Thrifty Car Hire
Moncton

On arrival at YQM, head from baggage reclaim into the main terminal arrivals hall. You will find the Thrifty hire car desk conveniently located inside the terminal building. After completing your paperwork with the agent, you will be directed to the designated hire car car park. This car park is just a short walk from the terminal exit, making the whole process from landing to driving away smooth and straightforward.

Greater Moncton is a well-equipped regional airport used to handling flights that arrive outside standard business hours. The hire car car parks are well lit and situated very close to the terminal for your safety and convenience. If you include your flight number in your reservation, staff are usually aware of delays and will plan accordingly. For any significant delays, it’s good practice to call the local office directly to confirm after-hours collection procedures.

For a weekday morning departure it’s wise to build a small buffer into your schedule for the hire car return. Plan to arrive at the airport about 15 to 20 minutes earlier than you normally would for check-in and security. This allows ample time for the vehicle return process, including a quick inspection and finalising your paperwork, without feeling rushed. The return area is clearly signed as you approach the airport, making for a stress-free end to your trip.

After collecting your vehicle, one of the best options is to drive just a few minutes to the large retail area around Champlain Place mall or the shops on Dieppe Boulevard. These shopping centres have expansive car parks where you can find a quiet spot away from the main traffic flow. This allows you to take your time adjusting mirrors, programming your navigation and securing any child seats comfortably and safely before starting your journey.

The most straightforward route into downtown Moncton is to take Airport Road to NB-15 West. You will follow NB-15, which becomes Wheeler Boulevard, for several kilometres. This main artery flows directly towards the city centre with clearly marked exits for key downtown streets like Main Street. This path avoids complex city grids and lets you get your bearings on a simple, multi-lane road before navigating smaller streets.

The drive from the airport to the Magnetic Hill area is surprisingly quick, typically taking only 15 to 20 minutes. The route primarily uses the Trans-Canada Highway (NB-2 West), a modern, divided road. Outside the brief morning and evening commuter peaks, traffic is generally light. This makes it an easy first stop for visitors looking to experience one of the region’s most famous attractions shortly after arriving.

The most direct drive to Hopewell Rocks is via NB-114 South, a scenic route that takes approximately 40 to 45 minutes from Moncton. The critical part of planning this trip is checking the Bay of Fundy tide schedule online for that specific day. To experience walking on the ocean floor you must arrive at low tide. Plan to get there about an hour before the lowest point of the tide to give yourself the maximum time to explore the famous flowerpot rocks.

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park has a large, well organised car park conveniently located near the main interpretation centre. From the parking area it is a short and relatively flat walk of just a few minutes to reach the primary viewpoints overlooking the rock formations. To access the ocean floor you will need to descend a significant number of steps. Be sure to allow time for the walk back up the staircase after you have finished exploring the beach.

The former causeway has been replaced by a modern bridge connecting Moncton to the town of Riverview, which has greatly simplified traffic flow. The approaches to the Gunningsville Bridge are now standard and well signed, removing the confusing lane changes of the old system. For first-time visitors, navigating this area is now much more intuitive. Simply follow the signs for Riverview or downtown Moncton and you will find the crossing straightforward.

A classic and highly recommended day loop is the Fundy Coastal Drive. Start by driving south on NB-114 to visit Hopewell Rocks, then continue along the coast to the charming fishing village of Alma for lunch at the entrance to Fundy National Park. After exploring the park you can return to Moncton via the same route or take a slightly different inland path for a change of scenery. This loop provides iconic views, park access and a town experience in one efficient trip.

The drive to Shediac is one of the easiest trips from Moncton, taking about 20–25 minutes east on NB-15. This is a direct, multi-lane highway that brings you almost directly to the beach turnoff. Parlee Beach Provincial Park has a very large paid car park to accommodate visitors. However, on sunny summer weekends it can fill up, so arriving before late morning is the best strategy to secure a convenient spot and avoid parking-related stress.

Dieppe and Moncton are seamlessly connected, but main arteries like Champlain Street and Wheeler Boulevard can experience congestion during peak commuter times. These periods are typically from 7:30am to 9:00am and from 4:00pm to 5:30pm on weekdays. While the traffic is manageable compared to larger cities, it’s a good idea to allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes for your drive if you need to travel between the two centres during these hours.

While Moncton’s road network is generally easy to navigate, some visitors find the large multi-lane roundabout connecting Wheeler Boulevard, Berry Mills Road and the Trans-Canada Highway challenging at first. The key is to give way to traffic already in the circle and choose your lane based on the overhead signs before you enter. In addition, some on-ramps to the highways can be shorter than expected, so be prepared to accelerate smoothly to merge with traffic.

