Driving the Fundy Coastal Drive, NB, Canada
Travel New Brunswick’s Fundy Coast for a Summer Vacation in Canada
Jun 17, 2009
This New Brunswick vacation option traverses 450 km (280 miles) of roads along the Bay of Fundy and is easily accessible from Maine, Nova Scotia, or Quebec. A number of highways comprise the route, but travelers can also take detours to travel rural roads and explore this region of impressive tidal bores, cities such as Saint John and Moncton, and undiscovered scenery.
Fundy Coastal Drive from St. Stephen to Saint John
Starting at the Maine-New Brunswick Border, travelers venture east from the chocolate town of St. Stephen, NB. The town sits on the St. Croix River and boasts The Chocolate Museum (73 Milltown Blvd.). Stop by for the Chocolate Fest held each summer in August.
From St. Stephen:
- Follow Highway 1, then take route 127 to the peninsular town of St. Andrews. There, visitors can tour the summertime beauty of Kingsbrae Garden (220 King St., St. Andrews).
- Continue on route 127 out of St. Andrews, then follow Highway 1 again. This main route offers many side roads to explore including detours to St. George, L’Etête (where ferries leave for Deer and Campobello islands), Blacks Harbour (where ferries leave for Grand Manan), Dipper Harbour West, and Chance Harbour.
- Highway 1 leads directly to Saint John, NB. Saint John offers plenty of history, accommodation, and activities that include visiting Canada’s longest-running city market and the famed Reversing Falls.
Fundy Coastal Drive from Saint John to Fundy National Park
From Saint John, NB, the Fundy Coastal Drive continues along the bay. As visitors travel from the wide mouth of the Bay of Fundy to the head of the bay, the tides intensify and tidal range increases. It is the vast change in daily tides (in some places up to 12 m (40 feet)) that has, in part, shaped this coastline. This stretch of the drive also offers a variety of outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, golfing, and rappelling.
- From downtown Saint John, follow Highway 1 east. A short distance out-of-town past Rockwood Park turn right, verging onto route 111.
- At Hammondvale on route 111, turn onto Shepody Road and head towards Fundy National Park.
- The rural Shepody Road meets with route 114 and drivers need only hang a right to soon be immersed in Fundy National Park. Fundy National Park makes a great stop for an active New Brunswick vacation. From camping and hiking to bird-watching, mountain, and golf, this New Brunswick park offers no shortage of ways to enjoy a summer vacation.
Driving from Fundy National Park to the Nova Scotia Border
The final stretch of the Fundy Coastal Drive traverses stunning coastline, New Brunswick’s second-largest city, and the Nova Scotia border.
- From Fundy National Park follow route 114 to Alma, where Alma Beach tops the list as a bird-watching stop.
- Shortly after Alma, divert right onto Highway 915 that heads to Cape Enrage, a destination offering rappelling adventures and superb fossil hunting opportunities.
- Route 915 winds back to highway 114, which then heads to Hopewell Cape. Here, stop to admire the famed Hopewell Rocks—nicknamed the “Flowerpot Rocks”. The tall columns make a towering landmark for a hike or while on a local kayaking adventure.
- The highway then follows the bank of the Petitcodiac River to Moncton, NB. In Moncton, enjoy the draw of Magnetic Hill and the region’s history at the Acadian Museum.
- Finally, follow route 106 to Sackville and then Aulac near the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia border.
A New Brunswick Vacation Driving the Fundy Coastal Drive
The 450 km road trip along the Fundy coast makes a great active New Brunswick vacation. With so many things to do on the Fundy Coast, exploring the region yields a fine balance of urban, rural, and outdoor activities. As an alternate NB summer vacation, venture along another famed New Brunswick drive—the historic and lively Acadian Coast.
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