If you’ve found this post, it likely means that you’re planning a visit to Maine and Nova Scotia, and are wondering the best way to travel between the two – and I’m so happy to have you here. Having made the journey myself a few times, I’m excited to share all my insight on the best ways to travel from Maine to Nova Scotia.
In this post, I’ll be sharing my experiences driving between the two destinations, as well as taking the ferry between Bar Harbor and Nova Scotia, and sharing the advantages and disadvantages of each option. By the end, you should feel like a pro, and be able to decide which option will work best for you.
Ready to get started? Let’s get into it! We’re going to start with a recap of the ferry service …
New England Wanderlust contains affiliate links, and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from any purchases you choose to make from our links, at no additional cost to you. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
Is There A Ferry Between Bar Harbor, Maine & Nova Scotia?
Yes. The CAT Ferry sails between Bar Harbor in Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and is a wonderful option to explore Nova Scotia during your trip to New England and Maine.
The ferry service takes about 3.5 hours in cruising time, plus extra time to check-in and board the ferry. In comparison, the drive takes at least 8 hours, depending on where in Nova Scotia you drive to, but usually tends to be longer.
Pros & Cons Of The CAT Ferry
Pros Of The CAT Ferry:
→ It saves you a lot of time. As mentioned, the CAT ferry makes your journey from Maine to Nova Scotia a lot shorter, as the drive can takes upwards of 8 hours, but probably more because the best places to see in Nova Scotia are further away from the New Brunswick border (where you cross into Nova Scotia).
→ It’s an easy option. If you want to completely relax during the trip to Nova Scotia, the CAT ferry provides all the amenities, so you can just sit back and enjoy the cruise over. The seats are spacious, and you can completely turn off your brain to soak it all in rather than navigating a longer drive.
→ You’re surrounded by beautiful ocean views the entire trip. Of course, the drive also has scenic moments, but many parts of the drive are also just highway, whereas the ferry always has that ocean view!
Cons Of The CAT Ferry:
→ It’s expensive. If you’re traveling with a vehicle, the cost will go up even more. For a family with kids, all that can really add up.
→ You are asked to arrive at the ferry 60-90 minutes before departure time if bringing a vehicle with you, which does make the journey a bit longer than the 3.5-hour cruising time.
→ The ferry only runs seasonally, and in the spring and fall, it only runs on certain days of the week. In the summer (July and August), it will run every day. However, it only sails over to Nova Scotia in the afternoon once per day. So, you are limited with how you can work it into your schedule.
→ The ferry gets into Nova Scotia in the evening (usually around 7:30p local time (the time zone is one hour ahead of Bar Harbor). Once you get through passport control, you don’t really have a lot of time to do anything except head to a hotel in Yarmouth for the night, so the ferry really takes up the entire second half of your day.
→ If you’re prone to seasickness, you should know that the ride is a tad on the rocky side. You’ll definitely feel some tilting back and forth, and many people were unsteady on their feet while walking around. I’m very prone to seasickness, and I was fine on the ride with Dramamine. But this is something to consider.
My Recap Of The CAT Ferry Experience
I really loved the ferry ride from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia on the ferry! The entire process, from purchasing my tickets, to checking in, to boarding, and the actual cruise, was seamless and easy.
The ferry website is comprehensive, and answers a lot of questions you may have about the experience. It shares menus for the ferry’s dining options, and explains how the vessel is laid out, so everything was very stress-free once I arrived.
One of the nice things about the boarding process is that you can check in the day before your sailing, which is what I chose to do to save time the day of departure. The day before, I drove over to the ferry terminal, and there was no one there, and I was able to hand over my passport, and check in, all within the span of maybe 5 minutes tops. The next day, I was able to drive right up to the boarding area and drive onto the ferry without any additional wait time.
We also left 25 minutes early during my ferry experience! I traveled in early June, so the vessel wasn’t full, and everyone arrived within plenty of time, so getting an early start was a nice surprise. This won’t always be the case, though.
The entire cruise was wonderful. The seats were comfortable, and there were a lot of different options to choose form, including regular rows of seats, table configurations, and conversations areas. There were lots of windows to enjoy the views from (although, sadly, the day I sailed was very foggy and overcast). But I’ve been told that you may get lucky and even spot dolphins or whales during the cruise.
One space on the ferry shows a movie during the sailing (however, the TVs were a bit outdated, and it was hard to hear it sometimes). But, it was a newer movie, which was nice. They usually have live music in another area, too, which is really cool (but I could not hear it from other parts of the ferry, which is nice if you wanted a more quiet experience).
The food on the ferry was also much better than I expected. I didn’t get a lot, but I did order a latte and a grilled cheese sandwich, and both were very good! It wasn’t amazing, of course, but honestly, it exceeded my expectations.
