Anne-Charlotte PasseraIt’s decided, this Summer you’re heading to the eastern seabord of Canada to discover the province of Nova Scotia. But what about your dog? Should you bring it along? Yes and why not? But where should you make your stops that are dog-friendly and fun?
For sure it’s a long drive to get to Nova Scotia. From Montreal to the border of Nova Scotia it’s a good 10 hour drive, straight.
Of course, just like with kids, and for the health of your automobile, you can’t just drive 10 hours straight with a dog in tow.
First of all, everyone will need a bathroom break, yes, including you. You’ll need to eat at some point and stretch your legs and of course get some sleep. Hence, you’ll have to make many pit stops along the way that are also dog-friendly.
While you could go on a whim and find lodging as you go, it might be harder to improvise when you have a dog or two; not all places are pet-friendly. We spent two nights outside Nova Scotia so that we could have fun in the process and to make it easier on the dogs.
Here are some of the places we tested on our way to and from Nova Scotia with our 2 big dogs Nouki and Price during the summer of 2022. We made some long stops along the way so as to tire out the dogs and to allow them to have some fun. Also, it allowed us to discover some new places and make the road trip a lot more interesting. We’ve added a couple other places that we went to in the past to the list as they are along the way but did not stay at during this trip.
Dog-friendly pit stops in Quebec
About 1h30 outside Montreal is a fun rest area where you can gaz up, take a bathroom break, get some food and check out some dinosaurs. Yes, you read that correctly.
It isn’t a must see, but it’s different. For a quick stop, there are far worse places. Although you might think that it might be too soon to stop, it might not be the case if you were stuck in traffic trying to get out of the city. Hence, you might want to take this little break.
Location: Route 20, exit 202, Madrid 2.0
La Chaudière Falls, Lévis
Open during the summer from 8h30 am to 9h30 pm, lies the Falls of La Chaudière. It’s only 2 minutes out from route 20, exit 312S.
- Parking is free and up to 2 hours.
- There are public restrooms and water fountains outside and inside the main building.
- There are about 5km of easy trails that go through a forest and a suspension bridge which gives you a spectacular view of the Falls.
You can also access the water by going down some wooden stairs. We did not do that part as we didn’t want to spend long hours in the car with two large wet dogs.
The world’s largest maze of Kamouraska
This is a fun place to get lost in and has been on the quest of breaking the Guinness Book of Record for the largest corn maze in the world.
- Dogs are allowed on leash, but you have to pay $12 per person to get in.
- They are usually open from August until October.
More information and book your tickets online HERE.
Location: 1210 QC-132, La Pocatière, G0R 1Z0
Distance from Montreal: 4h
Walk along the Saint-Lawrence river
In La Pocatière, you’ll get access to pebbled beaches along the shores of the Saint-Lawrence river for free.
Where to sleep in Quebec
If you get there during day time, you’ll have enough time to put up your tent and watch a stunning sunset on the Saint Lawrence River at Camping Rivière Ouelle.
The camp sites are spacious. We suggest to stay in the far back of the campgrounds for some extra privacy and quietness. This will give your dog an extra chance not to bark away in the middle of the night.
Location: 176, chemin de la Pointe, Rivière-Ouelle, G0L 2C0
Distance from Montreal: 4h
Cost: $37 for a tent and $3 per dog
Dog-friendly pit stops in New Brunswick
You’re gonna love travelling through New Brunswick with your dog. People there, we found, were super pet-friendly, more so than in Quebec.
Grand Falls
Grand Falls is a great place to stop and sleep.
The town looks like one you would find somewhere in the middle of the U.S. with a large main street with stores on either side.
There are beautiful old homes to drool in front of but more so, people stop there for the falls.
Along the falls there is an easy trail you can walk on for free with different look outs. It makes for a very pleasant 1 hour stroll.
Before, stone towers supported the cables of the 1860 bridge. They were replaced by a cement pier to bare the spans of the 1914 steel structure.
The present bridge that you will see dates back to 1976 and was named after the jockey Ron Turcotte which you’ll also see a statue of at the beginning of Main Street.
Warning: if you have a dog that loves water, keep him on a tight leash as he might just want to jump over.
Distance from Montreal: 6h15
Family tip
If you also have kids travelling with you, there is a zip lining activity you can do above the falls.
During the summer, it is open daily from 10 am to 6pm.
The cost is $50 per person but if you go there on the day of your birthday, you’ll pay $30.
More information HERE.
Fundy National Park
This national park is one of the most beautiful parks we have been to in a long while. All the trails are dog-friendly (I think).
For some splish-splash fun, head on over to the herring cove during low tide. The water is warm, there are toilets and the view is spectacular. There are two high tides and low tides during the day, so you might need to check the times a couple days before heading out there.
Of course, there is much more to do and see in this park, which we talk about HERE.
Where to sleep in New Brunswick
There are quite a few dog-friendly options for sleeping in New Brunswick. However, if you are just passing through, find a dog-friendly one not far from the highway.
If all else fails, there is always the Walmart parking lot where you can spend one night free of charge. You’ll pass a few on your way to Nova Scotia in towns such as: Edmunston, Grand Falls, Woodstock, Fredericton and Moncton.
Saint-André
Yes, dog-friendly motels do exist in New Brunswick and the one we stayed at did not come cheap. It was certainly no June Motel but at least we had a dry place to sleep in.
We booked our room while on the road seeing we lost a lot of time in traffic and we wouldn’t stop until dark. Moreover, we had a severe thunderstorm tailing us from Quebec all the way to New Brunswick which also made us loose driving time.
Reminder: there is a +1h time difference in New Brunswick with Quebec.
