Best driving route out east?

[octothorp]

My wife and I are driving out east to Nova Scotia this summer; we've got about three weeks in total to make the trip, and we were planning to spend about a week driving each way, camping along the way most nights. Anybody have any suggestions for the best route to take? I had thought we'd stay fairly far north through Ontario and Quebec (Sioux Lookout, Hearst, Amos...) and cross the St.Lawrence fairly far up at the ferrie to Rimouski or Riviere du Loup, and then on the way back, pass through Toronto and then maybe in Michigan and make our way NW across the US. Anybody have any suggestions for what absolutely must be seen on this trip, or roads to avoid?
Is it faster to just go south to Ottawa and then cut through Maine?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Make sure you drive the Cabot Trail when you get to Nova Scotia. It goes along the northern part of Cape Breton Island through the Highlands National Park.

http://www.cabottrail.com/


the link has other stuff associated with the trial, and stuff you can do, but at the very least it's a drive.

If you like to golf the Highland Links is THE course out East to play

http://www.highlandslinksgolf.com/

the golf course is in Ingonish, which has a very cool beach that's basically a huge sandbar on one side of sandbar is fresh water, and ote other is salt.

How much time are you budgeting overall? Any vacation ideas or spots to see just ask, I know this place really well.

[StoneCole]

Follow the only road,
Follow the only road,
To go anywhere in Canada we
just follow the only road,
There's only one raod in Canada
we call it the road, the only road,
hip hip hooray lets here it for our road!

[loob job]

Go across at riviere du loup, that will get you into new brunswick at edmunston verses northern n.b. area like bathurst. It will save you lots of time and theres not much to see in bathurst. Take the trans cda. through edmunston, fredericton and moncton then you'll hit n.s. Its a great trip, i go out east a couple times a year. Enjoy.

[shane_c]

We moved out here almost 2 years ago and drove out when we came. It was a great drive but very long. I would say stick to Canada and see our great country. We are originally from Cape Breton but were living in Fredericton, NB at the time when we moved out. From Fredericton we went through to Ottawa the first day. Believe it was about 12 hrs or so. Not sure what highway we took but we went from Ottawa to Wawa, then Wawa to Kenora, then Kenora to Regina, Regina to Calgary. Each day was close to 12 hrs of driving. In NS, I would definately check out the Cabot Trail, Fortress of Louisbourg, Peggy's Cove, and Halifax. In NB, Fredericton is a great little city, as well, St Andrews by the Sea (1.25 hrs from Fredericton) is a must see. If you have the time do some whale watching from St Andrews and have a meal at the Market Square Grill. (http://www.townofstandrews.ca/). I'm not sure which company we went out on for the whale watching but it was definately worth the money ($50/person for about 4 hrs). It was a large metal boat. I wouldn't bother stopping in Saint John or Moncton. If you have any other questions let me know.

[shane_c]

Also if you belong to AMA (or CAA, think that's what it's called) it would be great to get a TripTik. It was extremely helpful for getting out here.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by shane_c

We are originally from Cape Breton

really what part?

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

really what part?

I'm from Albert Bridge, she's from Sydney Mines

[octothorp]

Make sure you drive the Cabot Trail when you get to Nova Scotia. It goes along the northern part of Cape Breton Island through the Highlands National Park.

We'll definitely be doing that; we're attending a wedding in Sydney, so we'll be spending some time in Cape Breton. What's the camping/hotel situation in Cape Breton in the peak season? If we're planning to stay in a hotel for one or two nights, should we be making reservations now?

I'm not much for golfing, what else would you recommend in cape breton? Any good sea-kayaking spots?

Don't forget the mini barbeque either.

Oh great, I always wanted a stalker. I have no idea how we're going to fit both the barbeque and the dog crate in the car, as we've just got a little Dodge Shadow. But then... you already knew that, didn't you?

Go across at riviere du loup, that will get you into new brunswick at edmunston verses northern n.b. area like bathurst.

Isn't there a nice national park near bathurst, along the coast? Though we will have seen so much wilderness by that point that we'll just take the quickest route through NB.

From Fredericton we went through to Ottawa the first day. Believe it was about 12 hrs or so. Not sure what highway we took but we went from Ottawa to Wawa, then Wawa to Kenora, then Kenora to Regina, Regina to Calgary. Each day was close to 12 hrs of driving.

So about 60 hours driving in total? That's about what I figured. We'll probably break it down to 7 days, so around nine hours driving each day. And good call on the AMA, I should stop in there and get some info. Not sure how much time we'll have for NB, as we budgeted a couple days each for NS, PEI, and NFLD. Might stop in through Fredricton, though.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I have no idea how we're going to fit both the barbeque and the dog crate in the car, as we've just got a little Dodge Shadow.

