Driving the Trans-Canada Highway through New Brunswick can feel like a marathon of endless trees and rolling hills. By the time you hit the stretch near the Maine border, you're usually ready to crash. Most people just pull over at the first flickering neon sign they see. But if you’re looking for a spot that actually feels like a "win" rather than a compromise, the Best Western Plus Woodstock Hotel & Conference Centre is basically the gold standard for this region. It’s perched right there on the hill, overlooking the Meduxnekeag and Saint John Rivers, and honestly, it’s a bit of a local landmark for a reason.
Woodstock isn’t just a pass-through. It’s the first town in New Brunswick, and it carries that "Oldest Incorporated Town" vibe with a lot of pride. Staying at the Best Western Woodstock NB puts you right in the middle of that history while giving you a place to sleep that doesn’t feel like it’s stuck in 1985.
What Actually Sets the Best Western Woodstock NB Apart?
Let’s be real. Most highway hotels are depressing. You get a beige room, a noisy AC unit, and a breakfast that tastes like cardboard. This place is different. Because it functions as a conference center, the infrastructure is beefier. The lobby is massive. The ceilings are high. It doesn't have that cramped, "budget" feel that plagues so many roadside stops along the TCH.
The location is a huge factor. You’re at 123 Gallop Court. It’s right off Exit 185. If you're coming from the Houlton, Maine border crossing, you're looking at a ten-minute drive, tops. This makes it the go-to for cross-border truckers, families moving across provinces, and tourists heading toward the Fundy coast.
One thing people often miss is the view. Since the hotel sits on an elevation, the rooms on the valley side give you a legit look at the New Brunswick wilderness. It’s quiet. You don't hear the constant hum of transport trucks shifting gears, which is a miracle considering how close you are to the highway.
The Indoor Pool and Fitness Reality
Most hotel gyms are a joke. A broken treadmill and a single set of dumbbells that nobody wants to touch. The Best Western Woodstock NB actually keeps their fitness center in decent shape. But the real draw is the indoor heated saltwater pool.
💡 You might also like: North Shore Shrimp Trucks: Why Some Are Worth the Hour Drive and Others Aren't
Saltwater is the key here. It’s easier on your skin and eyes than the heavy chlorine pools you find in older motels. If you've been driving for eight hours, soaking in a saltwater pool is basically therapy. It’s open late enough that you can actually use it after a long day on the road, which isn't always a guarantee at smaller boutiques.
Eating in and Around Woodstock
You’ve got options. Inside the hotel, you have the Aura Whole Foods nearby for snacks, but for a real meal, the on-site dining—frequently branded as the NB Hotel Bar & Grill or similar iterations depending on the season—serves up surprisingly good Atlantic Canadian comfort food. Think poutine, but made with actual local potatoes. New Brunswick is potato country, after all.
If you wander into town, you’re only a five-minute drive from the historic downtown. You have to check out the Woodstock Farm Market. It’s not just for locals. You can grab actual local cheese, sourdough, and seasonal berries that make a hotel breakfast look pathetic.
- Pro Tip: If you're staying during the week, hit up the local diners downtown for a "lumberjack" style breakfast.
- The hotel's complimentary breakfast is solid—hot eggs, sausage, waffles—but the coffee in the lobby is the real MVP for early risers.
Business and Logistics: Not Just for Vacationers
Since this is a "Plus" property and a Conference Centre, the Wi-Fi actually works. That sounds like a low bar, but if you’ve ever tried to run a Zoom call from a rural New Brunswick motel, you know the struggle. The Best Western Woodstock NB has dedicated high-speed lines because they host government meetings and corporate retreats.
The meeting spaces can hold up to 300 people. You’ll often see weddings here on the weekends. This means the staff is used to high-pressure situations and volume. They aren't rattled by a line of twenty people checking in at once.
📖 Related: Minneapolis Institute of Art: What Most People Get Wrong
Pet Friendly? Mostly.
New Brunswick is a province of dog lovers. This hotel knows that. They have specific pet-friendly rooms, but you need to call ahead. Don't just show up with a Golden Retriever and expect them to have a spot. They usually charge a small fee per night, but it’s better than leaving your dog in a kennel back in Fredericton.
Exploring the "Oldest Incorporated Town"
While you're based at the Best Western, take an hour to drive across the Florenceville-Bristol area nearby. It’s the French Fry Capital of the World. No, seriously. McCain Foods started right down the road. There’s a museum called "Potato World" that is weirder and more charming than it has any right to be.
If you’re into architecture, Woodstock itself is a goldmine. The Victorian homes along the river are stunning. You can take a walk along the Connell House, which is a National Historic Site. It’s right downtown. It gives you a sense of what this area was like when the timber industry was king.
Common Misconceptions About Staying in Woodstock
A lot of travelers think they should push through to Fredericton or Moncton. That’s usually a mistake. If you’re coming from Ontario or Quebec, by the time you hit Woodstock, you’re hitting the "fatigue wall." Fredericton is another hour plus of driving through dark, moose-heavy highways.
Moose are a real threat. In New Brunswick, driving at night is a gamble. The stretch of highway between Woodstock and Fredericton is notorious for moose crossings. Staying at the Best Western Woodstock NB isn't just a comfort choice; it’s a safety choice. Get off the road before dusk, grab a beer at the hotel bar, and finish the drive in the morning light.
👉 See also: Michigan and Wacker Chicago: What Most People Get Wrong
Room Quality and What to Expect
The rooms are standard Best Western Plus—modern, clean, and predictable. That’s a compliment. You’ll find:
- Pillow-top mattresses (actually comfortable).
- Mini-fridges in every room (essential for road trippers).
- Microwaves (for those leftover poutines).
- Large desks (for the remote workers).
The bathrooms are usually spotless. They use the standard eco-friendly dispensers now, so don't expect a basket of tiny plastic bottles, but the water pressure is great. In the winter, the heating systems are robust. It gets cold in the Saint John River Valley—like, -30°C cold—and this building is insulated like a fortress.
Environmental and Social Impact
The hotel is part of the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. They do the standard towel-reuse things, but they also source some local ingredients for the kitchen. In a small town like Woodstock, the hotel is one of the largest employers. Staying here actually supports the local economy in a tangible way.
Practical Steps for Your Stay
If you’re planning a trip through the Maritimes, don't just wing it. This hotel fills up fast during the summer months when the "tourist loop" is in full swing.
- Book Direct: Sometimes the Best Western website has "member rates" that beat the big travel booking sites by ten or fifteen bucks.
- Request a River View: It doesn’t cost much more, and waking up to the mist over the Saint John River is a lot better than looking at the parking lot.
- Check the Event Calendar: If there’s a massive hockey tournament in town or a large wedding, the breakfast area will be a zoo. Ask the front desk for the "quiet times" for breakfast.
- EV Charging: They have charging stations. If you’re driving a Tesla or an EV across the province, this is one of the few reliable high-end spots to juice up while you sleep.
The Best Western Woodstock NB represents the best of New Brunswick hospitality. It’s reliable, it’s clean, and it’s positioned perfectly to save you from a dangerous night drive. Whether you're there for a conference or just a place to rest your head after the border crossing, it’s the most logical choice in the Upper Saint John River Valley.
Next Steps for Your Trip
- Verify your arrival time: If you are crossing the border from the US, remember that New Brunswick is in the Atlantic Time Zone (one hour ahead of Eastern Time).
- Download offline maps: Cell service can be spotty on the stretches of the TCH north and east of Woodstock.
- Check local trail conditions: If you have an extra hour, the Meduxnekeag Valley Nature Preserve has incredible hiking trails just minutes from the hotel property.