Prince Edward Island, called PEI for short, is Canada’s smallest province. But despite its size, PEI offers a slew of outdoor, historical, and even wacky attractions. Be it for the immaculate beaches, houses constructed from glass bottles, or Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, vacationers venture over the Northumberland Strait to relax on the island.
Prince Edward Island is located north of mainland Nova Scotia, close to the border with New Brunswick. Visitors can reach the island by various modes of transportation, including by car, ferry, plane, or bus.
Driving to Prince Edward Island, Canada
It’s advantageous to have a vehicle while touring this rural province. Driving the island from western tip to eastern end takes only about four hours. In between, visitors can savor lobster suppers served in church dining halls, a coastal national park, and island quirks such as seaweed pie.
The Confederation Bridge is the fastest way to reach PEI with a vehicle. Completed in 1997, the bridge provides a link to the Canadian mainland. To reach the bridge, travel east on New Brunswick's Highway 2 to just south of Sackville. An exit connects to Highway 16, which is also a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway. Highway 16 parallels the NB-NS border, traveling about 48 kilometers (30 miles) to the span of the Confederation Bridge. It takes a mere 10 minutes to cross the nearly 13-kilometer (8-mile) bridge. There is no toll to travel to Prince Edward Island, but drivers pay a toll on the return journey.
Alternately, a May to December ferry runs from Caribou, NS to Wood Islands, PE. Operated by Northumberland Ferries (1-888-249-7245), the ferry serves as a slower and more tranquil way to reach the island. The crossing takes about 75 minutes and, like the bridge, fares are only collected on the return journey.
Flights to Charlottetown International Airport (YYG)
The Charlottetown International Airport (World Airport Code YYG) is situated north of the capital city. The airport is adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway. Canada’s two national airlines – Air Canada and WestJet – provide year-round flights to the small airport. Additional airlines (Northwest Airlines, Sunwing, and Delta Airlines) offer a seasonal schedule of flights.
The airport has direct flights to and from:
- Boston, MA
- Detroit, MI
- Halifax, NS
- Montreal, QC
- Ottawa, ON
- New York, NY
- Toronto, ON.
Buses to Prince Edward Island, Canada
To reach PEI by bus, travel from Moncton, NB or Halifax, NS to the island province. Acadian Bus Lines (1-800-567-5151) operates daily routes in the Maritimes. Within Prince Edward Island, buses stop in Borden-Carleton, Summerside, and Charlottetown. Shuttle services between Halifax, NS and PEI also run daily, such as PEI Express Shuttle (1-877-877-1771).
Chloë Ernst - Chloë Ernst is a travel guidebook author who writes for Frommer's and Globe Pequot Press.
