This is the year to explore Canada! Our beautiful country is calling, and there’s no better time for Canadians to see more of our own back yards, and for visitors to discover some of the most amazing places.
Canada has astonishing scenery, and I wanted to highlight a few of my favourite east coast road trips that show off the best of the Maritimes. I promise you have never seen anywhere quite like them, from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Quebec’s Maritime region.
For the ultimate east coast road trip, you can also easily combine a number of these suggestions into one road trip. I’ll share more on that idea soon.
Looking for more travel ideas? Browse through articles on Canadian travel, and watch my videos on some of my favourite Canadian trips.
Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail
Route: Halifax | Baddeck | Chéticamp | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | Ingonish | Sydney | Louisbourg
Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail is one of Canada’s best road trips. The spectacular island offers truly magnificent vistas, and it’s natural and welcoming.
The Cabot Trail is a little over four hours of driving, but I recommend breaking it up over 3-5 days to really get the most out of the trip. Major highlights include hiking the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, enjoying Celtic culture and music, outdoor activities like biking and kayaking, shopping some of the many artisan shops, and learning about the history of the area.
I recommend starting in Halifax, driving to Cape Breton, and following the Cabot trail clockwise, from Baddeck, with stops in the French village of Chéticamp, hiking Cape Breton Highlands National Park’s Skyline Trail near Pleasant Bay, have lunch or dinner at Morrison’s Restaurant, and finish in Ingonish.
Outside of the Cabot Trail, you should stop in Sydney for dinner and to explore, and see The Big Fiddle, and head to Fortress of Louisbourg to see the iconic rebuilt village and buildings from when the French first arrived in the area, in the 18th century.
Road Trip Directions (View Map): Starting in Halifax, drive north east on the Trans Canada Highway to the Canso Causeway. The drive from Halifax to the causeway is around 2 hours and 45 minutes, and then the Cabot Trail starts a little over an hour away. The trail circles Cape Breton, so you can start anywhere, but Baddeck is one of the closest stops, and it’s worth spending the night there on your arrival.
Driving clockwise from Baddeck, head to the French village of Chéticamp, hike the Skyline Trail near Pleasant Bay, visit Dingwall, then drive east and south to hike Middle Head Trail in Ingonish, and explore the eastern coastline.
From there, Sydney is south and then east, a little under 2 hours from Ingonish, and Louisbourg is 45 minutes south east. You can then drive back through Sydney to Baddeck, and return to Halifax, or your next destination.
Learn More: Read my Halifax to Cape Breton travel guide, and watch the road trip video on YouTube.
Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula
Route: Percé | Forillon National Park | Highway 132 | Matane | Trois-Pistoles | Les Escoumins | Tadoussac
Quebec’s Maritime region is a special place, and the Gaspé peninsula–nestled between the St. Lawrence River and Chaleur Bay–offers a spectacular opportunity to experience Québécois history and culture, along a beautiful stretch of ocean-side roads and vistas.
Discover the charming, sea-side town of Percé, hike and see a stunning colony of northern gannets on l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé. Stop and explore Forillon National Park for epic hikes, camping and RVing, biking trails, and explore some of the many heritage sites that have been preserved across the mountain peninsula.
Drive along the northern coastline and see lighthouses, shop in small towns, and take in some of the most breathtaking views before you visit Matane for dinner and incredible sunsets on the beach. If you love seafood, you need to try the lobster here.
And while you’re travelling through the area you need to visit Tadoussac and go whale watching at Les Escoumins, on the St. Lawrence River. Tadoussac is quaint, beautiful, and charming, it’s rustic and surrounded by nature, and the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre is fascinating, as they also work to protect the marine life. Plus, enjoy a pint at Microbrasserie Tadoussac, and stay at the Hôtel Tadoussac.
Road Trip Directions (View Map): You can either drive from Montreal or Quebec City in the west, to start in Tadoussac, or start from the east in New Brunswick and drive along the coast to visit Bonaventure, Percé, Forillon National Park, and the northern coastline along the St. Lawrence. Along this route you can also cross the St. Lawrence on a ferry at Trois-Pistoles to Les Escoumins, saving driving time around the river.
Learn More: Read the guide, An ocean-side road trip from Percé to Tadoussac, and watch my road trip video on YouTube.
