Cape Breton To New Brunswick: Travel Distance

Cape Breton Island is located in the Atlantic coast of North America and is part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The distance between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island is around 287 miles, and the road distance is approximately 293 miles. There are a few ways to travel between the two places, including by bus, car, or plane. The quickest way to travel between the two places is by plane, which takes around 5 hours and costs between $260 and $1200. Alternatively, travelling by car takes around 5 hours and 26 minutes and is the cheapest option, costing between $65 and $100.

Travel options from New Brunswick to Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is around 287 miles from New Brunswick. There are several travel options to get from New Brunswick to Cape Breton Island, including bus, car, or plane. Here is some information on each of these options:

Bus

Taking the bus from New Brunswick to Cape Breton Island is a convenient option. The bus journey takes around 7 hours and 35 minutes and covers a distance of approximately 333 miles. The bus service is operated by Maritimebus, departing from Moncton, NB, and arriving in Sydney, NS, with a layover in Truro, NS. Typically, six buses run weekly, but schedules may vary on weekends and holidays, so it is recommended to check in advance. The bus is a cost-effective option, with tickets ranging from $60 to $95.

Car

If you prefer the flexibility of travelling by car, the driving distance between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island is approximately 293 miles. The drive will take around 5 hours and 26 minutes. You can easily navigate to Cape Breton Island by taking the Trans-Canada Highway 104.

Plane

For a faster option, you can consider flying from Fredericton (YFC) to Sydney (YQY). This option takes approximately 5 hours and 21 minutes, including a stopover. The flight option is more expensive, with prices ranging from $260 to $1,200. It is important to note that there is no direct flight from Fredericton Airport to Sydney Airport, and a stopover is required.

The distance between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is a rugged island on Canada's Atlantic Coast, forming part of the province of Nova Scotia. The island is known for its captivating scenery and rich cultural heritage celebrated through music and dance. It is separated from mainland Nova Scotia by the Strait of Canso, but connected by the Canso Causeway.

New Brunswick is a neighbouring Canadian province to Nova Scotia, located northwest of Cape Breton Island. The distance between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island is approximately 287 miles or 293 miles by road. This distance can be covered by various means of transportation, including bus, car, or plane.

Bus Travel

Travelling by bus from New Brunswick to Cape Breton Island is a viable option, although it involves a layover. The total journey time is around 7 hours and 35 minutes, with buses departing from Moncton, NB, and arriving in Sydney, NS. This service is typically available six days a week, but schedules may vary on weekends and holidays.

Driving

If you prefer the freedom of driving, the distance between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island is approximately 293 miles. This option offers flexibility and the opportunity to make stops along the way. The drive typically takes around 5 hours and 26 minutes, depending on traffic and road conditions.

Air Travel

For those seeking a quicker journey, flying is an option. However, there is no direct flight from Fredericton Airport to Sydney Airport. The quickest flight option takes around 5 hours and includes a stopover. This option is considerably more expensive than the bus or driving alternatives.

Additional Transportation Options

In addition to these options, it is worth noting that Cape Breton Island is accessible by ferry services and has an airport in Sydney, providing direct flights to and from Toronto and Montreal. The island is also connected to the Trans-Canada Highway system, making it convenient for those travelling by car or bus.

So, whether you choose to go by bus, car, or plane, the distance between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island is easily traversable, offering a range of transportation options to suit different preferences and budgets.

Travel time from New Brunswick to Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island is a rugged island on Canada's Atlantic coast, forming part of the province of Nova Scotia. The island is known for its captivating scenery, music, and rich cultural history.

The distance between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island is approximately 287 miles, and there are a few options for travelling between these two locations. Here is some information on the different modes of transportation:

By Car

Driving is the cheapest option for travelling between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island. The road distance is around 293 miles, and the journey typically takes about 5 hours and 26 minutes. The Trans-Canada Highway 104 leads directly to Cape Breton Island.

By Bus

Taking the bus is a convenient way to get from New Brunswick to Cape Breton Island without a car. The bus journey takes approximately 7 hours and 35 minutes, including a layover, and costs around $60 to $95. The bus service is operated by Maritimebus, departing from Moncton, NB, and arriving in Sydney, NS, with transfers in Truro, NS.

