The Perfect 7-Day Nova Scotia Road Trip Itinerary
If you're looking for a road trip filled with good food, cool places to stay, and very minimal time actually spent on the road… then might I suggest a Nova Scotia road trip?
Nova Scotia is one of my favorite Canadian provinces. It's got beautiful coastlines, great food, and lots of outdoor adventure options — all while being small enough to thoroughly explore in a week or less.
I did a mostly-solo road trip around the central part of the province last summer, and now I want to share my whole Nova Scotia road trip itinerary with you! It's such a great province to explore by car, and I encourage you to use this itinerary to help plan your own trip.
7-day Nova Scotia road trip itinerary
This road trip would be great for anyone visiting Nova Scotia for the first time. Highlights include:
- Exploring Halifax and its waterfront
- Seeing the Bay of Fundy and its tides
- Picnicking at a bison farm
- Options for biking and hiking
- Visiting Peggy's Cove
- Seeing the UNESCO-listed town of Lunenburg
- Staying in unique places including a sea container and luxury dome
- And more!
Note: This is based on a trip I did as part of a paid partnership with Nova Scotia, focusing on some unique accommodation options around the province. As always, though, opinions are 100% my own and based on my personal experiences!
When to take this road trip
Nova Scotia is a year-round destination, with things to do every month of the year. But this specific road trip itinerary is best done from May-September so you can best enjoy all the outdoor activities and visit little fishing villages while all the restaurants and museums are open for the season. I did this specific trip in August!
Day 1: Halifax
You'll be flying in and out of Halifax for this trip. Halifax is Nova Scotia's capital city and is centrally located in the province — and well worth a visit on its own! I recommend trying to book your flights so you'll arrive in Halifax in the late morning or early afternoon so you have some time to explore today.
Pick up your rental car, and make the half-hour drive to the city center. You could either drop your bags and car off at your hotel and walk from there, or drive straight to the Halifax waterfront, which is what I recommend exploring first.
The Halifax Waterfront has more than 4 kilometers of boardwalk lined with shops, restaurants, and other attractions. Go for a stroll, stop for a snack (you can find classics like Beavertails and COWS ice cream here), and enjoy the harbor views.
There are also a couple notable museums here, in case the weather doesn't cooperate. The main ones to know about are the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (the latter of which has an exhibit of Titanic artifacts).
For dinner, you could either stay in Halifax, OR you could hop on the Halifax ferry over to Dartmouth (get on the one bound for Alderney). Not only are these ferries the oldest saltwater ferries in North America, but they only cost $3 each way to ride across the harbor.
Once in Dartmouth, there are several breweries and pubs along Portland Street, or you can grab your first lobster roll of the trip at Evan's Seafood right at Alderney Landing.
Total driving time today: 30 minutes
Where to stay in Halifax (1 night): If you're looking for a quirky, hip-feeling hotel with a nice bar, the Moxy Halifax Downtown is where I stayed. It's not on the waterfront, but is within walking distance (and has a large parking garage attached). If you'd prefer to stay on the waterfront, the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel is a good pick.
Day 2: Halifax to Truro
This morning, you have some time to see a bit more of Halifax before heading to your next destination.
If you stay at the Moxy, you'll be really close to a lovely “2-D” cafe called Xena's Bread and Butter, which is a great spot to grab coffee and breakfast. And then from there you're close to the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, which is a star-shaped military fort that offers historical tours and exhibits (and some great views of Halifax).
I also went to check out the Halifax Central Library, which has very cool architecture and even a rooftop seating area. It's near Grafton Street, too, where you can find quite a bit of street art.
After that, it's time to get your car and head north to the town of Truro.
Truro is a centrally-located city with a historic downtown and close proximity to some very cool adventures. On your way into town, I recommend stopping at the Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre if it's open (it's only open on weekdays). This is a great place to learn about the local indigenous Mi'kmaq culture, and it has a nice gift shop featuring work by local Indigenous artists.