New Brunswick’s Fundy Coastal Drive
Route: Moncton | Hopewell Cape | Alma | Fundy National Park | Sussex | St. Martins | Saint John | St. Andrews By-The-Sea
New Brunswick is a beautiful gem, covered in forests, surrounded by ocean, nestled beside the Bay of Fundy, with some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.
There are a number of road trip routes that you should consider through the province, including driving the Trans Canada Highway to Fredericton, or from Nova Scotia to Moncton. Whichever way you choose, your goal is to arrive at either St. Andrews By-The-Sea, or Moncton, to start this incredible drive.
I recommend a day in Moncton and Dieppe to visit Magnetic Hill Winery and try some local vintages, stop by a pub, and a chance to roll the dice at Casino New Brunswick. The city is the perfect stepping off point for this road trip, and for a bit of history it’s worth visiting Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption cathedral to experience MR21, where they tell the story of the Acadian people through modern technology.
Heading to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, you’ll see the iconic flowerpot islands, and the highest tides in the world, enjoy a lunch or dinner in Alma, and go on a hiking adventure in Fundy National Park.
Next, enjoy small town vibes in Sussex, with inns and B&Bs, not to mention the annual Atlantic Balloon Fiesta where you can see the skies filled with hot air balloons every September. Then St. Martins offers wonderful inns and restaurants, along the coast with rugged, rocky sea caves you can explore.
Saint John is one of the biggest cities on the east coast, and you will want to spend at least two nights here to visit the historic Uptown, complete with Loyalist stories and a cemetery dating to 1784, festivals throughout the summer, wonderful parks and outdoor spaces, and much more.
Finally, you’ll finish your road trip in St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick’s most beautiful and picturesque town, with hotels, restaurants, whale watching excursions in the summer, golfing, and some of the best restaurants in the province.
Road Trip Directions (View Map): Plan for a week-long trip, starting in Moncton, and then drive south along highway 114 to visit Hopewell Rocks, and then along the coast to Alma, and Fundy National Park. After Fundy, you’ll follow the highway north west to Sussex, and follow highway 111 to St. Martins. The highway leads on to Saint John, one of the larger cities on the east coast, and then you will take highway 1 to St. Andrews By-The-Sea.
Learn More: Read my full guide on the Fundy Coastal Drive for more details and highlights.
Prince Edward Island’s North Cape Coastal Drive
Route: Charlottetown | West Point | O’Leary | Tyne Valley | Summerside | Victoria-By-The-Sea
Prince Edward Island may be small, but the province is wonderfully vibrant and it’s the perfect place to enjoy an off-the-beaten-path trip on the North Cape Coastal Drive, enjoy lobster, or fried clams.
Starting in Charlottetown, you’ll drive northwest to enjoy small communities and scenery. Visit West Point and plan to stay in a lighthouse, at West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum, explore Cedar Dunes Provincial Park, and enjoy dinner at Lighthouse Willy’s Restaurant.
The next day, depart for O’Leary and the Canadian Potato Museum, where you’ll learn about the history of the spud and farming. You can also have lunch here, and bring home some souvenirs. Consider a stop in Tyne Valley for incredible burgers at Backwoods Burger, and Oyster Art, showcasing stunning macro photography of oyster shells. Then stop for jaw-dropping artisanal small batch beer at Moth Lane Brewing near Freeland.
Plan ahead to visit some of the numerous parks where you can enjoy the beaches along the coast, and hiking, biking, as well as water sports in many areas. Then head to Summerside for hotels and inns, beer and live music at Evermoore brewing, shopping at Spinnakers’ Landing, browse art at Eptek Art & Culture Centre, and stop for incredible locally made ice cream in a historic home at Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour.
After a night or two in Summerside, stop at Victoria-by-the-Sea for seafood right on the wharf at Lobster Barn, try delicious treats at Island Chocolates, and pick up some gifts at some of the local artisans like Red Sand Jewelry and Fine Art. This is also a great place to stop for a night or two and enjoy the area.
Finally, either at the beginning or end of your trip, spend at least two nights in Charlottetown and enjoy the hospitality, cuisine, and heart of this island community. I highly recommend staying at the wonderful and historic Great George Hotel, enjoy dinner and drinks at Slaymaker & Nichols Gastro House, walk the waterfront and learn about Canada’s Confederation, and see a play or show at Confederation Centre of the Arts.
