The Maritime provinces are New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island — not Newfoundland and Labrador, which belongs to Atlantic Canada more broadly and works better as an add-on. In ten days you can run a credible loop: Fundy coast, Confederation Bridge, two to three days on PEI, the ferry to Nova Scotia, Halifax and the South Shore, then home via the Digby–Saint John ferry or the Amherst highway.
This guide is written for planners flying in from Toronto, driving up from Boston and the US Northeast, or connecting from Québec. It favours pace over checklist tourism. The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton usually needs its own dedicated days; squeezing it into a ten-day NB–PEI–mainland NS trip means cutting something else. Here we keep the three Maritimes honest, with clear options if you have extra time.
At a glance
- Length: 10 days (8 days if you rush; 12–14 days to add Cape Breton).
- Typical loop: Fundy (NB) → Confederation Bridge → PEI → Wood Islands–Caribou ferry → Halifax / South Shore → Digby–Saint John ferry or Amherst return.
- Distance: roughly 1,800–2,200 km (1,100–1,370 miles) of touring, not counting the long access drive from Toronto or Montréal.
- Best time: June to September; July–August for beaches; September for quieter roads and soft light.
- Time zone: Atlantic Time (one hour ahead of Eastern Time).
In this guide
- Where you’re starting from
- Bridge, ferries and tolls
- Day-by-day itinerary (10 days)
- Days 1–3: New Brunswick and the Bay of Fundy
- Days 4–6: Prince Edward Island
- Days 7–9: Halifax, the South Shore and Annapolis
- Day 10: closing the loop
- Drive-time cheat sheet
- Budget, lodging and pace
- When to go
- If you have more or less time
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Where you’re starting from
From Toronto, Ottawa or Montréal
From Toronto, a pure road trip often means 1,500+ km (about 930+ miles) before you even start sightseeing — many travellers fly into Halifax (YHZ) or Moncton (YQM) and rent a car. From Montréal, Moncton is about 1,000 km (620 miles) via Québec’s Highway 20 and New Brunswick’s Trans-Canada (Route 2) through Edmundston — a long day, or two easier ones with an overnight in Edmundston or Fredericton. Charlottetown (YYG) is another seasonal option if you want to begin on PEI.
From Boston, Maine and the US Northeast
From Boston, you can drive via Maine to the Calais–St. Stephen border crossing and be near St. Andrews and Saint John the same day — a natural Fundy-first start. Bring a valid passport or other accepted travel document. From the Maritimes side, the same loop works clockwise or counter-clockwise; the bridge-plus-ferry combo still saves backtracking on PEI.
Edmundston and the Québec approach
If you’re coming from Québec by road, Edmundston is a friendly first stop before you drop south to Fundy. Our things to do in New Brunswick guide covers the Saint John River valley in more detail.
Bridge, ferries and tolls
The Confederation Bridge links Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick, to Borden-Carleton, PEI. It is 12.9 km (8 miles) long, open 24/7, no reservation needed, about a ten-minute drive. Tolls are collected only when you leave PEI, at the Borden-Carleton plaza, and are calculated for the round trip on the bridge. Rates change: always check confederationbridge.com before you go (recent official figure for a two-axle vehicle: about CA$20).
Northumberland Ferries connects Wood Islands, PEI, to Caribou near Pictou, Nova Scotia, in 75 minutes. Service is seasonal; the published 2026 schedule includes a busier mid-June to mid-October period with multiple daily sailings, then a reduced grid into December — confirm on ferries.ca for your dates. Vehicles should check in at least 40 minutes before departure; book ahead in peak summer.
Bay Ferries’ MV Fundy Rose links Saint John, NB, and Digby, NS, in about 2 hours 15 minutes in peak season and 2 hours 30 minutes off-peak (all times Atlantic). It is the cleanest way to close the loop without retracing the Chignecto isthmus.
You pay when you leave PEI — once
If you enter by the bridge and leave by the ferry, you pay the ferry fare for that exit (not the bridge toll). If you leave by the bridge, you pay the bridge toll. Don’t assume both apply the same way: match your entry/exit pair to the official sites.