Finally, there was also a gift shop on board, and while the prices were rather high (which makes sense, since it was a ferry), they have some fun things and souvenirs to check out, as well as a small section of snacks and candy.
Overall, the ferry experience was enjoyable, exciting, easy, and stress-free!
Maine To Nova Scotia Ferry FAQ
Is Bar Harbor The Only Departure Point In Maine For The Nova Scotia Ferry?
Yes, there is no other ferry from Maine to Nova Scotia. The only other option would be to drive an additional 3.5 hours from Bar Harbor to Saint John, New Brunswick (which includes a border crossing and passport control), and then take the ferry from Saint John to Digby, Nova Scotia. This ferry option sails along the Bay of Fundy, offering really amazing views along the way.
When Does The Ferry Run?
The CAT ferry from Bar Harbor only runs seasonally, typically from mid May through mid October. The website has a schedule that lists their first and last sailings of the year, so you can easily plan accordingly. Click here to find their sailing schedule.
However, the ferry from Saint John to Digby runs year-round.
Do You Need A Passport To Take The Maine To Nova Scotia Ferry?
Yes! Since you’ll be crossing an international line, a passport is required to take the ferry, and you’ll need to present it at check-in before boarding the ferry, and once you get off the ferry in Nova Scotia.
When you sail from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia, you’ll drive off the ferry, and immediately be guided into a lane at border control.
This is one of the few downsides of the ferry – since everyone is de-boarding at the same time, the line gets pretty backed up, and passport control may take longer than a typical land border crossing. I was very unlucky in that I was the very last car to drive off the ferry, and it took me about 1 hour total to wait in line at passport control. However, if you’re one of the first ones off the ferry, it could be very quick! It really just depends.
Can You Bring Your Car On The Ferry?
Yes, you absolutely can, and it’s easy to do. The only downside is that it’s expensive to bring your car on the ferry, and the price is different based on the season (it can run anywhere from $149-$274USD for a ONE way vehicle fare).*
However, price aside, the process of bringing your car on the ferry is stress-free, and it seemed like this was how most people were making the crossing over.
If you don’t want to bring your car with you, you can also rent a car in Yarmouth when you arrive. Just be aware that there is no car rental agency at the ferry terminal, and you’ll need to take a 5-minute taxi ride to the car rental agencies in town. There could be a hassle with timing it right with passport control, since you won’t exactly know what time you’ll clear customs. However, it may be worth comparing the prices of the fee to bring your car on the ferry, versus renting once you arrive.
*Prices as of 2025.
Is There Still A Ferry That Runs From Portland, Maine To Nova Scotia?
No, this ferry is no longer running as of 2018, and the new point of departure in Maine is Bar Harbor.
Is The CAT Ferry From Bar Harbor To Nova Scotia Expensive?
Yes, it unfortunately is expensive, which is the biggest downside. I think you get a lot in return for the cost, including the time savings, amenities on board, and a stress-free trip. However, I can see how it could be too far of a stretch if you have a bigger group.
Prices change, depending on the season, and are lower in the spring and fall, and higher in the summer. The passenger-only ONE WAY fares as of 2025 are (USD):
→ $86-$118 for adults
→ $83-$110 for seniors
→ $53-$70 kids 7-13
→ Children 6 and under are free
If you need to take the ferry round-trip, you’ll have to pay more.
Is The Ferry Ride Scenic?
Yep! While you’re pretty much just out on the open ocean most of the time, that alone is a very scenic cruise. And as mentioned, I’ve heard of people saying that you could get lucky and even spot whales and dolphins during the cruise on a nice day.
But, it’s also possible you could have some bad luck, like me, and have a very overcast and foggy ride.
However, I think it’s generally more scenic than the drive.
Things To Bring With You On The Ferry:
→ Seasickness medication if needed. I took Dramamine, and was okay, but the boat is a bit rocky.
→ A jacket or sweater for going out to the outdoor decks to enjoy the views (weather-permitting).
→ Any entertainment you’d like, such as books, magazines, etc.
→ Snacks and drinks if you don’t want to buy any food while on board (but the food was pretty good on the ferry!).
→ You don’t need your passport once you’re on the ferry, but I’d make sure you have it handy in your car (if you brought it with you), or have it ready to go once you get off the ferry for passport control.
More Ferry Options To Nova Scotia
If you’d like to keep your options open, you can also consider driving from Bar Harbor, Maine to Saint John, New Brunswick, and then taking the ferry from Saint John to Digby, Nova Scotia – as mentioned.
