Camping Eastern Canada & Maritimes

[Microbusdeluxe]

Making plans for a trip across Canada from Vancouver, BC to wherever is the eastern-most point or thereabouts next summer and fall. I'm curious if anyone here has good information on where to go, what to see, what to avoid, camping tips, etc. We hope to catch the fall foliage in September/October so any inside info on where & when would be useful, too. I'll do a trip report so the next guy can share in the information. Thanks.
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'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[E1]

We spent about two weeks in Nova Scotia in July, 1999, then the next year right at 30 days in Newfoundland and Labrador — the entire month of October. Drove nearly 7,000 km in Newfoundland, basically seeing the entire coastline except for the “outport” towns along the west end of the south coast that are only available if you ride on mail boats.

We also crossed from the NW tip (Cape Bonaventure, I think) westwards to Labrador on a car ferry, saw maybe a hundred spouts from whales, and took the Labrador Highway as far as it went then… about fifty miles. I believe now it goes like 600.

It’s an unbelievable place. I’d skip Nova Scotia to do it again and go up Labrador. The people are unbelievable, we met hundreds, everyone invited us over but we were on a photo mission and never did, only met two unfriendly people the whole time (and coincidently, they were the only two Americans we met also).

We’re very hardy, but October was getting cold. But we didn’t at all care. Next time we’re going in May to see the icebergs and far better weather.

I have a lot of photos, and way more info than I wanna type on my phone — both best done on phone and email if of interest.

We were very sad to leave, very, and probably won’t next time.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Abscate]

Don’t worry about catching “ the peak” , there is no such animal. My six year old pointed this out when she noticed that two identical silver maples in our yard turned three weeks apart.

Canada is a real civilized place and I’ve always enjoyed it, missed it horribly during Covid. I believe the ferry between Portland ME and Halifax is running again so that might work into plans. We used it in a week long “ all the 6 kids are gone “ trip in our T4 Westy on a camp one night, Hilton points next night trip in 2018. The ferry got us back to NY from Funday in a half day of driving.

[RoryGirl]

[Timwhy]

[Timwhy]

The Provincial Parks of New Brunswick & Nova Scotia are really nice.

Fundy National Park is also beautiful.

Kiwanis CG in St. Andrew NB is nice and seaside. Northern NB like Bouctouche Bay CG is nice and across from the ocean.

Commercial CG's in NS that we have stayed at and would stay again. Shubie Park in Dartmouth/Halifax region.
Whale of a Time CG in Freeport NS, on an island headed to the Western most point in NS. Two ferry rides to get to Digby Island.
Bell Bay CG on the way to Yarmouth was another with ocean side sites.

Lots to see in both Provinces! We have been lucky that our great friends that we camp and travel with are from both NB & NS. They make all of the traveling exciting and fun!!
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'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[brickster]

One of our most memorable westy adventures was exploring the thousand islands region. We took 3 ferries, camped by the beach, met great people. Water everywhere, if we went back we’d bring the inflatable kayaks.

[E1]

[jimf909]

I subscribe to some local newspapers to get an idea of what goes on in the world. The Quoddy Tides is "the most easterly published newspaper in the US" and covers neighboring communities in Canada. It's proper journalism and the website or a subscription may give you some local insights for your visit.

https://quoddytides.com/

From the current issue:

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- Jim

[Microbusdeluxe]

Thanks for the tips. I've ordered the Backroads Mapbooks for the Maritimes to start planning and getting an idea of the geography. For some reason they don't have any books covering Quebec. I guess that whole Québécois thing is real! Keep the tips coming & remember to enjoy a smoke to improve your health and social life.
_________________
'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[danfromsyr]

LMK if you are traveling through NY (Upstate I-90 and north) and VT and NH
and I can offer out some travel ideas & stops..
do keep in mind that some places shut down after labor day, so you'll be a little limited on your options, but many places are still open till Columbus weekend and some after..
again if you're passing thru NY/VT/NH drop me a PM and I'll toss in some ideas.

in NY as mentioned the Fingerlakes region is splendid inthe fall. as is the Thousand islands (St Lawrence Seaway) the ADKs and most VT&NH..

none of our roads here are like out west.. what the locals call a Mtn is just a long hill. it'll be great westy travel
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[Shonandb]

Not much to see between Alberta and Ontario along the Trans-Canada Hwy so we usually travel through the Northern US when heading back East from Vancouver. The Ilse-de-la-Magdeleine (Magdalen Islands), a few hours ferry ride North of PEI is a pretty nice place to visit but not all that different from Newfoundland and Labrador but as it's part of Quebec, French is the local language.
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image

[mikemtnbike]

I rode my bike from Halifax up and around Cape Breton and back many years ago. If things are about the same, which I imagine they actually are in a place that requires one to be a little bit hard to live there, you can't go wrong basically. Abundant camping, peaceful roads, interesting culture. I have a guidebook for bike touring that is essentially some guy's journal that he kinko's published- strongly recommended, although very dated at this point. My wife and I might go do this same tour again next year!

https://www.amazon.com/Cyclists-Canadas-Playground-Scotia-Bicycle/dp/096974580X
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[Barking Squirrel]

Hey There.
FWIW
We drove from Victoria, BC to Calgary, AB in July 2023.
Took the Fraser Canyon route 1 to Cache Creek, then to Kamloops then route 5 to Jasper, then the icefields parkway to Lake Louise.
Highly recommend this trip. Low traffic, less hills, endless camping spots along rivers (except in the National Parks). You get some rain forest, some desert, some mountains, and some glaciers. Iconic trip. Iconic scenery. Great people.
Google maps is your friend.
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1980 Vanagon L 235k, Dual Carbs, "Mattie". Air Cooled.

[Barking Squirrel]

and, to concur with other posts, the trip from Calgary to Ontario is beautifully flat. Cruise control is your friend...and another driver. Prairie headwinds and crosswinds are hell. I am also convinced the flatest place is in Canada is between Winnipeg and Kenora.

The TransCanada highway across north Ontario looks shorter than it feels. Around lake superior is trees and lakes. Endless camping...and takes forever to drive.

In the past, I have opted to travel from Calgary to Estevan, SK and then head into the northern USA to Grand Forks, Deluth and onto Sault Sainte Marie. Lots of places to camp.

People are very friendly and traffic light compared to the southern routes.
Enjoy the trip.

FYI- I will be going from Halifax to Victoria in September (or sooner). Doing the route as describe above ...
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1980 Vanagon L 235k, Dual Carbs, "Mattie". Air Cooled.

[campism]

[old_man]

If you're going that far my only suggestion is to go a little farther and make it to Newfoundland.