Island Explorer logo
Acadia Free Shuttles
Picture of Frenchman's Bay
New Ways to Explore Acadia
   

The Island Explorer features ten bus routes linking hotels, inns, and campgrounds with destinations in Acadia National Park and neighboring village centers.
     Clean propane-powered vehicles offer Mount Desert Island visitors and residents free transportation to hiking trails, carriage roads, island beaches, and in-town shops and restaurants.

The Island Explorer operates June 23 through October 12, 2020. Fall service begins on August 26, 2020.
Fall service on Schoodic Peninsula begins on September 1.
Picture of buses along the Bar Harbor Village Green

Schedules updated for 2020 on March 12, 2020. L.L.Bean pledges 2 million dollars to protect Acadia National Park.
Link to July 4 schedules


"A wonderful service. Best way to get around. Fun to ride. Happy drivers."
-Island Explorer passenger from Texas

 

"Using the bus really helped us to see and visit a lot more of the island. "
-Acadia national Park visitor from England

 

"This makes the week a real vacation."
-Island Explorer passenger from Massachusetts

 

"Free is the way to be. I like your bus service."
-Island Explorer passenger from Franklin, Maine


The Island Explorer is operated by
Downeast Transportation
PO Box 914
Ellsworth, ME 04605
(207) 667-5796

All services operated by Downeast Transportation, Inc. are open to the general public.

For email inquiries, [email protected]