Campobello Island: Discover how to relax and enjoy it the way Franklin D. Roosevelt did!
Campobello Island Quick Facts:
What is in a name?
Captain William Owen received all the land on Campobello Island as a grant from a man called Mr.Campbell. He was so grateful to Mr.Campbell he decided to include his name in the naming of the Island. Camp-o Bell-o was the name he decided on and it later became Campobello.
Campobello is an Island in the Bay of Fundy between St. Andrews and Saint John and is part of the Fundy Coastal Drive. It is 14 km long and 5 km wide. It is just two short ferry rides from the New Brunswick mainland at St. George New Brunswick. The first ferry takes you to Deer Island and the second ferry will get you to Campobello Island.
Directions:From the state of Maine USA follow route 1 until you reach Whiting Corner. From there take route 189 to Lubec. Cross the Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge to Campobello Island and you have arrived. From New Brunswick mainland driving east or west on highway #1, take exit #56 to St. George and follow the signage for Route 172 to Letete. From there you will need to take the Deer Island Ferry. This ferry is completely free of charge.
Once you arrive in Deer Island you will need to follow route 772 to the other end of the Island where you will line up along the appropriate side of the road for the Campobello Ferry (The other ferry goes to Lubec Maine, USA) This ferry will cost you a moderate fee. They accept cash or cheque only!!! Keep in mind that Deer Island is small. You can drive across it in about 10 minutes. Check out the East Coast Ferry Schedule for time tables and prices to plan your trip.
When our family of four crossed by ferry from Deer Island to Campobello it cost us $32.00. We had the truck and tent trailer and were charged by the length of vehicle and not per person. There is no bridge toll for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge to Lubec, Maine. Attractions:
There is a Provincial Park on Campobello Island called Herring Cove Provincial Park. It features tent cabins, 88 campsites – some wooded, some in an open field near the playground, and some with a view of the water. We found the campsites very spacious, wooded and private. At Herring Cove Provincial Park there is a mile long beach and many hiking trails to explore.
Herring Cove also has one of New Brunswick's most beautiful golf courses. At one point it overlooks the mile long beach. This is a scenic 9-hole course fully equipped with golf carts, putting green, proshop, club rental, driving range, and clubhouse with a licensed restaurant. My in-laws have stated that they would rather drive the 2.5 hrs to golf here than drive to PEI to golf. They really liked this golf course!!!
Birding is extremely popular on Campobello due to its location. We weren’t there very long before we saw various species of birds along the shoreline. There are many shorelines to explore!!!
The only International Park in existence is located on Campobello Island. Roosevelt-Campobello International Park is also the most popular attraction on this Island! It is definitely a “must see” and it is completely free of charge!! The late US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s summer home is located here. Roosevelt Park can be a full day adventure. There are
videos, interpretive displays, beautiful gardens, his actual summer home, and many many trails to hike in this 2,800-acre park. Unspoiled nature and serenity is what this area is all about. FDR came here to relax and refuel and he called Campobello Island his “beloved” Island. The park opens the Saturday following Victoria Day and closes on Canadian Thanks Giving. Hours of operation are 10:00 until 6:00 seven days a week. The visitor center remains open until October 31st.
While on the Island you could take in one of the whale watching tours or try your hand at a deep sea fishing excursion if you are brave.
Wheelchair accessible?At Roosevelt-Campobello International Park the Visitor Center, first floor of the cottage, Eagle Hill Bog Pathway, and Friar’s Head Observation Deck are all wheelchair accessible.You won’t find a shopping mall on Campobello. For that matter, you won’t even find a service/gas station on the Island. Best to fuel up before you leave St. George or Maine, USA. There is however a grocery store (with an ATM), and a few gift shops, cabins to rent, and the odd take-out for the essentials.
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The lighthouses are very popular to check out too! The East Quoddy Head Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in New Brunswick. (The oldest lighthouse is at Cape Enrage, not too far from Fundy National Park.) The East Quoddy Head Lighthouse AKA Head Harbour Light is active and is accessible by foot at low tide only and for a nominal fee. We were there at half tide and were not able to go as close as we wanted but we were able to get a half decent picture. It is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world!
