BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 22, 2025
Acadia National Park has weathered periods of disruption in past years, but 2025 will stand out. Acadia’s number of staffed positions was slashed this year by President Trump’s administration, and it experienced its longest-ever federal government shutdown in its 109-year history. And, by the end of this month, Acadia is expected to set a new record in annual visitation of roughly 4.08 million visits for the year. As tourists show up in bigger numbers, and as the park’s staff face layoff threats amid federal wrangling over their budget, it feeds into concerns about whether ever-increasing tourism might be more than the park or surrounding communities can bear. “We need the park to be fully funded and staffed to make sure visitors have a positive experience,” said Perrin Doniger, of Friends of Acadia.