Eastern Canada unfolds like a novel—Niagara’s thunder, Ontario’s historic capitals, French-inflected Montréal and Québec City, and the sea-washed provinces where tides tower and cliffs blaze with autumn color. You’ll trace centuries of Indigenous presence, French and British colonial histories, and the modern cultural energy of Canada’s most livable cities.

On this 21-day road trip, you’ll drive a comfortable loop eastward with no more than 400 km on any single day and a maximum of two nights per city. Expect scenic highways, small-town bakeries, museums that reward slow wandering, and beaches from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic.

Fly into Toronto or Buffalo and depart from Halifax or Sydney (Cape Breton). Book flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, then pick up a rental car at the airport. For this route (approx. 3,300–3,700 km), budget roughly $350–500 for fuel, plus city parking where applicable.

Niagara Falls

Days 1–2: The Horseshoe, viewpoints, and wine country gateway

Start where the Niagara River hurls itself over the rim—an elemental spectacle best seen from above, below, and behind. Walk the parkway at golden hour when mist throws rainbows across the Horseshoe Falls, then stroll Clifton Hill for a carnival afterglow.

• Iconic experiences (Viator):
  • Niagara Falls Tour with Boat Ride & Journey Behind the Falls — classic viewpoints plus the spray-soaked boat ride.

    

  • Niagara Falls Tour: Boat Cruise, Journey Behind Falls and Skylon — add the 520-ft Skylon Tower panoramas.

    

• Eat & drink: Book a window table at Table Rock House Restaurant for falls-side Canadian fare; try Tide & Vine Oyster House for seafood and local wine; grab butter tarts at Queen Street’s Dad’s Diner or Third Space Café for a low-key breakfast.
• Where to stay: Fallsview classics and family favorites:
  • Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa
  • Days Inn by Wyndham Niagara Falls Near The Falls
  • Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls
  Or browse apartments and hotels: VRBO Niagara Falls | Hotels.com Niagara Falls
• Arrival logistics: Fly into Toronto (YYZ) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com, then drive 130 km (1.5–2 hrs) to the Falls.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Day 3: Heritage town and vineyard tastings

Georgian-era storefronts, leafy streets, and lake breezes define this former capital. It’s the perfect wine-and-walk day after the roar of the Falls.

• Do: Stroll the waterfront, tour Fort George, and taste Rieslings and icewines on the Bench. Cool-weather pick: Fireside Flights Outdoor Tasting Experience.

  

• Eat: Treadwell Cuisine for farm-to-table tasting menus; The Irish Harp Pub for a shepherd’s pie and live music; bakery stop at Budapest Bakeshop for chimney cakes.
• Stay: Prince of Wales Hotel | The Olde Angel Inn | Pillar and Post Inn & Spa | VRBO Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Next drive: 130 km (1.5–2 hrs) to Toronto.

Toronto

Days 4–5: Big-city culture, neighborhoods, and markets

Canada’s largest city pairs marquee museums with immigrant-driven food scenes. From the CN Tower to laneway coffee, your days will fill quickly.

• Top sights: Royal Ontario Museum (crystal-meets-classics), Art Gallery of Ontario, CN Tower edge views, and a morning graze at St. Lawrence Market (try Carousel Bakery’s peameal bacon and Buster’s Sea Cove lobster roll).
• Tour (Viator): Discover Toronto's Underground - PATH walking tour for winter-friendly city highlights beneath the streets.

  

• Eat & drink: Dineen Coffee Co. or Early Bird for coffee; lunch at Khao San Road (Thai) or Seven Lives (tacos in Kensington); dinner at Richmond Station (seasonal Canadian) or Bar Isabel (Spanish). Nightcap at BarChef for avant-garde cocktails.
• Stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto | The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar | Chelsea Hotel, Toronto | Hotels.com Toronto (all options) | VRBO Toronto
• Next drive: 260 km (2.5–3 hrs) to Kingston via Hwy 401. Optional no-drive alternative: one-way flight Toronto–Kingston or train (check schedules); flights via Trip.com.

Kingston (1000 Islands gateway)

Day 6: Limestone city and river archipelago

Once the capital of the Province of Canada, Kingston charms with limestone architecture and waterfront paths. If time allows, cruise the 1000 Islands for castle views and river lore.

• Do: Walk Springer Market Square, tour Fort Henry (living-history military site), or rent bikes along the lake. Warm months: swim at Richardson Beach or day-trip to Sandbanks Provincial Park’s dunes (Picton) if weather’s right.
• Eat: Breakfast at Pan Chancho Bakery (brioche and savory scones); wood-fired pizza at Wooden Heads; seafood at Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse.
• Stay: Hotels.com Kingston | VRBO Kingston
• Next drive: 195 km (2 hrs) to Ottawa.

