Prince Edward Island National Park: A complete Guide to Visiting

Planning a visit to Prince Edward Island National Park? You're in the right place!

We spent about six weeks exploring Prince Edward Island in our 24-foot motorhome, including visits to all three sections of the national park.

In this guide, we'll share the places we visited, our experiences, and some practical tips to help you plan your own trip.

If you're planning a road trip around the island, don't forget to check out our other guides:

• 20-Day Prince Edward Island Road Trip Itinerary: Complete Guide

• The Best Prince Edward Island Itinerary (5–7 Days)

Where Is Prince Edward Island National Park?

Prince Edward Island National Park is located along the northern shore of Prince Edward Island, facing the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Established in 1937, the park stretches along approximately 46 kilometres of coastline, featuring sandy beaches, red sandstone cliffs, sand dunes, and beautiful coastal landscapes.

Prince Edward Island National Park Map: 3 sections

Prince Edward Island National Park is divided into three separate sections: Cavendish–North Rustico, Brackley–Dalvay, and Greenwich.

These sections are not directly connected, so you'll need to drive between them.

We were lucky enough to explore all three during our time on the island. Below, we'll break down what you can find in each section, the places we visited, and what we think you shouldn't miss.

1. Cavendish–North Rustico: Beaches, Cliffs and Cycling

Let's start with the Cavendish–North Rustico section, shown in green as Map 1 on the park map.

This was one of the first sections we explored and where we visited the most places.

Cavendish Beach

Cavendish Beach is one of the main attractions in Prince Edward Island National Park.

When you arrive, you'll find a large parking lot and facilities, including washrooms and showers. From there, follow the boardwalk on the left to reach the beach.

It's a long, beautiful sandy beach where you can easily spend a few hours. We visited later in the day and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset along the shore.

Dunelands Trail

From the same parking lot at Cavendish Beach, head to the right to find Dunelands Trail.

One of the things you'll notice around PEI is its beautiful sand dunes. Many of these areas are protected, so you can admire them from the designated trails and boardwalks, but you shouldn't walk directly on the dunes.

We highly encourage you to respect these protected areas.

We walked along the trail and enjoyed beautiful views of the dunes and surrounding landscape. It's definitely worth exploring while you're at Cavendish Beach.

Cavendish Cliffs

At the end of Dunelands Trail, you'll reach an area with gorgeous views of PEI's famous red sandstone cliffs.

We stopped here to enjoy the scenery and read some information about L. M. Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables.

It's a beautiful spot to spend some time, especially later in the day.

Homestead Trail

We returned the following day with our bikes to explore part of Homestead Trail.

It was a beautiful and peaceful ride, with very few people walking or cycling when we visited.

If you enjoy cycling, we highly recommend adding this trail to your visit.

Cavendish Campground

We spent one night at Cavendish Campground during our visit to Prince Edward Island National Park.

We made a last-minute reservation and were lucky enough to find an available spot. However, we highly recommend booking in advance, especially if you're visiting during the summer.

The campground has facilities such as laundry and showers, and our campsite had electricity and water hookups.

2. Brackley–Dalvay: Beaches and Coastal Views

Brackley–Dalvay is the second section of Prince Edward Island National Park, located east of Cavendish–North Rustico.

Here are some of the places we visited in this section.

Covehead Beach

We stopped at Covehead Beach during the summer and had so much fun exploring the shoreline.

The water was surprisingly warm, and we enjoyed walking through the shallow water to the different sandbars that had formed. We also loved the reddish sand, something you'll see in many places around PEI.

Covehead Harbour Lighthouse

Covehead Harbour Lighthouse is a beautiful little lighthouse near the entrance to Covehead Beach, with the classic white and red colours you'll see on many PEI lighthouses.
We stopped here to take some pictures and explore the surrounding beach.

Brackley Beach (Shaw's beach)

We made a quick stop at Brackley Beach during our visit.

It was extremely windy that day, but we still walked down to the beach and enjoyed the ocean views.

Dalvay Beach

We stopped at Dalvay Beach one afternoon toward the end of the summer season.