By Plane

Flying is the quickest way to travel between New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island. The flight time is around 5 hours and 21 minutes, including a stopover, and the cost ranges from $260 to $1,200. There are no direct flights from Fredericton Airport to Sydney Airport; however, travellers can fly with Air Canada or WestJet, with a stopover in Montreal or Toronto.

Cape Breton Island's geographical coordinates

Cape Breton Island is a rugged island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It is part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, and accounts for 18.7% of the province's total area. The island is physically separated from the Nova Scotia peninsula by the Strait of Canso, but the Canso Causeway, a 1,385-metre-long structure, connects it to mainland Nova Scotia.

The geographical coordinates of Cape Breton Island are:

• Latitude: 46.1667 or 46° 09' 60.00" N
• Longitude: -60.7500 or -60° 44' 59.99" W

The island is about 100 kilometres wide and 150 kilometres long, with a total area of 10,311 square kilometres (3,981 square miles). Its landmass slopes upward from south to north, and it is characterised by a mix of landscapes, including rocky shores, rolling farmland, glacial valleys, barren headlands, highlands, woods, and plateaus.

Cape Breton Island's landscape is formed from three terranes, which are fragments of the Earth's crust on a tectonic plate. The southern half of the island is part of the Avalon terrane, which was once a microcontinent in the Paleozoic era. The northern half is mostly on the Bras d'Or terrane, containing volcanic and sedimentary rock. The third terrane is the Blair River inlier on the northwestern tip, which contains the oldest rock in the Maritimes, dating back 1.6 billion years.

The island's diverse geography and landscapes provide a captivating experience for visitors and locals alike.

Cape Breton Island's history

Cape Breton Island, formerly Île Royale, is a rugged island on Canada's Atlantic coast. It is part of the province of Nova Scotia and accounts for 18.7% of its total area. The island is physically separated from the Nova Scotia peninsula by the Strait of Canso, but the Canso Causeway—a 1,385-metre-long highway built in 1955—connects it to the mainland. The island's landmass slopes upward from south to north, culminating in the highlands of its northern cape.

Cape Breton Island's first residents were likely the ancestors of the Mi'kmaq people, the indigenous inhabitants of the island known as Unama'ki. These ocean-centric people traded with Basque whalers and fishermen as early as the 16th century and were among the first Indigenous peoples to encounter European explorers in the St Lawrence Estuary. Italian explorer John Cabot, sailing for the British crown, reportedly visited the island in 1497, though this is disputed.

In the 1520s, the local Mi'kmaq people began trading with European fishermen who had started landing in their territories. Around 1521-22, the Portuguese established a fishing colony on the island, with about 200 settlers living in a village, though this colony's fate is unknown.

During the Anglo-French War of 1627-29, the Kirkes took Quebec City, and James Stewart, 4th Lord Ochiltree, planted a colony on Unama'ki at Baleine, Nova Scotia. In 1629, the French established the first European settlements on the island, in present-day Englishtown and St. Peter's, though these only lasted one generation.

In 1713, the French ceded their claims to Newfoundland and the Acadian mainland to the British, and the French relocated the population of Plaisance, Newfoundland, to Cape Breton Island, which they renamed Île Royale. The French established a garrison in the central eastern part of the island and began constructing the fortress of Louisbourg, which was the most imposing European-style fortress in North America at the time.

During the Seven Years' War, Louisbourg and the rest of New France fell to the British, and the fortress was destroyed. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris ceded the island and France's remaining possessions in the area to the British, and Cape Breton became part of the colony of Nova Scotia. In 1784, it became a separate colony, serving as a refuge for Loyalist refugees. However, the Loyalists were soon outnumbered by successive waves of Scottish immigrants. In 1820, Cape Breton Island was reunited with Nova Scotia.

The emergence of a coal-mining industry in the 1830s transformed the island's economy, with the mines attracting people from the already overpopulated rural areas. This industrial development continued into the 20th century, with large-scale shipbuilding beginning in the 1790s and peaking in the 1850s.

In the 1920s, Cape Breton Island experienced violent labour disputes, including the famous murder of William Davis by strike breakers and the seizing of the New Waterford power plant by striking miners.

Today, Cape Breton Island is known for its Scottish heritage and its performing arts and traditional crafts. It is also a popular tourist destination, with its scenic Cabot Trail and Fortress Louisbourg attracting visitors from around the world.

Frequently asked questions