Prince Edward Island Itinerary: 5 Days of Beaches, Lighthouses and Lobster

Red sandstone cliffs, potato fields rolling down to the sea, lighthouses and soft sand beaches: Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada’s smallest province, but it isn’t one you should rush. The Island is about 224 km (140 miles) long — you can cross it in a few hours — yet it takes five days to properly enjoy its three main regions.

The trick in this itinerary: arrive by the Confederation Bridge and leave by the ferry (or the other way around). You never backtrack, and you only pay once, when you leave the Island.

In this guide

1. Getting to PEI
2. Day 1: The bridge, the Évangéline Region and the northwest tip
3. Day 2: Cavendish, Green Gables and the national park beaches
4. Day 3: Brackley, Covehead Lighthouse and Charlottetown
5. Day 4: Charlottetown and Victoria-by-the-Sea
6. Day 5: The east coast, Basin Head and East Point
7. Itinerary summary
8. The best beaches on PEI
9. Getting around and where to stay
10. What to eat
11. PEI with kids
12. Three days instead of five?
13. Practical tips
14. Lighthouse hunting
15. Rainy-day ideas
16. When to go
17. Frequently asked questions
18. Sources

Getting to PEI

The Confederation Bridge links Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick, to Borden-Carleton. At 12.9 km (8 miles), it takes about ten minutes to cross and needs no reservation. The toll is collected when you leave the Island, at the Borden-Carleton plaza, and covers the round trip (cash, debit and major credit cards accepted).

Northumberland Ferries links Caribou, near Pictou (Nova Scotia), with Wood Islands in 75 minutes. The service is seasonal, with several sailings a day in summer. Book ahead in peak season and check in at least 40 minutes before departure. Here too, you pay when you leave PEI.

By air, Charlottetown airport has seasonal and year-round connections, notably via Toronto, Montréal and Halifax. From Ontario, driving takes the better part of two days; from New England, plan on a long day to reach the bridge via Maine and New Brunswick.

Day 1: The bridge, the Évangéline Region and the northwest tip

After the bridge, head west. The Évangéline Region, around Abram-Village and Mont-Carmel, is the heart of the Island’s Acadian community: churches, co-operatives, music and a warm welcome in French. In Miscouche, the Acadian Museum of Prince Edward Island traces the story of the Island’s Acadians from the Deportation to today.

Continue northwest on the North Cape Coastal Drive: red cliffs, fishing harbours and the black-and-white striped West Point Lighthouse. At the very end, North Cape has an interpretive centre and a wind farm overlooking the point where the Gulf meets the Northumberland Strait. Overnight in Summerside or nearby.

Day 2: Cavendish, Green Gables and the national park beaches

Head to the north shore and Prince Edward Island National Park, a thin ribbon of dunes, beaches and red sandstone cliffs.

In Cavendish, Green Gables Heritage Place, run by Parks Canada, brings to life the world of Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables (1908). The farmhouse and the “Haunted Wood” and “Lover’s Lane” trails delight fans of the novel — and plenty of non-fans too.

Spend the afternoon on Cavendish Beach and the short Cavendish Dunelands trail. In the evening, stroll the harbour boardwalk in North Rustico, or head to New Glasgow for a traditional lobster supper. Overnight in Cavendish or North Rustico.

Day 3: Brackley, Covehead Lighthouse and Charlottetown

Follow the national park coast east: Brackley and Stanhope beaches, the historic Dalvay-by-the-Sea hotel and the little Covehead Lighthouse, picture-perfect among the dunes. The park’s multi-use trail runs along the shore — rent bikes for an hour or two.

In the late afternoon, settle into Charlottetown. The capital calls itself the “Birthplace of Confederation”: the 1864 conference held here led to the creation of Canada. Wander the historic downtown streets, Victoria Row and the Peake’s Wharf waterfront.

Day 4: Charlottetown and Victoria-by-the-Sea

Keep the morning for Charlottetown — museums, galleries, shops and cafés, or a harbour cruise. In the afternoon, drive about 35 minutes to Victoria-by-the-Sea, an artsy waterfront village with a lighthouse museum, chocolate shop and small playhouse.

Cyclists can ride a section of the Confederation Trail, the former railway line turned bike path that crosses the Island for 273 km tip to tip (449 km including branch trails).

Day 5: The east coast, Basin Head and East Point

Spend your last day on the Points East Coastal Drive, the Island’s wildest:

• Greenwich (national park): a trail and floating boardwalk cross rare parabolic dunes to a vast beach.
• Basin Head: its white-sand beach is famous for “singing sands” that squeak underfoot.
• East Point and its lighthouse, at the Island’s eastern tip.
• Souris, a fishing port where the ferry to Québec’s Magdalen Islands also departs, if you want to keep going.

