The bay beside the Greenwich dunes
St. Peters Bay
St. Peters Bay is the north-shore gateway to Greenwich. The national park's parabolic dunes and floating boardwalk are the set piece. The harbour at the mouth of the bay is a smaller counterpoint, and the shore east of the park stays quieter than the boardwalk beach.
Getting there
About 45 minutes east of Charlottetown, on the north shore.
Staying
Stay near the bay if Greenwich is the morning plan. July and August are the busy weeks for the park beach.
Nearby
Souris, Morell, Cardigan
Eastern PEI, simplified. The left edge is toward Charlottetown. Not for navigation.
On the ground
About 45 minutes east of Charlottetown, on the north shore.
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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.