Eastern Prince Edward Island
Find the quiet side of Prince Edward Island
Eastward is an independent guide to the beaches, fishing harbours, and red-dirt roads east of Charlottetown. Find a place, pick a community, and plan the day.
Three ways in
Start with the coast, a community, or a kind of day.
Communities
Towns with a harbour at the end of the street
Souris, Georgetown, Montague, and the smaller villages between them.
Coast
Red cliffs, singing sand, and quieter stretches
Basin Head, Greenwich, Panmure, and the beaches that do not make the poster.
Things to do
Harbours, food, music, and a day on the road
Browse by what you want the day to feel like, then open the places.
Places
Worth the drive
Beaches
Basin Head Provincial Park
The singing-sands beach on the north shore, backed by red sandstone.
Souris · 2–4 hours
Lighthouses
East Point Lighthouse
The light at the eastern tip, where the Gulf and the Strait meet.
Souris · 45–90 minutes
Harbours
Souris Harbour
A working harbour and the dock for the Magdalen Islands ferry.
Souris · 45–90 minutes
Parks
Greenwich Dunes
Parabolic dunes and a floating boardwalk in PEI National Park.
St. Peters Bay · 2–4 hours
Golf
The Links at Crowbush Cove
A links-style course in the dunes west of Morell, with holes that open onto the Gulf.
Morell · A full round, half a day
Harbours
Montague Waterfront
The town marina and river path, a five-minute walk from Main Street.
Montague · 30–60 minutes
The east end
Shorter distances. Fewer reasons to hurry.
East of Charlottetown the towns are small, the roads are two lanes, and a day is a cluster of stops rather than a tour. Eastward is a directory for that kind of trip.
Working harbours
Souris and Georgetown still run on boats. Walk the wharf before you look for lunch.
Beaches with different jobs
Greenwich and Basin Head are the known ones. Cable Head and the in-town beaches cover the rest of a week.
Lights at the corners
Point Prim, Wood Islands, Cape Bear, Panmure, and East Point mark the turns in the coast.
How to go east
Three steps, then the island.
Communities
Where to point the car
Ferry port, beaches, and the road to East Point
Souris
The service town for the far east. A working harbour, a seasonal ferry to the Magdalen Islands, and short drives to Basin Head and the island's eastern tip.
Explore the area
The bay beside the Greenwich dunes
St. Peters Bay
A north-shore bay at the door of PEI National Park's Greenwich section, with a quiet harbour and beaches that run east toward Cable Head.
Explore the area
A river village just inland from the bay
Morell
A small village on the Morell River, between St. Peters Bay, Crowbush Cove, and the Confederation Trail.
Explore the area
River town and the practical base for the south
Montague
The main town on the Montague River. Main Street, a waterfront, and short drives to Georgetown, Brudenell, and the south shore.
Explore the area
A harbour town on a grid of streets
Georgetown
A historic town on a peninsula where the rivers meet, with a deep harbour, a community theatre, and Panmure Island just down the road.
Explore the area
A small harbour between the rivers and the north
Cardigan
A harbour village on the Cardigan River, between Montague and the north-shore roads.
Explore the area
Seasons
The east changes more than the brochure suggests
May – June
Late spring
Lupins come out along the roads and lobster boats are working. The water is still cold, the villages are quiet, and park services are just opening.
July – August
Summer
The warmest swimming and the fullest calendar. Book the Wood Islands ferry ahead, and expect company at Basin Head and Greenwich.
September
Early fall
The Strait stays swimmable later than most coasts, the roads thin out, and harbour kitchens are still open. A strong month for a slower drive.
October onward
Late fall and winter
Maples turn along the rivers, then many seasonal kitchens and park services close. Lighthouses and headlands stay dramatic if the roads are clear.
Interests
What the day is for
Coastal adventures
Headlands, working harbours, and the long edge of the island.
Outdoor recreation
Beaches, park walks, the Confederation Trail, river shores, and golf.
Food and drink
Where to look for chowder, lobster, and a harbour lunch while you are already there.
Arts and culture
Music, local stages, museums, and historic sites along the east end.
Family activities
Shallow beaches, short walks, a bison pasture, and stops that work with children.
Scenic drives
A loop of two-lane coastal roads, with room to stop whenever the shore opens up.
Plan the day before you get in the car.
Pick a base, a pace, and what you care about. Eastward will line up places from this guide. It will not book them.