Finish in Wood Islands for the ferry to Nova Scotia (check the time of the last sailing), or sleep in Charlottetown and leave by the bridge the next day.

Itinerary summary

Day	Region	Highlights	Overnight
1	West (North Cape Coastal Drive)	Évangéline Region, Acadian Museum, West Point, North Cape	Summerside
2	Central north shore	Green Gables, Cavendish Beach, North Rustico	Cavendish / North Rustico
3	Central, national park	Brackley, Dalvay, Covehead Lighthouse	Charlottetown
4	Central south shore	Charlottetown, Victoria-by-the-Sea, Confederation Trail	Charlottetown
5	East (Points East Coastal Drive)	Greenwich, Basin Head, East Point, Souris	Ferry or Charlottetown

The best beaches on PEI

Beach	Coast	Why go
Cavendish	North (national park)	Red cliffs, lifeguards in summer, services
Brackley	North (national park)	Big beach, easy access from Charlottetown
Greenwich	Northeast (national park)	Parabolic dunes and floating boardwalk
Basin Head	East	“Singing” white sand, turquoise water
Évangéline Region beaches	West	Quiet, with sunsets over the bay

On the Northumberland Strait side, the water is generally warmer in summer than along many other Atlantic Canadian coasts. Always respect flags and lifeguards: currents can be strong on the Gulf side.

Getting around and where to stay

PEI is easy to drive: good roads, light traffic outside Charlottetown and Cavendish, and three signed coastal drives (North Cape, Central and Points East) that do the navigating for you. Allow about an hour from Charlottetown to Cavendish and 1.5 hours to East Point. Cycling is a great alternative thanks to the Confederation Trail and the national park paths, with rental and luggage-transfer companies.

Accommodation is mostly cottages, inns, B&Bs and campgrounds, plus hotels in Charlottetown and Summerside. In July and August, Cavendish and the national park area are often fully booked: reserve in winter or early spring. National park campgrounds (Cavendish, Stanhope) are booked through Parks Canada.

What to eat

PEI is a foodie destination: mussels farmed in the Island’s bays, Malpeque oysters, lobster (community lobster suppers in several villages in summer) and, of course, potatoes, the Island’s emblem. In September, the Fall Flavours festival celebrates local producers.

PEI with kids

PEI is probably the easiest Maritime province for a family trip: short drives, supervised beaches in summer, farms and gentle trails. The Green Gables trails, the Greenwich dunes and a bike ride on a flat stretch of the Confederation Trail work for all ages. Cavendish also has a cluster of family attractions and amusement parks in summer — handy for a rainy day or a break from the beach.

Three days instead of five?

Short on time? Keep the centre of the Island and one coast:

1. Day 1: bridge, Victoria-by-the-Sea, Charlottetown.
2. Day 2: Brackley, Covehead, Cavendish and Green Gables, lobster supper.
3. Day 3: Greenwich and Basin Head, then the ferry at Wood Islands.

You’ll miss the Acadian west and North Cape, but you’ll see the Island’s icons without a single long driving day.

Practical tips

• National park fees: Parks Canada entry fees apply in Prince Edward Island National Park in season; the Discovery Pass is valid.
• Stay off the dunes and cliff edges: the dunes are fragile and protected, and the red sandstone cliffs erode constantly — keep well back from the edge.
• Lobster suppers and popular restaurants: book ahead in July and August, especially on weekends.
• Evenings in Charlottetown: the Confederation Centre of the Arts hosts the Charlottetown Festival in summer; check the season’s programme.
• Sea temperature: pleasant by the end of July and in August, but still chilly in June. Bring a windbreaker even on sunny days.

Lighthouse hunting

Lighthouses are part of the Island’s identity, and the three coastal drives pass many of them. Besides Covehead, West Point and East Point, look out for the range lights and harbour lights in fishing villages along the way. Some lighthouses open in summer as small museums or have viewing platforms; opening days and hours vary from year to year, so check with Tourism PEI or the local operator before making a detour.

Rainy-day ideas

A grey day on PEI is the perfect excuse for Charlottetown’s galleries and cafés, including the art gallery at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, the Acadian Museum in Miscouche, and the farmhouse interior at Green Gables. Or settle in for a long seafood lunch — chowder and mussels taste even better when it’s raining.

When to go

• June: green countryside, lupins along the roads, few people; the water is still cold.
• July–August: swimming, festivals, everything open. Book early in Cavendish and Charlottetown.
• September–October: quiet, food festival, lovely light; some attractions close after Labour Day.
• Winter: very quiet, many tourism businesses closed, and the ferry doesn’t run.

Frequently asked questions