An amazing day trip to PEI via Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

Canada is such a vast country that many of our provinces are larger than the average country themselves! Because of this, there’s only one place in all of Canada where you can visit three provinces in one day, never take the same road twice, and end up back where you started in time for supper. You can explore this fascinating phenomenon on a whirlwind day trip to PEI via Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

If you’re visiting Atlantic Canada and short on time, this loop jams plenty of sightseeing into a short stay, particularly on Prince Edward Island. Read on to learn how to visit three provinces in one day and check this iconic Canadian driving achievement off your bucket list.

Our visit to explore this driving loop was hosted by Lincoln Canada on their launch of the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. Have questions about planning your own day trip to PEI? Join our Facebook community!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on these and make a booking or purchase, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check our Disclaimer for more information. Thanks for your support!

A day trip exploring the Northumberland Strait

The Northumberland Strait is the body of water that separates Prince Edward Island from Canada’s mainland. You can realistically complete this loop in a single day from just about any starting point along the Northumberland Strait in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island.

Given a little more time, you could even venture further and start from the nearby towns of Truro or Antigonish in Nova Scotia or the city of Moncton, New Brunswick. Starting from Halifax makes this more of a stretch, but it’s doable if you’re willing to dedicate the entire day to it.

Our journey starts in Nova Scotia at the luxurious Fox Harb’r Resort. This world-class seaside golfing resort was established by Nova Scotia native Ron Joyce. His real-life rags to riches story took him from a simple home without running water in the nearby village of Tatamagouche to building the Tim Hortons brand into an empire.

Fun fact: you won’t find a Tim Hortons anywhere in Tatamagouche, or within a 50-kilometre radius. Joyce decreed that no Tim Hortons franchise would open in Tatamagouche for as long as he lived so the brand wouldn’t compete with local businesses in his home town. Joyce passed away in 2019, but the town’s Tim Horton Children’s Camp and Fox Harb’r Resort stand as memorials to his contributions to the community.

Fox Harb’r Resort is a playground for the well-heeled. It has a championship-level golf course, stables, a vineyard, luxury accommodations, and a gated community. These are served by both a landing strip and a marina.

Heading westbound toward New Brunswick

From Fox Harb’r Resort, our journey takes us west along scenic seaside roads lining the Northumberland Strait. If you choose the most direct route, you’ll pass through quiet villages until you cross your first provincial border from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick at the community of Tidnish Bridge.

You may notice a heavy Acadian influence in this area. New Brunswick is the only Canadian province with both English and French as official languages. Its Acadian culture has deep roots, especially in this southeast portion of the province.

If you’d like to explore this further, consider making side trips to Fort Beausejour-Fort Cumberland National Historic Site in Aulac at the end of the Bay of Fundy, or to Monument-Lefebvre National Historic Site near Memramcook to visit the Acadian museum and cultural centre.

If you have more time, explore New Brunswick even further with the Fundy Coastal Drive >

As you join the Trans-Canada Highway at New Brunswick Route 16, head to the east toward the Confederation Bridge.

Crossing the Confederation Bridge

The Confederation Bridge is Prince Edward Island’s only permanent connection to mainland Canada. More than 25 years after it first opened in 1997, the bridge remains an engineering marvel. At a distance of 12.9 kilometres, it’s the longest bridge in Canada and the longest bridge anywhere in the world crossing water that becomes ice-covered in winter.

At the bridge’s halfway point, you’ll cross another provincial border and enter your third province of the day as you travel from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island.

Passing through Prince Edward Island

Whether it’s your first visit to Prince Edward Island or your hundredth, it’s worth making a stop at the Gateway Village in Borden-Carleton immediately after you cross the Confederation Bridge. This is a bustling tourist hub in the summer months, but visitor services are available here year-round. If you’re extending your stay and would like some guidance, the staff here will be happy to help.

When you’re ready, rejoin the Trans-Canada Highway, Prince Edward Island Route 1, and head toward Charlottetown. Along the way, you can’t miss the iconic outposts of COWS Creamery and Anne of Green Gables Chocolates just off the highway on Milky Way.

There’s definitely something special about the milk on PEI. Grab some of Canada’s best ice cream and delicious chocolate, and maybe even some cheese to take home. Check out the COWS signature whimsical t-shirt logos. And it just wouldn’t be right to visit PEI without enjoying some of Anne’s raspberry cordial!

Explore Charlottetown’s historic downtown

While it’s the largest city on Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown is one of the smaller cities in the Maritimes with a population of less than 40,000. It’s easy to make the most of a brief visit here, even if you only have a couple of hours.