The beach was almost empty, and we loved having so much space to ourselves. However, there were so many mosquitoes that we couldn't fully enjoy our time there!

3. Greenwich: Dunes, Boardwalks and Beaches

Greenwich is the easternmost section of Prince Edward Island National Park, and we were lucky enough to explore it during our trip.

Here's what we found during our visit.

Greenwich Beach

We visited Greenwich Beach toward the end of the summer season. It was windy, and we arrived later in the day, so we didn't spend much time there.

However, we were impressed by how beautiful the beach was, and the best part was that we had it all to ourselves!

Greenwich Dunes Trail

If there's one thing we highly recommend doing in this section of the park, it's walking Greenwich Dunes Trail.

We parked at the Greenwich Interpretation Centre and biked part of the way before continuing on foot.

At one point, bikes were no longer allowed, so we left ours there and continued walking.

The boardwalk across the dunes and Bowley Pond was one of our favourite parts of the visit. We absolutely loved it!

Greenwich Interpretation Centre

There's also an interpretation centre in this section of the park.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to explore the inside because the opening hours didn't work with our visit toward the end of the season.

If we visit Prince Edward Island National Park again, we'd love to check it out!

How Many Days Do You Need in Prince Edward Island National Park?

It really depends on what you want to do!

If you love spending time at the beach, you could easily plan an entire week around Prince Edward Island National Park, enjoying its beaches, walking trails, and cycling routes.

During our trip, we explored the park over several days, visiting different areas, biking, and walking along the coast.

We didn't spend much time relaxing on the beaches, though. Most of our visits were shorter stops where we walked around, took pictures, or explored nearby trails.

Our recommendation? Allow at least two to three days if you want to explore all three sections without rushing.

Prince Edward Island National Park Itinerary

If you want to explore as much of Prince Edward Island National Park as possible, we recommend visiting each of its three sections separately.

You can start from Charlottetown or wherever you're staying on the island. Ideally, plan to spend at least one afternoon in each section.

Here's how we would organize a three-day visit:

Day 1: Cavendish–North Rustico

Start with the Cavendish–North Rustico section, where you'll find plenty of opportunities for walking, biking, and enjoying the beach.

You could spend your afternoon exploring Cavendish Beach, walking Dunelands Trail, and stopping at Cavendish Cliffs to enjoy the views.

If you have your bikes, consider adding part of Homestead Trail.

We also recommend staying until sunset if the weather is nice. We loved watching the sunset at Cavendish Beach!

Day 2: Brackley–Dalvay

On your second day, explore the Brackley–Dalvay section.

You can visit Brackley Beach, stop at Covehead Harbour Lighthouse, and continue toward Dalvay Beach.

This is a great day to take your time and enjoy the beaches. If the weather is warm, you might even want to spend a few hours swimming or relaxing by the water.

Day 3: Greenwich

Save your third day for Greenwich, the easternmost section of Prince Edward Island National Park.

We highly recommend walking Greenwich Dunes Trail, especially the boardwalk that crosses Bowley Pond and the dunes.

You can also visit Greenwich Beach and, if it's open, stop at the Greenwich Interpretation Centre.

This was one of our favourite sections to explore, so we wouldn't recommend skipping it!

Only have one day? You can still enjoy Prince Edward Island National Park! We'd recommend choosing one or two sections rather than trying to visit all three in a single day. That way, you'll have enough time to actually enjoy the places you stop at.

Where to stay when visiting Prince Edward Island National Park (RV options)

If you're travelling in an RV like us, you have a few options for staying near Prince Edward Island National Park, including official campgrounds and alternative overnight parking spots.

During our six weeks on the island, we used a combination of campgrounds, Harvest Hosts, and locations we found through iOverlander.

Here are the places we stayed, plus a few other accommodation options worth checking out.

Camping Inside Prince Edward Island National Park

There are two official campgrounds inside the national park:

• Cavendish Campground: We stayed here for one night in our motorhome. It has great amenities, including showers, laundry facilities, and access to the beach. Our campsite had electricity and water hookups. We booked at the last minute, but we recommend reserving in advance.
• Stanhope Campground: Located in the Brackley–Dalvay section, this is another option for RVs and tents, with showers, laundry facilities, and easy access to Stanhope Beach. We didn't stay here ourselves, but it's worth considering if you want to explore this part of the park.

