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What Is Prince Edward Island? The 60-Second Guide to Canada's Smallest Province
PEI is Canada's smallest province, its only one made entirely of islands, and the birthplace of Confederation. Here is the geography and the three ways to get there.
1. Size and Shape
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada's smallest province by area and the only province made up entirely of islands. The Island covers roughly 5,660 square kilometres, stretching 224 kilometres end to end and just 6 to 64 kilometres wide, a narrow crescent floating in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
2. Neighbours Across the Strait
PEI faces Nova Scotia and New Brunswick across the Northumberland Strait, separated by as little as 10 kilometres at the closest point.
3. Birthplace of Confederation
Charlottetown, the Island's capital and largest city, hosted the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, where the idea of Canadian Confederation was first put on the table. That history is why PEI carries the nickname "Birthplace of Confederation."
4. Three Ways to Get There
| Route | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Confederation Bridge | Drive | 12.9 km, the longest bridge in the world over ice-covered water; tolled only when leaving the Island (about $20 for a 2-axle vehicle) |
| Wood Islands Ferry | Seasonal ferry | Connects to Caribou, Nova Scotia; operates seasonally, not year-round |
| Charlottetown Airport (YYG) | Flight | Direct flights from several Canadian and U.S. hub cities |
5. Why It Matters for Newcomers
Every driving route onto the Island funnels through Confederation Bridge, and every scheduled flight lands at the same small airport in Charlottetown. That single point of entry is part of why Island logistics, from moving trucks to grocery deliveries, run on a different rhythm than mainland Canada.