8 Day Road trip Itinerary for Maritime Provinces

This is the only itinerary you will need to explore the best places in the Maritime Provinces. If you are running short on time, this 8 day itinerary will help you cover the prime spots for both tourists and locals. 

After lots of research, I have come up with the optimal route that will save you both time and energy in planning your trip to hit most key locations. 

Day 1

The route for this road trip will first start at Montmagny which is an hour away from Quebec City. Alternatively, you could choose to book a night at Rivière-du-Loup. Since we were driving from Ottawa during the evening, we chose Montmagny as it was closer to Quebec City. We'd recommend staying at  Days Inn by Wyndham or Hôtels l'Oiselière Montmagny as both are popular locations for travellers.

Day 2

Enjoy a good breakfast at Montmagny and then start your 5 hour drive to New Brunswick's capital, Fredericton. Make a quick stop at Fredericton to grab some lunch. Optionally, choose to explore the Beaverbrook Art Gallery or visit the Odell Park. Then head over to the Bay of Fundy to stay the night at a hotel or cozy waterfront cottage.

Day 3

You can start day 3 by visiting the Hopewell Rocks, famously known as the gem of New Brunswick. It is essential to see the rocks at both high and low tide. Then head over to the Fundy National Park and Cape Enrage. For dinner you can try some local delicacies at Alma. You can retire for the day at the same place as the previous night or choose to explore other options.

Day 4

The next morning, head over to Prince Edward Island. The main highlights of the day would be to visit the Anne of Green Gables Museum, Green Gables Heritage Place, and then relax at Cavendish beach. For the night, you can try camping at the Prince Edward Island National Park to connect with the raw natural beauty of this province.

Day 5

Day 5 can start with the exploration of the capital city of Charlottetown. Museums are a healthy tourist attraction and can be followed up with a sumptuous meal at a local restaurant. Be sure to visit the famous ice cream shop, Cow's Creamery. The rest of the day can be spent at Argyle National Park where you can walk on the ocean bed during low tide. Once you've explored all of the highlights of PEI, you can start driving to an accommodation at Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia for the night.

Day 6

An early morning start the next day will see you hiking along the Cabot Trails. Keep some refreshments and snacks handy as there is a scarcity of restaurants in the area. You can also book some whale watching tours and enjoy the sunset cruise along the Gulf of St. Lawrence to end the day. You can stay the night at Cape Breton Island once again to relax and unwind.

Day 7

The second last day can be spent exploring the city of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. This city has a lot to offer in terms of history, maritime culture and local cuisine. Enjoy the various summer festivals as you stroll along the vibrant 2-km Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk. A 10-15 min walk from the boardwalk is the Citadel Hill which showcases the area's history and enjoys great views of the city. Try to be here by noon to witness the canons being fired and watch the changing of the guard ceremony which occurs at every hour of the day. There are various museums to choose from including a floating one called CSS Acadia. There's also the Halifax Maritime Museum which displays an exhibit of the Titanic. Since Nova Scotia isn't too spread out, you can find some nice cottages to sleep in at less than an hour's drive.

Day 8

The last day can be spent driving back to Montmagny, which is a 9.5 hour drive from Halifax. Stop by in the quaint little town of Miramichi in New Brunswick to eat luncheon at Ritchie Wharf. It consists of several piers and a boardwalk and is home to various sea food restaurants which make for a fantastic culinary experience!

For information on the best places to visit in the maritime province visit my website https://explore-the-maritimes.mypagecloud.com/