Prince Edward Island Tourist Map

Description:
This map shows cities, towns, rivers, lakes, highways, major roads, secondary roads, confederation trail, north cape coastal drive, blu heron scenic drive, points east coastal drive, scenic heritage roads, kilometer distance, islands welcome centres, beaches, campgrounds, accommodations, heritage sites, museums, parks, washrooms, lighthouses, scenic views, and theatres in Prince Edward Island.

Tourism in Prince Edward Island

Tourism represents a vital economic sector for Prince Edward Island, generating approximately $439 million in annual visitor spending and supporting roughly 10,000 jobs directly and indirectly. The province attracts over 1.6 million visitors annually, with the peak season extending from June through September.

Major Attractions

The Anne of Green Gables heritage sites constitute the island's most iconic tourist draw. Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, the farm that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 novel, welcomes over 200,000 visitors each year. The site preserves the house and grounds as described in the books, and Parks Canada manages the property as a National Historic Site. Related attractions include the Anne of Green Gables Museum at Silver Bush and Montgomery's birthplace in New London.

Prince Edward Island National Park protects 42 kilometers of north shore coastline, featuring red sandstone cliffs, sandy beaches, and dune systems. Cavendish Beach within the park draws hundreds of thousands of beachgoers during summer months. The park also encompasses the Greenwich dunes, a rare parabolic dune system on the northeast coast.

Beach Tourism

The island's extensive coastline offers over two dozen provincial beach parks and numerous undeveloped beaches. Basin Head Provincial Park in eastern Kings County features a unique singing sand phenomenon and serves as a popular family destination. Brackley Beach, Stanhope Beach, and Dalvay Beach along the north shore maintain supervised swimming areas during peak season.

Water temperatures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence reach 18-22°C (64-72°F) during July and August, warmer than most Canadian ocean beaches. This factor significantly contributes to the island's appeal as a beach destination for families from central Canada and northeastern United States.

Cultural and Culinary Tourism

The Charlottetown Festival runs from May through October at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, featuring the musical "Anne of Green Gables–The Musical" which has played continuously since 1965. The capital also offers walking tours focused on confederation history and Victorian architecture.

Culinary tourism has expanded significantly, with the island promoting its seafood, particularly lobster, oysters, and mussels. The PEI Fall Flavours festival in September showcases local food products and attracts food enthusiasts. Over two dozen wineries operate across the province, and the island's potato farming heritage features in agritourism experiences. The provincial tourism authority markets these offerings under the "Gentle Island" brand, emphasizing rural character and relaxed atmosphere.

Accommodation and Services

The tourism sector provides approximately 7,500 rooms across hotels, motels, inns, and bed-and-breakfast establishments. Numerous campgrounds offer over 3,000 campsites, including facilities operated by provincial parks. Vacation rental properties have grown substantially, particularly in coastal areas near Cavendish, Brackley Beach, and Souris. The shoulder seasons of May and October have seen increased marketing efforts to extend the traditional summer tourism period.