If your time in Charlottetown is limited, focus your attention on Victoria Row. This cobblestone street is pedestrian-only in the summer months and is lined with fantastic shops and restaurants. You’ll likely reach downtown Charlottetown just as you’re getting hungry for lunch. We’re partial to the Sea Rocket Oyster House, located right at the entrance to Victoria Row on the corner of Queen and Richmond Streets.

Although Province House National Historic Site remains closed for refurbishing until late 2025, you can visit the nearby temporary site to learn more about the important role this place played in Canadian Confederation. Head down to Confederation Landing to explore more shops and restaurants. If you have time for a longer stay, consider taking in a show at the Charlottetown Festival.

Head toward Wood Islands to board the return ferry

When it’s time to leave Charlottetown, continue east on the Trans-Canada Highway. This will lead you directly to the Northhumberland Ferries dock in Wood Islands, PEI. In many parts of Canada, ferries are essential to daily life and a beloved part of the Canadian travel experience. This ferry between Wood Islands, PEI, and Caribou, Nova Scotia, is considered part of the Trans-Canada Highway — and it’s not the only ferry in Canada with that designation!

Note this is a seasonal ferry that runs from May to December. If you’d like to complete this day trip outside these months, you can return to the mainland via the Confederation Bridge. The ferry operates on a fixed schedule, and you’ll need to arrive at least 40 minutes prior to the designated departure time. There is a fee to depart Prince Edward Island, regardless of whether you choose to take the bridge or the ferry. We’ve provided more information on this below.

Once you’re on board, you’ll leave your car parked on the lower decks and head to the upper decks for the 75-minute crossing. You’ll find a cafeteria with hot and cold food items, indoor seating areas with tables, and several outdoor sections for admiring the scenery. If you’d like to spend some time outside, be sure to bring a warm layer such as a jacket or hoodie with you. The air can be quite cold on the open water at any time of year!

Returning to home base

Once the ferry is docked in Caribou, you’ll be back in Nova Scotia. Congratulations — you’ve just travelled through three Canadian provinces in one day! Head back toward where you started in time to enjoy a leisurely supper.

A whirlwind day trip to PEI: What to know before you go

From any starting point along the Northumberland Strait, it will take roughly five and a half hours of driving time to complete this loop. This does include the 75-minute ferry crossing from Wood Islands, PEI, to Caribou, Nova Scotia, but it does not include time spent waiting for the ferry or any stops you’ll make along the way. Expect to spend eight to nine hours in total on the road, and add some time if you’re starting from a destination further way such as Halifax.

This drive can be completed in either direction with the same result. One important thing to factor, though, is the cost to enter and leave Prince Edward Island.

It’s free to enter Prince Edward Island via the Confederation Bridge at any time. It’s also free to enter Prince Edward Island on the Wood Islands ferry, but only if you travel on standby. This means if the ferry is full when you try to board, you’ll need to wait for the next crossing. If you’re on a strict schedule and need to make a reservation, you’ll need to pay a fare to cross into PEI on the ferry.

To leave Prince Edward Island, there is always a charge. The Confederation Bridge tolls for outgoing passenger vehicles cost $50.25, and motorcycles pay $20, as of 2025. Find the full rate list for Confederation Bridge tolls here. A round-trip ferry ticket costs $86 for a passenger vehicle and $45 for a motorcycle. There’s no one-way ticket available for this ferry.

Should you take the bridge or the ferry to leave PEI?

You can drive into Prince Edward Island for free either by taking the Confederation Bridge or crossing on the Caribou-Wood Islands ferry on standby. Both these methods of getting into PEI are free of charge. However, note that you’re on standby and the ferry you’re trying to board becomes full, you may need to wait for the next crossing. If you’d prefer to take the ferry at a specific time, you’ll need to pay for an advance reservation.

When you leave Prince Edward Island, you’ll need to pay either the toll for the Confederation Bridge ($50.25 for passenger vehicles) or the reservation fee with Northumberland Ferries ($86.00 for passenger vehicles; no one-way fare is available). In most scenarios, leaving via the Confederation Bridge saves money.

However, if you’d like to drive through Prince Edward Island in a loop and you’re on a schedule, or if Caribou, NS, is a more convenient return point for you, you’ll need to buy a ferry reservation anyway. In this case, it saves money to cross into PEI via the bridge and purchase a reservation for the return ferry from Wood Islands. Going this route means you won’t need to buy a ferry reservation to get into PEI and then pay again to depart via the Confederation Bridge.

Since buying a ferry reservation gives you a round-trip ticket, you could also choose to travel on the ferry in both directions.

Explore more road trips in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia >