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davidcc's avatar
davidcc
Explorer
Feb 11, 2018

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Labador and Newfoundland

We live in Alabama and drive a 40' Tiffin Bus with a tow. We are going up the east cost this summer and were thinking about extending our trip to the eastern provinces of Canada. I still work (age 73 and wife 74) but we are planning to be gone around 8 weeks. We have never been further up the east coast than Massachusetts. Would be interested in anyone's comments regarding the areas in Canada and also Maine, NH, CT, RI, particularly with respect to the 40 ft. motorhome in the Canadian areas

Thanks
David

20 Replies

  • Doesn't seem that bad. A 5 hour sail from Valdez to the peninsula was close to $600 for me and my rig.

    I understand these ships are more well appointed than the ferries the State of Alaska runs?
  • In Maine, be sure to see Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor. Put your feet in the cold waters of the Atlantic on Sand beach, hike on Beehive mountain, see The Thunder Hole, and ride bikes or horse drawn buggies on the Carriage Trails throughout the park. Visit SW Harbor and NE Harbor and eat Maine lobster until your belly is full.

    Camden Maine is very nice and has a much slower pace. Campgrounds are plentiful in all above areas.

    When you come through Freeport, stop and visit LLBean. They are open 24/7 364 days per year. Everything for the outdoor sports person.

    If your in Maine in August, visit the north country, Aroostook County and see the potatoes blossoms and the moose in the broccoli fields.

    So much to do and see in Maine. Depends on your personal interests.

    Enjoy your trip.

    Lakeside
  • GordonThree wrote:
    pianotuna wrote:
    Hi David,

    You may find the ferry costs to Newfoundland cost a pretty penny for an RV.


    Don, can you elaborate on this?

    When I looked up my 44 foot rig, prices seemed comparable to the Alaska ferries. But that's for truck and small trailer. A huge motorhome AND a vehicle in tow, that's another 25 feet at least.


    Here's the link to the latest rates for the ferry from North Sydney Nova Scotia to Port Aux Basques Newfoundland. It's the 8 hour trip (one way) that WW mentioned. The one that goes to Argentia, is about twice as long, but you're closer to the provincial capitol St. John's when you arrive.
    Marine Atlantic Ferries
    https://www.marineatlantic.ca/en/plan-your-travel/ferry-rates/Port-aux-Basques-North-Sydney/
    Unless you're prepared to sit in a lounge chair inside, or on deck for 8 hours (weather permitting) you may want to book a cabin. I'm not sure what amenities, if any, there are om board, but I expect it's like a cruise ship. There's no access to your motorhome once you're loaded and parked, until you arrive and are allowed to disembark. The HST (tax) they're talking about is 15% in Nova Scotia and 15% in Newfoundland.
    We were going to do this in 2016, but ran out of time on our trip, so we decided to wait until we had more time to get our money's worth.
    The ferries DO look like cruise ships.
  • Howdy!

    We spent three months in Newfoundland just to get our money’s worth out of the cost of the ferry crossing. Most people uphook there towed as they charge by the foot. We enjoyed our time in Newfoundland, we went to see the icebergs and were not disappointed. We enjoyed it as much as Alaska.

    “Happy Trails”
    Chiefneon
  • pianotuna wrote:
    Hi David,

    You may find the ferry costs to Newfoundland cost a pretty penny for an RV.


    Don, can you elaborate on this?

    When I looked up my 44 foot rig, prices seemed comparable to the Alaska ferries. But that's for truck and small trailer. A huge motorhome AND a vehicle in tow, that's another 25 feet at least.
  • When you want to go to PEI, the trip "TO" the Island
    is "FREE". You pay to get off.

    We take the ferry across (40 foot towing a CRV),
    and then we come back over the Confederation Bridge.

    The cost for the bridge is $15.00/axle so was $60.00.
  • We`ve made the trip twice from Arizona (we`re 80& 83)driving a 42ft coach & towing -- Canada`s highways are better than the US -- The ferry trip from Nova Socia to Newfoundland is a 8 hour trip on a ferry that looks more like a cruise ship & about the same size - The charge is by the foot for coach & toad -- You will be a passenger & a seperate charge -- You will leave the toad hooked to your coach -- Plenty of RV parks & diesel fuel - DO NOT take a gun, pepper spray & such into Canada -- Your coach may be searched when entering,but they are very nice about it -- Just relax & enjoy the sites -- William Willard
  • Hi David,

    You may find the ferry costs to Newfoundland cost a pretty penny for an RV.