Moncton 
The small city of Edmundston is a short drive from the western border shared with the province of Quebec. Even this far from the coastal shores of New Brunswick, Edmundston still offers gorgeous waterfront scenery, as it sits at the confluence of the Saint John and Madawaska Rivers.
Credit: New Brunswick Tourism
As Edmundston borders Quebec to the west, and the state of Maine to the south, it also borders to rivers and sits overlooking where those two rivers meet. The south of Edmundston is bordered by the St. John River, which also doubles as the American border.
The west side of Edmundston follows the Madawaska River. Along with a great deal of beautiful waterfront scenery, Edmundston is also situated in the rolling hills, offering gentle hiking and recreational opportunities in all directions.
The summer months in Edmundston cater to a variety of getaways, vacations, and day trips. Whether you want to explore around the city, find relaxing activities, find adventure, or celebrate and find a summer festival, the small riverside city has something for all types of getaways, all ages, and all vacation vibes.
- New Brunswick Summer Festivals: 35+ Vibrant Festivals For a Memorable Vacation
- 50 Bucket List Ideas For a Summer Trip to New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Road Trip: 50 Things to Do Along River Valley Scenic Drive
Hiking & Cycling around Edmundston
The Edmundston trails could bring your travels as far as the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. However, there are tons of great and much shorter trail routes around the city. This includes routes for cycling, hiking, nature walks, general sightseeing, or mountain biking.
- The riverside trails of Edmundston, before the Petit Témis begins, offer several great routes for scenic walks. You can enjoy a leisurely walk following the Madawaska River, connected by a unique arched pedestrian bridge.
- The Petit Témis trail is a linear interprovincial park that includes over 130km of trail to connect Edmundston with Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec. So, from the St. John River, the trail leads north alongside the Madawaska River, and then all the way to the St. Lawrence River. For a pleasant bike ride, there is a 20km out-and-back route between Edmundston and Republique Provincial Park. The trail makes a pleasant walk for any distance you choose.
- Those looking for more cycling thrills can take to the trails of the Mountain Bike Park on the west side of Edmundston.
Exploring Edmundston’s Arts or History
Most often, when a city or town sits on the banks of a large river anywhere in Canada, that location has a rich, deep, and interesting history thanks to the importance of trade routes on the rivers. And with Edmundston bordering two larger rivers, the province of Quebec, and the state of Maine, this far west New Brunswick region has all that rich history. And with that comes a diverse arts and culture scene that’s built and grown over the years.
- Explore Edmundston’s history with the local museums. The Madawaska Historical Museum is located on the Edmundston Campus of the University of Moncton. The artifacts and exhibits offer great insight into early life in Edmundston.
- The Fortin-du-Petit-Sault-Petit-Sault-Blockhouse is both a museum and a reconstruction of the blockhouse that stood here during the Aroostook Bloodless War between the United States and Great Britain. The blockhouse was part of the defensive line which stretched out to Quebec. Enter the blockhouse to find historical artifacts and a fantastic view of Edmundston.
- The must-visit attraction of Edmundston is a short drive out of the city centre and is located beside the Republique Provincial Park. The New Brunswick Botanical Garden offers several kilometres of trails that wind through various themed gardens, including the rose garden, annual flowerbeds, alpine garden, and more.
New Brunswick Botanical Garden/Credit: Hemmings House
Summer Events in Edmundston
The Edmundston Town Centre is a hub of outdoor summer activities. It hosts the Downtown Market, Street Food events, as well as Dance Tuesdays and Musical Wednesdays. Plus, a handful of annual events take place in this central spot. This doesn’t even include all the great food and dining events coming up this year in Edmundston!
- Edmundston’s Jazz & Blues Festival (July 4-5, 2025) is in its 29th year of gracing the city with beautiful tunes for a warm summer weekend. The festival features performances from 12 different artists who hail from New Brunswick and the neighbouring Quebec.
- Festival Royal (August 1-2, 2025) takes over downtown Edmundston this summer with live performances from local EDM and rock artists.
- One of the newer festivals in Edmundston, the Sortie Branchée en Acadie (August 15-17, 2025) will take place at the Art Centre with three days of cultural celebrations, live music, kids’ activities, food and drink, and so much more.
- Edmundston’s Festival KM ZERO – Bier Bash & Musique Live (September 6, 2025) is a perfect way to close out a summer visit in the city. The festival features beer samples from breweries across the maritime provinces, while also offering live music and a full festival atmosphere.
Local Summer Dining in Edmundston
There are Edmundston’s year-round establishments and eateries to try this summer, as well as the dining from different food-focused events or more festivals!
- Get a spot on one of Edmundston’s best patios! Try L’Écluse – halte gourmande, ¡Qué Padre!, Microbrasserie Ateepic, Da Lelia, or Moonshin’hers Café Bistro Inc.
- Find the sweet treats for after dinner, or the cold treats for a hot day, at Edmundston’s Scoop Royal, or La Diperie.
- Street Food is an annual event in Edmundston for which food trucks set up on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from May 12 to October 30, at City Hall Square.
- And if you can’t catch the food trucks during the middle of the week, there’s still the Downtown Market that will open each Saturday morning at the Court Terrace. The market and Street Food event are both excellent showcases of Edmundston’s local foods and general products.
- Le Diner en Blanc is an international dining celebration with different events in different cities across the globe. No matter where it is, the dining experience is a white-out party that celebrates community, art, and creativity. Edmundston’s Le Diner en Blanc will be hosted on August 8, 2025.
Summer Accommodations in Edmundston
There is a lot to do in this riverside city from spring to fall, and an overnight stay, or multiple nights, may be the best way to see and experience it all in Edmundston.
- The beautiful river valley areas and hills around Edmundston are home to beautiful campgrounds! These include the O’Shack Glamping, EKO Nature Glamping, Panoramic Camping, Camping St. Basile, Republique Provincial Park, or Camping Edmundston.
- The main Highway NB-2 which runs through the centre of Edmundston is where you’ll find a variety of chain hotels with an array of amenities.
- Some of Edmundston’s local inns, motels, and hotels, include the Happy Motel, La Roma Motel, Morel Executive Suites, or the Rose Motel and Cabins.
- Edmundston is home to a wide variety of private rental options with everything from cabins and cottages to homes, apartments, or single rooms.
