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Major city · Canada

St. Stephen

Give St. Stephen one night as a border stop between Maine and Saint John: the Chocolate Museum and a Ganong shop fill an afternoon, not a trip.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Mar (cold, many seasonal businesses closed)
Airports
YSJ · BGR · YHZ
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Crossing 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.

St. Stephen is a town of about 4,400 on the St. Croix River, directly across from Calais, Maine. It is Canada's chocolate town: Ganong has made candy here since 1873, and the old factory now holds the Chocolate Museum. Most travellers use it as a half-day border crossing stop on Route 1 between Maine and Saint John, or as a base for the Fundy coast and the Passamaquoddy Bay islands. The town itself is small; one night is enough unless you are using it as a launch point.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about St. Stephen, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • BeerBeer at the brewhouseC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketChocolate Museum entry, adultC$10 (≈ US$8) plus tax
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
  • Mid-range bedMotel room, a night, per roomC$120 (≈ US$90)
  • High-end bedMotel room, a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$260 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Ganong chocolates, made here since 1873The Chocolate Museum in the old Ganong factoryChocolate Fest in early AugustSt. Croix River border crossing to Calais, Maine
Airports
YSJ Saint John Airport (About 1 h 15 min by car via Route 1; the nearest scheduled airport.) · BGR Bangor International Airport, Maine (About 2 h by car via US Route 1 and the Calais border crossing; useful for US arrivals.) · YHZ Halifax Stanfield International Airport (About 4 h 30 min by car; the main international gateway for the Maritimes.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

St. Stephen: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−2°C

−12°C

12 rd

Feb

−1°C

−11°C

10 rd

Mar

4°C

−6°C

11 rd

Apr

11°C

0°C

11 rd

May

17°C

5°C

12 rd

Jun

22°C

10°C

11 rd

Jul

25°C

13°C

10 rd

Aug

24°C

13°C

9 rd

Sep

20°C

9°C

9 rd

Oct

13°C

4°C

11 rd

Nov

7°C

−1°C

12 rd

Dec

0°C

−8°C

12 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town centre is walkable in 15–20 minutes end to end. Route 1 and Route 170 are the main roads; a car is needed for Saint Andrews, Saint John and the Fundy coast. Friendly Cab (+1 506 466-5500) is the local taxi. The Calais, Maine border crossing is a short drive across the river.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Saint Andrews

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive Route 1 east, about 30 min

Waterfront town with Kingsbrae Garden and whale-watching boats; easy half day.

Calais, Maine

go

Door to door: About 15 min with the border check

Drive across the St. Croix River border crossing, about 5 min

Carry your passport; the two towns share festivals and services.

Saint Johngo

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive Route 1 east, about 1 h 15 min

New Brunswick's largest city; Reversing Falls and the City Market.

Campobello Island

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive Route 1 east then Route 774 through Lubec, Maine; two border crossings

You pass through the US twice; check border rules and Roosevelt Campobello park hours.

Grand Manan Island

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min including the crossing

Drive to Blacks Harbour, then the ferry

Ferry crossing is long; stay at least one night on the island.

Fundy-St. Martins

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

Drive Route 1 east then Route 111

Sea caves and Fundy tides; better as a stop on a coastal loop than a day return.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Milltown Blvd / downtown

Walk to the Chocolate Museum, Ganong Chocolatier and the waterfront; the Blair House Heritage Inn is here.

King St

The main street for diners and the Picaroons brewhouse; a short walk from the river.

Route 170 / Oak Bay

Motels north of town on the road to Saint Andrews; you need a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
High
C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel room1 × 1 night × C$120C$120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Chocolate Museum entry, adult2 × C$10C$20
Diner meal2 × C$20C$40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$55
Trip total≈ C$303 per person per day, bed includedC$605≈ US$450

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; prices before sales tax. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Diner mealC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
Chocolate Museum entry, adultC$10 (≈ US$8) plus tax
Beer at the brewhouseC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
Motel room, summerC$89–160 (≈ US$65–120)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

St. Stephen is a small, safe town; the real issues are winter driving on Route 1, moose and deer on rural roads at dusk, and the US border crossing, where you need your passport and a check on current entry rules.
  • The US border crossing at Calais can queue in summer; carry your passport and check current entry rules before you cross.
  • Many businesses are seasonal and close or shorten hours outside Jun–Sep.
  • Distances between Fundy coast towns are longer than they look on the map; plan driving times, not just kilometres.
  • Cell coverage is fine in town but patchy on some coastal roads.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
RCMP non-emergency (New Brunswick)
1-888-506-7267
Poison control (New Brunswick)
1-800-565-8161

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

St. StephenSt. Stephen

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • RCMP non-emergency1-888-506-7267

Embassy

Canada has no embassy here; US travellers: the nearest US consulate is in Halifax. Canadian services: Service Canada in Saint John.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi in town: short hop, about C$8–12 (≈ US$6–9)
  • St. Stephen → Saint John by car: about 1 h 15 min via Route 1
  • St. Stephen → Calais, Maine: about 5 min plus border wait

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you (English is the main language)
  • Where is the border crossing? — Where is the border crossing? (ask at any shop on King St)
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (most places take cards)

Small town; carry a card and some cash, and check opening hours outside summer.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for St. Stephen. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, many seasonal businesses closed) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YSJ and BGR: last connections, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking cluster for downtown: Chocolate Museum, Ganong Chocolatier, waterfront and King St diners.
  3. Border-crossing fixture for Calais: passport rules, wait times and return-by time.
  4. Tide and ferry fixtures for the Passamaquoddy Bay islands so day trips can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources