Moncton

Moncton is a city in Southeastern New Brunswick, Canada, inland of the Bay of Fundy and Acadian Coast. Moncton has a population of about 72,000 (2016), with a metropolitan population of about 145,000 (2016), making it the largest city and the largest metropolitan city in New Brunswick.

Understand

The city adopted the motto "Resurgo" meaning "I rise again" after its rebirth from the collapse of being a railway centric town. The city's economy is stable and diversified, with core strengths in a bi-lingual workforce, primarily based on its traditional transportation, distribution, retailing, and commercial heritage, and supplemented by strength in the educational, health care, financial, information technology, and insurance sectors. Moncton's economy has received national recognition and the local unemployment rate is consistently less than the national average.

Just to the east of Moncton is Dieppe (population 27,000 in 2019). It is the fourth-largest city in the province, and the largest predominantly francophone city in Canada outside Quebec.

Across the Petitcodiac River from Moncton on the south bank is Riverview, with about 20,000 people in 2016.

History

The Moncton area was settled by Europeans in 1733, but is considered to have been founded in 1766 with the arrival of Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants from Philadelphia. It began as an agricultural settlement. The city was named for Lt. Col. Robert Monckton, the British officer who had captured nearby Fort Beauséjour a century earlier.

A significant wooden shipbuilding industry had developed in the community by the mid-1840s, allowing for the civic incorporation in 1855, but the shipbuilding economy collapsed in the 1860s. In the 1870s, the community's economy rebounded, mainly due to a growing railway industry. In 1871, the Intercolonial Railway of Canada had chosen Moncton to be its headquarters, and Moncton remained a railway town for well over a century until the closure of the Canadian National Railway (CNR) locomotive shops in the late 1980s.

Climate
Moncton
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
See the Moncton 7-day forecast at Environment Canada
Imperial conversion
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4.3
 
 
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

The climate tends to be more continental than maritime during the summer and winter seasons, with maritime influences somewhat tempering the transitional seasons of spring and autumn.

Winter days are typically cold but generally sunny. Daytime high temperatures usually range a few degrees below the freezing point. Major snowfalls typically average 20–30 cm (8–12 in) and are frequently mixed with rain or freezing rain. Spring is frequently delayed because the sea ice that forms in the nearby Gulf of St. Lawrence during the previous winter requires time to melt, and this will cool onshore winds, which can extend inland as far as Moncton. The ice burden in the gulf has diminished considerably over the course of the last decade (which may be a consequence of global warming), and the springtime cooling effect has weakened as a result.

Summers are warm and humid. Daytime highs sometimes reach more than 30 °C (86 °F). Rainfall is generally modest, especially in late July and August, and periods of drought are not uncommon. Autumn daytime temperatures remain mild until late October. First snowfalls usually do not occur until late November and consistent snow cover on the ground does not happen until late December. It can occasionally experiences the effects of post-tropical storms. The stormiest weather of the year, with the greatest precipitation and the strongest winds, usually occurs during November to mid-January.

Get in

By car

From the US:

From Quebec:

From Nova Scotia

  • Take highway NS 104 in Nova Scotia, which becomes Route 2 (Trans-Canada Highway) to Moncton

Airport

Destinations

Direct flights to Moncton within Canada include from Montreal (1.5 hours), Toronto (2-2.5 hours) and Ottawa (1.5 hours). Airlines serving Greater Moncton:

Airlines

Larger airport in region:

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ IATA) is located 2 hours away in Nova Scotia with many more direct and non-stop flights to other cities in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

By train
See also: Rail travel in Canada
  • 🌍 Moncton station, 1240 Main Street (located east of the city centre). (updated Oct 2023)
    • VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates train routes across Canada. (updated Mar 2022) Operates The Ocean route with 3 round trips per week, operating between Halifax and Montreal including stop in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (where there is a shuttle to and from Quebec City, advance reservation required). Travel time to Moncton from Montreal is 17.5 hours, from Sainte-Foy is 13.75 hours, and from Halifax is 4.25 hours.

By bus

Get around

Moncton is pretty easy to get around. There are two main streets into the city: the Trans-Canada and Wheeler Boulevard, connecting both ends of town. Main Street and downtown Moncton are equally easy to navigate; signs are posted to all the main attractions.

