Road to Nova Scotia

[Jones714]

We will be leaving from Bar Harbor Me heading to Cape Breton. We have 2 road choices, take 95 to 2 or hug the coast and take Rt 1 to 2. We would prefer to take Rt 1 thru Maine but no sure if it's OK for a 40 ft coach. Has anyone done this route. Thanks.

[fwed]

The ferry is back. Novastarcruises.com.

Route 1 is a good road, but is slow and narrow and pretty much the same through Canada. Also, it's a long, long way from Calais to Nova Scotia. Given that, it's a great place to visit. You might as well stop by Prince Edward Island (PEI) -- Marco Polo Land on PEI is great. See the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Bra d'Or.

[Jones714]

Thank you all

[lizzie]

We have traveled to and from Nova Scotia from Maine a number of times. We have used both routes but prefer US 1. It is slow and the road surface is not always good, but the scenery is fabulous and the little towns and villages along the way are priceless. We came back this way last summer. As an aside, Cape Breton Island is beautiful but it is only a small part of Nova Scotia. The Fundy coast is also wonderful as is the Atlantic coast and the rivers and lakes in the interior. The publications provided at the Visitor's Centers are some of the best I have ever seen. It is also helpful the check out the Visitor's Centers in the little towns. We got great information about what to see and do. I know that you are going to enjoy your trip. lizzie

[answerswillvary]

Moved to Roads and Routes.

[K_Charles]

We use to take the ferry from Portland or Bar Harbor to Yarmouth but there gone. Last time we went to Deer Island and then to Campabello Island and then to St George and then Rt 1.

[CloudDriver]

We went up to Cape Breton back in 2008. From the Bar Harbor area, we drove route 1 to the border at Calais/St. Stephen. East of Machias, the road surface of route 1 was in poor condition and had no shoulders. Of course, the road may have been repaved since then, so this info may not apply.

We came back of route 9 out of Calais, which was a much better road, newly paved at the time and with shoulders. For you consideration, take route 3, 1A and 46 to join with route 9. No need to go all the way north to cross at Houlton.

Cape Breton is beautiful. If you can, spend a day at Fortress Louisborg.

The tides in the Bay of Fundy are amazing. A visit to Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick was a highlight of our trip.

[Matt_Colie]

Jones,

Route 1 is the coastal truck route. It is two lane and passing is a problem so you have be be courteous and not let a tailback get too big.

When we did it some years ago, we were towing a 3-ton sloop on a trailer and the only problem we had was that one has to be cautious at the eastern end or can can end up in a dead end in Canada.

Matt