Ottawa

Days 7–8: National museums, ByWard Market, Rideau Canal

Canada’s capital rewards curiosity: world-class galleries, Gothic Revival Parliament, and the Rideau Canal threading through city parks. In summer, rent kayaks; in winter, skate when the canal freezes.

• Do: National Gallery of Canada (don’t miss the Indigenous art), Canadian Museum of History (across the river in Gatineau), and sunset at Major’s Hill Park. Wander ByWard Market for produce stands and street musicians.
• Eat: Morning at Art-Is-In Bakery (industrial-chic, stellar pastries); El Camino for tacos and mezcal; Riviera for refined Canadian cuisine in a 1930s bank hall; classic BeaverTails for a sweet stroll.
• Stay: Hotels.com Ottawa | VRBO Ottawa
• Next drive: 200 km (2 hrs) to Montréal.

Montréal

Days 9–10: Culture, cafés, and culinary neighborhoods

Montréal is a mosaic of villages—plateau murals, Little Italy markets, and the cobblestones of Old Montréal. It’s also Canada’s best city for eating your way through a day.

• Guided tasting (Viator): Montreal Mile End or Jean Talon Market Food Tour with 8 Tastings to sample bagels, smoked meat, and seasonal specialties.

  

• Do: Climb Mount Royal for skyline views, visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, and browse Atwater Market. In summer, relax on the urban “Plage de l’Horloge” in the Old Port.
• Eat: Café Olimpico or Myriade for espresso; Saint-Viateur or Fairmount Bagel (warm sesame, any hour); Schwartz’s for smoked meat; dinner at L’Express (bistro) or Vin Mon Lapin (natural-wine darling; book ahead).
• Stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Montréal | Hotel Le Dauphin Montréal Centre-Ville | Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites | VRBO Montréal
• Next drive: 250 km (2.5–3 hrs) to Québec City.

Québec City

Days 11–12: Walled Old Town, waterfalls, and countryside basilicas

North America’s only fortified city north of Mexico feels thoroughly European—slate roofs, turreted hotels, and lanes that twist to the St. Lawrence. It’s a place to linger over history and hot chocolate.

• Guided options (Viator):
  • Old Quebec City Food and Drink Walking Tour for terroir tastings and stories.

    

  • Half-Day Trip to Montmorency Falls and Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré — a higher-than-Niagara cascade plus an ornate basilica.

    

• Do: Walk the city walls from the Citadelle, ferry to Lévis for postcard views, and browse Quartier Petit Champlain’s artisan shops.
• Eat: Paillard for pastries; Le Chic Shack for poutine and gourmet burgers; Le Lapin Sauté for cozy Québécois; Chez Muffy for refined farm-to-table in a stone warehouse.
• Stay: Hotels.com Québec City | VRBO Québec City
• Next drive: 205 km (2 hrs) to Rivière-du-Loup along the St. Lawrence south shore.

Rivière-du-Loup

Day 13: Sunset on the St. Lawrence

This South Shore town is a restful halfway halt with big-sky river sunsets and access to coastal villages like Kamouraska.

• Do: Walk Parc des Chutes (local waterfall) and detour to Kamouraska for antique shops and marsh walkways. In summer, look for belugas from lookouts near Parc national du Bic (Rimouski area).
• Eat: Café L’Innocent for relaxed fare; Côte Est (Kamouraska) for seasonal river-to-table menus.
• Stay: Hotels.com Rivière-du-Loup | VRBO Rivière-du-Loup
• Next drive: 300 km (3–3.5 hrs) to Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Fredericton

Day 14: Riverfront capital and craft beer

Fredericton is a compact university city with a lively craft scene and a pretty riverfront trail network—ideal for a calm mid-trip pause.

• Do: Stroll Officers’ Square and the historic Garrison District; in summer, rent bikes on the riverside trail.
• Eat: Breakfast at Claudine’s Eatery (hearty brunch); 11th Mile for small plates and cocktails; Picaroons Roundhouse for local brews with river views.
• Stay: Hotels.com Fredericton | VRBO Fredericton
• Next drive: 180 km (2 hrs) to Fundy National Park/Moncton region.

Fundy National Park / Moncton (Alma)

Days 15–16: World’s highest tides and coastal hikes

The Bay of Fundy’s tides rise and fall up to 12–16 meters, transforming the coast twice daily. Time your visit to see sea stacks at both low and high tides—two landscapes in one day.

