Region
Bay of Fundy
Base in Saint John or Saint Andrews; see the bay at both tides, not just one.
Key facts · Canada
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD, $)
- Language
- English and French
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−3:30 to UTC−8
Rules in force · 11Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
- Atlantic Canada ↗The Maritimes means Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI only; Newfoundland and Labrador is Atlantic but not Maritime.
- Atlantic Canada ↗Most sights, ferries and seasonal hotels run late June to early September; outside that, check each opening before booking.
- New Brunswick ↗Bay of Fundy tidal range reaches about 16 m at its head; Hopewell Rocks and the Reversing Falls are only worth a stop at the right tide window, so check the day's tide table before you drive.
- New Brunswick ↗Drinking age is 19.
- New Brunswick ↗Canada's only officially bilingual province; English and French both official, French dominant in the northeast.
The Bay of Fundy is a 13 m tide, not a single sight. The New Brunswick shore gives you Saint John, Saint Andrews, Fundy National Park and the Hopewell Rocks; the Nova Scotia shore gives you Digby and the Annapolis Valley. Two or three nights on one shore beats racing around both. Check tide times the day before and build the day around them.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Saint JohnCity guide
Largest city on the bay, airport, Reversing Falls, City Market.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND - Saint AndrewsCity guide
Small historic town, Kingsbrae Garden, whale-watching base.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Day trip
- Fundy-St. MartinsPlanned
Covered bridge and sea caves; short stop.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Grand Manan IslandCity guide
Ferry from Blacks Harbour; needs a night to be worth it.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND - Campobello IslandCity guide
Roosevelt cottage; reached via Deer Island ferries.
Best May–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- Saint John 2, Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park as day trips
- 3 nights
- Saint John 1 + Saint Andrews 2, with Fundy-St. Martins on the drive
- 4 nights
- Saint John 2 + Grand Manan 1 + Saint Andrews 1
- Trying Saint John, Saint Andrews, Hopewell Rocks and Grand Manan in two days is mostly driving.
- The ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks is only walkable around low tide; the window moves daily.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundy National Park | Saint John | 90 min | unknown | Alma is the gateway village; check park hours before a late return. |
| Hopewell Rocks | Saint John | 120 min | unknown | Walk the ocean floor at low tide only; check the day's window. |
| Fundy-St. Martins | Saint John | 50 min | unknown | Sea caves are reachable at low tide; the covered bridge is the photo stop. |
| Grand Manan Island | Saint John | 150 min | unknown | Ferry from Blacks Harbour; a day trip is tight, a night is better. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding here; you drive your bags between bases.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint John | × | × | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok |
| Saint Andrews | × | × | × | × | × | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × |
| Grand Manan Island | × | × | × | × | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × |
| Campobello Island | × | × | × | × | go | go | go | go | go | go | × | × |
| New Brunswick (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick shoreSaint John, Saint Andrews, Fundy National Park | cold | cold | ok | ok | best | best | best | best | best | ok | cool | cold |
- New Brunswick shore
- Summer is the reliable window; fog and cool sea air are common even in July. Winter is cold with snow and some closures.
June to September is the practical season; July and August are warmest and busiest. Spring and autumn are quieter but some coastal services shut.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint John Airport (YSJ) | Saint John | Taxi or rental car | ~30 min | Flights from Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax; a car is the practical way to see the bay. |
| Moncton | Hopewell Rocks / Fundy National Park | Drive via the Trans-Canada Highway | ~40–60 min | Moncton is the closest airport to the upper bay; rental car needed. |
| Halifax | Digby | Drive around the bay, or ferry from Saint John | ~4 h 30 drive | The Saint John–Digby ferry crosses the bay; check the current schedule. |
Regional passes
Parks Canada Discovery Pass
checkPays only if you visit several national parks or historic sites on the trip; run the day rates first.
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Lobster | Alma, Saint Andrews, Saint John | Alma is a working lobster harbour; summer is the season. |
| Scallops | Digby, Nova Scotia side | Digby is known for scallops; reachable by ferry or the long drive. |
| Fiddlehead greens | Regional restaurants | A spring delicacy; on menus for a short window. |
| Maple foods | Upper bay, late winter | Maple season runs late winter into early spring. |
Go next
New Brunswick
Drive the Trans-Canada Highway
Fredericton and Moncton are the inland bases.
Nova Scotia
Ferry from Saint John to Digby, or drive around the bay
Digby and the Annapolis Valley are the Nova Scotia side.
Prince Edward Island
Drive via Moncton and the Confederation Bridge
Pairs well with the upper bay.
Saint John River Valley
plannedDrive north from Saint John
Inland valley towns and covered bridges.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Sources
- officialParks Canada — Fundy National Park
- officialTourism New Brunswick
- officialBay Ferries — Saint John to Digby
- officialMaritime Bus
- secondaryWikivoyage: Bay of Fundy, revision 5243826 (CC BY-SA 4.0)