I would check around as you can find some very compact mini barbeques these days. They should be big enough to cook for a carload of people and they can be fueled by small propane cannisters in the interest of saving space.

[Bobblehead]

I've driven London, Ont to Cgy a few times. The quickest way is through Chicago (as long as you don't hit rush hour) and then take I90 (I think that is the one) to Madison Wisconson and from there I took I94 all the way across until you hit Montana. First day starting early, I would end up stopping about Eau Claire Wisc, or Minnisota border. Second day Would get me into Montana. 3rd day gets into Cgy in the afternoon, of course it all depends how hard you want to push; 14 hours with only short meal/fuel stops was my limit. I've found that is around 34 hours driving time.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Reaper

I would check around as you can find some very compact mini barbeques these days. They should be big enough to cook for a carload of people and they can be fueled by small propane cannisters in the interest of saving space.

Two weeks ago I bought one at Wal-Mart for $13. They are actually better made than they were 15 years ago; wood handles and a heat shield so you don't set the picnic table on fire. At that price it's almost disposable.

As for space you might want to look at renting a roof rack torpedo looking thingy. You can fit a bunch of stuff in there without sacrificing a whole lot of gas mileage.

[shoestring]

(then Kenora to Regina )

Skip Regina,it's easy to drive by or through.

Stop at Fort Qu'Appelle and camp there. Pretty little place.
Or at Cypress Hills if you are making good time.

Sorry I don't know much about the rest of the trip.
Post some pictures or keep a log for us.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I've driven London, Ont to Cgy a few times. The quickest way is through Chicago (as long as you don't hit rush hour) and then take I90 (I think that is the one) to Madison Wisconson and from there I took I94 all the way across until you hit Montana. First day starting early, I would end up stopping about Eau Claire Wisc, or Minnisota border. Second day Would get me into Montana. 3rd day gets into Cgy in the afternoon, of course it all depends how hard you want to push; 14 hours with only short meal/fuel stops was my limit. I've found that is around 34 hours driving time.

yep this is the fastest way across...but not much for scenery at all. There are a few good spots, but the drive is for speed period.
Northern Ontario is fantastic and if youve never driven acroos on Hwy #1 then you really should...its probably one of the most beautiful areas in Canada.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Octothorp:

Cape Breton is a blast if you're on vacation, if the wedding's in Sydney and on the weekend be sure to hit up "Smooth Herman's" after the reception, it's "classy" but in order to have the true Cape Breton experiance you have to drink at said legendary drinking establishment.

Shane_C:

Dude you're from like over there *points in direction of Albert Bridge* I had no idea there were more of us on this board (besides the seldom seen EagleFan44).



back on track: Fortress of Louisburg is something you really should spend a day going through, it's really cool, you'll learn a lot, have fun, and eat some cool food, but bewarned it's ALWAYS cold there... ALWAYS

Alexander Graham Bell museum isn't bad either, if you go on it you'll actually get the Hydrofoil reference form the Camp Krusty Simpson's episode.

Miner's Museum in Glace Bay is neat where you go out under the ocean in an old coal mine.

Also: Driving over the causeway is like a religous experiance for all Cape Bretoners, I don't know why, but you just feel good crossing it, like you're home again, even if you live 2 hours away.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by shane_c

From Fredericton we went through to Ottawa the first day. Believe it was about 12 hrs or so.

You can do Ottawa to Fredricton in under 10 hours. You just need to make sure you miss rush hour in Montreal though.

From Ottawa you can either go through the US or Quebec to New Brunswick. I've heard the US way might be slightly quicker but the highway is a lot better going through Quebec.

[shane_c]

I'm sure we could have done it in less. We stopped in Edmunston for a bite to eat, stopped somewhere in Quebec for a cold drink since the car didn't have A/C. Then ran into a huge rain and lightening storm just as we were entering Montreal (around 9pm) and had the wipers going full speed and had to slow right down. Still haven't found the tunnel in Montreal. So I just kept following the signs that said west and at the last minute saw a little sign with the highway we wanted to take us to Ottawa so we had to swerve over and get it and go over some big bridge. I found the part around Montreal to be the worst. Northern Ontario was beautiful, seeing the prairies for the first time was interesting for the first few minutes but after that they were mind numbing.

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

You can do Ottawa to Fredricton in under 10 hours. You just need to make sure you miss rush hour in Montreal though.

From Ottawa you can either go through the US or Quebec to New Brunswick. I've heard the US way might be slightly quicker but the highway is a lot better going through Quebec.

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Octothorp:


Shane_C:

Dude you're from like over there *points in direction of Albert Bridge* I had no idea there were more of us on this board (besides the seldom seen EagleFan44).

Yeah, just over that way. Along the Mira River.