Mobile signal is generally strong along the main road (NB-114) from Moncton to the edge of Fundy National Park. However, once you enter the park itself or venture onto more rural side roads along the coast, signal can become patchy or completely unavailable. It’s highly recommended to download offline maps of the region to your navigation app or device before you leave Moncton to ensure you can navigate without interruption.

For the best coastal scenery, follow the Fundy Coastal Drive along NB-114 south through Hillsborough and Riverside-Albert. For an even more intimate coastal experience, consider taking the turn-off for Route 915 near Riverside-Albert. This road is narrower and slower, but it hugs the coastline more closely, offering spectacular, less-travelled views of the Bay of Fundy before rejoining the main route near Alma.

The last town with major supermarkets, pharmacies and a full range of services is Riverview, located just across the river from Moncton. It’s the ideal place to stock up on groceries and any other essentials for your trip. Further along, the village of Hillsborough has some basic convenience stores. Once you reach Alma, at the park’s entrance, there are small general stores and restaurants, but for selection and price it’s best to shop in the greater Moncton area.

The drive to Prince Edward Island is straightforward, following NB-15 and NB-16 East from Moncton to the Confederation Bridge, which takes about 90 minutes. For those apprehensive about bridges, the Confederation Bridge is a modern feat of engineering designed for comfort and safety. The incline is very gradual, lanes are wide and high concrete barriers on both sides mean you can focus on the road ahead rather than the height or the water below.

Parking in Charlottetown is quite accessible for visitors. The downtown core has plenty of on-street metered parking, which is great for short stops. For longer explorations it’s often easier to use one of the several multi-storey car parks or large surface lots, especially near the waterfront and Peake’s Quay. Using a paid lot allows you to explore the historic streets and shops on foot without worrying about feeding a meter.

The drive to Halifax is a simple three-hour trip east on the Trans-Canada Highway (NB-2, which becomes NS-104). The towns of Amherst, just after the border, and Truro, about an hour from Halifax, serve as perfect rest stops with food and fuel. To minimise downtown driving on arrival, use your GPS to take one of the circumferential routes, like the 102 or 118, which can route you to your hotel or destination in Dartmouth or the suburbs without navigating the central business district.

A comfortable plan is to make the easy three-hour drive from Moncton to the Halifax area on your first day and stay there overnight. This allows you to start fresh on day two for your journey along the South Shore’s Lighthouse Route. You can then head towards iconic spots like Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg without feeling rushed. This approach breaks the trip into manageable segments and lets you fully enjoy the scenic coastal drive.

The Trans-Canada Highway (Route 2) around Moncton is a modern, well maintained divided highway that is easy to drive. Potential slowdowns can occur during the peak summer travel season near major exits like Magnetic Hill or the airport interchange. Like any major highway, be prepared for seasonal construction zones, which are always well signed well in advance. Otherwise, the flow of traffic is generally consistent and predictable.

The most common adjustment for visitors is the city speed limit of 50 km/h, which is only about 31 mph and can feel quite slow. On two-lane highways outside of town the limit is often 80 km/h (50 mph). The main Trans-Canada Highway is typically 110 km/h (about 68 mph). The key is to pay close attention to the posted signs, especially when transitioning from a high-speed highway into a town or residential area.

The Greater Moncton area is proudly bilingual, so virtually all official road signs are in both English and French, which is very helpful for visitors. You will see place names like Dieppe or Shediac, but these are easily recognised and handled by GPS systems. Navigation is rarely confusing due to language; simply follow the universal symbols, route numbers and your GPS directions, and you will have no trouble finding your way.

During a winter storm roads can become snow-covered and icy, with bridges, overpasses and exposed highway sections being particularly vulnerable. However, municipal and provincial road crews in New Brunswick are very experienced and efficient at gritting and ploughing major routes like the Trans-Canada Highway and airport access roads. The key for drivers is to significantly reduce speed, increase following distance and check road conditions before heading out.

In spring and autumn, be prepared for variable conditions on coastal routes. Dense fog rolling in from the Bay of Fundy is common, especially in the mornings, and can severely limit visibility. Heavy rain can cause water to pool on the roads, and the shoulders of smaller rural roads can become soft and muddy. Always drive with your headlights on in poor weather and adjust your speed to the conditions.

