The St. Andrews Blockhouse is a small Parks Canada site at 23 Joes Point Road in St. Andrews, and it is one of the few places in the town where you can see the War of 1812 up close. Townspeople built the blockhouse to defend the harbour against American privateers and military forces. Visitors can tour the barracks, picnic on the grounds and, at low tide, walk across the tidal flats beside the site. The published 2026 hours were Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, from 2 June to 31 August, and Parks Canada gave no hours for other months, so the site is closed now and should be treated as a summer stop. Daily visitor fees apply, with free admission for youth.
What to do
Tour the barracks, read the displays on the 1812 defence of the town and spend a few minutes on the grounds, which are a pleasant place for a picnic. Beside the site you can walk the tidal flats at low tide, so check a tide table and keep an eye on the incoming water. It is a short visit of an hour or so and it fits easily into a stroll around St. Andrews.
Seasons and planning
The 2026 hours were Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, from 2 June to 31 August. Parks Canada gave no hours for September to May, and the site is closed in November. Daily visitor fees apply, with free admission for youth, and passes can be bought on site. For information in the summer, phone the site; from September to May, calls go to the Carleton Martello Tower office in Saint John. Check the Parks Canada page in spring for 2027 dates.
Fitting it in
The Blockhouse is a short drive from the centre of St. Andrews, so it pairs with Kingsbrae Garden and a whale cruise on a two-day stay. Because the opening window is short and falls on weekdays plus Saturday, build your St. Andrews itinerary around its hours rather than the other way round.
What to expect
The experience
A small historic site with a timber blockhouse and barracks, a picnic area and access to the tidal flats.
Best time
June to August, Tuesday to Saturday, when the site is staffed and the barracks are open.
How long
Allow about an hour, longer if you picnic or walk the tidal flats.
Tips
Check the dates in spring, use a tide table before walking the flats and combine it with the garden and the waterfront.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History fans and families who want a short stop in St. Andrews.
- Families
- Children enjoy the barracks and the tidal flats, with the picnic area nearby.
- Couples
- A quick stop on a stroll through town.
- Pair with
- Kingsbrae Garden and the whale cruises.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
Is the Blockhouse open now?+
No, the published 2026 hours ran from 2 June to 31 August and there are none for other months. Check Parks Canada in spring for 2027.
What are the 2026 hours?+
Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, from 2 June to 31 August. It was closed on Sundays and Mondays.
How much does it cost?+
Daily visitor fees apply, with free admission for youth. The page does not give amounts.
What is the history?+
Townspeople built it during the War of 1812 to defend St. Andrews against American privateers and military forces.
Where is it?+
At 23 Joes Point Road in St. Andrews. It sits beside a tidal flat you can walk at low tide.
