Packing List: Canadian East Coast Road Trip
So, you’re going on a road trip out east, Eh?
Here are the top 10 items that we packed to make the journey a little bit better… and some items that we wish we had.
A plug in cooler
We wish we had this! We were constantly stopping for ice. Well worth the investment, so you can have it plugged in into the car or in your hotel.
Healthy Snacks & Water
You’re in the car for long periods of time, and having some snacks in the car so you don’t have to stop quite as often is a great idea. We packed lots of healthier snacks, to ensure that we were feeling our best! Apples, clementines, roasted chickpeas, apple chips, etc. Also, stay hydrated, baby! It means you’ll have to stop to pee, but ya gotta stay healthy.
Water Shoes
Some of the beaches are amazing, others are a little more rocky. Also, there are some incredible hikes to waterfalls and rivers, so water shoes are perfect to protect your toes.
Camping Gear
A small tent, air mattress, and sleeping bags is all you need! This is perfect for spontaneous adventures, as you’re more likely to be able to find a campsite than a hotel room last minute.
Spotify Playlists
Let’s be real- you can only talk for so long with somebody, so playlists are great to enjoy the stunning scenery. We had some epic road trip playlists, as well as some specific to the east coast (fiddle music anyone?!)
High quality sunglasses (and back ups)
We were so fortunate to have incredible warm, sunny weather for our road trip. So sunglasses were a necessity to keep us safe on the roads, and able to enjoy the views from the trails and shores. Just make sure you pack an extra pair… I broke mine on day 4.. #fail.
A camera & tripod
Yes, we all know that cell phones are great. BUT, if you have a camera, it is worth bringing to try to capture the beauty around you. High quality images that you can blow up to frame on the wall are the best. Also, a tripod so you can get pictures with your road trip partner, rather than solo shots. (they’re also great for lower lighting situations)
Road Maps & Local Brochures
We randomly grabbed some local tourism maps while on the ferry to PEI, and they actually ended up impacting a lot of our decisions! There were things listed on them that Google didn’t tell us about, lots of local treasures! This is how we discovered the Eastern coastal drive.
Portable Lawn Chairs
With so many beaches and parks available daily, we were so thankful to have packed our little lawn chairs. These made our experiences much more comfortable!
Time
Take your time on this trip! Technically, we could have done our East Coast trip in less than 10 days, but we wanted to ensure that we enjoyed every minute of it! We took 3 days along the Cabot Trail just incase one day was rainy or foggy (when it’s rated one of the most stunning drives in the world… you want to make sure you see it!)
Bonus entry
Drone
If you have a drone available at your disposal, BRING IT! The scenery of the Cabot Trail and PEI specifically are stunning, and deserve to be captured from the sky. Just be sure to check out the regulations of the areas you might use it, and be aware of the high ocean winds.