Road Trip from Montreal to Nova Scotia & Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail

Route Overview

Skyline Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park

• Montreal → Rivière-du-Loup (1 night)

• Rivière-du-Loup → Moncton (1 night)

• Moncton → Prospect (2 nights)

• Prospect → Baddeck (1 night)

• Baddeck → Dingwall (2 nights)

• Dingwall → Cheticamp (2 nights)

• Cheticamp → Fredericton (1 night)

• Fredericton → Home

Day 1: Montreal to Rivière-du-Loup

Looking to hit the road this summer? In 2023, we took a scenic road trip from Montreal to Nova Scotia, driven by two goals: to visit Peggy’s Cove and to experience the legendary Cabot Trail in Cape Breton.

We eased into our adventure with a four-hour drive to Rivière-du-Loup, stopping first in charming Kamouraska for boutique shopping and a delicious lobster roll lunch. A perfect halfway pause came at Tête d’Allumette, a riverside microbrewery known for its unique beers and panoramic views.

We ended the day at Auberge de la Pointe, a waterfront hotel in Rivière-du-Loup where we were treated to stunning sunset views over the St. Lawrence River.

Day 2: Rivière-du-Loup to Moncton

Rain changed our plans, so instead of camping in Fundy National Park, we checked into the clean and convenient Rodd Moncton Hotel. Despite the weather, we had fun exploring Magnetic Hill—an optical illusion where your car appears to roll uphill—and witnessed the impressive tidal bore of the Petitcodiac River. Dinner at Restaurant Mansu BBQ capped off the night with flavourful Korean barbecue.

Day 3–5: Exploring Prospect, Peggy’s Cove & Lunenburg

We reached Prospect, Nova Scotia in under three hours and stayed in an immaculate log cabin Airbnb between Prospect and Shad Bay. Greeted with a charcuterie board and daily homemade breakfasts, this was easily one of our best stays.

Day 4 brought us to Peggy’s Cove by bike. We started in Indian Harbour, rode along the stunning coast, visited the Swissair Flight 111 Memorial, and explored the iconic lighthouse and fishing village before continuing through West Dover Provincial Park and on to Middle Village.

Day 5, another day of cycling, took us on a 30 km route from Mahone Bay to Lunenburg, passing colourful seaside homes and historic churches. Lunenburg’s 18th- and 19th-century buildings and sailboats made for postcard-perfect photos.

Day 6: Onward to Cape Breton

After a quick stroll along the Halifax waterfront, we drove four hours to Baddeck, the gateway to the Cabot Trail. Known as the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell, it’s also a hub for sailing enthusiasts on Canada’s largest inland sea. We dined on mussels at The Freight Shed and stayed at the cozy and welcoming Auld Farm Inn.

Day 7–8: Hiking & Biking in Northern Cape Breton

After a standout breakfast (don’t miss the oven apple pancake!), we hiked the Franey Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park—7.4 km of boreal forest and rewarding views over Cape Smokey.

View from the Franey Trail

We then checked into The Markland, a rustic-chic lodge on 60 acres with its own beach.

On Day 8, we biked 46 km along the Cabot Trail to the Bay of St. Lawrence, stopping for a picnic at Cabot’s Landing Provincial Park, where John Cabot is said to have landed in 1497.

That evening, we explored Neil’s Harbour, a quiet fishing village with a scenic lighthouse.

Beach at the Markland Cottages

Day 9–10: Cheticamp & the Skyline Trail

After a one-hour coastal drive filled with breathtaking lookouts, we arrived in Cheticamp, stopping for a forested 6.2 km hike on the Le Buttereau Trail.

We camped at Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge, perched atop dramatic cliffs in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Day 10 began with a misty hike on the Skyline Trail—we saw nothing due to fog but returned later when skies cleared, and were rewarded with sweeping views over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We also tried a local specialty, the Donair, in downtown Cheticamp—a spiced meat sandwich with sweet sauce served in a pita.

Day 11: Return via Fredericton

Our journey home started with a 6.5-hour drive to Fredericton, where we stayed at the  Chateau Fredericton. We took a walk along the St. John River before enjoying dinner at  540 Kitchen & Bar—a perfect end to a road trip full of adventure, nature, and East Coast hospitality.

We hope you to have inspired you to head out for a road trip too. We would love to hear where you went, leave us a comment !

Here are some helpful tips for what to bring on this Road trip

For the Day Trips & Picnics

• Water bottle for car and hiking

• Large insulated water bottle for refills

• Fancy glass for sunset wine/cocktails/mocktails or beer

• Ceramic coffee mug with lid

• Utensil set with case 

• Reusable food/sandwich bags

• Cloth napkins and wipes

• Collapsible soft cooler bag for snacks/lunch items

• Portable cooler for grocery items kept in the car

• Soft ice packs

• Beach towel for swims or keeping warm

• Picnic/beach blanket

• Extra Clothing: Sweater/hoodie, bathing suit

• Hat

• Sunscreen

• Bug repellent 

For the Hikes, Treks & Bike Rides

• My favourite hiking backpack women’s/men’s 

• Comfortable rugged hiking shoes women’s/men’s

• Collapsible hiking poles to save my knees

• Saddle bags for carrying things while cycling

• Folding foam seat pad to have something comfortable to sit on

• Portable charger for your phone

• Headlamps so you are never stuck in the dark

• Tiny first aid kit (i.e. bandaids, moleskin, alcohol wipes, Advil/Tylenol)

For Camping

Here is a great camping checklists from SEPAQ (National Parks Association in Quebec)

Adding to this list are three items that have truly improved my camping experience:

Rumpl blanket - instead of a sleeping bag

LostHorizon’s foam self inflating sleeping pad - so comfortable!

Coleman instant screen canopy tent - for mosquito free meals 

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