Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province, is a gentle, pastoral island of red sandstone cliffs, rolling farmland, white-sand beaches, lighthouses and small fishing harbours in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is the home of Anne of Green Gables, the red-haired orphan created by Lucy Maud Montgomery, whose farmhouse setting near Cavendish draws visitors from around the world, and it calls itself Canada’s Food Island: lobster suppers, Malpeque oysters, PEI mussels and potatoes all come from here. Charlottetown, the small capital, hosted the 1864 conference that led to Canadian Confederation. Most visitors arrive over the 12.9 km (8-mile) Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick or on the ferry from Nova Scotia, then spend a few unhurried days between the north-shore beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park, Charlottetown’s waterfront and the quiet east and west ends. Summer is the season; from mid-October many attractions close until spring.
Right now in Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown)
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- Wed 8–14°C 47–56°F 1 mm Partly cloudy
- Thu 11–18°C 52–65°F 2 mm Mostly clear
- Mon 12 Oct Thanksgiving
Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Air quality: OpenAQ · Rates: ECB · Holidays: Nager.Date
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Prince Edward Island at a glance
- Best months: July and August for warm beaches and every attraction open; June and September for quieter roads, lower prices and food festivals; most seasonal businesses close between mid-October and May.
- Time needed: three days for Charlottetown, Cavendish and the national park; five to seven to add the east and west ends and some cycling.
- Getting there: the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick ($20 per car, paid when you leave), the Wood Islands ferry from Caribou, Nova Scotia (75 minutes), or flights to Charlottetown.
- Costs (as of October 2026): prices are in Canadian dollars; PEI National Park is $10 a day for adults (about US$7); Green Gables $8.25 in autumn; PEI’s HST is 15%.
- Before you go: entry rules (eTA or visa), money and driving in Canada are in our Canada travel guide.
Getting to the island: the Confederation Bridge and the ferry
PEI has two road links with the mainland, and you pay only once, when you leave the island. A popular plan is to arrive one way and leave the other, making a loop through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Confederation Bridge (New Brunswick ↔ Borden-Carleton)
The curving bridge across the Northumberland Strait, opened in 1997, is one of the longest bridges over ice-covered water in the world, and takes about 10 to 12 minutes to drive. It is open 24 hours a day, every day, and no reservation is needed. The toll covers the round trip and is collected only when you leave PEI, at the toll plaza in Borden-Carleton: $20.00 for a car or motorcycle (no charge for extra axles), tax-exempt, payable in cash, Interac or major credit cards. Walking and cycling are not allowed on the bridge itself; a shuttle carries pedestrians ($4.75) and cyclists with bikes ($9.50). The bridge can restrict high-sided vehicles and motorcycles in strong winds; check its website for live conditions.
Northumberland Ferries (Caribou, Nova Scotia ↔ Wood Islands)
The 75-minute crossing runs between Caribou, just outside Pictou in Nova Scotia, and Wood Islands in eastern PEI. It operates seasonally: in 2026 there are eight sailings a day each way from 15 June to 17 October, then four a day from 18 October to 20 December; the service then stops for the winter, and you must use the bridge.
| 2026 ferry fares | Price (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Car or van up to 20 ft (6 m) long and 7 ft high, reserved | $43 | One-way or round trip; all passengers included; plus $2.50 fuel surcharge |
| Trailer or camper 21–40 ft | $58 | Plus $10 fuel surcharge |
| Motorcycle | $22.50 | Bicycle $11 |
| Foot passenger, adult (14–59) | $11.50 | Seniors 60+ and students $10; youth 6–13 $8; under-6s free |
| Standby, Nova Scotia to PEI | No fee | Boarding not guaranteed |
Reserving guarantees your crossing; a reserved round trip costs the same as a one-way fare. Vehicles must check in at least 40 minutes before departure, and foot passengers 30 minutes before. Fares are non-refundable after the first departure date, and a $25 no-show fee applies.
By air and bus
Charlottetown Airport (YYG), a few minutes from downtown, has flights from Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax, with more in summer. Maritime Bus links Charlottetown and Summerside with Halifax, Moncton and other Maritime towns. Once on the island, you will want a car or a bike: public transport outside Charlottetown is limited.
Prince Edward Island’s regions and who each one suits
Charlottetown
The capital, with about 40,000 people, is a compact, walkable town of brick and wooden Victorian buildings, a harbourfront boardwalk at Peakes Quay, and plenty of restaurants and pubs. It is the best base for first-time visitors who want evenings out; Cavendish is 40 minutes away.
The North Shore and Cavendish
Anne country: Cavendish, New London and North Rustico, with Green Gables, the national park’s beaches, cottages, family amusement parks, lobster suppers and fishing harbours. Best for families and beach lovers in July and August.
