Updated: Half Price Park Passes May Be in Short Supply This Year
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ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—If you have been putting off purchasing your half price Acadia National Park annual pass this month, you may want to get it done. Soon.
Acadia National Park holds the distinction of being the only national park to sell its annual pass at a lower price in December. This year, as in years past, the annual pass is sold at half price during the month of December. However, this year there are fewer annual passes available than normal.
“Each year, the park orders a set number of annual entrance passes specific to Acadia National Park, which are valid for the calendar year. The number of annual entrance passes that we order is an estimate of what we are likely to sell. The annual entrance pass costs $70, except in December when it costs $35,” said Acadia National Park Management Assistant John Kelly.
Last year, the park increased the price of an annual entrance pass from $55 to $70. Because of that price hike, according to Kelly, “we anticipated visitors would opt to purchase the America the Beautiful—The National Parks and Federal Lands Annual Pass since it costs $80 but provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by six federal agencies.”
That rationale may not have taken into account the thousands of local residents in Hancock County and beyond who may not be planning to visit any national park other than Acadia National Park.
Another change is that the passes are single user with only one name allowed on each pass. In the past, there had been spaces for two names.
There are discounted America the Beautiful passes available throughout the year. According to the park’s website, “Seniors, military, visitors with a permanent disability, and families with a 4th grader are eligible for a free or discounted America the Beautiful pass.”
AVAILABLE PASSES AND WHERE YOU CAN BUY THEM
In 2023 the park had approximately 7,400 passes available for the month of December and the rest of 2024. The park sold approximately 600 of those passes and third party vendors sold approximately 4,100. However, the park ended up having 2,700 unsold by the end of the year.
This year, the park has adjusted and reduced the number of annual passes available to a total of 3,200.
Those 3,200 passes can be accounted for in the following manner as of the beginning of December.
Acadia National Park has kept 1,200 for park sales.
Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center received 800.
Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce received 500.
Harbor House, selling for the Southwest Harbor/Tremont Chamber of Commerce, received 100.
Town of Gouldsboro (selling from town office) received 100.
Town of Tremont (selling from town office) received 100.
That leaves 400 passes remaining and only if all of the third party sellers for this year have been captured above.
HOW THEY ARE SELLING
As of approximately 4 p.m., December 5, the Harbor House had two passes left to sell and was awaiting more from the park.
As of approximately 5 p.m., December 5, the Tremont Town Office had 38 passes left to sell but had not requested any more yet.
As of approximately 9:30 a.m., December 6, the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center had approximately 550 passes left to sell.
As of Approximately 4 p.m., December 5, both the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Gouldsboro Town Office stated that their passes were selling well but didn’t have exact numbers.
You can purchase a discounted annual park pass at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at the corner of Main Street and Cottage Street, in Bar Harbor, until 10 p.m. tonight, Friday, December 6, and during regular business hours. They will be there until the end of December or until there are no more cards available, whichever comes first. As of 8:15 p.m., December 6, the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce ran out out of passes. We will update here if the organization receives more.
NEW THIRD-PARTY SELLER AGREEMENT
The National Park Service instituted a new third-party seller agreement this year and a couple of towns that traditionally sell the passes in December were caught off guard. The new policy requires third-parties (such as a town or a chamber of commerce) to sell passes all year in order to participate in the discounted program that occurs in December.
The towns of Mount Desert and Winter Harbor, both of whom have historically sold park passes during December, were not able to get the agreements signed in time to sell discounted passes this year due to communication snafus. Mount Desert expects to begin selling passes year round this coming year and have discounted passes available again next December.
UPDATES: This article was updated to change the word “less” to “fewer,” to add that the passes are single-user this year and to add that the Bar Harbor Chamber has run out of discounted passes. It’s also been updated to add wording about discounted passes for seniors, veterans, and others.
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these are basically the “leftover” 2024 passes that the park sells for half off before rolling out the 2025 edition in January
With more people buying passes during the busy season there were fewer remaining 2024 passes to sell at a discount in December.
Well, the power of a story! I think they are sold out! I offer to buy passes for staff at the highschool every year. I usually can wait until the week before the break... but I had to go tonight. And everyone was talking about your story! Honestly, I hope they continue doing the half price thing. It allows locals to get passes for their children, which is sort of cool 'teaching' thing. Locals all know where to park where cars won't be checked. And I bet the majority of use by locals is in the off season. Plus we use very few amenities. But I feel proud when I park and have that pass. But would I buy 2 if they were full price? No... and many locals I know won't go that far. :-)