Travel to New Brunswick
The Acadian Peninsula in autumn. Credit: Ísjaki Studio
So you have decided to travel to our remote corner of New Brunswick! It's by no means the easiest of places to reach but with this little guide you'll be in and out without issues.
Please note as this is a very rural area, public transit is essentially non-existent and you will need a car rental for some part of the journey. Fortunately, driving around here is very easy, there is never any traffic, and most roads are in good condition.
Fly in
There is no major airport in close proximity to the venue, so here are a list of airport options, along with how far from the venue they are, expressed in driving times. Driving times are pretty consistent at all hours even at peak times, unless you are travelling through Québec City.
- Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport [YQM] (2 hours 40 minutes): This is the main airport in New Brunswick and the “recommended” one. Moncton is served by all of Canada's main international carriers (Air Canada, WestJet and Porter) but you will require a layover in Canada. For direct flights from the East Coast of the US, look at the airport in Halifax.
- Bathurst Airport [ZBF] (1 hour 10 minutes): Bathurst is the local airport and can be a good option, but is not always convenient and/or reliable. Bathurst receives a few Air Canada flights per week from Montréal, but delays and cancellations are not uncommon. Rental car options in Bathurst are also generally limited. It is mostly used by locals who travel frequently and have access to backup options, but there are many tourists who still use it.
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport [YHZ] (4 hours 40 minutes): Halifax in the neighbouring province of Nova Scotia is the only true international airport in the Canadian Maritimes, as it receives year-round flights from countries other than sun destinations. Halifax usually has regular direct flights to the New York City, Boston and Washington DC areas, as well as London Heathrow. Is it served by all of Canada's major carriers (Air Canada, WestJet and Porter). The drive time is obviously longer but there are plenty of things to see on the way.
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport [YQB] (6 hours 40 minutes): Québec City is the second largest Canadian airport on this list. It does get the occasional flights from Newark (New York City), Chicago and Philadelphia. The drive time is long but you may want to consider combining this trip with a visit to the historical Old Québec.
- Airports in the United States (6 to 10 hours): There are airports in the US that are not too far from the Canadian border. Sometimes flying into one of those airports then driving across the border could turn out much cheaper than flying into Canada. Bangor (BGR) or Portland (PWM) in Maine are two common options. Boston is also somewhat within reach but is still a whopping 10-hour drive away. Note: if you do rent a car in the US with the intent of driving it into Canada, we recommend ensuring that the rental company allows it.
Airlines
Of the above-mentioned Canadian airports, only Halifax and Québec are served by US airlines. Otherwise, Canada has 2 major airlines and one smaller airline that serves the East coast plus a few transcontinental routes.
- Air Canada is the largest airline in Canada and has the most routes domestically and internationally. It's typically the most reliable although it still suffers from the same occasional issues as other airlines do. Air Canada is a member of Star Alliance and so has partnerships with United Airlines. It is worth noting that some Air Canada routes are operated by its subsidiary Rouge which tends to suffer considerably more when it comes to delays and cancellations, so we tend to avoid Rouge whenever possible. Other regional subsidiaries such as Jazz are typically fine.
- WestJet is the second largest airline in Canada. It started as a low-cost carrier (think Southwest Airlines) but is now more like a full-fledged airlines with international destinations and a good selection of routes. It is not a member of an airline alliance but has a partnership with Delta Air Lines in the US.
- Porter is a new and up-and-coming airline that is growing quickly. It markets itself on passenger comfort. Its aircraft are typically newer and it offers free Wi-Fi. Flights are less expensive to some destinations. It serves most of the Eastern US (Boston, New York, DC, Chicago) and has recently launched routes to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. In the US, Porter has partnerships with Alaska and JetBlue.
Driving
If you live in Eastern Canada or on the East Coast of the US, driving may be a simpler and cheaper option than flying in some instances. Take the opportunity and make it a road trip! The rest of this website offers many suggestions on what to do and where to stay.