A few years ago I crossed Canada’s most famous bridge – The Confederation Bridge. I had gone to visit my friend in Nova Scotia, and since Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick were so close to Nova Scotia I decided to visit there as well.
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is the smallest province in Canada. Being an island you could fly there, or take a ferry, or you could drive across on the Confederation Bridge. The Confederation Bridge links Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick, and it’s the longest bridge in the world that goes over iced covered water. There’s no toll to pay going into Prince Edward Island, but if you want to leave it will cost about $45 for a car. While that might seem pricey for a toll taking a ferry or flying to PEI would be even more expensive, and I wasn’t going to pass up the chance to visit this province.
I also wanted to drive across the Confederation Bridge, because it seemed pretty cool. Surprisingly one thing I remember about going across the Confederation Bridge was not realizing I was on the bridge right away. The drive from Moncton, New Brunswick to the Confederation Bridge takes about 90 minutes. I could see the Northumberland Strait (the body of water between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island). I don’t know if I was expect some giant sign with flashing lights saying You’re On The Confederation Bridge Right Now or what, but I was driving and it was only after a couple of minutes before I realized that, hey I was on the Confederation Bridge.
Ok so there might have been a sign, but I don’t remember seeing it.
Surprisingly the crossing didn’t take as long as I’d thought it would. I had imagined just driving across a straight bridge, but The Confederation Bridge is curved to keep drivers alert for the 13km crossing – it also slopes up a bit too, but that’s so gradual you almost don’t notice it. It was however a little distracting to look on my GPS screen and see that I was technically in the ocean (well according to the GPS).
I enjoyed my visit to Prince Edward Island, but I was only there for one night. Next time I cross the Confederation Bridge I’ll spend some more time in PEI – to get my toll’s worth. Crossing the Confederation Bridge was certainly a unique experience, and an easy way to visit Prince Edward Island.
For more information on the Confederation Bridge include traffic and weather conditions please visit the Confederation Bridge Website. This was not a sponsored post – I’m just a travel nerd who liked writing about driving across a giant bridge.
Have you driven across the Confederation Bridge?
We drove from Toronto to Moncton and from there to PEI and I tell you, crossing the Confederation Bridge was really cool. I just thought that the $45 toll was a bit of a rip off, but hey, you don’t cross that everyday!
I really loved the scenery in PEI, too bad I went there in March and it was so cold. Hopefully I will get to come back in the summer someday.
Hi Monique. Yeah I thought $45 was pretty steep, but I know the ferry would’ve been just as expensive, and driving across the confederation bridge is pretty cool Hope you’re able to make it back in summer.
The first few times I went to PEI was when there wasn’t a bridge. I’m sure the bridge has made life a lot easier for the islanders. When I drove the bridge a few years ago I kept hoping for more water views from the car but it seems they built the walls high – I guess they didn’t want distracted drivers.
The lack of water views really surprised me too. I’m sure it was to prevent distracted driving, but unfortunately I was also distracted by my GPS – it kept showing how I driving right in the ocean.
I remember being SO excited to cross this as a kid – I’d done the ferry, but was excited for something different too, and my gram took me and my cousins across and we were playing one of those road trip games where you have to do something when you pass certain things – if I recall rightly, our rules were hold your breath when you pass a cemetery, and hold you feet up when you went over a bridge. Definitely heading back to PEI this summer!
That’s so funny – my brother and I used to play that game when we were kids too. We also used to duck down when going under a bridge or an overpass to stop the “bridge monster” from getting us.
We loved Prince Edward Island. We took the ferry from Pictou one way and crossed the Confederation bridge going back.
Taking the ferry and crossing the bridge sounds like a great way to travel in Prince Edward Island. Thanks for the comment.