Maine to Canada Travel: The Complete Visitor Guide

Looking to travel this summer but you’re not sure what you want to do? Try visiting Canada! Maine borders two Canadian provinces, Québec and New Brunswick. Maine has a long friendship with Canada, including a shared Acadian culture. Maine even has signs in both English and French welcoming its Canadian neighbors.

Traveling from Maine to Canada is also pretty straightforward. Maine shares 7 border crossings with Québec and 17 with New Brunswick. Driving to Canada is also pretty easy; depending on where you’re going and where you’re coming from, you can get there in only a few hours.

Planning your trip to Canada

When you are planning your trip, we recommend visiting the different tourism resources for the different provinces. Bonjour Québec, Explore New Brunswick, and Tourism Nova Scotia are all great resources.

However, if you are just interested in visiting some of the major provincial cities, Montréal, Fredericton, and Halifax are all great places to visit. Read on to find out more, or reach out to us if you would like help with your trip planning.

Driving from Maine to Canada

We recommend traveling to Canada from Bangor, Maine as Bangor is roughly in the middle of the state, and it has plenty of lodging, food, attractions, and gas stations to make a good start to your road trip. It takes about five and a half hours to get to Montréal, just under three hours to get to Fredericton, and about seven hours to get to Halifax.

However, if you are interested in spending a little less time on the road and starting in a different town, you can travel to Montréal from Rangeley, Maine which would take you under 4 hours; you can travel to Fredericton from Houlton, Maine which would take you a little under one and a half hours, and you can travel to Halifax from Calais, Maine which would take you a little over five hours.

How can I get to Canada from Maine?

You can get from Maine to Canada in a couple of ways; the most straightforward way is to drive. All you have to do is make sure that you have enough gas in your car, the right documentation at the border, and the personal items you need for your trip.

If you’re not looking to drive, you can take the Greyhound bus from Bangor, Maine to Montréal (which will be one full day of traveling, and will take you to Boston and New York City). The Greyhound bus prices change throughout the year, so it is a good idea to check the prices for the date you wish to travel.

It gets a little difficult to take a bus from Québec to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (but don’t worry, we have a guide listed below!). When you arrive in Québec, you can take the Orléans Express from Montréal to Trois-Rivières, Québec City, Rimouski, and the nation’s capital, Ottawa, in the province of Ontario.

If you’re not looking to drive or take the bus, consider VIA Rail Canada! VIA Rail Canada is an extensive rail network that can get you from Montréal to Halifax with no problem! If you’re looking to explore more of Canada, VIA Rail can take you as far as Vancouver! Something important to mention is that to utilize VIA Rail Canada, you will first need to get from Maine to Canada, but luckily for you, we provided two great options above.

Make sure to check out the information below on how to visit Montréal, Fredericton, and Halifax without driving.

Alternative Routes:

There are also some alternative options. Firstly, you can take The CAT from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The CAT is a ferry service that runs twice a day; it leaves Yarmouth, Nova Scotia at 9:30am Atlantic Daylight Time, and leaves Bar Harbor at 3:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time. The prices vary depending on whether you catch the ferry during the spring/fall or summer.

If you catch the spring/fall ferry, round-trip tickets in 2026 cost $166 for adults, $158 for seniors, $99 for youth (7-13), and children ride free! In the summer, round-trip tickets cost $221 for adults, $210 for seniors, $131 for youth, and children ride free. There is also a per-person port and security fee of $30 for all seasons.

If you happen to be in Lubec, Maine, in under ten minutes, you can travel to Campobello Island – a Canadian island accessible by a short bridge from Maine. Campobello Island offers breathtaking views, tours, and plenty of events. Make sure to check out Visit Campobello for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need a passport to drive from Maine to Canada?

No, while a valid passport is the best travel document, you do not need to have a passport; you can bring any documents that prove your citizenship. If your documents do not have photo identification, you will need to bring an additional photo ID (like a driver’s license) with you. Learn more about the preferred documentation to cross into the Canadian border.

Do children need a passport to drive into Canada from Maine?

No, a passport is the best form of identification; however, it is not required. If your child does not have a passport, your child can enter Canada with an original birth certificate.

How do I pay for things in Canada?

If you have either a Visa or Master Card credit card, it will be accepted everywhere that accepts credit cards! You can learn more about what cards are and are not accepted here.

What is the difference between gasoline in Maine and Canada?

Gasoline in Canada is sold by the litre, not the gallon. Gasoline is more expensive in Canada because litres are smaller units of measurement, and prices will change in response to the exchange rate between Canada and the United States.

Do I let my bank know that I am traveling to Canada?

While you do not need to let your bank know that you are traveling to Canada, your purchases could be potentially flagged as fraudulent – so it is a good practice to do so with whichever credit or bank card you may plan to use during your visit.

Do I need to buy international roaming data?

Whether or not you need to buy international roaming data depends on your service provider. It is a good idea to double-check your service plan while planning your trip.

What is the best time of year to visit Canada?

You can go from Maine to Canada in any season and will be able to have a great adventure. The summer months seem to be a very popular tourist season; however, Canada offers plenty of events throughout its seasons such as Quebec’s world famous Winter Carnival which typically runs in late January and February. We recommend visiting the tourism website of the province you plan to visit to plan your trip.