Nova Scotia · Canada · Itineraries
Nova Scotia road trip: Halifax to Cabot Trail in 7 days
A week is enough for the classic Nova Scotia road trip: two nights in Halifax, a day trip to Peggy's Cove, a night in Lunenburg, then the long drive north to Cape Breton Island for three nights on the Cabot Trail. The route covers about 660 km of driving. Early to mid October brings the fall colours.
Day by day
- 1
Halifax
Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, sits on one of the world's largest natural harbours. The waterfront boardwalk runs past wharves, museums and food stalls, and the Halifax Citadel, a star-shaped fort, overlooks the downtown from its hill. The ferry across the harbour to Dartmouth is a cheap way to see the skyline from the water. Two nights gives time for the city and a day trip to Peggy's Cove.
- 2
Peggy's Cove
Peggy's Cove is a small fishing village about 50 minutes from Halifax, with a white lighthouse standing on bare, wave-worn granite. It is one of the most photographed places in Canada and busy in summer, so come early or late in the day. The ocean here is powerful: stay off the dark, wet rocks near the water, where waves have swept people away. The village has a few cafes and a working harbour.
- 3
Lunenburg
Lunenburg, on the South Shore, is a harbour town laid out by the British in 1753 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its wooden houses and warehouses are painted in bright reds, yellows and blues, and its fishing and shipbuilding history is told at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic on the waterfront. It is the home port of the Bluenose II schooner. Stay a night to see the harbour quiet in the evening.
- 4
Cabot Trail
The Cabot Trail is a road loop of about 300 km around the north of Cape Breton Island, starting and ending near Baddeck. It climbs over the highlands and runs along cliffs above the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Atlantic, and part of it crosses Cape Breton Highlands National Park, which needs a Parks Canada pass. The Skyline Trail near Cheticamp is the most popular walk. Allow at least two days for the loop itself.
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Plan it
- Best time
- Late June to mid October. The fall colours on Cape Breton usually peak in the first half of October; July and August are warmest and busiest.
- How long
- Seven days: two nights in Halifax, one in Lunenburg and three or four on Cape Breton Island.
- Getting around
- You need a car. Fly into Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Halifax to Baddeck, the start of the Cabot Trail, is about a 3.5-hour drive.
Good to know
- Book Cape Breton rooms early for the October fall colours.
- At Peggy's Cove, stay well back from the dark, wet rocks.
- Buy a Parks Canada pass for the national park section of the Cabot Trail.
Frequently asked
How long is the Cabot Trail? +
The Cabot Trail is a loop of about 300 km around the north of Cape Breton Island. It can be driven in a day, but two or three days lets you stop for hikes and viewpoints.
When are the fall colours on the Cabot Trail? +
The highlands usually turn red and gold in the first half of October. The exact peak changes from year to year with the weather.
How far is Peggy's Cove from Halifax? +
Peggy's Cove is about 50 minutes from Halifax by car, which makes it an easy half-day or day trip. Go early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the tour buses.
Do you need a pass for the Cabot Trail? +
Driving the road is free, but part of the loop runs through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where stopping and using the trails needs a Parks Canada pass.
