Acadia Gateway Center Opens
New intermodal transit center will enhance visitor experience to Acadia National Park and Downeast Maine
TRENTON – May 20, 2026- The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) joined federal, local, and partner organizations today to celebrate the grand opening of the Acadia Gateway Center. The facility, located in Trenton, is a unique transportation and visitor services hub designed to improve access to Acadia National Park and Downeast Maine while helping reduce congestion on Mount Desert Island.
Maine Governor Janet Mills joined representatives from MaineDOT, the Town of Trenton, the Maine Tourism Association, Downeast Transportation, Friends of Acadia, Acadia National Park, and the Federal Transit Administration to mark the occasion. Speakers highlighted the importance of the Gateway Center as a key transportation and visitor hub supporting sustainable tourism and improving access to Acadia National Park and Downeast Maine.
“The Gateway is expected to be used by nearly 300,000 visitors who, last year, supported more than 14,000 jobs and contributed more than $610 million in wages in this region alone,” said Maine Governor Janet Mills. “This facility will safeguard Acadia National Park as the treasure that it has always been by making the visitor experience smoother, more accessible, and more sustainable.”
“The Acadia Gateway Center represents years of collaboration and a shared commitment to improving the visitor experience while protecting one of Maine’s most treasured destinations,” said Dale Doughty, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. “This facility creates a welcoming first stop for visitors, strengthens transportation connections throughout the region, and helps support the long-term sustainability of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities.”
“We are deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity helped bring this vision to life,” said Eric Stiles, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia. “By making it easier to park, ride the bus, and explore Acadia car-free, the Acadia Gateway Center will help reduce traffic congestion in the park and surrounding communities, protect park resources, and create a more enjoyable visitor experience.”
The Acadia Gateway Center serves as an intermodal transit and welcome center for the region. The facility features 300 free day-use parking spaces, including 18 electric vehicle charging stations and 10 oversized vehicle spaces. It also serves as a hub for Island Explorer buses and commercial tour operators.
The 11,000-square-foot center offers a range of visitor amenities, including park and regional tourism information, retail space, restrooms, and a comfortable waiting area. The center is designed to improve access to Acadia National Park while supporting local communities and businesses.
The center represents the culmination of a multi-phase transportation strategy first developed more than two decades ago to improve mobility and reduce traffic impacts associated with travel to Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.
Partners emphasized the collaborative effort behind the project and its role in enhancing both visitor experience and environmental stewardship. Construction of the $27.7 million project was funded through a partnership that included the Federal Transit Administration, MaineDOT, the National Park Service, and Friends of Acadia.
For video and pictures of today’s event, please follow this link: https://mainedot.files.com/f/367d35c68149ec8b/Acadia_Gateway_Center_Ribbon_Cutting