If you going on a road trip around Nova Scotia, driving to Yarmouth (the most southern point of Nova Scotia) and along the Acadian Shore offers scenic and coastal views along the way. Yarmouth is a colourful town to stop in with lots of cozy cafes, museums and the scenic Cape Forchu Lighthouse. The Acadian Shore has an abundance of beaches, coastlines and Acadian culture to experience. Below I share where to go and what to do on a Nova Scotia Roadtrip to Yarmouth and the Acadian Shore!
Tips and Recommendations for your road trip to Yarmouth Nova Scotia
- This is meant to be a guide for places you can see in Yarmouth and along the French Shore on a multi-day road trip around Nova Scotia.
- Depending on where you begin and end your road trip, and how long you spend at each location, you can visit these sites in one day. I drove to these sites from my home in the South Shore (about 1.5 hours away from Yarmouth) and it took me the whole day.
- It is not recommended to do this as a day trip from Halifax. It takes a long time to drive around Nova Scotia, and Yarmouth is a 3.5 hour drive from Halifax. If you want to visit Yarmouth from Halifax, I recommend exploring the South Shore and spending the night along the way before you begin this road trip.
- If you are coming from Maine, USA, the CAT ferry takes you directly to Yarmouth!
What to Do in Yarmouth
Yarmouth is a small and colourful town and can be explored in an afternoon. There are lots of museums and shop to check out.
The most popular place to see is Cape Forchu Lighthouse. The drive to the lighthouse is very scenic, with lots of little beaches to explore along the way.
Once you reach the lighthouse, there is a rose-lined pathway overlooking the ocean that loops around the property, and informational signs explaining the geology of the area. There is also small restaurant at the lighthouse.
Where to eat in Yarmouth
Iceworks Dairy and Espresso Bar, 313 Main St., Yarmouth, NS
This cozy cafe offers sushi, ramen, and my personal favourite – bubble tea!
Gaia Global Kitchen, 222 Main St, Yarmouth, NS B5A 1C8
The best place to eat for gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian dishes. The menu has a variety of options from all over the world.
The Shanty Cafe, 6B Central St, Yarmouth, NS B5A 3H1
This is another gluten-free restaurant serving all day breakfasts, burgers, soups and international food.
The Acadian Shore
After you have spent some time exploring Yarmouth, it is now time to continue your roadtrip along the French Shore and up towards Digby. This part of Nova Scotia has a rich Acadian heritage, and has lots of scenic beaches, lighthouses and churches to see along the way.
Port Maitland Beach
This beach was stunning. I have never seen a beach so clean – there was no seaweed washed ashore, and the sand was so white.
This beach has toilets, a changing room and a tap to wash the sand off of your feet.
Mavillette Beach Provincial Park
This was probably one of the most interesting beaches to explore on our Nova Scotia road trip . The cliffs in the distance were really beautiful, and if you walk down the beach there are rock pools with crabs. It was such a long beach that it felt really private too!
Smugglers Cove
This was probably one of my favourite stops on our Nova Scotia Road trip to Yarmouth and the Acadian Shore. There are about 80 steps leading down to this picturesque cove and cave. When the tide is high you can walk down the steps to the viewing platform. We arrived at low tide and were able to walk along the ocean floor.
Église Sainte-Marie Church
The largest wooden church in North America, this truly is a sight to behold. I was in awe at how TALL the steeple is! It was closed when we arrived, but their hours are 9-5 daily between Mid-May and October. Admission is $2.
Gilbert’s Cove Lighthouse
Not too far off the highway is Gilbert’s Cove Lighthouse. There is a little beach next to it, and the views are really beautiful! We even saw some seals while we were there.
Digby
Technically not along the French shore (it is located in the Annapolis Valley), Digby is the final destination on this road trip to Yarmouth Nova Scotia.
Digby is along the Bay of Fundy, and the tides are dramatic. There are lots of shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Make sure to get their famous clams and chips while you are here!
It will probably be much later in day when you arrive, so there won’t be much time to explore the town of Digby during this road trip to Yarmouth. It is recommended to spend the night here so that you can explore it in more depth and travel along the Digby Neck the next day.
During our road trip, we had dinner along the waterfront in Digby before heading back home (our home was about an hour and a half away from Digby).
Places to stay on your Road Trip to Yarmouth Nova Scotia and the Acadian Shore
Have you traveled around Yarmouth and the French Shore? Are there any stops you would recommend visiting on a road trip to Yarmouth Nova Scotia? Let me know in the comments below!
One of my best friends actually just moved to Nova Scotia, so I will have to check this out when I visit her!
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