By public transit
  • Codiac Transit, ☏ +1 506-857-2008. Serves the greater Moncton area 7 days a week (limited schedule on Sundays and Public Holidays), from around 7AM to 10PM. Fare is $3, to be paid in cash or using the Hotspot Parking Transit Taxis app. Free transfers are available to let you reach your destination even if you have to change bus. A bus circles every hour or so, excepted the Express which is on a 15-minute run, from the Champlain Mall to the Northwest Centre. The Codiac Transpo app is the best way to check the current bus times and routes. (updated Sep 2022)

By taxi

See
  • 🌍 Magnetic Hill Optical Illusion. Located in Magnetic Hill Attraction Park. A gravity hill, a type of optical illusion created by rising and descending terrain, in which it appears that cars roll uphill when in neutral gear. $5 per car entry. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Resurgo Place - Moncton Museum and the Transportation Discovery Centre, 20 Mountain Rd, ☏ +1 506-856-4383, . Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su noon-5PM; Open monday's in summer, closed on public holidays. Houses a permanent exhibit on the history of Moncton and travelling exhibits. The Transportation Discovery Centre features an array of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities about shipbuilding, railway and aviation, each have played a major role in the development of Moncton as a city and as a commercial centre since the early 19th century. Adult (18+) $12, Senior (60+) $9, Youth (12-17) $8, Children (4-11) $6, Toddler (3 and under) free. (updated Oct 2023)
  • Moncton Acadian Museum, Pavillon Clément-Cormier, 405 avenue de l’Université (at the Université de Moncton), ☏ +1 506 858-4088. Jun-Sep: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 1PM-5PM; Oct-May: Tu-F 1:30PM-4:30PM, Sa Su 1PM-4PM. 35,000 objects and photographs representing all aspects of Acadian life. The permanent exhibition gives visitors a glimpse into the history of the Acadians and the daily life of the Acadians of the past through a range of objects on display. The temporary exhibition room offers travelling exhibitions from different museums and exhibitions from the collection of MAUM. Adults $5, seniors $3, students and children $2 plus tax, children under 6 free. CAA/AAA 10% discount. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Tidal Bore Park (toward the east end of Main Street in downtown Moncton). Watch the "wall of water" in the river, where an amphitheater-style seating provides bore viewing. The tidal bore happens when the Bay of Fundy rising tide brings water counter to the normal flow of Petitcodiac river. The once-famous thundering flow has been reduced to a 6-inch ripple by nearby causeway, but still an unusual sight when it is visible. An electronic display board at the park, or the folks at the city's information booth on Main St, can tell you when to see this phenomenon, which occurs twice a day. Occasionally you will see surfers chasing the bore! (updated Oct 2023)
  • Magnetic Hill Winery, 860 Front Mountain Rd., ☏ +1 506-384-9463. May 18-Sep 2: daily 11AM-6PM; Sep 3-Dec 24: daily 1PM-5PM; Jan-May: closed, Call for appointment. Estate-grown strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and local New Brunswick grapes, blueberry, cranberry, apple, pear and maple vinted here in the cellar. Panoramic view of Moncton down to the Chocolate River and the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. Gift shop full of wine accessories, artisan maple syrup products, jams. Stay at their B&B as old as Canada and be treated to a homemade, country breakfast with the owners sharing stories and hints for your travelling plans. (updated May 2017)
  • 🌍 Centennial Park, 811 St George Blvd, Moncton. Centennial Park offers a large outdoor playground for kids and a water playground (summer only). On weekends you can catch many locals enjoying the sun and picnics. There is also an outdoor pool/beach (summer only) which charges admission. Centennial Park also offers many wooded walking and biking trails. In the winter, some of the paths are maintained, others serve as cross country ski and snowshoeing trails. Winter park conditions can be followed in the municipality website. free. 

Do

🌍 Zoo at Magnetic Hill (At Magnetic Hill Attraction Park). Magnetic Hill Zoo houses more than 400 animals, including over 100 indigenous and exotic species. Birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and fish find a comfortable and safe home in this 40 acres (16 hectares) park. (updated Oct 2023)

  • Magic Mountain. Water park located in the Magnetic Hill Attraction Park.
  • Magnetic Hill Golf Club, on Mountain Road across from McDonald's.
  • Moncton Golf & Country Club, Riverview, ☏ +1 506-387-3850, . (updated Apr 2016)
  • Capitol Theatre, Main St. Catch a show at the oldest theatre in New Brunswick.
  • Empress Theatre, Main St.
  • MacSweeny's Dinner Theatre, Main Street above Club Cosmo.
  • Irishtown Nature Park. Largest urban nature park (2,200 acres (890 hectares)). Drive north on Elmwood Drive.
  • TreeGO Moncton is open daily during the summer months, and is located in Centennial Park
  • Canada Day, every July 1st.
  • Casino New Brunswick (Casino New - Nouveau Brunswick), 21 Casino Drive, ☏ +1 506-859-7770, toll-free: +1-877-859-7775, fax: +1 506-859-7771, . 
  • Dobson Trail, Pine Glen Rd, Riverview, NB. Crossing the Petitcodiac River into Riverview, you can hike the Dobson Trail, a continuous footpath stretching 58 km from Riverview, NB to the northern boundary of Fundy National Park near Alma, NB. There is some accessibility in the initial section of the trail (wheelchair accessible and guide wire). If you are not willing to follow all the path (about 3 days hike), do the loop trail along Mill Creek (1km, about 1 hour). Particularly beautiful in the fall. free. (updated Jun 2023)
  • Parlee Beach, Shediac. A beautiful beach on the Northumberland Strait. Be alert as swimming warnings for fecal bacteria are common and updated weekly.
  • Plage Aboiteau Beach, Cap-Pele. A much less crowded alternative to Parlee Beach. Parking is $5 during summer months.
  • Poley Mountain. Biking in the summer, skiing and snowboarding in the winter in Sussex, a 50-minute drive from Moncton.
  • Lakeside Golf Club, Shediac Road.

Buy
  • Trinity Power Centre, off Wheeler Blvd at Mountain Road. Has the usual big box stores.
  • Champlain Mall. Largest single-storey mall in Eastern Canada. Located in Dieppe on Paul Street. Wal-Mart, Cineplex, Chapters Books.
  • North West Centre, Mountain Road. Formerly Moncton Mall.
  • Downtown Moncton. Main Street and Saint George Urban Quarters has many boutiques and shops.
  • My Home Mercantile, 805 Main St, ☏ +1 506 854 9910. 10AM - 5:30PM. Good gift shop, with a large variety of Maritime made products. (updated Jun 2023)
  • Bass Pro Shops (Cabela), 1 Bass Pro Dr, Dieppe (Near Walmart), ☏ +1 506-878-5200. Very large outdoor world shop with camping, fishing and boating supplies. Has live fish in aquarium. (updated Oct 2023)

Eat

Moncton claims to have some of the finest cuisine in Atlantic Canada:

  • Pastalli Ristorante, 611 Main St. Italian cuisine, grill your own gourmet garlic bread. 
  • Catch 22, 589 Main St., ☏ +1 506 855-5335. Daily 4PM-10PM. Excellent seafood, steaks, pasta. Mains $15-50. (updated May 2017)
  • Graffiti, Main St. Greek cuisine.
  • Pump House Brewery, 5 Orange Lane (off Main Street), ☏ +1 506 855-2337, . Microbrewery -- try the Muddy River Stout! Not to miss: brick oven pizza (crust is infused with beer). Order the beer sampler to try the various types of beer brewed on site. (updated Apr 2016)
  • Cafe Archibald, 221 Mountain Rd. At Archibald intersection. Intimate cafe with great service where meal and dessert crêpes are a specialty. 
  • Little Louis: fine cuisine at its best, this may be city's best hidden secret.
  • Hynes, 495 Mountain Road, ☏ +1 506 382 3432. 7AM-7PM every day. A diner-style restaurant with very good home cooking. Excellent breakfast. The best burgers. (updated Jun 2023)
  • Vitos, an inexpensive but excellent pizzeria.
  • Calactus, 125 Church St. (near St. George St.), ☏ +1 506-388-4833. Daily 11AM-10PM. Vegetarian restaurant. (updated May 2017)
  • Zen Gardens, Mountain Rd. Unique Asian vegetarian restaurant.
  • Taj Mahal Flavour of India, 882 Main St., ☏ +1 506-854-5557. M-F 11:30 AM-10 PM, Sa 4-10 PM. Indian, mughlai, and tandoori cuisine. First family-owned and -operated Indian restaurant in Moncton, since 2003. $6-15. 
  • Mexicali Rosas. Very good Mexican cuisine. 
  • Rôtisserie St-Hubert, 235 Carson Road, ☏ +1 506-858-0053, +1 506-858-0001. 11AM - 9PM. Famous for its spit-roasted rotisserie chicken. (updated Jun 2023)