Eastern PEI (Points East)
The quietest part of the island, with Basin Head Provincial Park’s “singing sands” beach, the East Point Lighthouse, the fishing town of Souris (ferry to the Magdalen Islands) and the Greenwich dunes. Best for road-trippers, cyclists and anyone seeking empty beaches.
Summerside and the west (North Cape Coastal Drive)
Summerside, the island’s second city, has a boardwalk and the College of Piping. Farther west are Acadian villages around Mont-Carmel, Malpeque Bay’s oyster beds, wind turbines and red cliffs at North Cape, and the Bottle Houses at Cap-Egmont.
Top things to see on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island National Park
The park protects about 60 km (37 miles) of the north shore in three sections: Cavendish, Brackley–Dalvay and Greenwich. Expect wide sand beaches backed by dunes and red cliffs, salt marshes, the Dalvay-by-the-Sea hotel, and boardwalks through the moving dunes at Greenwich. The park is open all year, with visitor services from May to October and full services in July and August. Beach stairs and boardwalks are in place from the Victoria Day weekend in May until late September.
| PEI National Park pass (2026) | Adult | Senior (65+) | Family/group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | $10.00 | $8.75 | $19.50 |
| Daily, shoulder season | $5.00 | $4.25 | $10.00 |
| Seasonal | $48.25 | $42.50 | $96.75 |
| Parks Canada Discovery Pass (12 months) | $83.50 | $71.50 | $167.50 |
Youth 17 and under are free. Free admission with the Canada Strong Pass ran from 19 June to 7 September 2026; outside that period a daily fee applies to all visitors. Lifeguards (surfguards) watch Cavendish and Brackley beaches from about late June to early September, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; at other times and places, swim with care.
Green Gables Heritage Place
The green-and-white farmhouse in Cavendish belonged to cousins of L.M. Montgomery and inspired the setting of Anne of Green Gables (1908). Today Parks Canada runs it as part of the L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site, with period rooms, a visitor centre, and the woodland trails “Lover’s Lane” and the “Haunted Wood”. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May to October. Admission depends on the season:
| Green Gables admission (2026) | Adult | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Peak: 1 July to Labour Day | $10.00 | $8.50 |
| Shoulder: 1 May–30 June, and the day after Labour Day to 31 October | $8.25 | $6.75 |
| Off season: 1 November–30 April | $5.00 | $4.25 |
Youth are free. Nearby you can see the site of Montgomery’s Cavendish home and her grave in the Cavendish Community Cemetery; at Park Corner, the Anne of Green Gables Museum fills her aunt’s house.
Charlottetown’s historic centre
Province House, where the Fathers of Confederation met in 1864, is closed for a long conservation project. The Confederation Centre of the Arts next door has an art gallery (open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by donation on Thursday evenings) and the summer Charlottetown Festival of musical theatre. Walk on to St. Dunstan’s Basilica, Victoria Row’s restaurants and the harbourfront and take a harbour cruise in summer. Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site, across the harbour, marks the first European settlement on the island and a Mi’kmaw gathering place.
Lighthouses and red cliffs
PEI has dozens of lighthouses, many open in summer. Favourites include Point Prim (the island’s oldest, from 1845), East Point, where three tides meet, Cape Bear, and the West Point Lighthouse inn. The red cliffs at Cavendish, Thunder Cove and North Cape are striking at sunset, but the soft sandstone erodes fast: stay well back from cliff edges.
Basin Head and the singing sands
On the east coast, Basin Head Provincial Park has one of the island’s best beaches, warm, clear water and sand that squeaks underfoot. Locals jump off the bridge into the tidal run; supervised swimming is in summer only.
Museums
- Farmers' Bank of Rustico
Protected areas
- Basin Head Provincial Park
- Prince Edward Island National Park
Parks and gardens
- Chelton Beach Provincial Park
- Victoria Park
Other sights
- Point Prim Lighthouse
Activities and best months
- Beaches and swimmingJulAugPrince Edward Island National Park has full services in July and August, and supervised beaches at Cavendish and Brackley from 28 June to 4 September, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. · source
Other things to do on Prince Edward Island
Eat your way around Canada’s Food Island
Try a traditional community lobster supper (New Glasgow and St. Ann’s are famous), Malpeque oysters at a harbourfront oyster bar, steamed PEI mussels, chowder, and anything made with island potatoes, then finish with ice cream from Cows. In September, the island-wide Fall Flavours festival brings chef-led events and oyster shucking, and the PEI International Shellfish Festival is held in Charlottetown. Lobster is fished in spring and in late summer to autumn, depending on the zone.
