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New York to Prince Edward Island Road Trip Itinerary
Embark on a scenic NY to Prince Edward Island road trip. Enjoy coastal views, historic sites, and fresh seafood. Ideal for travelers seeking an escape.
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is the smallest of the Canadian Provinces, but it packs a big punch of picturesque beauty & grandeur!
From charming towns, to vast farmland & scenic coastline, a trip to PEI day dreams delight!
Oh and did i mention the mouth watering fresh seafood!
We took this road trip from New York City and saw it as the perfect opportunity for an escape from the bustling city life!
New York City is also the perfect launching pad for many fly drive US road trips!
So start your engines & lets dive right in!
Monica Liu | Wiki Commons
How long is the drive from New York to Prince Edward Island
Driving direct from NYC to Prince Edward Island will take you approximately 14 hours and you will cover 825 miles!
This is mostly a large, fast highway route and will take you inland AWAY from all the beautiful & most historic parts of New England!
We decided to take the scenic coastal route instead, see below!
Best Driving Route to Prince Edward Island from New York
The most scenic driving route between New York & Prince Edward island will take you along the picturesque New England Coast.
Via New Haven, Providence, Bar Harbor & Saint John, Ca.
Note: Car Rental Company will charge large fees if you try to drop off in a another country, i.e Canada.
See: Ultimate Car Rental Travel Hacks!
Your best is to drive back to the USA, before dropping the car off.
New Haven Connecticut, is an underrated city! Source: Getty Images
New York to Prince Edward Island by Public Transport
Here are a few Public Transport Alternatives to Prince Edward Island
- Amtrak from NYC to Montreal (10 hrs)
- VIA Rail from Montreal to Moncton, New Brunswick (17 hrs)
- Bus from Moncton to Charlottetown, PEI (3 hours and 40 minutes)
Interactive Road Trip Map: New York to PEI
Dive Into our Interactive Map Below!
User guide: Use the +/- buttons to zoom in and out of the attractions.
Top Tip: Many visitors choose to share the post on Facebook to inspire friends and help plan their road trip.
Hit the link below to share!
Road Trip Itinerary: New York to PEI
- New York City, NY
- Stamford, CT - Optional
- New Haven, CT
- Providence, RI
- Martha's Island - Optional
- Cape Cod MA - Optional
- Nantucket - Optional
- Boston, MA - Optional
- Bar Harbor, ME
- Arcadia National Park, ME
- Portland, ME
- Saint John, NB
- Moncton, NB
- Prince Edward Island, CA
Road Trip Highlights:
A. Providence, RI
Drive along Benefit Street the most famous street in Rhode Island!
Founded back in 1636, Providence is one of the most historic cities in the USA and benefit street is the one mile of history to prove it!
Providence, RI
This is the perfect place to park up and take a stroll past the historic Victorian homes and federal mansions such as John Brown House,.
Other National Historic Landmarks include Governor Stephen Hopkins House.
B. Martha's Vineyard - Optional
Martha's Vineyard is the largest island of Massachusetts and lies just south of cape cod.
The Obamas recently purchased a Mansion here for $14.85 million from Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck….so it must be a nice place!
Marthas Vineyard is famed for it’s quaint lighthouses, Idyllic scenery, beaches & gothic cottages in Oak Bluff. Here are the top things to do there.
- Check out Gingerbread Houses of Oak Bluff.
- Take a ride on the Iconic Flying Horse Carousel.
- Greet the Island Alpacas.
- Visit the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Check out Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse.
- Eat at Martha’s Vineyard Gourmet Café & Bakery.
Marthas Vineyard Massachusetts USA Oak Bluffs Cottages Road Trip. Source: KenWiedemann/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Where to stay at Marthas Vineyard?
Marthas Vineyard can be quite expensive to stay, so depending upon your budget either take the ferry back or check out this list of recommended accommodation.
Mansion House Inn on Martha’s Vineyard or the Harbor view hotel are both favorites to stay.
C. Cape Cod, MA
From Cape Cods beautiful beaches to its National Seashore & quaint beach town Chatham, there is something for everyone.
