Looking for recommendations to do an eastern canada trip in 2023. What we would like to know is how long we should plan for. What time of the year. We want to see Newfoundland Nova Scotia PEI etc. Should we air bnb, rent a motor home, hotel it etc. How long should we stay in each province etc. Anyone who has done this trip would love to hear your stories. Thanks so much in advance.

NFLD is huge and could take a couple of weeks depending on what you want to do. I was there for 3 weeks a few years ago and could have stayed for at lease 2 more weeks. It is a beautiful area. A camper would be great way to get around.

We were in Cape Breton the middle two weeks in October last year, and were still a little bit early for peak fall colours. Probably best bet is very late October.

Spring or fall. I did 3 weeks. But not enough. Had to go back again to cover more areas. 4 to 6 weeks would be perfect to see it all. Lots of BB that are stunning and some cottages along the way.

I can only speak for NS, having spent 10 years off and on, all over the province. I would say mid to late October/ early nov. And if you can go to cape Breton for the Celtic colors, that would be wonderful. https://celtic-colours.com/
Stay in B&Bs, and always small towns, and play by ear after a few days as the hosts will give you ideas of where to stay. Maritimers are excellent hosts and the people will leave you with the best memories.
My favorite parts are
Annapolis valley. Esp wolfville. Try to go during their farmer's markets on Wed n Saturdays. It's a progressive little town with lots of surrounding farms.
Cape Breton- Cabot trail of course, and look up Isle Madame, esp a place call D'Escousse. They have a tiny community pub there as well and lots of locals.try to visit the churches on Sundays regardless of faith...and you may be invited to tea and hear lots of stories about fishing, WW2, Acadians, and hurricane Fiona.
Feel free to dM me about NS. I am a naturalized cape bretoner by association
CELTIC-COLOURS.COM
Celtic Colours International Festival

And you need to learn cape bretonese before you go bai'
https://youtu.be/nXkamp46eZI
YOUTUBE.COM
Cape Breton Dictionary | CBC Comedy

That was funny. I'm from Ireland so had some of the saying figured out haha

Rusty oh dear, you are going to have fun...esp on the Rock.
I had an old lady greet me for manh days in NF and I couldn't understand what she had been saying for a week.
Nisemarndismarn = nice morning this morning.

How long total can your trip be total? PEI Halifax / cape Breton is a great 2-3 weeks. Newfoundland on its own can be 10 days or 2 weeks.

I went to NFLD in early June 2019. I LOVED it there. The reason I travelled at that time of the year was because I wanted to see the icebergs. We landed in St. John and rented a car. Spent a few days touring around. We are bird watchers so booked a guide for two days. Of the MUST do's.... Cape St Marys to see the Gannets, small fishing village called Quidi Vidi for dinner, reservations a must, Elliston for Puffins, drove across to Gander, great Rotary Park saw owls,. Drove on to Cornerbrook pulp mill town with rough roads. Down to Stephenville. Then back to St. Johns. Takes about 8.5 hours to drive across. Be moose aware. Lots of blood on road from hits. I would like to go back and see the St. Anthony area. Fiber Lily in St. Johns is best quilt store. I think our birding guide was Dave Brown. We saw rare Ruff. Great guide!! He was very good with me as I have trouble walking. I would go back!

Stephanie hi!!did you see the icebergs? I want to go for that. Take my friend from Australia.

Yes I did but only a few small ones. May would have been better and the st. Anthony peninsula may be more astounding. Nfld. Is truly a wonderful place.

We travelled NS in 2021 late Sept. Was hoping to see the colors of Cape Breton fall but we were too early. Same time this year was a hurricane. We travelled the lighthouse trail around the province in a rental car. It was interesting. I could not find a birding guide here.

We travelled NB and PEI in 2018. We travelled by rental car. Stayed in hotels on all our travels. PEI was smaller than expected. Easy to travel around the province. Glad to go over the confederation bridge. Not to excited about Ann of Green Gables. NB had Haystack rocks and tidal bore. Never got tired of watching that. Did the magnetic hill. After all we were tourists. We did go to Sackville where there was an awesome marsh/park. Great lobster rolls all around. Best dinner was lobster place at the pier.

I was over there this past August. Flew into halifax and rented a car there. Drove north to Miramichi, NB where we were visiting friends. Such a cute down! Gives off Gilmore Girls vibes
great river promenade, brewery and distillery, good food, wonderful people. About an hour away we went to Kouchibouguac National Park. Amazing beach and swimming! We then did 2 nights each in Cavendish, PEI and Halifax before flying home. Could have used an extra day easy in each place. Cavendish was great as it's right near the ocean with the red clay sand. Highly recommend the Harbour Hopper tour in Halifax. It's a bit touristy, but really great overview of the city and history and it's fun!

i would budget less time for CB and more time for PEI and NFLD
in west coast NFLD summertime book your dinners in advance...post-lockdown many restaurants would turn away walk-ins...happened few nights in a row
l'ans-a-meadows and trinity are a must! enjoy

Try renting a car now for NL. If you can't get one don't come here because you likely won't be a le to get a vehicle any closer to the date either. There are no cars here.

StephaniWOW good to know thank you

Just returned from NFL. For sure need reservations for car rental and restaurants. Lots of campgrounds!

NL: I always go to St John's the last week of July and 1st week of August. The George st festival is worth going to but all the while this happen, the capelin roll in which means the whales follow ! Prime cod fishing on the weekends, and all the above places mentioned in someone's post like cape st Mary's signal hill, the Rooms, quidi vidi, the Regatta, etc. But if you're into premium music, downtown for George St Festival is where it's at, and usually with the best weather as well. Those 2 weeks are my favourite weeks to go to NL.

Thanks so much thats great information

Thanks so much everyone for all the fantastic information Really really appreciate it.

Gros Morne(boat tour) is a must see as well as Shallow Bay provincial park.