Flights, the Bridge, and the Ferry: How People Actually Get to PEI

1. There Are Only Three Ways Onto the Island

PEI has no land border with the rest of Canada and no direct international flights. Every arrival, whether you're a tourist, a new permanent resident, or someone moving a household from Ontario, funnels through one of three points:

• Fly directly into Charlottetown Airport (YYG) — small, domestic-only
• Fly into a bigger airport (usually Halifax) and drive the rest of the way
• Drive across the Confederation Bridge or take the seasonal ferry, both of which connect PEI to mainland Canada, not to anywhere outside the country

2. Flying Directly Into Charlottetown (YYG)

Charlottetown Airport is domestic-only — there is no customs or international arrivals hall, so you cannot fly here directly from outside Canada. As of 2026, direct routes are limited to:

Fares and schedules shrink outside peak summer, and the airport itself is small — expect light traffic, short walks, and no lounges to speak of. If you're arriving from outside Canada, you'll clear customs at your first Canadian stop (commonly Toronto Pearson or Montreal-Trudeau) and connect onward to Charlottetown on a domestic leg.

3. Flying Into Halifax and Driving the Rest of the Way

Halifax Stanfield (YHZ) has far more international and domestic connections than Charlottetown, and is often cheaper even after you add the drive. From Halifax Stanfield to Charlottetown is about 298 km, roughly 3 hours 10 to 25 minutes by car depending on traffic and your exact destination on the Island. Maritime Bus runs a daily airport shuttle from Halifax Stanfield to Charlottetown (around 4 hours 25 minutes with the stop pattern, roughly $54-58 one-way); book ahead, since the bus only stops for passengers who've already purchased a ticket.

4. The Confederation Bridge

The 12.9 km bridge connects Borden-Carleton, PEI to Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick, and operates 24/7 with no reservations needed. As of August 2025, the federal government cut the toll to a flat $20.00 for passenger vehicles (down from $50.25), and the toll is only collected when leaving PEI — crossing onto the Island is free. The crossing itself takes about 12 minutes.

5. The Wood Islands-Caribou Ferry (Seasonal)

Northumberland Ferries runs a 75-minute crossing between Wood Islands, PEI and Caribou, Nova Scotia, operating roughly May through December (closed in winter — see the companion article on seasonal access for exact dates and what that means for travel planning). A standard car's round-trip fare for 2026 is about $43, fare collected only when leaving PEI, same as the bridge. Reservations are recommended; standby boarding exists but isn't guaranteed.

6. Which Option Actually Makes Sense

• Flying with no connections to arrange on the ground: direct to Charlottetown, if your route exists and the fare works
• Flying from overseas or a city without a direct Charlottetown route: connect through Halifax or Toronto, then either take a short domestic hop to YYG or rent a car and drive
• Driving from anywhere in mainland Canada or the US: the bridge is faster and now cheaper than the ferry for most people; the ferry only makes sense if you're already in Nova Scotia and want to skip the drive around through New Brunswick, or you simply want the scenic crossing