Top 4 Things to do at Cape Cod:
1. Relax on Cape Cods Beaches
2. Visit Cape Cods Lighthouses
3. Be awestruck by the Pilgrims Monument
4. Go Whale Watching at Cape Cod
Best Tours in Cape Cod?
If you would prefer to have all the best places organised for you to save you any stress, check out the list of my favorite tours in Cape Cod
From day trips, private tours to kayak explorer adventures, HERE
Cape Cod Road Trip Itinerary
Where to Stay in Cape Cod?
For a full list of my recommended places to stay in Cape Cod, Follow this link HERE
For our full Cape Cod Road Trip Itinerary, check out: New York to Cape Cod Road Trip Itinerary: Weekend Escape!
D. Bar Harbor, ME
Bar Harbor offers breath taking coastal beauty in abundance! From lobster boats to Yachts, island views to ocean shimmers there are plenty of views to enjoy.
Take the shore path which winds all the way from town pier past the bay to the Atlantic Ocean and onto the Porcupine Islands.
As the gateway to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor is a popular weekend retreat.
Bar Harbor maine
Other Highlights at Bar Harbor:
- Sailing on the Margaret Todd
- Taking a ride on a authentic Lobster Boat.
- Have a Coffee at Choco Latte
- Devour some Blueberry Pancakes at Cafe this way
- Book a Foodie Tour of the best spots!
Where to stay in Bar Harbor?
For a full list of our recommended places to stay in Bar Harbor, follow the link HERE.
E. Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor offers the perfect gateway to Acadia National Park a 47,000-acre coastal national park on Maines Desert island.
From vast woodland to jagged beaches and glacier peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the HIGHEST POINT on USA’s east coast.
Acadia National Park
Cadillac Mountain also offers trails and picturesque views of Bar Harbor town. At Acadia National Park you will find an spectrum of wildlife from moose to bears, birds and whales! Head to Sand Beach which offers a great place to relax.
For more on Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park see: New York to Acadia National Park Road Trip Itinerary
F. Portland, ME
While in Portland you have to visit, Portland Head Lighthouse . It is the oldest lighthouse in Maine & was constructed in 1791. It stands at a height of 24m (78feet).
Insider Tip: You can find the light house station at the entrance of the primary shipping channel which flows into Portland Harbor.
Portland Head Lighthouse 1
Interesting Fact:
Two people died in a 1787 shipwreck which led to the introduction of the lighthouse which cost just $700 to build at the time.
For more on Maine's lighthouses check out: Ultimate Maine Lighthouse Road Trip
Dive into our interactive map below!
User guide: Use the +/- buttons to zoom in and out of the attractions.
Top Tip: Many visitors choose to share the post on Facebook to inspire friends and help plan their road trip.
Hit the link below to share!
For more on Portland, ME Check out: New York to Maine via Public Transport
G. Driving over the Confederation Bridge:
As you drive towards Prince Edward Island you will pass over the Confederation Bridge, the longest bridge in the world to pass over Ice covered water!
It runs a total length of 12.9km (8 miles) and will take you around 10-15 minutes.
Insider Tip:
You aren't charged to drive the bridge until your trip back to New Brunswick from PEI. We went in our RV and it cost us $43.00 round trip.
Check out the live Bridge Cam below for the current traffic:
H. Prince Edward Island, CA
PEI Road Trip, Day 1 (West Point):
As you enter Prince Edward Island you will arrive at the Border town of Borden-Carleton.
This is an ideal place to grab a snack from "Handpie" from the T.V series outlander and fill up on Gas before exploring PEI.
Afterwards, take the drive to the following:
- Kool Breeze Farms (late summer, early fall they manufacture a unique corn maze)
- Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Church is the oldest church in PEI. This church towers majestically over the shoreline is home to a elegant graveyard.
- West Point – The beaches & West Point Lighthouse are a must visit.
Where to eat?
There is not really a town with lots of restaurants in this area, so the The Catch Kitchen and Bar is your best bet.
Where to stay?
For a list of our recommended places to stay in West Point, follow the link HERE
PEI Road Trip, Day 2 (North Cape):
After a night at West Point, you should take the drive to the North Cape.
