Getting Here & Around
Driving Directions & Road Conditions
A smooth highway puts Cape Breton within easy reach. Whether you start in Halifax, cross from New Brunswick or PEI, or make the long haul from Quebec, one ribbon of asphalt—the Trans-Canada Highway—delivers you to the Canso Causeway gateway. Keep this guide handy, check live road reports, then set your odometer for island time.
From Halifax & South-Shore
Halifax Stanfield International Airport lies 234 km from the Canso Causeway; the drive averages 2 h 16 m via Highway 102 north to Truro then Highway 104 east. The route is four-lane, 110 km/h and open year-round.
Driving Directions
Out-of-province vehicles pay a small toll on the 45-km Cobequid Pass section of Highway 104. Nova Scotia plates ride free. Have tap-enabled cards ready for quickest service.
Highway 104 Cobequid Pass
See current toll policies and transponder options for the Highway 104 Cobequid Pass.
From New Brunswick or PEI
Join Highway 2 at Moncton, merge onto Highway 104 at the provincial line, then roll 331 km—about 3 h 30 m—to the Cape Breton. Drivers coming off the Confederation Bridge add roughly 60 km and 45 m before meeting Highway 2 near Sackville.
Driving Directions
NB-NS border rest areas offer fuel, EV fast-chargers and free Wi-Fi. Top up here; stations thin out after Antigonish.
From Quebec & Eastern Ontario
Prefer pavement over airports? The straight-through distance from Quebec City to Port Hawkesbury is 1,026 km, typically 9 h 50 m on Autoroute 20, Route 185 / Highway 85, then Highway 2 into Nova Scotia’s Highway 104. Treat Rivière-du-Loup or Fredericton as logical overnight stops.
Driving Directions
Highway 185 upgrades to four lanes through 2025; expect short construction delays near Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!.
Live Road Conditions
Before you leave, and at every pit stop, you can check 511 Nova Scotia for live highway cameras, construction notices and weather-related closures. Dial 511 inside the province of Nova Scotia or use the mobile-friendly map site from anywhere.
Nova Scotia 511
Get real-time traffic cameras, incident alerts and construction updates across Nova Scotia.
Seasonal Driving & Safety Tips
- Winter brings lake-effect snow from December through March. Nova Scotia allows studded tires between October 15 and April 30.
- Atlantic daylight time ends first Sunday in November; dusk falls early, so plan fewer kilometres.
- Moose cross Highways 105 and 125 most often between 5 p.m. and midnight — reduce speed and scan shoulders.
Cell coverage drops in the Highlands. Download offline maps in advance and carry a paper map for the Cabot Trail loop.
Final Checklist
Fuel up, review 511, and keep an eye on the forecast. With the Trans-Canada smooth under your tires and road intel in your pocket, the Strait of Canso will appear sooner than you think—welcome to Cape Breton, where the real journey begins on the other side of the causeway.