Car or Motorcycle Travel

Due to limited public transport, having your own wheels is almost a necessity on the Island. Motorists can come via the 13-km (8-mile) Confederation Bridge, which connects Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick, with Borden-Carleton, PEI. The crossing takes about 10 minutes, and the toll is C$18.25 for motorcycles, C$45.50 for cars and, for larger vehicles, C$7.50 per each additional axle. On the Island, there are more than 3,700 km (2,300 miles) of paved roads, including three scenic drives: North Cape Coastal Drive, Central Coastal Drive, and Points East Coastal Drive. Designated Heritage Roads offer an old-fashioned alternative. Surfaced with red clay (the local soil base) and often arched with a canopy of trees, they meander through rural, undeveloped areas where you're likely to see lots of wildflowers and birds. A four-wheel-drive vehicle isn't necessary, but in spring and inclement weather the mud can get quite deep, making narrow, unpaved roads impassable. A highway map of the province is available from Tourism PEI and at visitor centers on the Island.

Don’t get too excited about crossing over to the Island without purchasing a ferry ticket or paying the bridge toll. Fares are only collected when you leave PEI—giving you further incentive to stay.

Contacts

Confederation Bridge. 902/437—7300; 888/437–6565; www.confederationbridge.com.