Description
The 2200km/1350mile-long all-season route is entirely paved. The Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) is entirely freeway for the first half of the route from Montreal except for a 100km gap in NB that will be completed in 2007 and 100km of QC-185 to be completed around in 2010. After a couple hours into NS, the freeway ends and it alternates mostly between super-2 expressway and 3-lane highway until an hour before the terminus at St. John NL where it again becomes a freeway. The only exception is in PEI, where it is a regular 2-lane highway. Driving at night is OK except in rural Newfoundland, where moose outnumber people.
The Eastern TCH stretches from Montreal, QC to St. John, NL. Along the way spurs allow you to visit fabulous National Parks, and part of France too!
The trip begins on A-20 in Montreal, up the flat St. Lawrence River valley past Quebec City and on to Riviere-du-Loup, where the TCH makes a right turn towards NB on QC-185. The stretch over the Appalachians on QC-185 is pleasantly hilly. Once in NB the hills continue as the road makes its way down the Saint John River Valley until Fredricton. Along the way, Grand Falls, the 2nd biggest falls after Niagara is worth a stop, as is Hartford, home to the world's longest covered bridge. At Woodstock NB, the route meets the terminus of I-95 coming from Maine. Not long after passing through wooded forests from Fredericton to Moncton, the turn off for PEI is encountered.
The island is now reached by the Confederation Bridge, the longest single bridge in the world when completed in 1997. The toll is about C$40 but only collected when leaving the island. PEI is famous for its golfing, red soil, potatoes, and Anne of Green Gables. Crossing the island only takes a couple hours before reaching the Woods Island Ferry (C$49, collected when leaving the island).
Returning to the mainland of NS, the TCH soon reaches Cape Breton Island via the Canso Causeway. Cape Breton is home to the scenic Cabot Trail through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Fortress Louisbourg, the summer home of Alexander Bell, and the ferry to Newfoundland at North Sydney. See Maritime Tour for more information on Cape Breton.
The NS-NL ferry takes about 6 hours, and costs ~C$130 for a car and two passengers without an overnight cabin. Upon arrival in Port-aux-Basques, you will now be in the land where citizenship is gained by swilling some screetch and kissing a cod. It's beautiful, but look out for the moose, they're everywhere. Minutes after the ferry, you will notice the Long Range Mountains, through which the TCH will pass for the next few hours. At Deer Lake, the optional Viking Trail can be taken. Central Newfoundland is has a north coast dotted with spurs leading to fishing villages and outports. Icebergs are visible in June and July, whales in July and August.
The author can't tell you much about eastern Newfoundland, other than that it's rocky, the people are incredibly friendly, it's as far east as you can drive without crossing the Atlantic, and it offers a neat way to get to France.
Getting There
The Eastern TCH can be 'picked up' just about anywhere. In the Montreal area, is accessible via I-89, I-91 and I-93. Alternatively, it can be joined in NB at the northern end of I-95 in Maine. Another alternative is to use US-9 to the border at Calais ME, then use NB-1 to TCH-2 at Moncton. These options are shown in the map above.
Alternatives / Spurs
Rather than turning right at QC-185, QC-132 can be used instead to reach coastal NB via the scenic Matapedia Valley. The trip down the Acadian NB coast is fairly swift along super-2 highways. Another alternative is to use NB-108 from Grand Falls to Miramichi, cutting through the dense forests of central NB. Also, PEI can be reached via the NB-15 freeway at Moncton, via Shediac, the lobster capital of Canada.
PEI can be avoided by staying on the TCH mainline and travelling entirely through NB and NS instead.
There are several significant spur options. Halifax is about an hour south on NS-102 from Truro. Cabot Trail in Cape Breton is a must-see. NL-480 to Burgeo road travels through the Annieopscotch mountains and is popular for spotting caribou.
In some respects, the Viking Trail is a giant spur off of the TCH.
Finally, via NL-210 and the Burin Peninsula the ferry at Fortune can be caught to St Pierre-et-Miquelon, an overseas department of France. Bet you didn't know you could drive to France in Canada!
Sights / Attractions
Grand Falls, Hartford bridge, Confederation Bridge, Anne of Green Gables, Cape Breton, Cabot Trail, Louisbourg, Gros Morne, Terra Nova, outports, icebergs, whales, puffins, seals, Signal Hill, St. Pierre France. If you've never seen a moose, you can pretty much be guaranteed to see them here, often by the dozen.
Claims to Fame
The Trans-Canada Highway is the longest national highway in the world. This trip covers the easternmost third of the highway. It leads to St. John's, NL, the easternmost point in North America.
Estimates
From NYC vIa Monteal, allow 2 days to get to the ferry, and one day to get across the island, assuming an overnight passage, for a total of 3 days one way, approximately 34 hours of driving. Add more time for proper sightseeing. Add minimum 1 day to go to St. Pierre, France. Skipping Quebec and starting via Maine saves about 8 hours, possibly eliminating a day if sprinting through ME/NB/NS.
The NS-NL ferry runs all year, every day.
Tourist season is late June to early September, when most attractions or tours are open. Summer time is best for seeing icebergs, whales, puffins, etc. However, the trip can be done any time of year.
Links
2003 Trip to Nova Scotia
Honeymoon Travelogue
NS-NL ferry (Marine Atlantic)