The CAT from Maine, the Fundy Rose from New Brunswick, and the PEI ferry - crossing times, seasons, and which route fits your trip
Three ferries connect Nova Scotia with Maine, New Brunswick and PEI: the high-speed CAT from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth (~3.5 hours, May 14 to October 14, 2026), the year-round Fundy Rose from Saint John, NB to Digby (~2 h 15, daily), and the seasonal Caribou to Wood Islands ferry linking PEI with mainland Nova Scotia (~75 minutes, June 15 to December 20, 2026). The CAT is the only direct sailing from the United States; the Fundy Rose is the only winter ferry; the PEI ferry turns a Maritime road trip into a loop. This guide compares all three - crossing times, seasons, terminals, and onward drives - and points you to the right spoke guide for each route.
One line per route. The table below unpacks each one, and the sections after that go route by route.
Bar Harbor, Maine ⇄ Yarmouth, NS · ~3.5 h · May 14 – Oct 14, 2026
Saint John, NB ⇄ Digby, NS · ~2 h 15 · daily, year-round
PEI ⇄ Nova Scotia · ~75 min · June 15 – Dec 20, 2026
Schedules and fares are published by the operators and change with demand - always confirm the current timetable at ferries.ca before booking non-refundable travel. To compare live fares and terminals for every route, use our Ferry Route Planner.
The core facts for all three routes in one table: who operates each crossing, how long it takes, when it runs in 2026, whether you can walk on without a car, and how far you are from Halifax once you dock.
| Route | Operator | Crossing | 2026 Season | Foot Passengers & Cars | Onward drive to Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The CAT Bar Harbor, ME ⇄ Yarmouth, NS | Bay Ferries | ~3.5 hours, Gulf of Maine | May 14 – October 14 | Walk-on passengers and cars both carried | ~3 h from Yarmouth |
| Fundy Rose Saint John, NB ⇄ Digby, NS | Bay Ferries | ~2 h 15, Bay of Fundy | Daily, year-round | Walk-on passengers plus cars, trucks, and RVs | ~2 h 20 from Digby |
| Caribou ⇄ Wood Islands Pictou County, NS ⇄ PEI | Northumberland Ferries | ~75 min, Northumberland Strait | June 15 – December 20 | Walk-on passengers and cars - charged by vehicle, passengers included | ~2 h 15 from the Pictou area |
Passengers and vehicles travel on all three ferries. For live schedules, current fares by vehicle type, and driving directions to each terminal, open the Ferry Route Planner - or read on for the route-by-route detail.
The only ferry that connects the United States directly with Nova Scotia - a high-speed catamaran that takes you and your car across the Gulf of Maine in about 3.5 hours.
The CAT sails from Bar Harbor, Maine - gateway to Acadia National Park - straight into Yarmouth on Nova Scotia's southwest coast. The 2026 season ran May 14 to October 14 - 120 of 132 planned round trips sailed after 12 weather cancellations. Because the sailing crosses the international border, every passenger needs a passport book, passport card, or approved NEXUS/Enhanced ID, and US rental cars need a cross-border authorization letter from the rental company.
Summer weekend sailings sell out first, so book as soon as your dates are firm. Fares move with demand and vehicle length, so confirm current pricing at ferries.ca rather than planning around a fixed number. From Yarmouth it's about a 3-hour drive to Halifax, with the Acadian Shore, Digby, and the South Shore all in reach on the way.
Off-season, the CAT is your plan's first casualty: after October 14 the alternatives are the drive through Maine and New Brunswick or a flight into Halifax. Service beyond the 2026 season has not been confirmed - the 2027 schedule will be announced by Bay Ferries, so check ferries.ca before booking non-refundable travel for next year.
For the full spoke guide - the Bar Harbor terminal, the crossing experience, customs at the dock, and the Yarmouth arrival - see Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia Ferry: The CAT Ferry Guide, or the arrival-side CAT Ferry & Yarmouth guide.
The year-round workhorse. A conventional ferry across the Bay of Fundy that saves more than four hours of driving around the bay - and the only sailing into Nova Scotia that runs all winter.
The MV Fundy Rose connects Saint John, New Brunswick with Digby, Nova Scotia in about 2 h 15 across the world's highest tides, with daily service year-round. It carries cars, trucks, motorcycles, and RVs, with a café, outdoor decks, and comfortable seating on board. Reservations are wise in July and August; the ferry accepts drive-ups but can bump late arrivals. Book at ferries.ca or call 1-877-762-7245.
The crossing is a shortcut with a payoff: driving Saint John to Digby around the bay through Moncton takes the better part of a day, while the ferry does it over lunch. You land in Digby - scallop capital of Canada - about 2 h 20 from Halifax via the Annapolis Valley wine country, with the Fundy shore and Whale Alley on the way. It's the natural leg for a Maritimes multi-province loop.
A maintenance note for 2026: the Fundy Rose is out of service October 27-28 for scheduled work, resuming with the 9:00 am departure from Saint John on October 29. Confirm any shoulder-season sailing on the operator's site before you commit.
The link that turns a Maritime road trip into a loop - a 75-minute crossing between mainland Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Northumberland Ferries sails between Caribou, Nova Scotia (near Pictou on the Northumberland Shore) and Wood Islands, PEI (30 minutes from Charlottetown) in about 75 minutes across the Northumberland Strait. The 2026 season runs June 15 to December 20, dropping from the full schedule to four sailings a day after October 17. The ferry runs largely turn-up-and-go, though summer weekends can bring capacity waits - reserve ahead if your schedule is tight.
The classic play is one ferry, one bridge: sail to PEI and return over the Confederation Bridge (free to reach the island, tolled to leave), or the reverse. From the Caribou side, Halifax is about 2 h 15 south, with Pictou, the Sunrise Trail, and Cape Breton all easy extensions. Riders with low-clearance vehicles or trailers should note the standing low-tide loading advisory on the Northumberland - check the operator's service notices when booking.
Building the full loop? Our Maritimes Multi-Province Loop guide strings the Fundy Rose, the PEI ferry, and the Cabot Trail into 7, 10, and 14-day itineraries.
Three routes, three jobs. Match the sailing to the trip you're actually taking.
The CAT from Bar Harbor is your only direct sailing - park in Maine, float to Yarmouth, and start your Nova Scotia trip on the southwest coast. Pair it with the Boston & New England to Nova Scotia guide for the I-95 routing, Acadia staging, and flight alternatives.
Take the Fundy Rose from Saint John into Digby, loop the valley and the South Shore, then use the Caribou to Wood Islands ferry to collect PEI before returning over the Confederation Bridge. The Multi-Province Loop guide has the itineraries.
You don't need a long-haul ferry at all - every mainland terminal is 2-3 hours' drive from the city. If you want water without the commitment, the Halifax to Dartmouth harbour ferry is a 12-minute transit ride. Otherwise, day trips out of Halifax cover the coast. And if boats aren't your thing at all, the overnight Ocean train is the other car-free way into the province - see our Nova Scotia by Train guide.
🗺️ Undecided? The Ferry Route Planner compares live fares, sailing calendars, and driving distances for all three routes - including what each crossing costs with your vehicle.
A little timing saves real money on every one of these routes.
Schedules, seasons, and fares are published by the operators and change with demand - always confirm the latest at ferries.ca before booking non-refundable travel.