The Confederation Bridge defines the arrival in Borden-Carleton; at the same time, the 110-kilometre section of the International Appalachian Trail on Prince Edward Island begins here. Gateway Village is right beside the bridge and brings together several convenient stopping points. For your trip planning, the town offers specific highlights related to the bridge, trails and local history.
Arriving at the Confederation Bridge
At 12.9 kilometres, the Confederation Bridge is the world’s longest bridge over ice-covered water. It opened to traffic on May 31, 1997, and connects New Brunswick with Borden-Carleton.
Gateway Village is a welcome centre and recommended stop when arriving via the bridge. Before crossing, travellers can fill up there and buy snacks and souvenirs. The Borden-Carleton Visitor Information Centre is in the heart of Gateway Village, right beside the Confederation Bridge.
At kilometre 18, you’ll find COWS ice cream in Gateway Village.
Two trail connections in Borden-Carleton
The 110-kilometre section of the International Appalachian Trail on Prince Edward Island begins in Borden-Carleton. Another trail connection concerns the Confederation Trail: its connection to the Confederation Bridge is also here. This trail is suitable for hiking and cycling three seasons of the year.
If you’re considering hiking or cycling, the seasonal note about the Confederation Trail is especially specific; for the International Appalachian Trail, its starting point in Borden-Carleton is the main connection.
Railway and maritime history
At the Marine Rail Historical Park, you can learn more about the railway and maritime history of Prince Edward Island. Marine Rail Park offers views of the Confederation Bridge. A large red heart there is a popular Instagram backdrop with locals and visitors.
Prince County: regional history and culture
The wider destination of Prince County features further themes in history and culture. The Tignish Cultural Centre houses a museum with artefacts and documentation about local history and culture. The Alberton Museum displays artefacts from early residents, local photographs and genealogical information about families from the area. The Alberton Arts & Heritage Centre is a decommissioned Presbyterian church now used for cultural events.
The Sea Rescue Interpretive Centre showcases and explains the heroics and disasters of times past. The Tryon Museum shares the history of Indigenous, Acadian and early European settlement in the region. A nature trail there connects historic sites in the area and offers information about the Tryon River watershed.
The Bedeque Area Historical Museum is housed in the historic Callbeck Store, built in 1899. The Green Park Shipbuilding Museum & Yeo House focuses on Prince Edward Island’s long shipbuilding tradition. Guided tours of a restored Victorian house are offered there. The site also includes a historic schoolhouse and blacksmith shop, where visitors can learn about 19th-century trades.
The Acadian Museum traces the history of Acadians on Prince Edward Island from 1720 to the present. Its offerings include permanent and changing exhibits, a bilingual video presentation, historical paintings by Claude Picard and genealogical resources. The Bideford Parsonage Museum, meanwhile, is a restored historic residence that brings to life what a rural farmstead was like in the late 19th century.
Discover more destinations: Bedeque, Prince Edward, Tignish, Summerside, Miscouche, Kensington, O'leary.
Return to the main travel overview: Prince County.