Then you can go and check into your cabin at Seek Wilderness Accommodations. This unique glamping site offers yurts and cozy shipping container cabins alongside Victoria Park, a large park with hiking and mountain biking trails in a quiet, wooded area.
The cabins here are extremely cute and equipped with everything you need for your stay, including a kitchen, plus a grill and fireplace outside. The cabins all have outdoor hot tubs, too!
Once you get settled in, head into Truro for dinner. I recommend Murphy’s Fish & Chips, which serves up the best fish and chips!
Total driving time today: 1 hour
Where to stay in Truro (2 nights): Book a sea container cabin at Seek Wilderness Accommodations; these are so cute and cozy, and they all have hot tubs outside.
Day 3: Bay of Fundy
Today is your day to explore the Bay of Fundy! This bay between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is known for having the highest tides in the entire world.
You're going to need to organize your day around tide times in order to do the things I'm recommending here, and please note that times for tidal bores, high tide, and low tide do change daily! So make sure to check them before your trip.
During my trip, the tide was coming in in the morning, so I headed to the Fundy Discovery Site first to see the tidal bore coming in. A tidal bore is basically a small yet powerful wave that travels *up* a river or narrow bay against the current as the tide starts to come in. The size of the wave can vary, but you can very clearly see it moving up the Salmon River in Truro.
Check the time of the tidal bore, and try to get to the Fundy Discovery Site at least 15-20 minutes beforehand. It comes in pretty fast, and if you miss it, you miss it.
In the afternoon, you have a couple options depending on your interests, the tide times, and how adventurous you want to be. The options I recommend include:
- Explore Victoria Park – This wooded park in Truro covers 3,000 acres, and is filled with hiking trails for all abilities. It's right next to Seek Wilderness Accommodations, too.
- Go Tidal Bore Rafting in the Bay of Fundy – This is definitely more of an adventure, and tours specifically run at high tide. Book a rafting trip with Shubie River Wranglers in Green Oaks (roughly 30 minutes from Truro), where you can ride the tidal bore waves on the Shubenacadie River in Zodiac boats. Mud sliding is included afterwards, so be prepared to get dirty!
- Walk on the ocean floor at Burntcoat Head Park – If low tide is at a convenient time, you can drive out to a little park called Burntcoat Head and actually walk out on the ocean floor at the point where the highest tides ever were recorded! You can only do this within 3 hours of low tide on either side (and the closer to low tide, the better), but it's super unique. The park is open until dusk from mid-May through mid-October.
And if you don't want to do any of those things? You can explore a bit more in Truro. I highly recommend visiting NovelTea Bookstore & Gifts and NovelTea Coffeehouse & Cafe.
For dinner tonight, Parichat's Asia Thai Restaurant in Truro would be my pick, or check out Murphy's if you didn't go there last night.
Total driving time today: It depends; if you go all the way out to Burntcoat Head Park (the furthest from Truro), it'll be 2 hours total of driving.
Where to stay in Truro (2 nights): Stay again tonight at Seek Wilderness Accommodations in a sea container cabin.
Day 4: Bison to Porters Lake
You can have a slower morning today before packing up and leaving Truro.
The main activity I recommend for this morning is stopping at Lindsay Lake Farms to meet a bison herd! The farm is run by a German couple with a super interesting story. Their focus is on sustainable farming practices, and you can book a tour of the farm (in a G-Wagon!) to learn more about the bison herd and the farm in general.
Afterwards, enjoy a beautiful picnic in view of the bison!
I love getting super-local like this, and the thought and care that goes into all the experiences at Lindsay Lake Farm is evident. Just be sure to book this (by email) at least 2 weeks in advance! You can find all their options here on their website.
If you book your bison visit around lunchtime, you'll have time to make another stop or two on the way to your next accommodation. You're headed for Porters Lake, and I recommend taking the route that goes through Musquodoboit Harbour on highway 357.
You can make a stop at Steeple Green Books, which is a super cute bookstore inside a converted church in Musquodoboit Harbour that sells both new and used books. There's a shop cat, and often two dogs inside, too, so if you're an animal-lover you'll especially love this spot!