You will notice the wind! As its home to Canada’s National Wind Energy laboratory , there is also some cool windmills to check out!
Insider Tip:
Check out the Interpretative center & gift shop and claim your ribbon which proves you visited the most NORTHERN PART OF PEI.
If you show this ribbon to the most southern part of PEI, you will receive a special surprise ;)
pei-lighthouse-cedar-dunes. Source: I stock
As you drive back down south, check out these notable spots:
- Cape Tyron Lighthouse - Offers a Great coastal trail with breathtaking views!
- Rustico Bay - Ideal for Kayaking!
- Visit The Table Culinary Studio - An unmissable experience where you can learn about how the local foods are harvested!
- The Canadian Potato Museum at O'Leary.
(You can't miss it there is a gigantic potato statue at the entrance!)
This museum was surprisingly interesting! There was lots of historic potato machinery and of course you can buy potato dishes in their cafe.
- Keep driving till you reach the charming village of Victoria on the coast.
- Afterwards stretch you legs at Fort Amherst National Historical park.
Where to eat?
Definitely grab a delicious meal at The Table Culinary Studio.
For dinner head to the Lobster Barn Pub & Eatery, for some fresh seafood and pub comfort food on the wharf. Be sure to try the lobster rolls!
Address: 19 Main St, Victoria, PE C0A 2G0, Canada
Where to stay?
Afterwards, drive to the capital Charlottetown and rest there for the night!
For a list of our recommended places to stay in Charlottetown, follow the link HERE
PEI Road Trip, Day 3 (south cape):
Take the drive down to Georgetown and be sure to check out the following:
- Macdonald Memorial Gardens - A beautiful area to relax
- Photograph the Quaint fishing shacks
- Visit Point Prim Lighthouse - Built in 1845, its the oldest lighthouse on PEI!
(If you can only visit one lighthouse on PEI, make it point primm!)
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Where to eat?
Point Prim Chowder House is a favorite spot of mine! It offers outdoor seating on the coast with incredible foods!
Where to stay?
For a list of my recommended places to stay in Georgetown, follow the link HERE.
7 Essential Road Trip Tips:
(You HAVE to know before planning!)
7. Book Your Hotels in Advance!
To avoid having to drive around looking for hotels when your tired (My wife hates this!)
& to get the best prices, Check out our: How to find the Best Hotel Deals??
"Stay in the hotel run by the Von Trapp family. Made famous by the Sound of Music, the Von Trapps have run this upscale Austrian-inspired lodge since escaping Nazi-occupied Austria and arriving in Stowe in 1942."
6. Get the Best deal on Car Rental
For some vital tips to know before renting a car & to get the best deals check out, Ultimate Car Rental Travel Hacks!
car rental travel hacks[/caption]
5. Need an RV?
If you fancy an RV adventure, you have to check RV Share
It’s an RV share platform, like airbnb where you can rent someones RV at a fraction of cost compared to normal!
Bring your RV to Tiden Park.
4. Bring a Great Travel Camera!
Want to capture those vacation memories? For friends, Facebook or even Instagram!
A phone just doesn’t compare with a high quality travel camera, they are well worth the investment!
Check out our Recommended Travel Photography Gear
Make sure you are equip with some great Photography Gear!
3. Get yourself a high quality backpack,
Pots of Jam smashed!??? After leaving Pikes Place Farmers Market my old backpack ripped and pots of Jam smashed everywhere!
I was so embarrassed, don’t let this happen to you! A high quality backpack is even more essential if out travelling with the family or hiking.
Backpacks
2. Get Travel Insurance!
If travelling Internationally Travel Insurance is ESSENTIAL!
Avoid gigantic $15,000 Medical Bills! see: Why you NEED Travel Insurance in 2020?
Getting hit with a large hospital bill after getting sick or injured, could really add to your worries! Get some Travel Insurance
1. Need Help Planning!?
Do you find planning a trip time consuming and stressful?
An organised tour or vacation could be a great option for you!
They organize Flights, Hotels, Car Rental, Activities and much more!
With expert local travel knowledge you can't go wrong.
Check out our reviews here: Which are the Best travel Tours?
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