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TRIP IDEA
48-Hour Fall Road Trip in the Bay of Quinte
Looking for a fall weekend getaway in Ontario? Spend 48 hours exploring the Bay of Quinte, with a road-trip route through Belleville and Quinte West before heading into Prince Edward County wine country and Greater Napanee. Along the way, discover waterfront walks, colourful fall scenery, local food and drink, scenic backroads and plenty of reasons to slow down and enjoy the season. This easy-going itinerary is designed for a Friday-to-Sunday escape, with Belleville as your home base.
TRIP AT A GLANCE
The essentials for your 48-hour fall road trip
LENGTH
48 Hours / 2 nights
Check-in Friday and check-out Sunday
BEST TIME
Fall
Peak colours mid-September to late October
TRIP TYPE
Fall Road Trip
Self-drive itinerary
BEST FOR
Couples, Friends, Foodies, Wine Lovers and Fall Colour Seekers
HOME BASE
Belleville
The largest community with the most hotel options
ROUTE
Belleville → Quinte West → Prince Edward County → Greater Napanee
Approx. 150 km / 3 hours of driving during your stay
FALL COLOURS
WATERFRONT VIEWS
LOCAL FOOD
WINE COUNTRY
SCENIC DRIVES
UNEXPECTED STOPS
The Itinerary
Friday Night: Arrive in Belleville & Unwind
Dinner at The Lark
Kick off your weekend in downtown Belleville at The Lark, a local culinary treasure known for creative, seasonal dishes, craft cocktails and a thoughtfully curated wine list. It’s a memorable way to begin your Bay of Quinte getaway.
Local Tip: It is an intimate space, so dinner reservations are highly recommended.
GRAB LUNCH TO GO
RESERVE YOUR TABLE
WHERE TO STAY
Stay in Belleville for easy access to Quinte West, Prince Edward County and Greater Napanee throughout your 48-hour road trip.
Saturday: Explore Belleville & Quinte West
Coffee & Pastries Downtown Belleville
Fuel up for the day at either Benji’s Coffee Bar or L’Auberge de France, both in downtown Belleville.
Local Tip: If you choose L’Auberge de France, arrive early for their famous Saturday croissants—they’re made fresh and can sell out quickly.
Morning Stroll on the Kiwanis Bayshore Trail
Take your coffee to go and stroll along the paved waterfront trail, with fall colours and views across the Bay of Quinte. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife when you stop at the Turtle Pond.
Head over to Quinte West
Park in the Front Street parking lot and wander along the waterfront through the Trenton Greenbelt toward Trent Port Marina. It’s an easy way to explore downtown Trenton while taking in the fall colour along the Trent-Severn Waterway.
Fun Fact: Benji’s has a second location right beside the parking lot, so a coffee refill is a no-brainer.
Belleville → Quinte West: approx. 20 km / 25 min
**Wondering about Quinte West vs. Trenton? You’re not alone. Trenton is a community within the City of Quinte West, which was created in 1998 by amalgamating the former City of Trenton, Village of Frankford, Sidney Township and Murray Township. Trenton is still very much Trenton to locals—you’ll see “Quinte West” used when referring to the larger municipality.
GRAB LUNCH TO GO
Before you head up to Sager, pick up something delicious from Kaleido Corner—Chef Tomas has the Midas touch, and everything is outta this world.
A Glimpse of the Trent-Severn Waterway
On your way out of downtown Trenton, make a quick stop at historic Lock 1, the first lock station on the 386-km Trent-Severn Waterway. If you’re lucky, you might catch a boat making its way through. The lock system operates seasonally and closes for the winter, so check the schedule if you’re visiting later in the year.
Take in the Fall Colours from Above
Drive a short distance out to Sager Conservation Area and climb the lookout tower for a spectacular 360-degree view across the Trent Valley, blanketed in fiery autumn hues.
Craft Beer, Great Food with a Side of History
Head back to Belleville for dinner at the Memorial Canteen and Beer Garden, located inside the historic and reimagined Memorial Market Place. Think wood-fired pizza, gourmet burgers and a great lineup of regional craft beers. It’s a good spot to settle in, refuel and toast a day well spent.
Sunday: Prince Edward County, Wine & the Glenora Ferry
Sunday Morning Bakes
Before heading south, grab your morning coffee and something delicious at Small Scale Bread, known for exceptional sourdough breads and pastries. It’s a “sells out” kinda place, so don’t dilly dally.
Local Tip: Pre-order to avoid disappointment. Things go fast here. Consider yourself warned.
Take in the View
Drive south across the iconic Norris Whitney Bridge (Bay Bridge) into Prince Edward County. Make sure your passenger has their camera ready—the elevated, sweeping views across the Bay of Quinte and the fall canopy are pretty spectacular.
Belleville → Prince Edward County Wineries: approx. 27 km / 25 min
Explore Our Prince Edward County Wine Partners
Make your way into Prince Edward County for a taste of wine country, with stops at our Bay of Quinte wine partners. There are seven to choose from, but we recommend picking two or three that fit your taste and leaving plenty of time to actually enjoy them.
Local Tip: You don’t need to hit all seven! Pick two or three and give yourself time to linger, taste and enjoy the scenery.
Seven wineries. One Sunday. You do the math.
You’ll have to come back!
Late Pizza Lunch & Sculpture Garden at Huff Estates
Make your final County vineyard stop at Huff Estates Winery & Inn. Enjoy a late, wood-fired pizza lunch paired with a glass of estate wine, and take a relaxed walk through their beautiful outdoor Oeno Sculpture Garden.
The Glenora Ferry to Greater Napanee
Travel east through the scenic countryside of the County to catch the Glenora Ferry. This free, 15-minute transit puts you and your car right on the water for a unique view of the colorful shorelines.
Glenora Ferry → Greater Napanee: 15 minute free ferry crossing
Feeding Goats at Loyalist Trading Co.
Once you disembark on the mainland in Greater Napanee, pull over at Loyalist Trading Co. This charming country market sells amazing local preserves, but the real stars are Lenny and Grover—the resident goats who live on the roof! Grab some feed, use the pulley system to send it up to them, and enjoy the laughs.
The Scenic Route Home:
Skip the major highways for the first stretch and take the winding waterfront roads back toward Highway 401 to make your return trip to Ottawa, Montreal, or Kingston.
→ Or prolong your trip and explore Greater Napanee. It has a terrific downtown chock-full of independently owned shops, an amazing Waterfront River Pub and river running through all of it complete with waterfall. A pretty amazing place for a slow fall getaway.
→ If the GTA is home and you’ve done the trip in reverse, Brighton is equally amazing. Small harbour town charm, local shops and farm stands and the impressive Presqu’ile Provincial Park on it’s doorstep.
HELPFUL RESOURCES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
PLAN THE DETAILS
Everything you need to turn inspiration into a Bay of Quinte getaway.