Cycle or walk the Confederation Trail
The island’s old railway line is now a flat, crushed-gravel trail running from Tignish in the west to Elmira in the east, about 435 km (270 miles) with its branches, part of the Trans Canada Trail. It is easy cycling through farmland and villages; rent bikes in Charlottetown, Summerside or Morell, and use bike-shuttle services for one-way rides. In winter, some sections are used by snowmobiles.
Beaches, paddling and golf
Island waters are among the warmest north of the Carolinas in August, often around 20 °C (68 °F) on the north shore. Paddle the sheltered bays and rivers by kayak or stand-up paddleboard, dig for clams, or play one of the island’s many golf courses, from Green Gables Golf Course to the Links at Crowbush Cove.
Drive the three coastal routes
The island is small enough to cross in about three hours from tip to tip, and its signed scenic drives make easy loops. The Central Coastal Drive takes in the north shore around Cavendish, North Rustico and New London, plus the Red Sands Shore along the south coast, with Victoria-by-the-Sea’s galleries and theatre. The Points East Coastal Drive circles the eastern end past Point Prim, Wood Islands, Souris, Basin Head and East Point. The North Cape Coastal Drive heads west through Summerside, the Acadian Evangeline region and Malpeque Bay to North Cape and West Point. Roads are quiet and well kept, but narrow, with tractors and cyclists; allow more time than the map suggests and stop at farm stands and harbours along the way.
Theatre, music and ceilidhs
Summer evenings on the island are made for live entertainment. The Charlottetown Festival at the Confederation Centre of the Arts stages musicals each summer, and small theatres in Victoria-by-the-Sea, Georgetown and Summerside put on plays and concerts. Community halls and churches host ceilidhs with fiddle, piano and step dancing, often with homemade pie at the interval; look for posters and listings in local papers and visitor centres. In autumn and winter the pace slows, but Charlottetown’s pubs keep live music going all year.
Mi’kmaq and Acadian culture
The Mi’kmaq have lived on the island they call Epekwitk for thousands of years, and Parks Canada now co-manages its PEI sites with the Mi’kmaq. Learn more at Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst and on Lennox Island, home to a Mi’kmaq community with cultural programs and a nature trail. Acadian settlers arrived in the 1720s; their descendants keep their French language, music and food alive in the Evangeline region around Wellington, Abram-Village and Mont-Carmel, where you can try râpure (rappie pie) and hear fiddle music at summer kitchen parties (ceilidhs are held across the island too).
Day trips and onward travel
From Souris, CTMA ferries sail to the Magdalen Islands (Îles de la Madeleine), part of Quebec, in about five hours, with red cliffs, Acadian villages and long beaches. Across the bridge, New Brunswick’s Shediac (lobster capital), the Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy and Kouchibouguac National Park are within two hours. Across the ferry, Pictou, Halifax and Cape Breton Island await; see our Halifax and Cape Breton Island guides.
Nearby destinations
- Cape Breton Island188 km
- Halifax197 km
When to go and how long to stay
PEI has short, warm summers moderated by the sea, colourful autumns and long, snowy winters, when the Gulf of St. Lawrence often freezes over. July and August are the peak, with every attraction open, warm water and the busiest roads around Cavendish. June is green and quiet but the water is cold; September is warm, golden and full of food events, and many businesses close after Canadian Thanksgiving (12 October in 2026). From November to April, the island is very quiet: Green Gables and the national park stay open at a basic level, but most cottages, restaurants and the ferry close.
| Season | Average high | Average low | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | 1–14 °C (34–58 °F) | −7 to 4 °C (19–39 °F) | Late, cool spring; snow possible into April. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 19–23 °C (67–74 °F) | 10–14 °C (49–57 °F) | Warm, breezy beach weather. |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | 19 °C falling to 6 °C (65 to 43 °F) | 10 to −1 °C (49–31 °F) | Mild September; autumn colour in October. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 0 to −3 °C (26–33 °F) | −7 to −12 °C (10–19 °F) | Snowy, about 290 cm (114 in) a season; storms can close the bridge to some vehicles. |
Figures are Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1981–2010 climate normals for Charlottetown Airport, which records about 1,160 mm (46 in) of rain and melted snow a year.
How long to stay: 3, 5 and 7 days
- Three days: Charlottetown’s centre and waterfront; Cavendish, Green Gables and the national park beaches; a lobster supper.
- Five days: add the Greenwich dunes, Basin Head and East Point, or a day cycling the Confederation Trail.
- Seven days: add Summerside, Malpeque oysters and the North Cape Coastal Drive, then leave by the other crossing.
Where to stay on Prince Edward Island and the taxes on your bill
- Charlottetown: heritage inns, hotels and restaurants; good all year.
- Cavendish and the North Shore: cottages, motels and campgrounds, many open from June to September only; book far ahead for July and August.