The most common wildlife encounters for drivers are deer and, less frequently, moose. These animals are most active at dawn and dusk. Be especially vigilant on any road that passes through forested or rural areas, such as NB-114 to Fundy National Park and sections of the Trans-Canada Highway outside the city limits. Scanning the ditches and roadsides ahead is the best way to spot an animal before it enters your path.

For a scenic sunrise or sunset drive, first check the exact time for that day and choose a destination that is easily accessible. A good strategy is to pick a spot along a main, well‑travelled route like the road to Shediac (NB-15) or a viewpoint just off the Trans-Canada Highway. This ensures that after the sun has set your return journey to Moncton will be on a familiar, well‑lit major road, avoiding the stress of navigating dark, unfamiliar rural lanes.

The area around Champlain Place can be very busy, especially at weekends. To avoid the most congested entrances directly off Champlain Street, try using the access points from Paul Street on the opposite side of the mall. Also, using the outer sections of the large car parks can help you avoid the traffic bottlenecks that form near the main mall entrances. A little extra walking can save you a lot of time sitting in traffic.

For an evening downtown you’ll find plenty of on‑street metered parking along Main Street and its side streets, which is often free after 6pm. There are also several convenient public car parks located just a block off Main Street, particularly near City Hall and the Avenir Centre. Access is very easy, as Moncton’s downtown features a simple grid street pattern that is not confusing for visitors to navigate.

During major events, especially those centred around the Avenir Centre or Main Street, expect some road closures and significantly increased traffic. Parking will be in high demand close to the event. The best strategy is to check the event’s official website beforehand for information on designated parking areas. Arriving early or choosing a car park a few blocks away and enjoying a short walk is often the most stress‑free approach.

The Moncton Market is most popular on Saturday mornings, with the biggest crowds arriving between 9am and 11am. To easily find parking, plan to arrive either right when it opens or later in the morning, after the initial rush has subsided. While there is a dedicated lot next to the market, it fills up fast. Be prepared to use one of the nearby city‑owned lots, which are just a short walk away and usually have available spaces.

When travelling with all your luggage, the best practice is to keep it completely out of sight in the vehicle’s boot. If you need to make a stop for errands, choose a busy, well‑lit shopping centre and park in a high‑traffic area rather than an isolated corner of the lot. Try to complete your errands efficiently to minimise the time your car is left unattended. This simple precaution is the most effective way to protect your belongings.

A perfect short trip for families is the 20‑minute drive to Shediac on NB-15 to see the famous Giant Lobster sculpture. The area has public toilets, ice‑cream shops and a waterfront park, making it an ideal destination for a quick and rewarding outing. Another great option is Irishtown Nature Park, just on the edge of Moncton, which offers easy walking trails and public facilities for a simple afternoon in nature.

To successfully combine both destinations, start your day early and drive directly to Hopewell Rocks, timing your arrival with the low tide. Spend a couple of hours exploring the ocean floor, then continue south along NB-114 to the village of Alma for lunch. In the afternoon, enter Fundy National Park for a short hike or to visit a scenic lookout. This plan focuses your time on the main attractions and keeps the driving segments manageable.

Many of the best drive‑up photo opportunities are along the Fundy coast. The main viewpoints at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park have parking just a short walk from the stunning overlooks. Within Fundy National Park several designated lookouts along the main park road have car parks immediately adjacent to the viewing platforms. For a different perspective, the pull‑offs along Route 915 between Riverside‑Albert and Alma offer dramatic, rugged coastal views right from your car.

Before heading to a rural rental, it’s helpful to ask your host a few key questions about access. Ask whether the final road is paved or gravel and if it is steep or winding. It’s also wise to confirm that there is sufficient space to comfortably turn your vehicle around, especially if you have a larger car or SUV. Getting this information in advance helps you prepare and avoids any navigational surprises, particularly if you plan on arriving after dark.

To get to Cape Enrage, drive south on NB-114 past Hopewell Rocks and then take the scenic Route 915. The route is well signed, but Route 915 is a narrower, winding coastal road that requires more attentive driving. The final approach to the cape itself is a dedicated access road. At the destination you will find a designated car park near the lighthouse and restaurant, providing convenient access to all the site’s features.

From Moncton the most common border crossings into Maine are at St. Stephen/Calais and Woodstock/Houlton. The St. Stephen crossing is generally more direct if your destination is along the Maine coast. Before you leave, check online for current border wait times as they can vary. To ensure a smooth crossing try to avoid peak travel times like Friday afternoons or the start of a holiday weekend.