You can check availability and make reservations through Parks Canada.

RV Overnight Parking Near Prince Edward Island National Park

We also found several places to spend the night outside the park.

Harvest Hosts: Brackley Drive-In Theatre

One of our favourite overnight experiences was staying at Brackley Drive-In Theatre through our Harvest Hosts membership.

We watched movies from the comfort of our RV and spent the night in one of the designated RV parking areas. It was such a fun experience, and we highly recommend it!

If you're travelling by RV, you can explore this and other overnight options through Harvest Hosts.

iOverlander: Other Overnight Spots We Used

We also found several overnight parking spots through iOverlander during our trip:

• North Rustico Arena: Near Cavendish. We stayed here after watching the sunset at Cavendish Beach.
• Winter River, Corran Ban area: Near Brackley–Dalvay. We parked beside the river for one night.
• Walmart: We spent several nights at Walmart locations in Charlottetown and Summerside.
• St. Peter's Bay Visitor Information Centre: Near Greenwich. We stayed here for two nights while exploring the eastern part of the island.

Important: These are places we personally used in 2025, not officially designated campgrounds. Always check the latest information on iOverlander and confirm that overnight parking is still permitted before arriving. Rules and availability can change.

Hotels Near Prince Edward Island National Park

Since Prince Edward Island National Park is divided into three sections, we recommend choosing accommodation based on the areas you plan to explore.

Here are three locations to consider:

• Stays near Cavendish: A convenient option for exploring Cavendish Beach, the walking trails, and the Cavendish–North Rustico section of the park.
• Stays near Brackley Beach: A great location if you want to explore the Brackley–Dalvay section, including its beaches and Covehead Harbour Lighthouse.
• Stays near St. Peters Bay: A good base for visiting the Greenwich section of the park, including Greenwich Beach and the Greenwich Dunes Trail.

We recommend comparing accommodation options, checking recent guest reviews, and booking in advance, especially if you're visiting during the summer months.

Tips for Visiting Prince Edward Island National Park

Here are a few recommendations based on our experience visiting Prince Edward Island National Park:

• Give yourself enough time to explore. Whether you want to walk the trails, visit the lighthouses, or simply spend a few hours at the beach, don't rush your visit. There's plenty to see and do!
• Dress for the weather. Summer days can be quite hot, but it can also get windy along the coast. Bring comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, water, and some snacks, especially if you're planning to explore the trails.
• Check entrance fees before visiting. We visited in summer 2025, when the Canada Strong Pass was available. Thanks to this program, admission to the national park was free, and we received a 50% discount on our campground reservation. Make sure to check the current entrance and camping fees before planning your trip.

Is Prince Edward Island National Park Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Prince Edward Island National Park is a beautiful place with so much to see and do, from sandy beaches and red cliffs to walking trails and lighthouses.

If you're planning a Prince Edward Island road trip, we highly recommend including the national park in your itinerary.

We loved it so much that we returned several times during our trip, exploring different sections on different days.

And that's exactly what we'd recommend! Instead of trying to see everything in one day, take your time and enjoy each section at your own pace.

How to Get to Prince Edward Island National Park (Road Trip and Flight Options)

There are several ways to reach Prince Edward Island National Park, depending on your travel plans.

Whether you're exploring Prince Edward Island in an RV like us or flying into Charlottetown and renting a car, you'll have different options for getting to the island.

Keep in mind that these options will get you to Prince Edward Island, but not directly to the national park. From there, you can drive to whichever section of Prince Edward Island National Park you want to explore.

Driving from Nova Scotia

If you're travelling from Nova Scotia, you can take the Northumberland Ferry from Caribou, Nova Scotia, to Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island.

The crossing takes approximately 75 minutes, and we recommend booking in advance, especially if you're travelling with a large RV during the summer.

