A new online alert system is being piloted to help visitors to Acadia National Park find and book available campsites, vehicle reservations and other activities offered through recreation.gov.

The website is the centralized travel planning platform and reservation system for nine federal agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Jayme Rec steps around a rock wall along a narrow section of the Maple Spring Trail that crosses over the West Branch of Hadlock Brook in Acadia National Park on Sept. 13. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Acadia National Park was the seventh most-visited national park in 2023, when the wooded outcrop on the Maine coast welcomed 3.9 million travelers, according to the park service.

The website has begun a pilot phase of the availability alerts for Acadia, including vehicle reservations that ensure timed entry to ride Summit Road to the top of Cadillac Mountain.

The alerts provide travelers who are logged into recreation.gov with real-time updates on available camp sites, vehicle reservations, tours and other activities based on their desired trip dates, according to a statement from the website.

Travelers must have a recreation.gov account, which is free. Each account can store up to three alert requests per activity – three for camping, three for tours, etc.

Setting an alert doesn’t guarantee a reservation. The website will send a notification to the traveler’s email address when a desired reservation is available. Others travelers may receive the same alert. Each alert will include an estimated number of travelers receiving the same alert.

Travelers must then book the reservation if it’s still available. Notifications are only sent when availability changes because of cancellations, lifted closures or other modifications.

Visit recreation.gov for more information.