Planning a Trip to Prince Edward Island
For many visitors, Queens County is Prince Edward Island. A typical itinerary would be to catch the ferry to Wood Islands, spend one day in the capital, Charlottetown, and another in Cavendish before driving off the island via the Confederation Bridge. This is enough time in the capital to visit major attractions such as Province House while having enough time to end the day with an evening walk through Victoria Park. If your travels coincide with the mid-September International Shellfish Festival, you may want to stay longer.
Cavendish, the most popular destination on all of Prince Edward Island, is just an hour’s drive from the capital. This makes a day trip possible and means you can settle yourself into Charlottetown for two or more nights, taking advantage of the theater and many restaurants. Cavendish does have many accommodations, but good dining rooms are severely lacking. Regardless of where you stay, your trip to Cavendish should include a drive through Prince Edward Island National Park, the short detour to North Rustico Harbour, and a visit to Green Gables Heritage Place.
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Getting to Prince Edward Island
Most visitors to PEI arrive by road, traveling either across the Confederation Bridge or on the ferry. You can also fly to Charlottetown.
Confederation Bridge
The impressive Confederation Bridge (902/437-7300 or 888/437-6565) is Prince Edward Island’s most important transportation link to the rest of Canada. From Cape Jourimain (New Brunswick), 80 km (50 mi) east of Moncton, the bridge stretches across Northumberland Strait to Borden-Carleton, which is in Prince County, 60 km (37 mi) west of Charlottetown. Driving across the impressive 12.9-km (8-mi) span takes about 10 minutes (views are blocked by concrete barriers erected as a windbreak).
The round-trip bridge toll is $50.25 per vehicle, including passengers. Payment is collected at Borden-Carleton upon leaving the island.
By Ferry
Prince Edward Island is also linked to the rest of Atlantic Canada by ferry. The mainland departure point is Caribou (Nova Scotia), near Pictou, a two-hour drive from Halifax. The ferry docks at Wood Islands, a scenic 62-km (38-mi) drive southeast from Charlottetown. The 75-minute crossing is operated by Northumberland Ferries (902/566-3838 or 800/565-0201) May-mid-December, with up to nine crossings in each direction daily during peak summer season. The round-trip fare is $86 per vehicle, regardless of the number of passengers. As with the bridge crossing, payment is made upon leaving the island, so to save a few bucks, take the ferry to PEI and return on the Confederation Bridge.
By Air
Air Canada (888/247-2262) has direct flights to Charlottetown from Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto. WestJet (403/250-5839 or 888/937-8538) flies in from Toronto.
- Strategic, flexible itineraries including scenic drives, ocean excursions, and the best of the Maritimes
- Top experiences and activities: Take in stunning scenery while driving the Cabot Trail or the Irish Loop, visit an active archeological dig at the Colony of Avalon, or study artifacts from the Titanic at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Savor local oysters at a waterfront restaurant, sample seasonal beers at North America’s oldest operating brewery, and refuel with a hearty rappie pie after a day of touring Nova Scotia
- Best outdoor adventures: Bike through UNESCO-protected towns or cruise past massive icebergs. Cross-country ski and snowmobile in Sugarloaf Park or skate on frozen lakes near Halifax. Hike along rocky shoreline or through wildflower-filled river valleys. Kayak to a secluded island for a picnic lunch and camp out under the stars at oceanside parks
- Expert advice from Canadian author Andrew Hempstead on when to go, where to stay, and how to get around
- Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout
- Background information on the environment, culture, and history
- In-depth coverage of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador
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