Plan your trip
Eastward is a planning guide, not a travel agency. Use it to choose a base, pace a day, and know what to confirm before you leave.
01
Montague is the practical town. Souris puts you near the ferry, Basin Head, and East Point. Georgetown puts you on a harbour. The southeast works as a day from any of them.
02
Give one day to a cluster, not to a wishlist that crosses the whole east end. Beaches and a light. Or harbours and a theatre. The Build Your Day tool will draft a list from the places in this guide.
03
Inns in the towns and campsites in the provincial parks fill for July and August. This guide does not book rooms. Reserve with the inn or the parks system, then fit the days around where you actually sleep.
04
Route 16 follows the north shore toward East Point. The south-shore roads connect the ferries and fishing harbours. Both are two lanes. The kilometres are few and the stops are many.
The water warms late. The crowds at the two famous beaches leave earlier than you might think. Here is the shape of the year.
May – June
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
The warmest swimming and the fullest calendar. Book the Wood Islands ferry ahead, and expect company at Basin Head and Greenwich.
September
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
Maples turn along the rivers, then many seasonal kitchens and park services close. Lighthouses and headlands stay dramatic if the roads are clear.
Getting here
The bridge lands at Borden-Carleton, on the other side of the island. Allow about two hours from the bridge to Montague or Souris, plus stops. The round-trip toll is collected when you leave PEI at Borden-Carleton. Confirm the current rate with the bridge operator before you go.
Northumberland Ferries runs the seasonal crossing between Caribou, Nova Scotia, and Wood Islands, beside the lighthouse. It is the most direct arrival if you are coming from the east. Reservations are strongly encouraged in summer, and you should have a second plan if weather cancels a sailing.
Flights arrive at Charlottetown (YYG). Montague is about half an hour east. Souris is about an hour. You will still want a car at the airport.
A separate seasonal ferry links Souris with the Magdalen Islands. It is a side trip, not a way onto PEI from the mainland. Book it only if the islands are actually part of the trip.
Types of stays, not a hotel inventory. Eastward does not list individual inns or take reservations.
Montague, Souris, and Georgetown each have places to sleep in town, which means a walk to dinner and a shorter morning drive. Ask the inn directly. Eastward does not rank or book them.
Red Point, Brudenell River, and Panmure Island provincial parks have campgrounds near the water. Book through the parks system and confirm opening dates. Fees apply.
Cottages along the shore are privately run and often reserved months ahead for summer. They are a good fit if you want a kitchen. They are scattered, so you will drive to dinner.
Itineraries
Full day · from Souris
A full day from Souris: Basin Head, East Point, a north-shore harbour, and the town wharf.
4 stops, including Basin Head Provincial Park
Full day · from St. Peters Bay
Boardwalk, a small harbour, a quieter beach, and the river at Morell.
4 stops, including Greenwich Dunes
Full day · from Montague
Montague, the Roma site, Georgetown's harbour, and Panmure Island.
4 stops, including Montague Waterfront
Full day · from Wood Islands
Wood Islands, Point Prim, Cape Bear, and the Murray harbours.
4 stops, including Wood Islands Lighthouse
Two days · from Montague
One day on the rivers and Panmure, one day on the singing sands and East Point.
6 stops, including Montague Main Street
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.
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.
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.
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.
The shallow beaches, Panmure Island, Buffaloland, and the Elmira railway museum all work with children. Keep the driving in short pieces and plan a beach in the middle of the day rather than stacking four lighthouses.
The Wood Islands ferry to Nova Scotia is seasonal and fills in July and August. Book ahead for those weeks. The Souris ferry to the Magdalen Islands is also seasonal and should be reserved if it is part of your plan. Eastward does not sell tickets. Check the operator for the year you are travelling.
Rules differ by beach and by month. Some accesses allow leashed dogs in the morning and evening and restrict them through the day in summer. Read the sign at the access you are using rather than assuming one rule covers the region.
Greenwich's boardwalk is a level walkway toward the dunes, but surfaces and seasonal closures change, so confirm with Parks Canada if a visit depends on step-free access. Lighthouse grounds are often gravel or grass. Harbour wharves vary. Call ahead for a specific site if access needs are exact.
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