In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Halifax via Grand-Pré and Annapolis Royal to Digby and into the forests of Kejimkujik: a good 550 kilometres between Fundy tides, orchards and the lakes of south-western Nova Scotia.
The spirit of the route
The Evangeline Trail begins where the land flattens out. Beyond Windsor the Annapolis Valley opens up between two ridges, North Mountain with its spruce on one side and the long back of South Mountain on the other, with apple orchards, cornfields and wineries in between. At Grand-Pré lie the dykes that the Acadians wrested from the sea in the 17th century, and at low tide the water in the Minas Basin drops by more than ten metres. Through the sliding door you smell salt marsh and freshly cut hay. In Annapolis Royal wooden houses line the waterfront, and in Digby the fishing boats come in with scallops. Inland, Kejimkujik waits with still water, canoes and a very dark night sky. The route is unhurried, the stages are short, and almost every day ends at a site with water in view.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Halifax to Wolfville / Grand-Pré (approx. 100 km)
- The drive
- From Halifax take Highway 102 north, then join Highway 101 towards Windsor and the Annapolis Valley; much of the route is four-lane, with a speed limit of mostly 100 km/h. If you prefer something quieter, take the old Trunk Route 1 beyond Windsor, which runs through the villages as the Evangeline Trail. Pure driving time is around 1.5 hours; with stops, count on half a day. There are petrol stations and supermarkets in Bedford, Windsor and Wolfville.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Grand-Pré National Historic Site and the Grand-Pré landscape: a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012, with a memorial church, gardens and an exhibition on the expulsion of the Acadians from 1755. The dykes (aboiteaux) are still in use today. Check times and admission at parks.canada.ca and allow one to two hours.
- Windsor and Fort Edward: the 18th-century blockhouse is one of the oldest surviving blockhouses in North America; in town, the tidal range of the Avon River shows itself at low tide as a broad expanse of mud. Look at the tide table beforehand.
- Hall’s Harbour on the Fundy coast north of Kentville: a fishing harbour where the boats lie high and dry at low tide, with a lobster restaurant right on the water. The access road is narrow and winding, rather tight for long motorhomes.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Laurie Provincial Park on Grand Lake near Waverley, just beyond Halifax: 57 unserviced sites in the woods and 5 walk-in sites by the lake, with showers and a dump station; 2026 season from 5 June to 14 September, with gate access by code (sent with the online reservation). Alternatively Smileys Provincial Park on Highway 14 near Windsor/Brooklyn: 64 unserviced sites, showers, dump station, season until 21 September. Both sites are often fully booked in high summer; reserve via novascotia.goingtocamp.com.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Nova Scotia you may in principle camp on undeveloped Crown land, but not on private land and not in provincial parks outside the campsites. Along the Fundy coast and in the Valley most land is privately owned; overnighting in a motorhome in car parks and at harbours is not advisable without express permission. In dry spells the province imposes fire and access bans on the forest; check the status beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- The tides in the Minas Basin are the main actor of this stage: high and low water come about 50 minutes later every day. If you want to see the tide, plan Windsor, Hantsport and Wolfville by the table and go to the harbour at low water. Fill up in Windsor or Wolfville; after that, fuel gets dearer towards the side roads.
2Stage 2: Wolfville / Grand-Pré to Annapolis Royal (approx. 115 km)
- The drive
- From Wolfville via Kentville and Berwick, then further west through Middleton, Bridgetown and Granville Ferry to Annapolis Royal. Highway 101 runs parallel to the old Trunk 1; both roads are comfortable, with Trunk 1 slower but closer to fruit stalls and villages. Driving time on the 101 is around 1.5 hours; with stops, a full day. In autumn (harvest time) there are many roadside fruit stands.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Wolfville and the Cape Split Trail: a well-built hiking trail leads to a headland at the entrance to the Minas Basin, a good 13 km there and back (four to six hours according to the provincial park). At high water the tides surge through the passage with enormous force. The trail starts at the car park on Cape Split Road near Canning; the approach is rural and narrow.