You also might want to stop somewhere to grab food for dinner tonight, as I have a feeling you're not going to want to leave your accommodation to go back out (trust me). In Musquodoboit Harbour, you could stop in to Uprooted Market & Cafe to grab a tasty wrap or sandwich, or you could stop at Gazoo's in Porters Lake for takeout seafood.
(There's also an Atlantic Superstore in Porters Lake where you can pick up pre-made food, or stuff to cook yourself.)
Your destination for this evening is Nalu Retreat, a tucked-away spot where the accommodation is in the form of luxurious glamping domes! This is one of my favorite places I stayed the whole year, and I think it'll be a standout for you, too.
The domes are up on a hill overlooking Porters Lake (Dome #2 has the best lake views), and each dome has a full kitchen, cozy living room with secluded views, a comfy bed with enough pillows to get lost in, a large bathroom, and even a stargazing loft! Outside, each dome has a private deck with chairs, a firepit, and a small hot tub.
Add in all the small touches like aromatherapy, sound machines, robes and slippers, and tons of cozy touches, and you'll soon understand why I said you probably won't want to leave once you check in.
This evening, enjoy your dome to the fullest! I mentioned lots of options for dinner, but know that you can also pre-book food directly from Nalu Retreat. You just need to book this in advance (they'll stock your fridge before you arrive), and know that the food options generally serve at least 2.
Total driving time today: 2 hours 15 minutes. And please note that when you put Lindsay Lake Farms into your GPS from Truro, it might try to route you away from the numbered highways and try to take you down some logging roads. Do not follow this! Make sure you're taking a route that uses numbered highways; I recommend Trunk 2 to Highway 224.
Where to stay in Porters Lake (2 nights): I highly recommend staying at a luxury dome at Nalu Retreat tonight — you'll want to book this in advance to ensure you can get the dates you want, but it's 100% worth it.
Day 5: Southern beaches
You could opt to start your morning with a massage in your glamping dome (again, this is something you can pre-book through Nalu Retreat), or just enjoy the quiet and nature.
If you need breakfast or coffee this morning, stop at Pure Cafe, a cute spot with views of the lake. It's also near a quirky place you might also want to drive through: a trailer community where the streets are named This, That, and The Other.
Once you're ready to leave for the day, I recommend visiting some nearby beaches if the weather is nice. Martinique Beach is beautiful and worth seeing (and is a great spot to soak up some sun on the sand), and Lawrencetown Beach is popular with surfers.
Pick one to see, or perhaps visit both like I did!
A little further away, you could also drive out to Fisherman's Cove, a charming historic fishing village in Eastern Passage. There's a small museum here (the Fisherman's Cove Heritage Centre), as well as a boardwalk with shops, galleries, and places to eat.
For dinner tonight, opt for something relaxed back in Porters Lake (The Hungry Beagle is great), or book a table at Lupin Dining & Pantry in West Petpeswick for something fancy; they offer a 7-course farm-to-table chef's tasting menu during the summer months.
Total driving time today: It will vary depending on where you go! Expect at least 2 hours total of driving if you're just going to hit up the beaches; if you drive to Fisherman's Cove as well, expect closer to 3 hours total of driving.
Where to stay in Porters Lake (2 nights): Stay again tonight in your dome at Nalu Retreat.
Day 6: Peggy's Cove and Mahone Bay
It's time to say farewell to your dome this morning (and yes, it'll be hard to leave!). Get an earlier start so you can have a full day exploring some new spots.
The first stop you should make is past Halifax at Peggy's Cove, which is an artsy fishing village with a famous lighthouse on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay. Peggy's Cove is quite touristy these days, but I think the landscape and overall vibe of this little community makes up for any potential crowds.
Once in Peggy's Cove, take in the lighthouse views (if you go out onto the rocks, please be very careful and don't get anywhere near the black rocks or anything that looks wet), hit up some of the local gift shops and art galleries (there's so much locally-made stuff for sale!), and definitely get a lobster roll from Tom's Lobster Shack for lunch.
