Maritime Provinces Clockwise Grand Loop
A grand loop through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, connecting the South Shore, the Bay of Fundy, and the Cabot Trail
The complete version of the three-province loop. Start by exploring the South Shore, enter New Brunswick via both sides of the Bay of Fundy, cross the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island, and return to Cape Breton by ferry. Traveling clockwise avoids a long, exhausting driving day from Lunenburg straight to Baddeck. Entering via the bridge and leaving by ferry also ensures you don't backtrack. The total driving distance is over 2,000 km, making it ideal for self-drive travelers with plenty of vacation time who want to see all three provinces in one go.
The ferry operates from approximately May to December, with reduced schedules in autumn. Reservations are required for July and August.
Day by day
Day 1 · Halifax Waterfront & Citadel
Halifax（Halifax Citadel National Historic Site、Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk、Maritime Museum of the Atlantic）
Pick up your rental car at the airport and drive about half an hour to the city center. Spend the afternoon exploring the waterfront and Citadel Hill area on foot.
Stay: Downtown Waterfront
Day 2 · Peggy's Cove & South Shore Old Town
Halifax（Peggy's Cove Lighthouse） → Lunenburg（Mahone Bay、Old Town Lunenburg）
Drive about 45 minutes via Route 333 to Peggy's Cove, then continue along the South Shore to Lunenburg. The total distance is about 100 km.
Stay: Lunenburg Old Town
Day 3 · Grand-Pré to Amherst
Lunenburg（Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic、Bluenose II） → Halifax（Landscape of Grand-Pré）
Drive about 1.5 hours from Lunenburg to Grand-Pré, then continue for about 2 hours to Amherst on the provincial border.
Stay: Amherst
Day 4 · Flowerpot Rocks & Cape Enrage
Bay of Fundy (Alma)（Hopewell Rocks、Mary's Point (Shepody Bay)、Cape Enrage）
Drive about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Amherst to the Hopewell Rocks, then follow Route 114 and the Cape Enrage road to Alma.
Check the tide tables and plan your departure time so that you arrive at the Hopewell Rocks around low tide.
Stay: Alma
Day 5 · A Day in Fundy National Park
Bay of Fundy (Alma)（Fundy National Park、Dickson Falls、Point Wolfe Covered Bridge、Alma Wharf & Village）
Using Alma as your base, drive to the various trailheads in the park. One-way drives are generally under half an hour.
Stay: Alma
Day 6 · Fundy Trail Parkway to Saint John
Bay of Fundy (Alma)（Fundy Trail Parkway、St. Martins Sea Caves） → Saint John (New Brunswick)（Uptown Saint John (Trinity Royal)）
From Alma, enter the east gate via Shepody Road, drive the 30 km coastal cliff parkway, and continue through St. Martins to Saint John.
The Parkway is open from mid-May to October, with specific gate hours. The sea caves must be visited at low tide.
Stay: Uptown Saint John
Day 7 · Reversing Falls then Cross to PEI
Saint John (New Brunswick)（Saint John City Market、Reversing Falls Rapids） → Prince Edward Island Circuit（Confederation Bridge、Victoria Row）
Explore Saint John in the morning, then drive about 3.5 hours via Moncton and across the Confederation Bridge to Charlottetown.
There is no toll to enter Prince Edward Island via the bridge; the toll is only collected when leaving the island. The Saint John City Market is closed on Sundays.
Stay: Charlottetown
Day 8 · North Shore Green Gables & Beaches
Prince Edward Island Circuit（Brackley Beach、North Rustico、Green Gables Heritage Place、Cavendish Beach、New Glasgow Lobster Suppers）
Drive about 40 minutes from Charlottetown to the North Shore. The loop connecting the main sights is about 150 km.
Stay: Charlottetown
Day 9 · Ferry Back to Cape Breton
Prince Edward Island Circuit（Point Prim Lighthouse） → Baddeck & the Cabot Trail（Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site）
Drive about 1 hour to Wood Islands, take the 75-minute ferry to Caribou, and then drive about 3 hours to Baddeck.
Ferry crossings may occasionally be reduced or canceled. Check the operator's announcements before departing, and book in advance for July and August.
Stay: Baddeck
Day 10 · West Coast Chéticamp & Skyline Trail
Baddeck & the Cabot Trail（Margaree Valley、Chéticamp、Skyline Trail、Pleasant Bay）
Drive about 1.5 hours from Baddeck through the Margaree Valley to Chéticamp, then enter the park and drive about 1 hour to Pleasant Bay.
Parking for the Skyline Trail must be reserved in advance, as spots are limited during peak season.
Stay: Pleasant Bay
Day 11 · Eastern Highlands to Ingonish
Baddeck & the Cabot Trail（Lone Shieling、Neils Harbour Lighthouse、Mary Ann Falls、Franey Trail、Ingonish Beach）
Drive from Pleasant Bay over North Mountain, passing through Neils Harbour to Ingonish in about 1.5 hours, stopping at trails along the way.
The road to Mary Ann Falls is a gravel side road; drive slowly after rain. The Franey Trail takes about 3 hours round-trip.
Stay: Ingonish
Day 12 · Fortress of Louisbourg
Baddeck & the Cabot Trail（Cape Smokey、Fortress of Louisbourg）
Drive south from Ingonish over Cape Smokey to Louisbourg. The distance is about 160 km, taking around 2 hours.
It is recommended to allow at least 4 hours for the fortress. Arriving after 3:00 PM will leave you short on time.
Stay: Louisbourg
Day 13 · Return to Halifax
Halifax（Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21）
Drive about 4 hours from Louisbourg to Halifax. If time permits, you can visit Pier 21 before heading to the airport.