- Annapolis Royal: Fort Anne National Historic Site and Port-Royal National Historic Site (the Habitation) tell the story of the first permanent European settlement north of Florida. The reconstructed Habitation, a wooden building, is a piece of colonial history; check current opening times before you visit.
- Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens: well-kept gardens on the edge of town, with rose, herb and Acadian gardens; check opening times and admission beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Valleyview Provincial Park near Bridgetown on Hampton Mountain Road: a hilltop site with a view over the Annapolis Valley, 17 unserviced sites and 14 sites with 30 A electricity and water, showers and a dump station; 2026 season from 5 June to 12 October. Reserve via novascotia.goingtocamp.com and book early for weekends and late summer. Alternatively, private campsites around Annapolis Royal (check availability and vehicle length before you set off).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Free-standing overnights in municipal and museum car parks are not provided for in Annapolis Royal. On North Mountain there are forest roads, but they are not recommended for campers with larger vehicles; observe Crown land rules and fire bans.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fruit and wine: many farm shops and wineries in the Valley are open only seasonally (spring to October). If you travel in high summer you get berries and early fruit, in September apples and plums. If you are continuing on into the USA later, note the import rules for fresh fruit and vegetables.
3Stage 3: Annapolis Royal to Digby (approx. 35 km)
- The drive
- A short stage on Trunk 1 and Highway 101 along the south shore of the Annapolis Basin to Digby Gut, the narrow cut through which North Mountain opens to the sea. Driving time is around 35 minutes; the stretch suits a day with detours, for example to Digby Neck with its ferry crossings. In Digby there are supermarkets, petrol stations and the ferry terminal for the crossing to Saint John in New Brunswick.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Digby and the harbour: the town is known for Digby scallops, fished in the Bay of Fundy. The fishing fleet lies in the harbour, and in summer there are restaurants serving fresh catch.
- Digby Neck, Long Island and Brier Island: the peninsula in the south-west can be reached from Digby by two short ferry crossings (Petit Passage and Grand Passage) and is considered one of the best places in the province for whale watching (humpback, fin and minke whales, in summer and autumn). Check ferry times and the weather beforehand.
- Fundy ferry to Saint John: the car ferry links Digby with Saint John (Bay Ferries); state vehicle height and weight when booking, and reserve urgently in summer.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Around Digby there are mainly private campsites; the nearest alternative with a provincial-park character is Valleyview Provincial Park near Bridgetown, a good hour’s drive east. Before you arrive, check availability, vehicle length and hook-ups with the operators; sites near the harbour fill up quickly in high summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Digby itself, overnighting in a vehicle in the harbour area and in public car parks is generally not allowed. On Digby Neck there are a few simple sites run by local providers; formally free wild camping hardly exists on the narrow peninsula.
- Insider tip for campers
- The ferry crossings on Digby Neck are short but run to a fixed timetable; check height and width with the operator beforehand if you have a large motorhome, and check the departure times the day before. For whale watching, a boat from Tiverton or Westport is a good choice; clarify operators and times in advance.
4Stage 4: Digby to Kejimkujik National Park (approx. 90 km)
- The drive
- From Digby take Highway 101 back to Annapolis Royal, then Route 8 south through forest and small villages to Maitland Bridge, the entrance to Kejimkujik National Park. Route 8 is two-lane, moderately winding and lonely compared with the Valley, with a speed limit of mostly 80–90 km/h. Pure driving time is around 1.5 hours. Buy fuel and groceries in Annapolis Royal or Caledonia; inside the park there is only a small selection.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Kejimkujik National Park: lakes, canoe routes and the Mersey River in an inland park considered one of the quietest corners of the province. You can hire canoes on site, and hiking trails such as the Mersey River Trail are reachable without a long approach.