Motel Léo: $255 (including a cold breakfast)
For some reason unbeknown to us, there was a property tax of $88 on top of taxes and a surcharge of $30 for the dog. (We only paid for one). This property tax is common in New Brunswick and varies according to the price of your room. Expect to pay double the original price when all is said and done.
The room was clean but very small for us with two big dogs. It did have a small fridge and microwave.
Location: 10021 NB-144, Saint-André Parish, NB, E3Y 3H5, 5 minutes off Rte 2.
Distance from Montreal: 6h
Hartland
Hartland is home to the longest covered bridge in the world apparently. We didn’t stay long enough to visit.
We slept there in our car in what used to be a rest area by the entrance to the bridge. There were two camper vans when we pulled up. It was quiet and a nice place to wake up to. Yes, it was free. There were signs that say private property but to be honest, a lot of people passing through spend the night there. If you don’t make any noise, and don’t officially set up camp it is tolerated.
Alma
Alma is a small fisherman town located at the entrance of Fundy National Park. It has a couple restaurants as well and beach access. It is a beautiful spot to spend the night at.
More on Alma HERE.
Distance from Montreal: 10h
Low-cost option
Camping in Fundy National Park, headquarters
There are no fire pits. You’ll have to go into town to eat or bring a portable stove with you.
Our campsite was #122 which was perfect for us; close to the bathrooms and to a water faucet.
Cost: $39
Another option on the same campground that is pet-friendly is to sleep in a ready-made tent. You can do so in oTENTIK 072. It’s the only one in this camping that allows dogs. All you’ll need to bring is your sleeping gear. A charcoal BBQ is provided.
Cost: $96 and up
Higher-end option
Originally, we wanted to spend the night at Vista Ridge. Unfortunately, the date we wanted was already booked and the answer to our request was short and dry.
We got to see these cottages from afar and they do have a great view on the Bay and come fully equipped.
Cost: $170 for two people + $ 20 for pets
Location: 41 foster road, Alma
Guide lines for a dog-friendly road trip
We are definitely no experts on long road trips with not one but two dogs. The longest one we took was a 5 hour drive to Algonquin Park in Ontario with our then 4 month old Newfie Nouki.
That being said, we were relatively prepared having done road trips with kids before which is essentially the same. Pets and kids require the same basic needs and comfort. Both pets and kids can get car sick. Luckily, they have all gotten over that but just in case, you need to be ready if that problem should occur again.
Fortunately, we have a Toyota RAV4 which we can put the seats down. We set up a small kids mattress (which we already had) in the back for extra comfort and in case we needed to sleep in the car. Turns out, we ended spending two nights in the car all 4 of us. It was not memorable.
Dog-friendly essentials for pit stops
To hit the road with your dog you need to be prepared. Here is a check list to remember what not to forget:
| Leash | Bring a spare leash to use as an extension. Also, always keep a spare one in the car. While on our way to visit Mahone Bay, after a 1h30 drive, we realized that we had forgotten both leashes. Luckily, there was a pet store open in town so that we could buy some. |
| Water | Bring at least 1 jug of water for your dog so as to always have enough. The car and either the air conditioning or hot days can really make them thirsty. You don’t want to have a dehydrated dog. |
| Poop bags | No matter where you go in Canada, you have to pick up after your dog. Make sure you have a good supply of poop bags. Provincial parks usually provide poop bags at trail entrances for free. |
| Towels | Bring old towels to dry your dog after a day at the beach or in the rain. Also, if you dog gets diarrhea and it gets stuck to its fur, a towel will come in handy. Sounds disgusting, I know. Keep an empty plastic bag or two in the car so that you can store the dirty towels in until you get to a place to wash them. |
| Water bottle | A dog water bottle or a foldable drinking bowl for hiking. A foldable bowl can be attached to your backpack and doesn’t take up space in the car. |
| Treats | Dogs might get upset stomachs on the road or for some reason refuse to eat. Add a couple treats to their food. Also, carrots, which are good for them, can help with grouchy stomachs. Pre-cut them to save time and for easier storage. |
| Medicine | Obviously, if your dog is under medication, don’t forget it. We also brought our first aid kit in case our dogs got injured. A brush or comb won’t be a luxury.They will come in handy to detangle their hair after spending time in the forest or at the beach. |
Setting up your dog-friendly car for practical stops
The more you can put on the roof of your car, the more comfortable everyone will be. Essentially, store on top everything you won’t need on a daily basis so as not to have to constantly open it or bring it down for access.
Store some dog food in the car for 2 or 3 days and put the rest on top. Make sure you bring enough for the whole trip. You might not be able to find the same brand of dog food on the road.
Switching dog food on a road trip is not a good idea.
Keep all the dog’s essentials in the same bag or area with you for quick access: a dog bowl, water, medicine, towels, etc.
You shouldn’t really leave your dog in the car unattended for long periods of time. Therefore, don’t think about eating in.
Take-out will become your new best friend on the road.
Sleeping on the road with dogs
The easiest and cheapest option is of course camping. The only problem with that is having to lose time setting up a tent and if you have to do so during a thunderstorm.
Albeit, camping with dogs is not always practical on the road, but it might be fun just for one night.
- You can check out the website of Free Campsites or use the app ioverlander for planning purposes.
We had brought a small child mattress for the dogs to sleep on while we were driving long distance.
Anytime we sleep somewhere with our dogs away from home, we bring some sheets or blankets. We use them to cover the bed and sofa as our dogs (particularly the youngest) likes to be comfortable and close to us. It’s a good way to make sure we don’t damage the furniture and prevent giving dog owners a bad reputation. Also, these sheets and blankets can be used as a mattress when sleeping in the car or in a tent.
Looking for short week-end getaways from Montreal with your dog? THIS ARTICLE will give you ideas.
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