Red sand, wind-battered lighthouses, lobster dinners with your feet in the water: the Canadian Maritimes have everything it takes to turn your road trip into a life-changing adventure. In this article, we’re taking you on a 15-day road trip through the Maritimes, starting from Quebec City and winding through New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island!
👉 The full itinerary map is right here : Road trip New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island
Ready to live this adventure? Book your van now with Le Baroudeur!
The detailed itinerary: 15 days outside of time
One important thing to know: in this article, we’re sticking to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. But the Maritimes also include Nova Scotia! If you dream of doing the full loop, check out our dedicated article on that province, you can pick your favorite destinations or combine both itineraries for the best road trip of your life.
DAY 1: LEAVING QUEBEC CITY AND THE RIVER ROAD
The big departure! You leave Quebec City on Route 132, the one that hugs the St. Lawrence River heading east. From the very first hours, the tone is set: villages of the Lower St. Lawrence rolling past, the river stretching endlessly into the horizon, and the first photo stops that just happen on their own. Settle in for the night somewhere between Kamouraska and Rimouski, let the rhythm of the journey find its pace.
Quebec City – Rimouski: about 3.5 hours of driving
DAY 2: THE MATAPEDIA VALLEY
On this second day, we leave the river behind. We head inland, through the Matapédia Valley, a gem of mountains and forests traced by a river famous among salmon anglers the world over. The New Brunswick border comes at the end of the day, and your first stop is Campbellton, right on the shores of Chaleur Bay.
Rimouski – Campbellton: about 2 hours of driving
DAY 3: FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH CHALEUR BAY
Welcome to New Brunswick! Today, the road follows Chaleur Bay all the way to Caraquet, right in the heart of the Acadian Peninsula. Colorful wharves, fishing boats gently rocking, your first seafood of the trip. This is where you take your first big breath of salty air.
Good to know: Acadia is the name for the region historically settled by 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 (a tricolor with a yellow star) and a vibrant musical and festive culture.
Campbellton – Caraquet: about 1 hour 45 minutes of driving
DAYS 4 AND 5: KOUCHIBOUGUAC NATIONAL PARK
Heading south, toward one of New Brunswick’s natural gems. Kouchibouguac means tranquil lagoons, warm sandy dunes, and long beaches where seals lounge offshore like you don’t even exist. A real gift.
For the active adventurers, the park is a playground in its own right: cycling on groomed trails, swimming in warm waters, kayaking, walks along salt marshes. Plan one day to explore everything, and a second to do absolutely nothing and just rest.
Caraquet – Kouchibouguac: about 2 hours of driving
DAY 6: HEADING TO PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
This is THE big moment of the road trip. The Confederation Bridge stretches for 8 miles over the water, linking New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. The sea on both sides, the structure that seems to go on forever. After crossing, head to Charlottetown, the island’s capital, to park your van for the night.
Kouchibouguac – Charlottetown (via the Confederation Bridge): about 2.5 hours of driving
DAYS 7 AND 8: CHARLOTTETOWN AND THE NORTH SHORE
Wander through Charlottetown, its historic streets, its lively harbor. Take your time. Then head toward 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.
Charlottetown – Cavendish: about 45 minutes of driving
DAY 9: LAST DAY ON THE ISLAND
The beach, the bike, a patio facing the sea. Soak it in, it’s your last day on the island. And tonight, there’s only one must: a lobster dinner facing the ocean. It’s a tradition!
DAY 10: BACK TO THE MAINLAND AND HOPEWELL ROCKS
After leaving the island, head to Hopewell Rocks. At low tide, you literally walk on the ocean floor, at the base of rock formations sculpted by the highest tides in the world. It’s the kind of place you’re still talking about years later.
Good to know: the Bay of Fundy holds the world record for the greatest tidal range, with a difference between high and low tide that can exceed 49 feet. At low tide, the entire ocean floor is exposed. A landscape impossible to find anywhere else.
Charlottetown/Cavendish – Hopewell Rocks: about 2.5 hours of driving
DAYS 11 AND 12: FUNDY NATIONAL PARK
The next leg takes you into the lush Fundy National Park, with forest trails, waterfalls, and small fishing villages clinging to the coast. A great balance between wild nature and quiet stops, with enough trails to fill two solid days of hiking.
Hopewell Rocks – Fundy National Park (Alma): about 40 minutes of driving
DAYS 13 TO 15: THE PEACEFUL DRIVE HOME THROUGH THE INTERIOR AND TÉMISCOUATA
The road home takes you inland, following the Saint John River valley. Quieter than the outbound leg. Forests, small towns, the feeling that the trip is winding down without really wanting to admit it. For the last night, the shores of Lake Témiscouata are the perfect spot: a campfire, a recap of the journey, and tomorrow, Quebec City.
Fundy National Park – Témiscouata: about 5 hours of driving (split over two days) Témiscouata – Quebec City: about 2.5 hours of driving
Practical tips for your road trip to Prince Edward Island
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 head back 😉
Campsite reservations: Parks Canada sites (Kouchibouguac, Fundy, PEI National Park) fill up fast in high season. Ideally book several weeks ahead if you’re traveling in July or August.
Did you know? The route you take on this loop is considered one of the most beautiful in Canada, don’t miss our article on the 5 most scenic drives in Eastern Canada to find out more.
Ready to hit the Maritimes road at your own pace?
15 days. About 1,740 miles. A relaxed average of 125 miles a day, and landscapes that change every morning. That’s the real freedom of vanlife: deciding for yourself where to stop, how long to stay, at what pace to move.
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