Travelling from Nova Scotia to PEI can be free if you use the standby option, but you'll need to pay if you want to reserve a guaranteed spot. When leaving PEI by ferry, a fare applies.

We actually took this ferry in the opposite direction when we left the island!

You can check schedules, prices, and reservations on the Northumberland Ferries website.

Driving from New Brunswick

This is how we arrived in Prince Edward Island!

We drove across the Confederation Bridge, which connects New Brunswick to PEI.

The bridge is approximately 12.9 kilometres long, and crossing it takes about 10 minutes. We loved the experience, especially seeing the water surrounding us as we drove across.

You don't need a reservation to cross the bridge, and the toll is collected when leaving Prince Edward Island.

Flying into Charlottetown

If you're flying to Prince Edward Island, you can arrive at Charlottetown Airport (YYG), which offers flights connecting PEI with several Canadian cities.

From there, we recommend renting a car to explore Prince Edward Island National Park, especially if you want to visit all three sections.

The closest section, Brackley–Dalvay, is approximately 20–30 minutes from Charlottetown, depending on where you're starting.

Cavendish–North Rustico and Greenwich are farther away, so allow additional driving time.

Having your own vehicle makes it much easier to explore the beaches, trails, and different sections of the park at your own pace.

How to Get Around Prince Edward Island National Park

We recommend planning your route ahead of time and marking the places you don't want to miss, especially since Prince Edward Island National Park is divided into three separate sections.

Drive Your Own Vehicle (RV or Car)

Driving your own vehicle is the easiest way to explore Prince Edward Island National Park. It gives you the flexibility to decide how long you want to stay at each stop and when to move on.

If you're travelling in an RV or campervan like us, don't worry! The park has designated parking areas, and even during the busy summer season, we had no trouble parking our 24-foot motorhome.

Having your own vehicle is also convenient if you want to visit nearby attractions or continue your road trip around the island.

Rent a Car in Charlottetown

If you're flying into PEI or prefer exploring in a smaller vehicle while your RV is parked, renting a car is another great option.

You can find car rental companies at Charlottetown Airport (YYG), as well as other locations around the city.

Having a rental car makes it easy to visit the different sections of Prince Edward Island National Park and explore nearby places at your own pace.

Walking and Biking Inside Prince Edward Island National Park

Walking and biking were two of our favourite ways to explore the park!

We brought our bikes and used them to explore trails like Homestead Trail and part of Greenwich Dunes Trail. We also spent plenty of time walking along the beaches and boardwalks.

The trails we visited were well-maintained and easy to follow, making it enjoyable to explore on foot or by bike.

Just remember that bikes aren't allowed on every trail. We experienced this at Greenwich Dunes Trail, where we had to leave our bikes behind and continue walking.

We highly recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes and checking which trails allow cycling before your visit.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Prince Edward Island National Park?

The best time to visit Prince Edward Island National Park is between June and September, when the weather is warmer and most visitor facilities are open.

Summer is a great time to visit if you want to enjoy the beaches, go swimming, or explore the walking and biking trails. Keep in mind that July and August are also the busiest months, so we recommend arriving earlier in the day, especially at popular beaches like Cavendish.

We visited in August and September and enjoyed both months. By September, we noticed fewer visitors, and some beaches were almost empty, which we loved!

Just remember that some facilities have shorter operating seasons, so check the Parks Canada website for the latest opening dates and hours before your visit.

CONCLUSION:

We hope this Prince Edward Island National Park guide has helped you plan your visit and decide which places to explore.

Whether you enjoy beaches, walking trails, or cycling, there's plenty to see and do. We loved exploring all three sections of the park and highly recommend including it in your Prince Edward Island road trip itinerary!

If you’re planning to continue your road trip across the province and beyond, there is so much more to discover nearby. Make sure to check out our other travel guides to help you plan your route:

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• 20-Day Prince Edward Island Road Trip Itinerary: Complete Guide
• The Best Prince Edward Island Itinerary (5 to 7 days)
• 34 Amazing Things To Do in Prince Edward Island
• 15 Great Things To Do in Charlottetown, PEI

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