From Peggy's Cove, you can continue along the South Shore to the town of Mahone Bay, where you can base yourself for the last 2 nights of your trip.
Lots of people pass through Mahone Bay on their way to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, but Mahone Bay is well worth a visit on its own. (But don't worry, we'll visit Lunenburg, too!)
When you arrive this afternoon, check into your accommodation at Black Forest Cabins. These airy wood cabins are tucked away in a little copse of trees hung with twinkly lights — but they're actually a short drive or walk from the center of town!
If you arrive in the afternoon, a fun stop to make is at The BernArt Maze, roughly a 5-minute drive outside of Mahone Bay. This is more or less what it says on the tin: a funky maze filled with artworks of all types and sizes! The maze is open between late June (it opens on Summer Solstice each year) and early October, and is a fun detour to make for about an hour.
This evening, grab a drink at Saltbox Brewery in Mahone Bay, and then book dinner at Betty's at The Kitch.
Total driving time today: You'll spend about 2.5 hours on the road today; it's 1.5 hours from Nalu Retreat to Peggy's Cove, and then another hour from there to Mahone Bay.
Where to stay in Mahone Bay (2 nights): Stay in one of the studio cabins at Black Forest Cabins, which are cozy but really spacious. There's a cedar sauna on site that all guests have access to, too.
Day 7: Mahone Bay and Lunenburg
For a quick breakfast this morning, either drive a few minutes to Boulangerie La Vendéenne for some delicious French pastries, or head just down the street from your cabin to The Barn Coffee & Social House.
Then this morning, you might like to rent a bike from Sweet Ride Cycling to explore a bit of town and a portion of the multi-use trails that run right through Mahone Bay (like the Dynamite Trail or Bay to Bay Trail). You can also ride over to Oakland Road to get the classic photo of Mahone Bay's iconic Three Churches.
The other option for your morning is to just explore a bit more of Mahone Bay on foot. You can visit the small Mahone Bay Museum, see a demonstration at Amos Pewter, and visit the adorable Faerie Trails in a little garden in the center of town.
For lunch, grab a table on the outdoor patio at The Naked Oyster Seafood and Grill, or opt for a quicker lunch at the Famous Town Pie Shop.
After lunch, it's time to make the short drive to the historic town of Lunenburg. Lunenburg — and specifically the old city center — was founded in 1753 by the British, and is recognized by UNESCO as being “the best-surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America.”
It's worth it to take a stroll to see all the colorful wooden buildings and churches in town, and the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic is a great spot to learn about the area's ongoing fishing industry.
Lunenburg is also home to the famous Bluenose II ship, which offers harbor cruises twice per day as well as the chance to walk around the decks when she's docked in between cruises.
Grab a drink tonight at either Lightship Brewery (which has great Lunenburg views) or Shipwright Brewing Company Taproom + Kitchen (which also makes fabulous pizzas). Some good spots for dinner include The Beach Pea Kitchen & Bar, The Half Shell Oysters & Seafood, and The South Shore Fish Shack.
And then it's a short drive back to Mahone Bay for the night.
Total driving time today: 30 minutes (it only takes 15 minutes to drive to Lunenburg)
Where to stay in Mahone Bay (2 nights): Stay again at Black Forest Cabins.
Day 8: Halifax and home
This is the end of my itinerary, so it's time to head back to Halifax and fly home. (The Halifax Stanfield International Airport is only about 1.5 hours from Mahone Bay.)
Hopefully you will have had a fun and unique road trip around Nova Scotia!
If you have more time…
If you want to extend your trip to 10 days or even 2 weeks, some other places you might like to add to this trip include Yarmouth (another coastal town), Annapolis Royal (founded by the French in 1605, it's one of the oldest European settlements in North America), and Cape Breton Island (where you can drive the Cabot Trail and visit Cape Breton Highlands National Park).
I did not visit any of those spots on this particular road trip, however, so I'm not including them here! If you want to add any of them, though, I'd say you need at least 1 extra day for each, and probably 2 extra days for Cape Breton.
Who's ready to plan a Nova Scotia road trip now?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
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