The sailing time 2.5 hours long (so, one hour less than the Bar Harbor to Yarmouth crossing), and the drive from Bar Harbor to Saint John is about 3.5 hours. This will still save you some time, but it might actually be about the same amount of time once you factor in the boarding time, check-in time, and time at passport control.
Is The Maine Or New Brunswick Ferry To Nova Scotia Better?
This is really personal preference based on your plans, but there are a few pointers I can provide to help you decide which is best for you.
First, as mentioned, the ferry from Saint John, NB to Nova Scotia might not save you that much time, so this is something you’ll need to consider for your itinerary (and subsequently, how important it is for your plans to save as much driving time as possible).
Second, the Saint John ferry runs year-round, not just seasonally. So, if you’re traveling in the off-season, this may be a good option for you.
Next, the stops you can make between Maine to Saint John are really wonderful. Having done it myself, I really enjoyed making stops at gorgeous places in Northeastern Maine, which are usually too out of the way for most folks only visiting Maine, but convenient to stop at when making this particular road trip. Skip down below for more information on driving from Maine to Saint John or Nova Scotia!
Lastly, these two ferry routes dock at two different locations on Nova Scotia. The Bar Harbor route docks in Yarmouth, NS, and the Saint John route docks in Digby, NS. Both of these docking locations are relatively the same distance to the popular sightseeing towns in Nova Scotia like Lunenburg, Halifax, and Peggy’s Cove.
Both Digby and Yarmouth are very charming with lovely scenery, so one really isn’t better than the other as far as your arrival to Nova Scotia. It will moreso depend on where in Nova Scotia you want to see, and drive to next.
Overall, the Bar Harbor route is the most efficient way to get to Nova Scotia, but if you’re looking for a good mix of a road trip and utilizing the ferries, this option is a nice one to consider.
I’ve also heard that the views along the Saint John ferry are more scenic, as you’re cruising along the Bay of Fundy.
Driving From Maine To Nova Scotia & Best Stops To Make
Okay, let’s talk about making the drive!
As mentioned, depending on where you decide to go in Nova Scotia, you’ll want to expect the drive to take anywhere from 8-10 hours without long stops, plus extra time for the land border crossings. However, there are some really fun places to stop along the way, and rather than tire yourself out to make the drive in one day, it might be best to break up the drive, and allow at least two days to enjoy it.
I will say, I’ve made the drive in one day before from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, and I really don’t recommend it. It was a very long day that started at around 5-6a, and I ended up being too tired and sick of being in the car by the end of the day 😂 The drive is also not the most scenic, as it’s more about the beautiful stops you can make, so it can get quite boring unless you plan it correctly.
These are the best places I’ve found that are worth stopping for on the drive:
→ Lubec, Maine – It’s the easternmost part of the U.S., and is home to old-world fishing village charm, incredible hiking, a beautiful red-and-white-striped lighthouse called West Quoddy, and opportunities for whale watching cruises. I have an entire post all about visiting Lubec, Maine, if you need some ideas 😉
→ St. Andrews-By-The-Sea, New Brunswick – Very close to the Maine border is this charming little town that’s such a gem. It’s got a great downtown with shopping and dining, a lovely lighthouse, beautiful botanical gardens, and overall, feels like a movie set that you may never want to leave.
→ Musquash Head Lighthouse – This is a wonderful lighthouse you’ll have to walk about a mile to and back, but it offers beautiful scenery, and is a great way to stretch your legs. There’s a really cool black sand beach nearby, too! This is a bit out of the way, but a lovely detour to make to break up the drive.
→ Saint John – This destination in New Brunswick is a fun one to explore if you’re more of a city person. Lots of great scenery, shops, restaurants, breweries and more.
→ Saint Martins, New Brunswick – Just before you hop on the Fundy Trail Parkway (if you decide to take this slightly longer route), you’ll drive through the small town of Saint Martins. And the reason this is a noteworthy stop is because you’ll find some really cool sea caves here that you can actually explore at low tide. So, you’ll need to time your visit just right, but if you can, this is such a cool stop to make that not many tourists know about! There’s also a great restaurant there called Caves Family Restaurant that overlooks the caves.
→ Fundy Trail Parkway – This will add about an hour to the drive, but man, the coastal scenery along the way is worth it! This parkway offers quite a few overlooks to enjoy that are easy to spot and pull into, and you can even plan to get some take-out food and enjoy a picnic here on one of the picnic tables with a pretty epic view. There are also some hiking trails along the drive. Note that there is a charge to enter the parkway, and you can click here for more information.
→ Hopewell Rocks – If you don’t plan to experience the tides along the Bay of Fundy when you’re in Nova Scotia, I highly recommend checking out Hopewell Rocks on your drive. The Bay of Fundy is known for having the highest tides in the world, and depending on when you arrive, you’ll either see low tide, which is when you can walk out onto the ocean floor, or high tide, when you’ll be amazed that the water actually completely disappears in a few hours. There is a fee to enter, but admission is good for two days to really take advantage of it.
