RVing to the Maritimes

Gaspésie National Park

With its sea of mountains, Gaspésie provincial park is an absolute favorite among avid hikers. The park was originally created 80 years ago to protect the Gaspésie caribou. The park is also home to more than twenty-five 1,000+ meter peaks.

You’ll find the park in the Gaspé peninsula with route 299 crossing through the park north to south. If you’re hoping to see some caribou, your best bet is Mont Jacques-Cartier. Keep in mind that in Mont Jacques-Cartier, hiking is only allowed between 10am and 4pm. The Mont Jacques-Cartier trail closes on September 30th.

The Mont Ernest-Laforce trail is one of the most popular hikes in the park. Not only is it family-friendly, but it gives hikers a panoramic view of Mont Albert and the surrounding mountains.

Gaspé

Continue exploring Quebec’s Gaspé peninsula with a stop in the city of Gaspé. Stop in at the Birthplace of Canada site of Gaspé history. Learn about the history of Gaspé through restored sites and buildings, and through interpretive signs. There are also free activities for visitors from June to September.

Nearby, explore Forillon National Park. Look out at spectacular views at “Land’s End”. You can also book kayak cruises, whale watching cruises, or watch seal colonies. After enjoying the seaside cliffs of Forillon head out to Percé.

In Percé drive out to the iconic Percé Rock, a rock formation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Weather permitting, take a sea kayak tour out to Percé Rock for a closer look. You could also take an excursion by boat around Percé Rock and to Bonaventure Island, home of colonies of northern gannets.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is a bucket list stop on the perfect eastern Canada roadtrip. Get your bearings by visiting the welcome center upon arrival. A stay at the charmingly manicured Bayside RV Park places you at a convenient location for discovering the legacy of Lucy Maud Montgomery and her famous literary work, Anne of Green Gables.

Explore all things Lucy Maud Montgomery with a stop at Parks Canada’s Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place. Tour her relative’s meticulously restored residence and pack a picnic for a scenic hike in an inspiring landscape. Don’t forget to visit the nearby Lucy Maud Montgomery homestead, still run by her family. There is a welcoming bookstore on the property with the perfect gifts for Anne of Green Gables fans. For a small fee you can walk in the footsteps of Lucy Maud Montgomery and the homestead that so inspired her, even looking onto the site where her house once stood. Drive to nearby New London to visit the birthplace of Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Prince Edward Island’s natural beauty and food are well-known. To take in some of the natural beauty head to Prince Edward Island National Park. The beaches, red cliffs, and sand dunes make this national park an ideal stop for a picnic. Add a few lighthouse stops to the seaside vistas you’re taking in with stops at Cape Tryon Lighthouse and Cedar Dune Provincial Park’s West Point Lighthouse.

Treat yourself to fine jams, preserves, and teas at Prince Edward Island Preserve Co. & Hope Gardens. Take home some truly delicious preserves like a jar of the Wild Blueberry, Raspberry, and Champagne preserves. This is a great stop for gifts as well as for a bite to eat at their well-known seasonal restaurant. Before leaving Prince Edward Island be sure to stop in at Glasgow Glen Farms (Cheese Lady’s Gouda) for some artisan gouda cheeses and pizza.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Nova Scotia’s many famous scenic drives make it an RVer’s dream destination. Arriving in Nova Scotia, the Sunrise Trail will take you along the Northumberland Strait where you can drive from beach to beach along the northeastern coast of Nova Scotia.

Next, be sure to travel the iconic Cabot Trail. Taking you through breathtaking Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the Cabot Trail is among the most scenic drives in all of Canada. Taking about 6 hours going either way, the Cabot Trail can be done in one day, but it’s best to plan to take a day or two to allow time for hikes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and some stops along the way in Cheticamp, Pleasant Bay, the remote Meat Cove, and Ingonish Beach.

South Shore Lighthouse Trail & Annapolis Valley

Just as impressive as the Cabot Trail, is Nova Scotia’s Lighthouse Route, twisting and turning along Nova Scotia’s Southern Shore from Dartmouth to Yartmouth. The whole route is a 9 hour drive (a little bit longer by RV), but it’s best to take it slow–even if that means not making it the whole way through.

The bucket-list stops are Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg. Be sure to give yourself time at Peggy’s Cove. Allow the crashing waves of the Atlantic to mesmerize you as you sit on the rocks watching the sunset. In Mahone Bay be sure to snap a pic of the famous three churches. Allow yourself time to stroll up and down Main Street, popping in and out of charming coffee shops and boutiques. Tucked away behind the main road is The Biscuit Eater Cafe and Books. Have high tea or a delicious pastry and tea right among shelves of books! Don’t miss the brightly colored houses of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, particularly along King and Pelham streets.

Finish your tour of Nova Scotia in the Annapolis Valley with a stop in Wolfville. Wolfville has many enchanting vineyards for you to explore. Learn about Acadian history at the Grand Pré National Historic Site, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fundy National Park

New Brunswick is home to some of the world’s highest tides. Begin with a little urban exploration in the city of Moncton. Then, take your time exploring the Bay of Fundy, by heading to the Hopewell Rocks. Here, experience high tide, perhaps by kayak, and then wait for your chance to walk on the ocean floor at low tide.

Next, take advantage of the beautiful hikes and spend some time camping at Fundy National Park. Finally, end your trip with a stop in the oldest city in Canada, Saint John. For a unique outdoor adventure, stop in at Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. Pick up locally sourced and grown fare at Saint John city Market.