- Dark Sky Preserve: the park is designated a Dark Sky Preserve; on clear nights the Milky Way and constellations are visible. In summer the park occasionally offers programmes; check times at parks.canada.ca.
- Mi’kmaw petroglyphs and culture: in the park there are rock carvings by the Mi’kmaq on the shore of Kejimkujik Lake; access is only possible on guided tours, so clarify dates with Parks Canada in advance.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Jeremy’s Bay Campground in Kejimkujik National Park: the park’s main campground on Kejimkujik Lake, with tent, motorhome and trailer sites as well as oTENTik and Ôasis accommodation, and modernised washhouses with showers; season from Victoria Day (mid-May) to the end of October. Check serviced sites and vehicle lengths at parks.canada.ca. Reserve through the Parks Canada reservation system, well in advance in summer. The usual park admission applies (day pass or Discovery Pass).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Camping in the park is allowed only on the designated sites. Outside the park boundaries lie broad stretches of forest, mostly private or Crown land; clarify ownership before overnighting and observe fire bans.
- Insider tip for campers
- By the lake, mosquitoes and black flies are a nuisance in early summer; insect repellent, a mosquito net and long clothing make sense. Ticks occur in Nova Scotia, so check your skin in the evening. For canoeing on the lake, choose early morning, when the wind is still calm.
5Stage 5: Kejimkujik National Park to Lunenburg (approx. 110 km)
- The drive
- From Maitland Bridge take Route 8 south to Liverpool, then Route 103 (Lighthouse Route) east along the coast. From Liverpool to Lunenburg the road runs through fishing villages and past bays, with speeds of mostly 80–100 km/h. Driving time is around 2 hours; with stops, half a day. There are petrol stations and shops in Liverpool, Bridgewater and Lunenburg.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Kejimkujik Seaside: an outpost of the national park on the Atlantic coast at Port Joli, with trails to beaches and coastal rocks and with seals on the rocks; the access road is unpaved, so check access and condition beforehand.
- Lunenburg: the old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1995) and is regarded as the best-preserved example of a British colonial settlement in North America, with colourful wooden houses on the harbour. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic is on the waterfront; check opening times before you visit.
- Rissers Beach: a long sandy beach and dunes near Petite Rivière, part of Rissers Beach Provincial Park.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Rissers Beach Provincial Park near Petite Rivière on Route 331: 45 unserviced sites, 19 sites with 30 A electricity and water and 6 walk-in sites, showers and a dump station; 2026 season from 15 May to 12 October, behind the long sandy beach. Reserve via novascotia.goingtocamp.com; it fills up quickly in high summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Lunenburg and the coastal villages there is no designated motorhome free-standing; in the old town, parking is limited and tight for large vehicles. Overnight only on campsites.
- Insider tip for campers
- In Lunenburg, park large motorhomes outside the old town and go on foot; the streets are steep and narrow. Reserve early for the Lunenburg festival and for weekends in high summer.
6Stage 6: Lunenburg to Halifax (approx. 100 km)
- The drive
- Take Route 103 (Lighthouse Route) east, past Mahone Bay with its three churches by the water and on through the coastal villages to Halifax; from Chester the road becomes a motorway. Driving time is around 1.5 hours, longer if there is congestion on the outskirts of Halifax. Fill up and empty your tanks before handing the vehicle back.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Mahone Bay: the town is known for the three churches standing close together on the shore of the bay; a popular photo motif in the morning.
- Peggy’s Cove: a lighthouse on granite rocks; the rocks are dangerous in surf, and visitors must stay away from the dark rocks by the water. The car park is tight for large vehicles and overcrowded in summer.
- Halifax: Citadel Hill, the harbour promenade and the Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; check opening times before you visit.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Laurie Provincial Park (see stage 1) or sites in the Halifax area; for the last night, a site near the airport is a good choice if the handover is early in the day. Check availability and conditions beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Halifax and the suburbs, overnighting in a vehicle on the street and in public car parks is not allowed.
