New Brunswick’s 5 Scenic Drives
It’s time to experience this Canadian adventure.
If you’re going to cross off a Canadian bucket list adventure this year, make this one a priority. These scenic drives in New Brunswick are diverse experiences and a rich tapestry of both natural and cultural beauty.
Acadian Coastal Drive
Joie de vivre defines the 750-kilometre-long Acadian Coastal Drive that hugs New Brunswick’s east coast. Eat fresh lobster the Acadian way with Shediac Bay Cruises, stroll the boardwalk at Bouctouche Dune, stop in le Pays de la Sagouine to enjoy a show and learn about Acadian author Antonine Maillet, and swim at nearby Kouchibouguac National Park, home to the warmest ocean waters north of Virginia. Participate in traditional Acadian activities in Bertrand’s Village Historique Acadien and enjoy a traditional Acadian meal along with l’Aboiteau spruce beer at the historic Hôtel Château Albert. Visit in August and experience the Festival acadien de Caraquet, a signature event featuring art, music, and the Tintamarre parade on National Acadian Day August 15.
Fundy Coastal Drive
The Fundy Coastal Drive is an awe-inspiring 460-kilometre adventure. At Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, walk the ocean floor at low tide and kayak the highest tides on Earth all in one day. On Cape Enrage, zip line, rappel, take a fossil tour, or just enjoy expansive panoramic views of the Bay of Fundy. Wind your way along the Fundy Trail Parkway, a stunning drive with countless lookouts, or farther west devour award-winning chowder at St. Martin’s Seaside Restaurant before exploring the incredible sea caves nearby, part of the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve. Finally, book a whale-watching excursion in idyllic St. Andrews, then stop at St. Stephen, Canada’s famed Chocolate Town, for road-trip sweets.
River Valley Scenic Drive
Along the 512-kilometre River Valley Scenic Drive, follow the meandering flow of New Brunswick’s Saint John River itself—one of Canada’s 40 Heritage Rivers—as it winds through graceful peaks and valleys. Wine and dine in Saint John, Canada’s first incorporated city, and explore its historic city centre and artistic waterfront. While Sussex is the Mural Capital of Atlantic Canada, historic Fredericton, the provincial capital, has 115 kilometres of riverside trail and the highest concentration of craft breweries in the Maritimes. Pose in front of the World’s Largest Axe in Nackawic and drive across the World’s Longest Covered Bridge in Hartland, a National Historic Site of Canada built in 1921. A stop at thundering Grand Falls is a must before heading to Edmundston, a city surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and a haven for outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels.
Appalachian Range Route
Embark upon the 278-kilometre Appalachian Range Route, heed the call of the 400-million-year-old mountains, and experience the sound of silence. Hike Campbellton’s Sugarloaf Mountain for beautiful vistas of the city and Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula across the bay. Saint-Quentin’s giant copper maple leaf sculpture solidifies its reputation as Canada’s Atlantic Maple Capital and a must-stop for maple treats, while nearby Mount Carleton Provincial Park contains the highest peak in New Brunswick and the entire Maritimes and is ideal for everyone from skiers to stargazers, who flock to this designated dark sky preserve for crystal-clear starry nights.
Miramichi River Route
The 180-kilometre Miramichi River Route, the shortest of all scenic drives, is packed with adventure, culture, and incredible seafood. A world-famous Atlantic salmon fishing mecca, Miramichi is also known for its festivals and Acadian history, including centuries-old shipbuilding traditions. Visit Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site, the only known undisturbed archeological site of the wooden-shipbuilding industry in the province. In Redbank’s Metepenagiag Heritage Park, experience Mi’kmaq culture, or downriver, follow in the footsteps of Prince Charles and cast a line into the mighty Miramichi River yourself for a chance to catch the elusive big one. You can always stay dry and cross Priceville’s suspension footbridge, New Brunswick’s longest, and a trip to this corner of the province wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Boiestown’s Woodmen’s Museum, a 15-acre open-air museum with a Lumberjack Breakfast and the New Brunswick Lumberjack Championship, held separately every August.