- Eastern and western PEI: farm stays, B&Bs and lighthouse inns, with quieter roads.
- Camping: PEI National Park campgrounds at Cavendish and Stanhope (oTENTik tent-cabins from $147.50 a night) and provincial parks.
Taxes: listed prices exclude tax. PEI’s HST is 15% on most goods, meals and accommodation. In Charlottetown, accommodations also collect the city’s tourism accommodation levy on stays under 30 days (the city’s own guidance gives both 3% and 4%), so expect roughly 18–19% on top of a room rate in the capital.
Practical tips for Prince Edward Island
- Time zone: Atlantic Time, one hour ahead of Toronto and Montreal.
- Safety: rip currents form on north-shore beaches, especially on windy days; swim at supervised beaches and follow the flags. Keep back from crumbling cliff edges, and watch for farm machinery and cyclists on narrow rural roads.
- Season: many restaurants, cottages and attractions open only from mid-June to mid-September; check opening dates if you travel in spring or autumn.
- Tipping: 15–20% in restaurants, before tax.
- Emergencies: call 911.
What to pack for Prince Edward Island
Beachwear, sunscreen and a sun hat for summer, but also a fleece and a windproof jacket: sea breezes make evenings cool. Bring water shoes for sandbars and clam digging, comfortable cycling clothes for the Confederation Trail, insect repellent for marshes and campgrounds, and a light rain jacket. In the shoulder seasons add warm layers; in winter, full snow gear.
What to pack
- Day packs and anti-theft bagsCarries water, towel and sunscreen down the long stairways to Algarve coves.
- Dry bags and phone pouchesProtects phones and cameras from sand and spray on beaches reached by ferry or steep paths.
- Quick-dry beach towelsA sand-shedding quick-dry towel packs small for beach days and lido visits.
- Reef-friendly sunscreenSummer UV is strong on Portuguese beaches and there is little shade below the cliffs.
- Water shoesRocky coves, lava pools and weever fish in shallow sand make water shoes useful.
- WetsuitsOn the west and north coasts the sea stays around 16–18 °C even in summer, so a thin suit helps for long swims.
Prince Edward Island travel FAQ
How much is the Confederation Bridge toll?
$20.00 for a car or motorcycle, collected only when you leave PEI, and it covers the round trip. Pedestrians pay $4.75 and cyclists $9.50 for the shuttle.
How much is the ferry to PEI?
A reserved car fare is $43 with all passengers included, plus a $2.50 fuel surcharge; foot passengers pay $11.50. The Caribou–Wood Islands crossing takes 75 minutes.
When does the PEI ferry stop for the winter?
In 2026, the last sailings are on 20 December. From 18 October there are four sailings a day each way instead of eight. In winter, use the Confederation Bridge.
How much does it cost to visit PEI National Park?
$10 per adult per day, $8.75 for seniors and $19.50 for a family or group, with lower shoulder-season rates ($5 per adult). Youth 17 and under are free, and a Discovery Pass also covers it.
When is Green Gables open?
Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May to October. Adults pay $10 from 1 July to Labour Day and $8.25 in May, June, September and October.
Do I need a car on Prince Edward Island?
Mostly yes. Charlottetown is walkable, but buses outside the capital are limited. Cyclists can tour the island on the Confederation Trail.
What taxes are added in PEI?
15% HST on most purchases and rooms, plus Charlottetown’s tourism accommodation levy on hotel stays in the city.
Is the Confederation Bridge ever closed?
It is open 24 hours a day, all year, but in very high winds it can restrict high-sided vehicles, trailers and motorcycles. Check the bridge’s website for live conditions before you travel.
How many days do you need on Prince Edward Island?
Three days covers Charlottetown, Cavendish and the beaches; five to seven lets you drive all three coastal routes, cycle part of the Confederation Trail and slow down.
When is the best time to visit Prince Edward Island?
July and August for beaches and everything open; June and September for fewer crowds, lower prices and, in September, the Fall Flavours food festival.
Sources
- © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL · fetched 4 Oct 2026
- Wikidata · CC0 · fetched 4 Oct 2026
Sources and last review
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Bridge tolls and rules come from the Confederation Bridge (Strait Crossing Bridge Limited); ferry schedules, fares and check-in rules from Northumberland Ferries; national park fees, services, beach supervision and the Canada Strong Pass dates from Prince Edward Island National Park, and Green Gables and Province House information from Parks Canada; the Confederation Centre’s hours from the centre; the Charlottetown accommodation levy from the City of Charlottetown; HST from the Canada Revenue Agency; climate from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1981–2010 normals for Charlottetown Airport. The province’s own levy page blocked automated access, and distances, the Confederation Trail length, festival timing, water temperatures and some historical details are flagged for checking. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Canada travel guide.
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