- Insider tip for campers
- Before the handover in Halifax, visit a dump station and a petrol station; disposal facilities are rare in the city. The city has bridges and underpasses with height restrictions, so keep your vehicle height in mind.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- In Nova Scotia you may in principle camp on undeveloped Crown land, but not on private land, not in provincial and national parks outside the campsites and not in the vicinity of settlements. Check the exact rules on duration and distance with the Department of Natural Resources; enforcement is local.
- In dry spells Nova Scotia imposes fire and forest access bans (burn restrictions, at times also forest closures). From summer 2025 province-wide restrictions applied after wildfires; check the status before every stage at novascotia.ca.
- Overnighting in the car parks of supermarkets, harbours and museums is not generally allowed; if in doubt, ask. On campsites, reservations in provincial parks and with Parks Canada are usually the most reliable route.
- Wildlife: black bears, moose and coyotes occur in Nova Scotia; keep food in the vehicle at night. Ticks (Lyme disease) are widespread in the province; check your skin in the evening.
- Apps and sites: Campendium, iOverlander, The Dyrt, plus the online booking of the provincial parks and the Parks Canada reservation system (Kejimkujik).
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations are found on many campsites and at some petrol stations; apps such as Campendium or iOverlander give an overview. Check availability in advance, as not all provincial parks offer disposal.
- Tap water in Nova Scotia is generally drinkable; at some sites there is only well water, in which case follow the signs. Fill your fresh water before Kejimkujik.
- Do not drain grey water onto the ground or into watercourses; empty chemical toilets only at dump stations.
- Propane: petrol stations and dealers refill bottles; European bottles need an adapter and are mostly not refilled. Rental motorhomes have permanently installed tanks.
- Fuel: petrol stations in Halifax, Windsor, Wolfville, Kentville, Digby, Annapolis Royal and Liverpool; between Annapolis Royal and Maitland Bridge only a few stations.
- Electricity: serviced sites offer 15, 30 or 50 A; rental motorhomes usually have the matching cable. If you are without hook-up, plan on the leisure battery.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in km/h: motorways (Highways 101, 102, 103) mostly 100, in places 110 where signed; trunk roads 80–90; in built-up areas 50. For motorhomes the signed limits apply; drive carefully with a trailer.
- Tolls: there are no tolls on the routes described; ferries (Digby–Saint John, Digby Neck) charge fares, and a reservation is recommended for Digby–Saint John.
- Dimensions and height: in Canada a maximum height of about 4.1 m (13 ft 6 in) generally applies; watch for bridges and underpasses in Halifax.
- Parks: for national parks and National Historic Sites (Grand-Pré, Fort Anne, Kejimkujik), Parks Canada admission fees and the Discovery Pass apply; check current amounts at parks.canada.ca.
- Traffic law: turning right on red is permitted after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it; open alcohol containers in the vehicle are prohibited; phones at the wheel only hands-free. A German driving licence is generally sufficient, though an international one is recommended.
- Weather: mild summers (20–25 °C), cool nights; fog on the Fundy and Atlantic coasts; remnants of hurricanes are possible in late summer and autumn, so heed the weather forecast (Environment Canada).
- Emergency: 911; mobile reception is patchy in places inland (Kejimkujik).
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Tide table or app for the Bay of Fundy: high and low water determine when harbours and mudflats are worth seeing.
- Insect repellent and mosquito net: mosquitoes and black flies in early summer, especially by the water in Kejimkujik.
- Folding canoe or a rental-canoe reservation: Kejimkujik is best experienced from the water.
- Warm layers and a rain jacket: fog and wind on the Fundy and Atlantic coasts even in summer.
- Binoculars for whales on Digby Neck and for seabirds.
- Copy of the reservations and the ferry booking, offline maps for Kejimkujik and Digby Neck.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