• Do: Hike Dickson Falls and Matthews Head in Fundy National Park; day trip to Hopewell Rocks to walk the ocean floor at low tide and kayak among flowerpot rocks at high tide; explore the Fundy Trail Parkway’s lookouts.
• Eat: In Alma, order fish and chips at Tipsy Tails, fresh buns at Kelly’s Bake Shop, and lobster rolls at the Alma Boathouse. In Moncton, try Tide & Boar Gastropub and Pump House Brewery.
• Stay: Base in Alma for park access or in Moncton for more dining: Hotels.com Moncton | VRBO Moncton
• Next drive: 290 km (3–3.5 hrs) to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

Lunenburg

Day 17: UNESCO-painted harbor and South Shore

Color-washed wooden homes funnel down to a working harbor where the Bluenose II occasionally docks. This photogenic town is also a great base for crescent beaches and lighthouse drives.

• Do: Stroll Old Town’s grid, tour the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, and detour to Blue Rocks for a painterly village scene. Nearby beaches: Hirtle’s and Sand Dollar (Kingsburg).
• Eat: Breakfast at The Savvy Sailor Café; seafood at The Fish Shack; wood-fired pizza and chowder at Salt Shaker Deli; sip at Lightship Brewing on the waterfront.
• Stay: Rum Runner Inn | Lunenburg Arms Hotel & Spa | Hotels.com Lunenburg
• Next drive: 90 km (1–1.5 hrs) to Halifax.

Halifax

Days 18–19: Seafaring stories, citadel views, and urban boardwalks

Halifax fuses maritime grit with an easygoing food scene. The star-shaped Citadel looms above a long waterfront promenade dotted with kiosks, hammocks, and a sea breeze that begs for one more lap.

• Do: Halifax Citadel National Historic Site; Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (Titanic artifacts and shipwreck tales); ferry to Dartmouth for harbor views; beach afternoon at Lawrencetown (surf lessons available) or Crystal Crescent.
• Eat: Morning at Two If By Sea (Dartmouth) or Java Blend Coffee; lunch at The Canteen (Dartmouth) or Stubborn Goat; dinner at The Bicycle Thief (harborside Italian), 2 Doors Down (regional), or The Five Fishermen (seafood). Craft beer at Stillwell or Good Robot.
• Stay: The Prince George Hotel | Atlantica Hotel Halifax | HI Halifax Heritage House Hostel | VRBO Halifax
• Optional flight alternative: Prefer to skip the next long drive? Fly Halifax–Toronto or Halifax–Montréal for onward travel on Trip.com (often $150–350, 2 hrs).
• Next drive: 360 km (3.5–4 hrs) to Baddeck, Cape Breton—depart early for scenic stops.

Baddeck (Cape Breton Island)

Days 20–21: Cabot Trail, beaches, and ceilidhs

Base yourself in Baddeck on the Bras d’Or Lake, birthplace of the Cabot Trail road trip. The loop threads highland summits, cliff-lined coast, and beaches where you can wade into the Atlantic after a hike.

• Do: Drive the Cabot Trail counterclockwise for coastal pullouts in Cape Breton Highlands National Park; hike Skyline Trail for whale-spotting viewpoints; beach time at Ingonish or Inverness; pop into the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck. In Mabou, catch live fiddle at the Red Shoe Pub.
• Eat: Breakfast at High Wheeler Café; The Freight Shed (harborside seafood); Big Spruce Brewing (organic beers in Nyanza); seasonal Baddeck Lobster Suppers for the classic boil; Rusty Anchor (Pleasant Bay) mid-loop.
• Stay: Hotels.com Baddeck | VRBO Baddeck
• Departure: Drive 360 km (3.5–4 hrs) back to Halifax (YHZ) or 90 km (1 hr) to Sydney (YQY) for flights via Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Driving overview and pacing tips

• Daily drives are capped at ~400 km; most legs are 90–360 km and 1–4 hours. Depart by 9 a.m. to maximize sightseeing time on arrival.
• Highway notes: Ontario’s 401 is fast but busy; Québec’s 20 hugs the St. Lawrence; New Brunswick’s Route 2 is smooth; Nova Scotia’s 103/102/105 link South Shore to Cape Breton.
• Beach highlights en route: Richardson Beach (Kingston), Plage de l’Horloge (Montréal, urban), Lawrencetown and Crystal Crescent (Halifax area), Ingonish and Inverness (Cape Breton).
• Budget watch (mid-range ~50/100): Mix VRBO apartments with value hotels; aim for 1–2 restaurant meals per day plus markets and bakeries; book major attractions and summer coastal stays 4–8 weeks out.

From the roar of Niagara to the fiddle tunes of Cape Breton, this route strings together Canada’s signature sights and local secrets with easy driving days and two-night stays. You’ll come home with a camera full of lighthouses and cliffs—and a taste for bagels, butter tarts, and tidal coastlines.