Just got back from Cape Breton. Before we went I did a lot of searching around for distances, ferries and campsites and it wasn't easy finding it all out. I thought this might help anyone thinking of doing it. The two way ferry fare from Portland Me was about $650 and 5.5 hours. On the basis of I'd rather drive the D2 and waste $650 on gas we drove all the way.
It took us 16 hours of driving to get to Bangor, from Chesapeake Va. From Bangor to Houlton Me was about 1.5 hours. Houlton to Halifax was 6 hours. Roads in Canada were empty and great driving. The road splits at Truro and it is an hour from there to Halifax or 1.5 hours to Cape Breton/Canso causeway. Canso causeway to Dingwall is about 4-5 hours more. You can save a few miles and a lot of mountainous driving by carrying on on 105 to Englishtown and get the ferry. No booking needed and it is a bit of joke as the gap the ferry crosses is about twenty feet wider than the ferry is long. Costs $2. Almost everywhere takes US$ even the toll booths.
For food shopping the CO-OP supermarkets are crap on the east side and good on the west side. Best CO-OP is at Cheticamp and the best East coast one was Neils harbour. Gas stations are few and far between.
One at Ingonish and one at Dingwall. Next one is over the top of the island at Cheticamp but had no problem with the D2, 91 octane is hioghest they have. Canada gas was around CA$1.13 a litre but we seemed to get better mileage on it, no ethanol in it!. Best campsite for magnificent view is Meat Cove, next best site is Hideaway Campsite in South Harbour/Dingwall.
Views along the Cabot trail are great lots of whale watching, kayaking hiking stuff everywhere. On the way home stopped and saw the Fortress of Louisburg and it is awesome. Makes Williamsburg look like a Pikey camp. All in all we used about 250 gallons of premium and covered 3460 miles.
I hope this is of use to anyone contemplating going. Garrets trip sounds a great way to see that part of Canada. To catch the ferry to Newfoundland is about 2-3 hours to Sydney from Canso Causeway. If you go to Sydney be aware that they have dug up Route 4 for miles and was the only off roading we did. Had to wait at a flagman for 40 minutes to move.
Have a great trip
Bill B
It took us 16 hours of driving to get to Bangor, from Chesapeake Va. From Bangor to Houlton Me was about 1.5 hours. Houlton to Halifax was 6 hours. Roads in Canada were empty and great driving. The road splits at Truro and it is an hour from there to Halifax or 1.5 hours to Cape Breton/Canso causeway. Canso causeway to Dingwall is about 4-5 hours more. You can save a few miles and a lot of mountainous driving by carrying on on 105 to Englishtown and get the ferry. No booking needed and it is a bit of joke as the gap the ferry crosses is about twenty feet wider than the ferry is long. Costs $2. Almost everywhere takes US$ even the toll booths.
For food shopping the CO-OP supermarkets are crap on the east side and good on the west side. Best CO-OP is at Cheticamp and the best East coast one was Neils harbour. Gas stations are few and far between.
One at Ingonish and one at Dingwall. Next one is over the top of the island at Cheticamp but had no problem with the D2, 91 octane is hioghest they have. Canada gas was around CA$1.13 a litre but we seemed to get better mileage on it, no ethanol in it!. Best campsite for magnificent view is Meat Cove, next best site is Hideaway Campsite in South Harbour/Dingwall.
Views along the Cabot trail are great lots of whale watching, kayaking hiking stuff everywhere. On the way home stopped and saw the Fortress of Louisburg and it is awesome. Makes Williamsburg look like a Pikey camp. All in all we used about 250 gallons of premium and covered 3460 miles.
I hope this is of use to anyone contemplating going. Garrets trip sounds a great way to see that part of Canada. To catch the ferry to Newfoundland is about 2-3 hours to Sydney from Canso Causeway. If you go to Sydney be aware that they have dug up Route 4 for miles and was the only off roading we did. Had to wait at a flagman for 40 minutes to move.
Have a great trip
Bill B
