Prince Edward Island Itineraries

If You Have 3 Days

Begin your Island escape by crossing the Confederation Bridge from the mainland to Borden-Carleton. The PEI section of the Trans-Canada Highway begins here and continues through Charlottetown to the Wood Islands Ferry Terminal. Following it, make your first stop 22 km (14 miles) east in Victoria, one of the Island’s quaintest little communities. Proceeding on to Charlottetown, you’ll have time to see key city sights and catch a performance of Anne of Green Gables—The Musical at the Confederation Centre before bedtime. On Day 2 make the 39-km (24-mile) cross-Island drive to the Green Gables Shore—aka northern Queens County—for the quintessential PEI sun-and-sand experience. Landing in Cavendish, you can lounge on the beach (or take advantage of the educational programming) in Prince Edward Island National Park; make a pilgrimage to the Green Gables farmhouse (Anne’s fictional home); then indulge in some cheesy but fun amusements along the Route 6 strip, otherwise known as Cavendish Road. On Day 3, veer 91 km (57 miles) east to Georgetown in Kings County. Take a stroll through this classic waterside town, then sign on for one of the up-close seafood encounters run locally by Tranquility Cove Adventures. From Georgetown, it’s a 41-km (26-mile) drive south to Wood Islands, where you can catch a ferry back to the mainland. Just keep in mind that from May to early November, the last one leaves at 8 pm. Note that this route can essentially be done in reverse if you’re entering the Island by way of the Northumberland Strait boat.

If You Have 5 Days

Stick to the above itinerary but leave an extra day to pursue your passion in both Queens County and Kings County. In the former that might mean investigating more Anne-related sites or sussing out PEI’s other famous export—oysters. In the latter, it might mean looking at lighthouses or cycling an especially nice section of the Confederation Trail. Beach-bumming and golfing opportunities also abound in each.

If You Have 7 Days

Since PEI is so small, you can see it all. Travelers who want comprehensive coverage can spend their additional two days exploring Prince County to the west: Summerside (the Island’s second city) and windy North Cape are well worth a look, as is the rich, agricultural area inland. An alternative, though, is to stop driving and just drink it all in. Prince Edward Island is an ideal place to decompress. So simply park yourself somewhere—anywhere—and give yourself permission to genuinely relax.