{"id":27588,"date":"2026-08-19T16:02:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T20:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lebaroudeurdev.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=27588"},"modified":"2026-08-19T16:43:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T20:43:49","slug":"road-trip-in-the-maritimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/road-trip-in-the-maritimes\/","title":{"rendered":"Road trip in the Maritimes: 15 days in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Red sand, windswept lighthouses, lobster dinners with your feet in the water: the Canadian Maritimes have everything it takes to turn your road trip into a life adventure. In this article, we take you on a 15-day road trip in the Maritimes, departing from Quebec City and winding through New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 The complete itinerary map is here<\/strong> : Road trip New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to live this adventure?<\/strong> Book your van now with Le Baroudeur!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The detailed itinerary: 15 days outside of time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One important thing to know: in this article, we deliberately stay in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. But the Maritimes also include Nova Scotia! If you dream of doing the full loop, head over to our dedicated article on that province<\/a>, you can pick your favourite destinations or combine both itineraries for the road trip road trip<\/em> of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAY 1: DEPARTURE FROM QUEBEC CITY<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Road<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And we’re off! You leave Quebec City along Route 132, hugging the St. Lawrence River heading east. From the very first hours, the mood is set: Lower St. Lawrence villages rolling by, the river stretching out as far as the eye can see, and irresistible photo stops appearing one after another. Settle in for the night somewhere between Kamouraska and Rimouski, let the rhythm of the road settle in gently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quebec City to Rimouski: about 3h30 drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAY 2: THE MATAPEDIA VALLEY<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On this second day, we leave the river behind. Heading inland, through the Matap\u00e9dia Valley, a gem of mountains and forests traced by a river world-famous among salmon anglers. The New Brunswick border arrives by late afternoon, and your first stop is Campbellton, nestled along the shores of Chaleur Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rimouski to Campbellton: about 2h drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAY 3: FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH CHALEUR BAY<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Welcome to New Brunswick! Today, the road follows Chaleur Bay all the way to Caraquet, right in the heart of the Acadian Peninsula. Colourful wharves, fishing boats bobbing in the water, your first seafood of the trip. This is where you breathe your first great lungful of salty air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good to know:<\/strong> Acadia is the name given to the region historically settled by the descendants of the first French colonists who arrived in the Maritimes in the 17th century. To this day, Acadia maintains a strong Francophone identity, with its own flag (tricolour with a yellow star) and a vibrant musical and festive culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campbellton to Caraquet: about 1h45 drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAYS 4 AND 5: KOUCHIBOUGUAC NATIONAL PARK<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Kouchibouguac<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Heading south toward one of New Brunswick’s natural jewels. Kouchibouguac means calm lagoons, warm sand dunes, and long beaches where seals lounge offshore as if you simply don’t exist. A true gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For active adventurers, the park is a playground all its own: cycling on groomed trails, swimming in warm waters, kayaking, walks along the salt marshes. Plan one day to explore everything, and a second day to do absolutely nothing and rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caraquet to Kouchibouguac: about 2h drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAY 6: HEADING TO PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Confederation<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is THE big moment of the road trip. The Confederation Bridge stretches 12.9 km over the water, linking New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. The sea on both sides, the structure seeming to go on forever. After crossing, head to Charlottetown, the island’s capital, to park your van for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kouchibouguac to Charlottetown (via the Confederation Bridge): about 2h30 drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAYS 7 AND 8: CHARLOTTETOWN AND THE NORTH SHORE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Charlottetown<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stroll through Charlottetown, its historic streets, its lively harbour. Take your time. Then head to the north shore, where you’ll find Prince Edward Island National Park with its winding coastal roads and lighthouses that look like they were placed there just for the photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlottetown to Cavendish: about 45 minutes drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAY 9: LAST DAY ON THE ISLAND<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Phare<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The beach, the bike, a terrace overlooking the sea. Make the most of it, it’s your last day on the island. And tonight, there’s only one obligation: a lobster dinner facing the ocean. It’s a tradition!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAY 10: BACK TO THE MAINLAND AND HOPEWELL ROCKS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Hopewell<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After leaving the island, it’s time for Hopewell Rocks. At low tide, you literally walk on the ocean floor, at the foot of rock formations sculpted by the world’s highest tides. The kind of place you’ll still be talking about years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good to know:<\/em> the Bay of Fundy holds the world record for the greatest tidal range, with a difference between high and low tide that can exceed 15 metres. At low tide, the ocean floor is fully exposed. A landscape impossible to see anywhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlottetown\/Cavendish to Hopewell Rocks: about 2h30 drive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAYS 11 AND 12: FUNDY NATIONAL PARK<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next leg takes you into the lush Fundy National Park, with forest trails, waterfalls, and small fishing villages clinging to the coast. A beautiful balance between wild nature and peaceful stops, with enough trails to fill two solid days of hiking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hopewell Rocks to Fundy National Park (Alma): about 40 minutes drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAYS 13 TO 15: THE PEACEFUL RETURN THROUGH THE HEARTLAND AND T\u00c9MISCOUATA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The road home winds through the interior, heading back up along the Saint John River valley. Quieter than the outbound leg. Forests, small villages, the feeling that the journey is drawing to a close \u2014 though part of you refuses to admit it. For the last night, the shores of T\u00e9miscouata Lake are the obvious choice: a campfire, a recap of the trip, and tomorrow, Quebec City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fundy National Park to T\u00e9miscouata: about 5h drive (to be split over two days) \u2014 T\u00e9miscouata to Quebec City: about 2h30 drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical tips for your road trip to Prince Edward Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Confederation Bridge toll works in one direction only: you only pay when leaving the island, never when entering. So factor that cost into your budget when you’re heading back \ud83d\ude09\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campsite reservations<\/strong>: Parks Canada sites (Kouchibouguac, Fundy, Prince Edward Island National Park) fill up fast in peak season. Ideally book several weeks in advance if you’re travelling in July or August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know? The route you follow on this loop is considered one of the most beautiful in Canada, take a look at our article on the 5 most scenic routes in Eastern Canada<\/a><\/strong> to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to hit the road through the Maritimes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

15 days. About 2,800 km. A relaxed average of 200 km a day, and landscapes that change every morning. That’s the true freedom of van life<\/em>: decide for yourself where to stop, how long to stay, and at what pace to travel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Red sand, windswept lighthouses, lobster dinners with your feet in the water: the Canadian Maritimes have everything it takes to turn your road trip into a life adventure. In this article, we take you on a 15-day road trip in the Maritimes, departing from Quebec City and winding through New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":27578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[130,120],"class_list":["post-27588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-road-trip-en","tag-vanlife-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27588"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27599,"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27588\/revisions\/27599"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lebaroudeur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}