Halifax to Cape Breton Island

#9 long weekend road trip

Nova Scotia

You’re going to love Cape Breton Island

Looking to go remote? Make the 364km trek from Halifax to Cape Breton. There are 2 routes to take: a 5-hour drive that takes you along the southern coast of Nova Scotia, or a 4-hour one that goes along the northern part. Either way, grab some road snacks, a copy of Stan Rogers’ Greatest Hits and hit the open road.

Cape Breton is great for nature, wildlife and solitude.

Hacker tip

You can’t experience Cape Breton without a walk along the Skyline Trail. Overlooking the ocean, this impressive loop is just the journey you need to get your head out of whatever’s stressing you and into the moment.

COVID-19 information

As you consider current and future travel plans, stay up-to-date on car rental providers’ change and cancellation policies. As you’re searching for car rentals, use our Flexible Filters options that let you sort your search results by providers offering free cancellations (usually in the form of travel credits) and providers that are waiving change fees.

As you consider current and future travel plans, stay up-to-date on hotel providers’ change and cancellation policies. As you’re searching for hotels, use our Flexible Filters options that let you sort your search results by providers offering free cancellations (usually in the form of travel credits) and providers that are waiving change fees.

View country-level and province-specific restrictions in Canada here.

Enjoy your drive

With two roads to take, deciding between them really depends on what you want. The shorter route along 104/106 is a direct shot, while the coastal route on CA-7 is the more scenic. Whichever way you go, see if you can hold out stopping until you get to Port Hawkesbury. It’s the first town you’ll hit on Cape Breton Island and has plenty of great lunch spots.

Median rental car rate

This graph shows the median rental car rate in Halifax by month in 2020, compared to the same month in 2019.