Itinerary: Canadian East Coast Road Trip
Have you ever wanted to do a road trip to the East Coast of Canada? YES?! Well this post is for you!
For the longest time we’ve had this dream of driving the Canadian East Coast, and this summer we decided to go for it! So, if you’re thinking about it, DO IT!
We have had a number of friends asking us for our itinerary, so we figured we’d share it here too! If you’d also like an accompanying East Coast Road Trip Packing List, Click Here!
There was SO much to see and do out on the coast... so buckle up! (HA! Road Trip joke…) You’re about to get lots of tips and tricks for planning your own adventure!
Quebec City
Our journey began in Quebec City! Ahhhh Quebec, the Canadian French city of love...
We actually went here for our honeymoon back in 2017, so it was great to be back, even if it was only for a day. We spent the day exploring new spots, and returning to some of our old favourites. Thankfully the weather was GLORIOUS, so we did all of our exploring by foot.
Stay: We stayed at a perfect Air BnB that had everything we needed. A fridge to unload our cooler, a living room with lots of space for our luggage, a spacious bedroom, and more. A perfect place to use as a base to explore the city. The kitchen came with everything we needed to prepare our own meals, so we were able to save on food costs! ($) - You may notice that this is a common theme during this trip- friendly-ness for the win! You can check out our place by clicking here.
Eat: BeaverTails! Every Canadian road trip needs a Beavertail pastry! We stopped at the Old City location, and enjoyed our pastry on the patio. YUM! I am all about the classics, the original cinnamon sugar is my personal go-to. Ben, on the other hand, prefers the Nutella one.
Do: Explore the old city! You’ll walk down the steps near the Chateau Frontenac, and be transported back in time! We highly recommend spending as much time here as possible because there are so many little shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries to pop into. If time allows, also check out the Plains of Abraham park. It is a lovely green space with stunning gardens! Back in 2017 on our honeymoon, this was near our Air BnB and we packed picnics and enjoyed some time in the sun. If your a history nerd like me, check out the significance of the plains here.
Moncton, new brunswick
The drive from Quebec City to Moncton took approximately 7.5 hours, which was definitely one of the longer chunks for this trip. But, so worth it! We wanted to get east as quickly as possible. We arrived in time to grab a bite to eat and go to Hopewell Rocks.
Stay: Air BnB coming in clutch again! We stayed with Wendell, who was the most gracious host. Our room was right off the entrance to the house, and had everything we needed (including lots of room for our bags, and a mini fridge for all our cooler items). He had lists of restaurants to check out and places to see, including Hopewell Rocks. In the morning, he had the table beautifully set with everything you could ever imagine (cereal, toasts, jams, teas, coffees, fruit, etc.), We highly recommend this stay, to book click here.
Eat: Stay with Wendell! His homemade cookies are to die for!
Do: Hopewell Rocks is an absolute must if you are passing through the Moncton area on your way out east! Home to the largest ocean tides in the world! Just make sure you time in appropriately for what you would like to see (which you can check here). We went later in the evening, which was actually so perfect! The crowds had died down, so we were there with only a couple other people. It was a photographers dream! Other people had told us horror stories about it being super busy, and not being able to capture any photos without tons of other people in the background. YIKES!
We highly recommend going in the evening for numerous reasons
Less busy (like, significantly)
That lighting though! Gold hour, baby!
Free after 8 pm! (cha-ching!)
North Sydney, Nova Scotia
Stay: We were fortunate to be staying with family friends on the Bras D’Or lake- which is incredibly unique itself. The lake is actually a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and is Canada’s only inland sea. Be sure to read this to learn more about the area, including restaurants and other places to check out.
Eat: Stop in Baddeck on your way to North Sydney! This is where we enjoyed a slice of Tom’s Pizza, and had our first Lobster Supper! We actually discovered that really liked muscles while here, and found lobster to be much more difficult than anticipated to remove from the shell (rookies over here… literally, people were asking where we were from… are we that obvious?!). Baddeck Lobster Suppers doesn’t open until 4pm, so that gave us plenty of time to explore the little shops and watch the boats come in and out of the harbour.
Do: Salt Mountain hike in Whycocomagh or the Big Spruce Craft Brewery.
Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia
The drive to Ingonish Beach took roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes from our spot in North Sydney.
This was one of the most scenic parts of our drives so far. We were so excited when we saw the open ocean for the first time! (Clearly from Ontario… losers).
Stay: We stayed in an adorable TINY HOUSE in Ingonish! It was so cute and cozy- we loved it! It had everything we needed (bed, kitchenette, bathroom, etc.) One of our favourite parts was actually our neighbours! An older couple spends their summers there, and are so hospitable! They gave us a hand written list of all the places we needed to see during the remainder of our trip, while treating us to a beer. So precious! To book your own stay in the tiny house, click here.
Eat: We enjoyed lunch at the Mainstreet Bakery & Restaurant in town. Their baked goods were perfection, and the patio was lovely!
Do: First, we recommend hiking the Middle Head Trail, which starts at the back of the Keltic Lodge (a sight to behold itself). It is a marked trail with plenty of stunning views, and is not too intense. We recommend either going early in the morning to beat the crowds, or later in the afternoon. Secondly, you must check out the beach! We were amazed by the warm temperatures and the lovely ocean view. It was the perfect place to cool down after our hike, and enjoy some R & R.
