Is the Cabot Trail Worth It With Kids? What I Really Thought

Yes, I think the Cabot Trail is worth driving with kids. But if I’m being completely honest, we came home from Cape Breton a little disappointed.

The Cabot Trail was one of the main reasons we added Cape Breton to our Maritime road trip. Doing so added roughly 500 extra kilometres to an already pretty long road trip, so I had BIG expectations.

I pictured those famous winding roads along the coast, dramatic cliffs and endless ocean views. And on our first day, that’s exactly what we got.

We drove from Antigonish toward Chéticamp under beautiful blue skies without a cloud in sight. When we reached the coast near Belle Côte, I remember thinking, THIS is the Cabot Trail I’d been picturing.

Then the weather changed.

The following morning was still partly sunny when we started hiking the Skyline Trail. But by the time we reached the famous boardwalk, a cloud inversion had rolled in below us. The clouds were so low that we couldn’t even see the water.

As the day went on, it became cloudier and cloudier. And on our final day, the weather was SHIT. There really isn’t a nicer way to put it.

The fog was so thick that we couldn’t see much of anything. We started the Middle Head Trail but turned around, skipped Ingonish Beach completely and eventually cancelled our planned overnight stay in Baddeck because the forecast wasn’t getting any better.

When you’ve added hundreds of kilometres to a road trip largely because you want to experience one of Canada’s most famous scenic drives, not being able to see the scenery is disappointing.

There’s no point pretending otherwise.

But here’s the interesting part.

When I think back on our Cape Breton road trip, the moments I remember most aren’t necessarily those famous Cabot Trail views.

I remember the boys playing in the water at Egypt Falls. I remember almost skipping Green Cove and then watching seals swimming below us while two bald eagles flew overhead. I remember them skipping rocks, visiting goats and getting excited about the wildlife we spotted along the way. We made so many great stops along the way.

And that’s why, despite the weather and despite coming home a little disappointed, I’d still say YES, the Cabot Trail is worth driving with kids.

Just don’t expect the scenic drive itself to be the highlight for them.

The Cabot Trail Is a Scenic Drive. Your Kids Probably Don’t Care.

One thing I’ve learned after doing A LOT of road trips with our boys is that kids experience scenic drives very differently than adults do.

I’ll be looking out the window thinking “WOW. Look at that view!” Meanwhile, someone in the back seat is asking how much longer until we stop.

And the Cabot Trail was no different.

The winding roads, huge coastal views and mountains of Cape Breton Highlands National Park were the reason I wanted to drive the Cabot Trail. But those weren’t the things keeping the boys entertained.

They needed reasons to get OUT of the car:

💦 A waterfall where they can play in the water.

🪨 A short trail with a stream where they can skip rocks.

🦭 A rocky coastline where you might spot seals.

🏖️ A beach where they can run around after sitting in the car.

🐐 A goat farm with gelato at the end of a long day.

Those stops broke up the driving and gave the boys something to look forward to besides another viewpoint.

So, What Made the Cabot Trail Worth Driving With Our Kids

I went to Cape Breton thinking the DRIVE would be the experience.

I imagined us winding along the coast, stopping at beautiful viewpoints and admiring those huge ocean views I’d seen in photos. And when the weather cooperated, I absolutely loved that part.

But the boys really didn’t care that much.

Sure, they’d look out the window when we pointed something out, but beautiful coastal scenery can only entertain kids for so long.

What they remember are the things we did when we got OUT of the car.

• They remember playing in the water at Egypt Falls.
• They remember skipping rocks in the stream near the Lone Shieling.
• They remember seeing their first seals near Neil’s Harbour and then finding even more at Green Cove, where we also watched two bald eagles flying over the water trying to catch fish.
• They remember the goats and gelato at Groovy Goat Farm.
• They remember going on stage to help with a science experiment at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site.

Those experiences had very little to do with how clear the sky was or whether we could see the coastline. And I think that’s the biggest thing to understand before driving the Cabot Trail with kids:

The Cabot Trail became worth it for our family when we got OUT of the car.

What I’d Do Differently If We Drove the Cabot Trail Again

Even though I’d drive the Cabot Trail with our kids again, I wouldn’t plan our trip exactly the same way.

Our biggest lesson was that we didn’t need to fit quite so much into each day.

• I’d plan less
• I’d give ourselves more flexibility for the weather (a few extra days)
• I’d book our accommodations earlier (to have more decent options)
• I’d still book the skyline trail early (the 9AM slot was perfect)
• I’d plan around experiences, not viewpoints

Who Is the Cabot Trail Worth Driving With Kids?

After our experience, I don’t think the Cabot Trail is an automatic must-do for EVERY family visiting Nova Scotia.

Whether it’s worth adding to your road trip really depends on how your family likes to travel.

I’d Absolutely Drive the Cabot Trail With Kids If…

• Your family loves being outside.
• If your kids enjoy hiking, waterfalls, beaches, looking for wildlife
• If your family already enjoys road trips.

There IS a lot of driving involved, even when you spread the Cabot Trail over several days. If your kids are relatively happy in the car as long as they get regular breaks, it’s much easier to make the drive part of a fun family trip.

But I’d Think Twice Before Adding a Huge Detour JUST for the Drive

This is where my answer gets a little more complicated.

We added roughly 500 kilometres to our Maritime road trip largely because I wanted to drive the Cabot Trail.

Knowing what I know now, would I add those kilometres just to spend one day driving the loop and stopping at viewpoints? Probably not … especially with kids.

If you’re making a significant detour to visit Cape Breton, I’d give yourself enough time to actually experience it.

Stay in Chéticamp. Hike a trail. Stop at a waterfall. Look for wildlife. Spend time at a beach. Explore some of the small communities along the route. And give yourself enough flexibility that one foggy morning doesn’t ruin the entire reason you came.

I Wouldn’t Rush the Cabot Trail in One Day With Kids

If you’re driving the Cabot Trail with kids, I’d recommend at least two nights, but three nights is even better.

We had three days in Cape Breton, starting with our drive from Antigonish to Chéticamp, spending our second day travelling through Cape Breton Highlands National Park toward Ingonish, and finishing around Ingonish and Baddeck on our third day.

And it still felt like a lot of driving.

So, Is the Cabot Trail Worth Driving With Kids? My Final Take

Yes, I think the Cabot Trail is worth driving with kids. But I’d go into it with different expectations than I did.

I wouldn’t plan a family trip around simply driving the famous loop and checking off every scenic viewpoint. Because after driving roughly 500 extra kilometres to experience the Cabot Trail, we didn’t get the trip I’d pictured.

We had one afternoon of absolutely gorgeous coastal views.

We reached the end of the Skyline Trail only to find the ocean completely hidden beneath the clouds. And by our final morning, the fog was so thick that we skipped some of the places I’d been looking forward to most.

And it was truly disappointing!

But then I think about Green Cove, Egypt Falls, the hours the kids spent in the water (even if it was cloudy), and THAT becomes the story everyone remembers.

So yes, I’d drive the Cabot Trail with our kids again.

I’d just plan fewer stops, leave more room for the weather and spend less time worrying about seeing everything. Because with kids, the best part of the Cabot Trail isn’t necessarily the drive.