Best way to get from Boston to Halifax

[Anonymous]

This summer we want to to from DC to Boston (either fly or train) and then go to Boston to Nove Scotia and see the Maritime Provinces and maybe end up in Montreal.

Should we go in a Via rail sleeper? Rent a car in Boston and drive up New England and go by ferry across the Bay of Fundy and drive around Canada?

Were probably going to fly back to DC from Montreal. But open to all suggestions. Not too worried about time and budget. Two kids under 10.

[Anonymous]

I now live in New England and have been to Bar Harbor many times and I have to say this is a MONSTER trip. Make sure you look at the drive times for all this. Boston to Halifax and then back to Montreal is very far.

Most people driving up the Maine coast will not just want to haul ass to NB. The Maine coast is something you'll want to take your time with. If you drive to Bar Harbor, IMO it would be silly to not enjoy Acadia for at least two full days.

How much time do you have?

I've only been to western NS. It's not that interesting. Eastern NS and Newfoundland look exciting but that's FAR from Montreal.

Why not fly home from NS or Newfoundland? Or just fly there and skip New England for now?

Gaspe is also beautiful.

[Anonymous]

We are considering a similar trip but just passed in Montreal. I was actually wondering if it’s easy to do a rental car from the US to Canada and back.

[Anonymous]

My family once rented a car in Seattle and taking it to Canada was no issue. I think my uncle just had to inform them ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family once rented a car in Seattle and taking it to Canada was no issue. I think my uncle just had to inform them ahead of time.

Yes it's generally not a problem, like you said as long as you inform them. Now going to Mexico in a US rental car, that's a big deal, requires separate insurance, many companies won't do it, etc.

[Anonymous]

Another new englander weighing in. Renting a car in the US and driving to Canada won’t be an issue. But I agree with pp that this itinerary doesn’t make a lot of sense. Boston to Halifax to Montreal is easily 24 hours of driving time. The Maine coast is beautiful, but the other half of your drive will be through sort of boring parts of Quebec. Maybe fly to NS instead? Or take the train to Montreal and skip the Maritime provinces?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I now live in New England and have been to Bar Harbor many times and I have to say this is a MONSTER trip. Make sure you look at the drive times for all this. Boston to Halifax and then back to Montreal is very far.

Most people driving up the Maine coast will not just want to haul ass to NB. The Maine coast is something you'll want to take your time with. If you drive to Bar Harbor, IMO it would be silly to not enjoy Acadia for at least two full days.

How much time do you have?

I've only been to western NS. It's not that interesting. Eastern NS and Newfoundland look exciting but that's FAR from Montreal.

Why not fly home from NS or Newfoundland? Or just fly there and skip New England for now?

Gaspe is also beautiful.

+1. This. I considered something similar, and you need to pick either Acadia or Halifax. They look closer on a map than they are. American has direct flights from Reagan to Halifax on Saturdays in the summer. I would fly to Halifax, then Montreal, then home. Driving from Halifax to Montreal is insane.

[Anonymous]

We’ve visited Nova Scotia twice, both times landing in Bangor, ME and driving up to Cape Breton. We spent night halfway in Moncton NB. Nova Scotia is very pretty, slow paced and requires decent amount of driving. We like that but others may not. I think I’d leave Montreal for another trip.

Acadia is our favorite place ever so both trips we made sure to add time there.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been to Acadia and Cape Breton (along with PEI) in two separate trips. Acadia was when I lived in Boston, hit terrible construction, and a stretch that was supposed to take 3 hrs took about 5.

For Cape Breton / PEI we “only” had 10 days so never did Halifax. We flex from DC to PEi (renting a car in PEI after connecting in Montreal). We drive from PEI to Cape Breton Island on day 1 because I wanted to see puffins before they migrated. Days 2-6 we explored Cape Breton Island, day 6 we drove past way to PEI and then day 7 returned to PEI We then had 2 full days in PEI before flying out the third. I liked both but LOVED Nova Scotia. We connected via Montreal. Our plane was late and customs closed and the next day there was a serious of mistakes so we ended up having 24 hrs stuck in Montreal - because they kept thinking our plane would leave in a few hours it was mostly spent in the airport. Despite that, I’m still glad we flew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been to Acadia and Cape Breton (along with PEI) in two separate trips. Acadia was when I lived in Boston, hit terrible construction, and a stretch that was supposed to take 3 hrs took about 5.

For Cape Breton / PEI we “only” had 10 days so never did Halifax. We flex from DC to PEi (renting a car in PEI after connecting in Montreal). We drive from PEI to Cape Breton Island on day 1 because I wanted to see puffins before they migrated. Days 2-6 we explored Cape Breton Island, day 6 we drove past way to PEI and then day 7 returned to PEI We then had 2 full days in PEI before flying out the third. I liked both but LOVED Nova Scotia. We mood connected via Montreal. Our plane was late and customs closed and the next day there was a serious of mistakes so we ended up having 24 hrs stuck in Montreal - because they kept thinking our plane would leave in a few hours it was mostly spent in the airport. Despite that, I’m still glad we flew.

We were just the opposite. We loved PEI, Nova Scotia not so much. Not a lot to do. Not terribly friendly. I would go to Montreal.