Ferry port, beaches, and the road to East Point
Souris
Souris sits on the east coast, about an hour from Charlottetown. The harbour is a working port, and in season a ferry leaves here for Cap-aux-Meules. Basin Head, Red Point, and East Point are all a short drive. Use the town as a base when the tip of the island is the point of the day.
In and around Souris
Beaches
Basin Head Provincial Park
The singing-sands beach on the north shore, backed by red sandstone.
2–4 hours
Lighthouses
East Point Lighthouse
The light at the eastern tip, where the Gulf and the Strait meet.
45–90 minutes
Harbours
Souris Harbour
A working harbour and the dock for the Magdalen Islands ferry.
45–90 minutes
Beaches
Souris Beach
The in-town beach, useful when you do not want another drive.
1–2 hours
Parks
Red Point Provincial Park
Beach and campground on the shore between Souris and Basin Head.
Half a day, or overnight
Harbours
Naufrage Harbour
A small north-shore fishing harbour on the road toward East Point.
30–60 minutes
Arts and culture
Elmira Railway Museum
The old eastern end of the Island railway, and the trailhead of the Confederation Trail.
45–90 minutes
Arts and culture
Rollo Bay
A rural community known for its fiddle festival.
An evening, in festival week
Scenic drives
Points East Coastal Drive
The two-lane loop that ties the east-end harbours, beaches, and lights together.
A half day to two days
Trails
Confederation Trail, eastern section
The rail-trail's eastern stretch, ending at the Elmira trailhead.
1 hour to a full day
Getting there
About an hour by car from Charlottetown. East Point is roughly another half hour along the shore roads.
Staying
Rooms in town put the harbour and the ferry on foot. Cottages and the campground at Red Point suit a beach-first stay. Book ahead for July and August.
Nearby
St. Peters Bay, Cardigan, Murray Harbour
Eastern PEI, simplified. The left edge is toward Charlottetown. Not for navigation.
On the ground
About an hour by car from Charlottetown. East Point is roughly another half hour along the shore roads.
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Before you go
When should I visit?
July and August are warmest for swimming and busiest at Basin Head and Greenwich. June and September are quieter. September still has relatively warm water in the Strait. By October many seasonal kitchens and park services have closed, while the lighthouses and headlands remain.
Do I need a car?
Yes, for this part of the island. There is no useful public transit between the villages, beaches, and lighthouses. Distances are short — Montague to Souris is under an hour — but they are driving distances. The Confederation Trail is the exception if you want a day on a bicycle.
How long do I need?
Two days covers a river day and a north-shore day. Three days lets you add the southeast lights without rushing. A single day still works if you pick one cluster: Souris and the tip, or Montague and Georgetown, or the Wood Islands shore.
Are the beaches crowded?
Basin Head and the Greenwich beach draw summer crowds, especially on warm afternoons. Mornings, weekdays, and September are calmer. Smaller accesses such as Cable Head stay quieter. None of them are empty just because they are east of Cavendish.