Day-by-day itinerary (10 days)
| Day | Plan | Drive (approx.) | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in NB (Moncton, or via Edmundston / Fredericton). Settle in; optional Shediac / Parlee Beach | Variable | Moncton |
| 2 | Hopewell Rocks on the tide, Fundy National Park (Dickson Falls, Alma) | 80–120 km (50–75 mi) | Alma or Moncton |
| 3 | Saint John (Reversing Falls) or Fundy Trail Parkway, then Confederation Bridge | 200–280 km (125–175 mi) | Summerside or Charlottetown |
| 4 | PEI: Cavendish, Green Gables, national park beaches | 80–120 km (50–75 mi) | Cavendish / North Rustico |
| 5 | Charlottetown; Brackley / Covehead or Victoria-by-the-Sea | 60–100 km (35–60 mi) | Charlottetown |
| 6 | Eastern PEI (Basin Head or Greenwich) + Wood Islands → Caribou ferry | 120–180 km (75–110 mi) + ferry | Pictou / New Glasgow or Halifax |
| 7 | Halifax: waterfront, Citadel, historic downtown | ~165 km (100 mi) if from Pictou | Halifax |
| 8 | South Shore: Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg (UNESCO) | 150–200 km (95–125 mi) | Lunenburg / Mahone Bay |
| 9 | Annapolis Royal / Digby or a free South Shore / Halifax day | 150–250 km (95–155 mi) | Digby or Annapolis Royal |
| 10 | Digby–Saint John ferry or highway via Amherst toward Moncton / home | Ferry ~2h15 or 250–400 km | Home / Saint John |
Shift days 2–3 around the tide table: at Hopewell Rocks, ocean-floor access sits in a window around low tide. Full detail in our Bay of Fundy guide.
Days 1–3: New Brunswick and the Bay of Fundy
Give Fundy two solid days:
- Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park — walk among the flowerpot sea stacks at low tide; tickets are often valid for two consecutive days (confirm with NB Parks).
- Fundy National Park and the village of Alma — waterfalls, Point Wolfe covered bridge, lobster at the wharf.
- Saint John — Reversing Falls and the City Market if you prefer a city base to a night in Alma.
- Short add-on: Shediac and Parlee Beach for warmer Northumberland Strait water than Fundy’s icy bay.
Two ways to enter New Brunswick
Driving from Québec: use Day 1 for Edmundston → Grand Falls → Hartland covered bridge → Fredericton, then push to Moncton / Alma on Day 2. Flying into Moncton: go straight to Hopewell and Fundy on Day 1 afternoon if the tide cooperates.
Skip the temptation to see everything: St. Andrews whale watching and Grand Manan are excellent detours for another day or another trip. For a province-wide overview, see things to do in New Brunswick.
Days 4–6: Prince Edward Island
Cross the bridge on the morning of Day 3 or 4, depending on how slowly you take Fundy. Three days on PEI is a sweet spot; our 5-day PEI itinerary is the deeper template if you can linger.
Realistic priorities in 2.5–3 days:
- Cavendish and PEI National Park — red cliffs, beaches, Green Gables Heritage Place (Parks Canada).
- Charlottetown — historic centre, Peake’s Wharf, an easy dinner night.
- One extra coast — the Acadian Évangéline Region in the west or Basin Head / Greenwich in the east before the ferry.
On Day 6, aim for a mid-afternoon ferry so you reach Nova Scotia without racing the last sailing. Reserve early in July and August.
Days 7–9: Halifax, the South Shore and Annapolis
Halifax deserves a full day: waterfront boardwalk, Citadel Hill, markets and restaurants. It is also the easiest place to adjust a rental if you flew into another city.
The South Shore is the highlight of many Maritimes road trips:
- Peggy’s Cove — iconic lighthouse; go early or late to dodge coach tours.
- Mahone Bay — three waterfront churches and a walkable village.
- Lunenburg — UNESCO World Heritage old town, colourful harbour, Montague Street.
On Day 9, choose:
- Option A — Digby / Annapolis: position yourself for the next day’s ferry, with a stop in Annapolis Royal (Historic Gardens, fort).
- Option B — stay South Shore / Halifax: if you will drive home via Amherst and Moncton, you do not need Digby.
Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail
Halifax to Baddeck alone is already about four hours — before you drive a kilometre of the loop. The Cabot Trail typically wants two to three dedicated days. On a ten-day NB–PEI–mainland NS trip, treat it as an extension (stretch to 12–14 days) or a separate trip: see our Cabot Trail itinerary.
Day 10: closing the loop
Two clean exits:
- Digby → Saint John ferry (Bay Ferries), then highway toward Moncton, Edmundston and Québec, or an overnight in Saint John.
