Day 1 · Halifax to Antigonish
Leave the city by the Eastern Shore
Take the slower coastal line when time allows, stopping at beaches and small harbours before an easy first night in Antigonish.
Nova Scotia · self-drive guide
Cabot Trail & the coast
A compact Atlantic loop where the best moments arrive between destinations: headlands, fishing villages, trailheads and roadside lobster stops.
TIME6–9 days
DISTANCEAbout 950 km
GOMay–October
Halifax → Antigonish → Chéticamp → Cabot Trail → Baddeck → Halifax
Route overview
See the whole
journey at once.
Select a named checkpoint to see its photograph and notes. Zoom in for the road detail, or open the main stops in your preferred navigation app.
The line follows the mapped driving route between the checkpoints. Your navigation app may vary, so check conditions, ferry crossings and seasonal closures before driving.
Days 2–3 · Chéticamp
Acadian Cape Breton
Cross onto Cape Breton, follow the Ceilidh Trail north and use Chéticamp for the Skyline Trail and the western side of the national park.
Days 4–5 · Ingonish
Round the highlands
Drive the northern Cabot Trail slowly, stopping at Pleasant Bay and the look-offs before hiking or swimming around Ingonish.
Day 6 · Baddeck
A gentler finish
Follow Bras d’Or Lake to Baddeck for a final quiet night before the straightforward return to Halifax.
Overnight stops
Where to stay
along the way.
- Antigonish for the approach
- Chéticamp for the western trailheads
- Ingonish and Baddeck for the eastern side
Before you set off
Road notes
- Give the Cabot Trail a full daylight day
- Fuel before entering quieter stretches
- Fog can change visibility quickly
- Add time for every coastal lookout
Distances and drive times are road-map estimates, not promises. Always confirm current road conditions, park access, ferry times and seasonal closures before setting off.
Sources checked · 9 August 2026Tourism Nova Scotia — Essential Nova Scotia itinerary Parks Canada — Cape Breton Highlands conditions