Note: If you can work it into your itinerary, I did slightly prefer Burntcoat Head Park in Nova Scotia along the Bay of Fundy over Hopewell Rocks, and Burntcoat is free! If you’re heading to the Lunenburg/Peggys Cove area, you can stop here instead, but it will add about an hour of extra driving time.
→ Nova Scotia Welcome Sign – I know, I know, this is beyond touristy, but honestly, this is such a fun little stop to make to commemorate arriving on Nova Scotia! This will come right up on Google Maps, and there’s also a visitor’s center with good bathrooms, water fountains, and a gift shop, so it’s an easy stop to make on the drive for a bathroom break.
→ As mentioned Burntcoat Head Park is another fantastic place to experience the tides along the Bay of Fundy, and if this area is your preference over Hopewell Rocks, now is when you’d want to make that stop if you’re heading to the Lunenburg/Peggys Cove area 😊
Psst! I have a detailed post on my New England to Canada Itinerary for a DREAMY East Coast Road Trip, if you’re looking for more information!
Driving From Maine To Nova Scotia – FAQ
How Long Is The Drive?
This depends on where in Nova Scotia you want to go, but generally, expect the drive to take at least 8 hours, plus extra time for the border crossing.
I suggest most first timers visit two general regions of Nova Scotia: Lunenburg/Peggys Cove/Halifax, or Cape Breton. Generally, it will likely take 8 hours or so if you want to drive to Lunenburg to also see Peggy’s Cove and Halifax. Expect the drive to take at least 9.5 hours if you want to head directly up to the Cape Breton area.
Is The Drive From Bar Harbor, Maine To Nova Scotia Scenic?
Yes and no. Parts of the drive, especially along the Fundy Trail Parkway, are incredibly scenic. There are also some nice stretches in more rural areas with nice farmland views. But most of the drive is along highways and such that aren’t quite as scenic. I don’t think it’s an especially unpleasant drive, but I think many folks assume that the entire drive is super scenic, and it’s sadly just not.
However, it is a really fun drive to make if you have time to make some of the stops I’ve recommended – those are all scenic and absolutely worth it.
How Many Days Do You Need To Make The Drive?
This depends entirely on your schedule. You can easily take the most direct route and arrive in Nova Scotia in about 8-8.5 hours, and only take one full day.
You can also make the drive in one day if you wanted to make 1-2 stops along the way, but end in Nova Scotia that same night. You’ll just want to plan an early start, and a late night.
However, I’d recommend 2 days to really enjoy everything this drive has to offer because there are some really cool things to see and experience. I especially love Lubec, St. Andrews, Fundy Trail Parkway, and the caves in Saint Martins.
So, Is The Ferry Or The Drive From Maine To Nova Scotia Better?
I hate to sound like a broken record, but … it really depends.
Mostly, it depends on how tight or relaxed your schedule is, since the ferry can save you quite a bit of time, and the drive is, well … almost twice as long.
My overall opinion is actually to do both. On my most recent trip, I took the CAT Ferry from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia, and then drove back through New Brunswick and Maine on my way home, and it kind of gives you the best of both worlds. However, I budgeted two days in my itinerary to make this drive, so I was able to take my time, and enjoy everything it had to offer.
I’ve also done the entire drive in one day, and in all honesty, it was pretty rough. It’s definitely doable if that’s what will work best for you, but I do highly recommend taking two days to make the drive and see some of the attractions along the way if you can.
However, if you’re short on time, I would suggest that you take the CAT ferry both ways (if your budget allows) to maximize your time while in Nova Scotia, since there are so many incredibly beautiful towns and things to see while there.
More posts you may find helpful:
- My Unforgettable Boston To Bar Harbor, Maine Road Trip Itinerary
- My Perfect Maine Lighthouse Road Trip Itinerary
- The BEST Acadia National Park Itinerary
- Best Time Of Year To Visit New England
- Best Time Of Year To Visit Acadia National Park
- Must-See Towns On The New England Coast
That’s A Wrap On Traveling Between Bar Harbor, Maine & Nova Scotia
And there you have it – my recap of both the drive and ferry from Maine to Nova Scotia! Both are great options, and you can’t really go wrong with either decision. It’ll come down to personal preference, and the kind of trip you want to have. The CAT Ferry from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia is such a great option for those who want an easy, relaxing ride over. If you’re looking for more adventure, you’ll want to drive. Better yet, take the ferry there, and drive back to Maine to get a taste for both 😉 Happy planning!
