Prince Edward Island is a Maritime province that I have overlooked for far too long. Spending most of my life between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, I’m a Maritimer through and through. However, I am shocked to say I haven’t spent much time in PEI, until recently. That changes now. After our most recent trip to Canada’s beautiful, red mud covered island, I can assure you I’ll be returning many, many times to repeat this Prince Edward Island camping itinerary.

The best way I can describe PEI is picture perfect. It may very well be the easiest place I have ever taken photos. I know. That’s a heavy statement, and we’ve been to picturesque Iceland’s South Coast, but it’s true!

I kept commenting to my husband that every time I looked for a pretty composition, a flower caught my eye or an animal popped out of nowhere and made that picture amazing! So much that I can’t wait to return for the photography potential alone! If you’re looking for a quick Prince Edward Island getaway, I’ll be happy to share the most beautiful spots with you.

Quick tips for a perfect PEI weekend

Eat a PEI mussel or oyster

Relax on a red sand beach

Walk the boardwalks of PEI National Park

Go lighthouse hunting

Spot lupines, foxes and other native PEI flora and fauna

How: Driving is essential to take it all in!

When: Summer time for camping and beautiful beaches

Where to stay: I highly recommend Treetop Haven (see below for more info)

How to get to Prince Edward Island

You have three options for arriving in PEI;

• Fly into Charlottetown

• Ferry from Nova Scotia

• Drive across the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick.

Places to Stay on Prince Edward Island

Treetop Haven

I’m a big fan of unique accommodations and I’m always intrigued by a cleverly designed rental property. I sometimes spend hours playing on AirBnb, looking at the various interesting properties up for offer. Domes, barrels, shipping containers, the quirkier the more exciting. But to be honest, I stumbled across the accommodations at Treetop Haven entirely by mistake.

My husband and I also do a lot of tenting, and had been searching for glamping domes elsewhere to step up our game as campers. I happened across this new property by accident and I knew instantly that we had to check it out!

The domes are secluded in a wooded area that is off the beaten path. They are built on fairly high decks and have all the comforts of home; a full kitchen, bathroom (with toilet and shower), and bedroom. Each dome is well separated from its neighbours and has its own hot tub on deck.

It is such a relaxing place to get away from it all. I understand there are also trails cut for walking, but we didn’t get the chance to check them out.

If you prefer something more traditional, there are many fantastic rentals on the island.

Things to do in PEI

Confederation Bridge

So once you’re settled into your peaceful dome in the woods, what should you do with your spare time? Well, if you’re interested in adventuring around the island, I’d start with the Confederation Bridge. You may very well have travelled across it to get to the island and maybe you’ve already checked it out at that time.

If not, it’s worth going back to admire. It is one of two ways to arrive on Prince Edward Island while road tripping, the other being by ferry from Nova Scotia. Let’s talk a bit about the bridge.

The Confederation Bridge is a link to the island across the Northumberland Straight that was opened in 1997. It was a massive undertaking and is an impressive example of architecture and engineering. When it was built we hadn’t really seen a project this large in the Maritimes… ever!

Starting in New Brunswick and ending in a small town called Borden-Carleton in PEI, it is 12.9km long. Driving it for the first time is an interesting experience, but one you just have to have for yourself. There is no charge for crossing to PEI, but there is one for leaving. As of now (August 2019), the fee is just shy of $50 to cross back to New Brunswick.

I should mention, red foxes are a common sighting on the island. So you’ll likely get the chance to see them! They often make their dens among rock piles and near fields where they can hunt. Remember, though they are very curious and inquisitive, foxes and their kits are wild animals. Give them their space whether they want you to or not!

There is a cute spot beneath the bridge where you can get your photo with a heart-shaped PEI sign. I did it, but this kit was a far better model who completely stole my thunder.

PEI National Park

PEI National Park is found on the north side of the island and includes some of Prince Edward Island’s most treasured natural wonders. I recommend taking the time to drive through as much of the park as possible. In particular, I wouldn't miss the following two areas for unique landscapes and awesome views; Greenwich and Cavendish.

Greenwich

Greenwich is home to some pretty amazing sand dunes. Ever-changing, wide and expansive, the parabolic dunes are a sight that must be seen. The best place to view sand dunes is the Dunes Trail, which is a part of the park.

We went on a particularly rainy day, but it was still an awesome experience. If you happen to be going on a sunny day, a happy bonus is that the Dunes Trail ends on a wonderful, long stretch of beach. It would be a great place to bring a picnic lunch and spend a full day.

The Dunes Trail has another fun surprise! A floating boardwalk gives you access across the marsh to the beach where the dunes can be best viewed. It may take you a moment to get your sea legs (or is it marsh legs?). Definitely a fun place to take a morning hike.

Cavendish

From Greenwich, head west toward Cavendish, and be sure to enjoy some stops along the way. The Stanhope area is lovely, with some beautiful beaches.

Be sure to take note of the oyster and mussel farms in the bays along the coast. Take your time and eventually you will arrive in Cavendish.

When I think of Prince Edward Island, I think of red sand. It is something that is truly unique to PEI and creates some beautiful landscapes. Cavendish Cliffs is the best place to go in the park to view the gorgeous red shoreline.

After checking out the cliffs, head over to Cavendish Beach, one of the island’s most popular beaches. It is another great place to spend a day in the summer.

Thunder Cove Beach

If you haven’t had your fill of red cliffs in PEI National Park (and who could really get tired of them?), head over to Thunder Cove Beach for some more dramatic landscape. Here, the coast has eroded to create a flower pot shaped rock and more cliffs that you can wander and explore.

Thunder Cove Beach is situated among private properties, but you can park on the road just above it. There is a path that takes you to the rock formations and I found it a bit hard to spot. It seemed most of the visitors were heading down to the beach and getting confused, so look for the path to the left from the parking area.

Go searching for lighthouses

Situated in an area often navigated by boats, it’s no surprise that Prince Edward Island has a lot of lighthouses, 63 to be exact. Each one is unique and worth visiting. You could fill days with lighthouse searching. The two I have featured below are St Peter’s Harbour Lighthouse and Cape Egmont Lighthouse.

This tall beauty is Seacow Head Lighthouse, located in a particularly quiet area on the south side of the island.

Where to eat in PEI

We found so many great places to eat on Prince Edward Island, but a couple in particular deserve a mention. First, The Handpie Company had some delicious homemade handpies.

Picture a pizza roll, but with homemade pie crust for its covering and a variety of different fillings, both savoury and dessert. Their shop is located in Albany, and you can watch them make the handpies through the glass.

Secondly, the Blue Mussel Cafe in North Rustico was fantastic for snacks and charcuteries, and for meals. We were very impressed by their homemade radlers from the bar menu. What an interesting idea! We ate here twice as we enjoyed our first experience so much. The charcuterie board was one of the best we have ever had, with a strong focus on smoked and cured fish.

Honorable Mentions

I would be amiss to not mention the following activities that are truly PEI.

Anne of Green Gables - It seems impossible to not mention Anne of Green Gables in a PEI itinerary. If you are interested in Lucy Maude Montgomery’s cherished story, you will find plenty of Anne related activities on the island.

Charlottetown - the capital city of Prince Edward Island. Check out Victoria Row for shopping, restaurants and pubs.

I hope you have enjoyed my Prince Edward Island camping itinerary. If you’re looking for more Maritime travelling inspiration, check out my posts on Halifax, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. As always, if you have anything to add, please post a comment!

Bye for now,

Hill XO

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