very quiet48 Fair
December38°F / 22°F0.1× Very quiet1 Poor
January33°F / 15°F0.1× Very quiet2 Poor

All twelve months at Acadia, with the best time to visit.

Seasonal closures in December 2026

The National Park Service lists these Acadia facilities as closed during December 2026. The dates are the park's own, read on October 11, 2026. A facility that is not listed here may still be closed, so confirm on the park's site before you go.

Things to do at Acadia in December

The National Park Service tags 32 Acadia activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.

Reviewed by WhenToVisitParks Editorial Team · Updated

Frequently Asked Questions

December averages a daytime high near 38°F and an overnight low around 22°F at Acadia National Park, with about 5.7 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2.5 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.

December is very quiet at Acadia National Park (about 0.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 1/100. Our recommended month is May. December draws about 5% of the visits Acadia sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around December.

The busiest month is August and the quietest is February. December sits at about 0.1× the park's average, or 0% of annual visitation.

A typical December sees about 15,000 recreation visits at Acadia National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.

Where to stay near Acadia in December

Booking a December trip to Acadia National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.

Top-rated places to stay near Acadia

Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Visiting Acadia in December?

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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in December.

Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.