Cheticamp, Nova Scotia
This was the most scenic part of the drive. Driving from Ingonish Beach to Cheticamp was STUNNING! It should have taken us about 1.5 hours, however we stopped A LOT along the way. There are designated places along the highway to pullover and enjoy the scenic views of the ocean or highlands… I think we stopped at all of them, thinking that the view couldn’t get any better, and yet the view was more and more spectacular each time!
Stay: We stayed at The Green House in Grand Etang, just outside of Cheticamp. We cannot rave about this place enough! Our hosts, Geoff and Stacey, were so hospitable and kind. When we were going out for a sunset hike, Geoff lent us his headlamps so we could see, and gave us lots of other helpful, local tips. In the morning, he made us a yummy breakfast before sending us on our way. It was great! You can book your stay with them by clicking here.
Eat: Stop in Neils Harbour along the way. There is a little restaurant called the Chowder House that is perched right on the edge of the ocean. Right beside it is a lighthouse that sells ice cream, YUM! It is a stunning place to stop to rest, enjoy the view and fill your tummy. There are lots of picnic tables available for your use as well.
Do: Skyline Trail is an absolute must! It is a stunning view of the highlands and the ocean. Be aware though, moose are a constant sighting along the trail! Just remember to keep a safe distance from them. We hiked the trail just before sunset, so the lighting was amazing and the trail way not too busy. We reached the end of the loop in time to watch the sun slowly sink into the ocean… it was one of the most beautiful scenes we have ever experienced. With a Parks Canada guide leading the way, we quickly headed back to the parking lot, as it got dark very fast (those headlamps sure came in handy!)
Port Hood, Nova Scotia
The drive from Cheticamp to Port Hood took us 1 hour and 20 minutes. However, there are lots of little places to stop along the way, so keep your eyes peeled!
Stay: We camped right beside the water, which was so cool and calming! If your up for it, camping is a great way to see the coast on a budget. We stayed in Port Hood, and camped here.
Eat: The Red Shoe Pub in Mabou, which is owned by the Rankin Sisters, is a must!. The food was amazing, and the atmosphere was great! Live music happens in the evening, and it was so beautiful! We went early to ensure we got a table, and were able to enjoy some drinks and appetizers before dinner. The place was PACKED by 7pm!
Do: Before passing through Mabou, stop in Inverness. The beach is absolutely stunning! Warm water, lots of sand (and sea glass!). This is also a great place to rent a Kayak, McKinnon kayak tours is the one we recommend. If your into golf, check out either Cabot Cliffs or Cabot Links.
Caribou, Nova Scotia to Prince Edward Island
The drive from Port Hood to Caribou took roughly 2 hours, where we then drove onto the ferry which took us to PEI (another 1 hour and 15 minutes).
You have two options while taking the ferry. First, you can prepay and guarantee your spot on the boat. OR, you can just show up and hope there is room for you (we did this). It was a little stressful waiting, but hey, saved us a little extra cash. Overall, we loved taking the ferry! You drive on, park your car, and are able to stroll around, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the view. Also, be sure to grab some maps and brochures from the ferry- they’re a great tool to have once you’re on the Island.
Stay: We spent the night camping at Red Point Provincial Park, which you can book by clicking here. It was a great place with a gorgeous beach only steps away! This was a campsite with clean, maintained bathrooms and showers. The drive from Wood Islands (where you get off the ferry) to the campsite would be 1.5 hours if you stayed on the main road, however we took the winding coastal route, and loved every second of it! (More details below)
Eat: Find a local cafe! There are SO many all around.
Do: Take the scenic route along the Eastern coast of the island (following the yellow/ blue starfish signs) - there lots of amazing lighthouses and beaches to see! Singing Sands Beach (Basin Head) was a stunning beach, with lots of sea glass first thing in the morning! (and yes, the sands really do sing as you walk!). There is a map available on the ferry outlining this coastal drive, so be sure to grab one! If not, the digital PDF is available here!
Prince Edward Island
For the final three days of our trip, we stayed in Sea View (near Kensington) with family, so we were able to hop around quite a bit!
Here are our favourites in the different areas we checked out!
Kensington & Cavendish:
Thunder Cove Beach
Green Gables Heritage Place (Cavendish)
Avonlea Village (it looks like a little down straight from a Lucy Maud Montgomery book!)
Cavendish Beach
Summerside:
Holmans Ice Cream (Salted Caramel = yum!)
Stroll around Spinnakers Landing (cute little shops- check out the Current Collective shop in the little lighthouse)
For lunch check out South Central Kitchen & Provision (so good! Try the Johnny Pockets sandwich or the lobster bacon sandwich! YUM)
If time allows, 20 minutes away is Sea Cow Head Lighthouse which is a beautiful old lighthouse. It offers amazing views of the blue water, red cliffs and the confederation bridge.
Charlottetown:
Walk Victoria Row (pedestrian street)
Province House National Historic Site (near Victoria row, this is where confederation happened)
COWS Creamery 12 Milky Way, Charlottetown, PE C1E 2E2
Anne of Green Gables Chocolates & BOOM Burgers (lots of locations around the island as well)
Confederation Court Mall (unique stores and boutiques)
Rent a bike and go on the boardwalk
Farmers Market (mostly food) on Saturdays
WOW!
I know that was a ton of information, but I hope that you’re able to enjoy some of these stays, sights and food!
We loved the east coast, and cannot wait to go back. Be sure to tell us all about your own adventures!! Feel free to ask us any questions in the comments below, or send us an email!
Bon Voyage
-Becky