Drink
  • Old Triangle, 751 Main St, ☏ +1 506 384-7474. Irish pub. 
  • Pumphouse Brewery (and restaurant), 5 Orange Ln, ☏ +15068552337. Popular craft beer establishment with restaurant. Their flights are a great way to sample six flavours of beer. (updated Apr 2016)
  • St. James' Gate, 14 Church St, ☏ +1 506 388-4283. Good food and spirits, an awesome place to have a drink. 
  • Oxygen Complex, 125 Westmorland, ☏ +1 506 854-0265. Has two other venues in the complex: the Paramount Lounge & the Manhattan. Great place for live bands. 
  • Cosmo, 700 Main st, ☏ +1 506 857-9117. All kinds of events go on here. New and fun: jam nights on Thursdays- starts at 10:30PM. 
  • Zen Garden. Biggest selection of tea. Healthy drinks 
  • Navigator's Pub, 191 Robinson Street (Entrance in Robinson Court), ☏ +1 506 854-8427, . noon to 2AM. Irish-style pub. Bilingual staff, draft special. 

Sleep

Budget
  • 🌍 C'mon Inn Hostel, 47 Fleet Street, ☏ +1 506 854-8155, fax: +1 506 855-3791. dorm $27.50/night+tax, private room $65/night +$10 key deposit. 
  • Super 8, located in Dieppe and within walking distance from the Airport.
  • Comfort Inn. 
  • Glory Inn Downtown Bed & Breakfast, ☏ +1 506 858-9888, +1 506 381-8080. Check-in: 3-11PM, check-out: 11AM. Downtown center of Moncton City and close to the main attractions. Free Wi-Fi. (updated Jun 2023)

Mid-range

Splurge
  • Delta Beausejour, Main Street. In the heart of downtown, close to restaurants and pubs. Some rooms have views of the Petitcodiac. Indoor pool with the largest waterslide in the Maritimes. Even has a room that Queen Elizabeth (UK) stayed in. $151-272 per night.
  • Crowne Plaza Hotel, Main St. across from Highfield.
  • Chateau Moncton, independent hotel modeled after a chateau, located on the Petitcodiac River on Main Street. Many rooms have excellent views of the river, which is 15 m (49 ft) away.
  • Marriott Residence Inn, Main St. $166-255 per night.

Connect
  • Moncton Public Library, 644 Main St, hours: 10AM-5/9PM, Wifi+shared computer
  • Starbuck on Main st/Church st (wifi & plug)
  • Moncton has blanket Wi-Fi in many areas (including Main St, City Hall Plaza, Assomption Plaza, Riverfront Park)

Nearby
  • Riverview, across the river, has a nice waterfront walking park, and a commercial section with restaurants.
  • 🌍 Hopewell Rocks. Walk on the ocean floor thanks to the Bay of Fundy's high tides (second highest in the world.) Truly a fabulous sight. Bring your camera. Check the website for the low-tide time, and get there within three hours on either side of low tide to see the islands best. (Kayaking is available if the tide's high.) A nice 10-minute walk through the woods takes you to a large stairwell to the ocean floor, where you can easily walk among a half-dozen enormous (more than 30 m high) columns of fir tree-topped sandstone islands. A golf-cart shuttle can whisk you back to the park information facility, which features a good explanation of how the islands came to be, a snack bar and gift shop. The ride from Moncton is about 45 minutes. Entrance to Fundy National Park is another 30 minutes but definitely worthwhile in good weather. Mid-May to early Oct: Adult $10, senior/student $8, child 5-18 $7.50, small child free, family $25.50 (taxes included). Off-season, no charge (enter at your own risk). (updated May 2017)

Go next

Moncton is often described as the Hub of the Maritime Provinces. It is within 2 hours drive of:

Routes through Moncton
Rimouski ← Miramichi ←  W  E  → Sackville → Halifax
Fredericton ← Gagetown ← Jct W ←  W  E  → Tantramar → Truro
END ←   S  N  → Shédiac → Miramichi
END ←  W  E  → Shédiac → Port Elgin


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