Before your boots hit the red clay of the Island Walk, you have to actually get here — and Prince Edward Island is easier to reach than most first-time visitors expect. There are three ways onto the Island: drive across the Confederation Bridge, fly into Charlottetown Airport (YYG), or ride the ferry from Nova Scotia. Here’s what out-of-province walkers need to know about each one.
Confederation Bridge
Premium Partner of the Island Walk
Fly into YYG — Charlottetown Airport
Partner of the Island Walk
Northumberland Ferries Limited
Confederation Bridge
Premium Partner of the Island Walk
For most visitors driving up from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Maine, or anywhere else in the Northeast, the Confederation Bridge is the way onto PEI. At 12.9 km, it’s one of the longest bridges in the world over ice-covered water, and it links Borden-Carleton, PEI to Cape Jourimain, NB in about 12 minutes — no ferry schedule to plan around, no reservation needed.
A few things to know before you go:
- Toll: $20 CAD per standard vehicle, charged only when you leave the Island (crossing onto PEI is free).
- Open year-round, 24/7. The bridge is the only fixed link to the Island, so it runs in every season, including winter.
- Wind advisories: high-side vehicles (RVs, trailers, motorcycles) occasionally face crossing restrictions during high winds. Check the Confederation Bridge site before you travel if you’re driving anything tall or towing.
- If you’re picking up a rental car on the mainland to drive to your Island Walk starting point, this is almost always the quickest route.
Fly into YYG — Charlottetown Airport
Partner of the Island Walk
If you’re coming from farther afield, you’ll be flying into Charlottetown. Charlottetown Airport (YYG) is small, easy, and sits about 10 minutes from downtown Charlottetown — no long taxi lines, no maze of terminals, and rental cars are available right at the airport if you need one for your stay on PEI.
Here’s who flies there in 2026:
- Air Canada — year-round service to Toronto and Montréal, with easy onward connections across Canada, the US, and overseas.
- Porter Airlines — seasonal flights to Toronto, Montréal, and Ottawa.
- Flair Airlines — seasonal, budget-friendly service to Toronto.
- WestJet — seasonal flights to Calgary and Edmonton, useful if you’re coming from Western Canada.
Because most of these routes connect through major hubs like Toronto and Montréal, YYG works well no matter where you’re starting from — just book a connection into one of those cities and a short hop finishes the trip. It’s a low-stress way to land close to the start of your walk.
Credit: © Charlottetown Airport Authority / Photographer: Brady McCloskey
Northumberland Ferries Limited
If you’re already in Nova Scotia, or you just want a slower, scenic entrance to the Island, the Northumberland Ferries crossing between Wood Islands, PEI and Caribou, NS is worth considering. It’s a 75-minute ride across the Northumberland Strait, running up to 8 times a day during the season (mid-June through mid-October).
A few practical notes:
- Reservations are strongly recommended to secure your spot on board.
- Like the bridge, the fare is charged only when you leave PEI; boarding onto the Island is free.
- You can board with or without your vehicle. Adult Foot Passenger fee: $11.50, or Vehicle, $43.00.
- It’s seasonal, so this option isn’t available in the off-season — check current dates and departure times at ferries.ca before planning around it.
- It lands at Wood Islands, on the eastern end of the Island — handy if your Island Walk itinerary starts or ends on that side.
Inn at the Pier