- Overland via Truro–Amherst–Moncton (roughly three hours Halifax to Moncton in normal traffic), with no ferry schedule to chase.
Check ferries.ca the day before: Fundy weather can delay sailings.
Drive-time cheat sheet
| Leg | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Montréal → Moncton | ~1,000 km (620 mi) | 9–11 h |
| Edmundston → Moncton | ~400 km (250 mi) | 3h45–4h30 |
| Moncton → Hopewell Rocks | ~40 km (25 mi) | 35–45 min |
| Hopewell → Confederation Bridge | ~100 km (60 mi) | ~1h15 |
| Charlottetown → Wood Islands | ~60 km (35 mi) | 45–55 min |
| Caribou → Halifax | ~165 km (100 mi) | 1h45–2h15 |
| Halifax → Peggy’s Cove | ~45 km (28 mi) | 45–60 min |
| Peggy’s Cove → Lunenburg | ~90 km (55 mi) | 1h15–1h30 |
| Lunenburg → Digby | ~200 km (125 mi) | 2h30–3 h |
| Halifax → Moncton (via Amherst) | ~270 km (170 mi) | 2h45–3h15 |
Add buffer for rural gas stops, photo pulls and ferry check-in lines.
Budget, lodging and pace
Outside July and August the Maritimes stay relatively affordable, but Alma, Cavendish, Lunenburg and downtown Halifax book up fast in peak season. Mix motels, inns and a Parks Canada campground if you like camping. Budget for fuel, bridge or ferry fees, park entry (a Discovery Pass helps if you stack Parks Canada sites) and seafood dinners.
Aim for no more than about three hours of “sightseeing driving” per day, aside from transfer days (1, 3, 6 and 10). Fundy and PEI are stop-heavy; the South Shore rewards slowing down.
When to go
- June: long days, PEI lupins, thinner crowds; water still cold.
- July–August: peak season, beaches, full services; book lodging and ferries early.
- September: often the sweet spot — quieter roads, good light, many attractions still open.
- October: foliage in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; some sites and ferry grids scale back — verify before you lock dates.
If you have more or less time
- 8 days: compress Saint John and one PEI day; keep Hopewell, Cavendish, Halifax and Peggy’s Cove / Lunenburg.
- 12–14 days: add St. Andrews or Grand Manan, a fuller western PEI loop, then 2–3 days on the Cabot Trail.
- Without a car: doable in pockets (Halifax, Charlottetown) but a Maritimes road trip really wants wheels for coasts and parks.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as the Maritimes?
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Newfoundland and Labrador is Atlantic Canada, not a Maritime province in the strict sense.
Are ten days enough for all three provinces?
Yes for a strong overview (Fundy, PEI, Halifax and the South Shore). No for everything: Cape Breton, the deep Acadian Peninsula and islands like Grand Manan need more time.
Do I need ferry reservations?
In peak summer, yes — especially Wood Islands–Caribou and Digby–Saint John. Arrive early per the operator’s rules (often 40 minutes for Northumberland Ferries).
Which way do I pay the Confederation Bridge toll?
The toll is collected when leaving Prince Edward Island. If you leave PEI by ferry to Nova Scotia, the ferry fare covers that exit instead. Confirm your entry/exit combo on the official sites.
Can I fit the Cabot Trail into the same 10 days?
Only by cutting Fundy or PEI hard — not recommended. Stretch to 12–14 days, or save Cape Breton for another trip (Cabot Trail itinerary).
Best place to start?
Moncton to sequence Fundy then the bridge; Halifax if you fly and prefer to reverse the loop. Driving from Québec, Edmundston or Fredericton breaks up Day 1 nicely.
Sources
- Tourism New Brunswick (official): tourismnewbrunswick.ca
- Tourism Nova Scotia (official): novascotia.com
- Tourism PEI (official): tourismpei.com
- Confederation Bridge tolls and travel info: confederationbridge.com
- Northumberland Ferries (Wood Islands–Caribou) schedules and bookings: ferries.ca
- Bay Ferries, Saint John–Digby (MV Fundy Rose): ferries.ca
- Parks Canada (Fundy National Park, PEI National Park, Green Gables): parks.canada.ca
- New Brunswick Parks, Hopewell Rocks: nbparks.ca
- UNESCO, Old Town Lunenburg: whc.unesco.org
