When to Go

The Weather

All the Atlantic Provinces lie within the Northern Temperate Zone, which means that they have weather much like neighboring New England in the northeast United States. Spring is damp and cool at the outset, and can be warm and muggy as it eases into summer. Summer's compact high season runs from early July to early September. That's when the great majority of travelers take to the road, enjoying the bright, clear days and warm temperatures. The average high in the southern three provinces is in the upper 70s°F (around 25°C); in Newfoundland, it's more typically in the upper 60s°F (around 20°C). Nights can be cool, even approaching freezing late in the summer.

Be aware that there is no "typical" summer weather in Atlantic Canada. The only thing typical is change, and you're likely to experience balmy, sunny days and howling rainstorms, quite possibly on the same day.

Weather in all four provinces is to a large degree affected by proximity to the ocean. This means frequent fogs, especially on the Fundy Coast of New Brunswick, the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula. The ocean also offers an unobstructed corridor for high winds, especially on Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Rain is not unusual in summer. Travelers who come well prepared for downpours, both psychologically and equipment-wise, tend to be happier travelers. Note that the ocean also provides some benefits: Prince Edward Island's summer tends to linger into fall thanks to the island's being surrounded by the warm, moderating waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Finally, a note on winter: Few travelers tackle the Maritimes in the dead of winter, as frequent blustery storms sweep in off the Atlantic. But if you're one of those hardy souls who might, be aware that snow or ice storms are a very real possibility at any time during winter, and they can blow in suddenly; if you're driving, always make sure your car is equipped with good snow tires and special antifreeze windshield wash (you can get it from any gas station). And drive cautiously: Outside the major urban areas, most of this region's high-speed arteries remain two-lane roads without medians, so care must be taken to watch for the other drivers coming your way.

Holidays

National holidays are celebrated from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Oceans, and for the traveler that means that government offices and banks are closed. (Shops remain open on some but not all national holidays.) These holidays include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day (the 3rd Mon in May, always the week before Memorial Day in the United States), Canada Day (July 1), Labour Day (the 1st Mon in Sept, the same as in the United States), Thanksgiving (mid-Oct, the same as Columbus Day weekend in the United States), Remembrance Day (Nov 11), Christmas Day (Dec 25), and Boxing Day (Dec 26).

Locally observed provincial holidays include a civic holiday (Aug 2) in Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick Day (the 1st Mon in Aug). Newfoundland and Labrador celebrate several holidays, including St. George's Day (Apr 26), Discovery Day (the 3rd Mon in June), and Orangeman's Day (July 12).