Road Trip Directions (View Map): Arrive in Charlottetown, and after exploring drive two hours to West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum. After your stay here, depart for O’Leary and the Canadian Potato Museum, and if you have time consider driving north to explore the North Cape Hiking Trail. For the beer lovers visit Moth Lane Brewing near Freeland and route 12, before driving south to Tyne Valley.
From there it’s a 30 minute drive to Summerside, and 30 minutes from there to Victoria-By-The-Sea. Finally you can depart for the the Confederation Bridge, or Charlottetown. It’s a short 20 minute drive to the Confederation Bridge, and Charlottetown is 30 minutes from Victoria.
Learn More: Read my PEI travel guide to learn more about planning your trip.
Newfoundland’s Fogo Island route
Route: St. John’s | Clarenville | Terra Nova National Park | Gander | Fogo | Joe Batt’s Arm | Tilting
Travel out to the edge of the world and explore one of the most scenic and natural places. Fogo Island is a remote and awe-inspiring island, off the coast of Newfoundland, where you can see caribou, hike rocky hilltops, and maybe even see some puffins.
In St. John’s, Newfoundland, discover the rich history of the island, see colourful houses, catch live music and head up Signal Hill. Before you leave, be sure to visit Cape Spear Lighthouse, the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the eastern-most point in North America.
The full drive to Fogo Island is five hours and 40 minutes, but there are a number of places to stop along the way. Driving the Trans Canada Highway, plan to visit Clarenville for a bite to eat, and you can spend the night here if you want to explore more.
Next, drive north Terra Nova National Park, where you can camp, and see the stunning dark skies at night, hike over 80 km of trails, and go fishing or canoeing.
Leaving the park, you’ll drive north to Gander, where you can have a meal, learn about the roots of Come From Away, visit the North Atlantic Aviation Museum, and play some golf. A little over an hour drive away, close to Port Albert, you’ll arrive at the Farewell ferry terminal.
Plan to arrive at least one hour early to ensure that there’s space for you on the ferry. The ferry ride is 45 minutes, and there are places to relax on board. Once you arrive on Fogo Island, it’s a short drive to Fogo, or Joe Batt’s Arm, two of the main towns with accommodations.
There are a number of rental homes, B&Bs, inns, and for the top luxury experience, the exceptional Fogo Island Inn. To get the most out of your stay, I would recommend two to three nights on Fogo Island, giving you time to drive between the towns, hike Fogo Head and Brimstone Head trails, among many more. There are also tours you can book to go fishing, foraging, and see wildlife like puffins and caribou.
Whether you stay at Fogo Island Inn or not, you can book dinner at the award-winning restaurant, an experience that you’ll savour and remember for a long time.
Road Trip Directions (View Map): Starting in St. John’s, drive south and then east to visit Cape Spear Lighthouse, and then drive west to the Trans Canada Highway. The highway takes you all the way to Gander, and along the route you can stop in Clarenville, and at Terra Nova National Park. St. John’s to Clarenville is two hours of driving, it’s 40 minutes from there to Terra Nova, and then another hour to Gander.
Farewell ferry, along highway 330, is just over one hour further, and driving around the island is generally around 20 to 30 minutes between the ferry and Fogo, Joe Batt’s Arm, and between towns.
More ideas and resources
The Maritimes have a number of beautiful driving routes, and places you should consider for a road trip. In Nova Scotia alone I would also recommend the charming Northumberland Shore, Cumberland County, including Parrsboro, Wallace, and beyond.
In the southern part of Nova Scotia, Yarmouth and the Acadian Shores is another wonderful area to explore, with history, great seafood, and gems like the Tusket Islands.
New Brunswick is an easy drive from Montreal, and you can stop in the capital of Fredericton, before driving to Moncton, Saint John, or on to Nova Scotia.
Start planning your road trip with a little help from the destinations: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Quebec Maritime. The websites include planning tools, route suggestions, and a lot more.
If you have a question, feel free to leave a comment below, or reach out to me on Threads or Facebook. Enjoy your east coast road trip!
All photos by W. Andrew Powell/The GATE.
