Newfoundland
Road Trip
The complete guide to planning a Newfoundland road trip which route to drive, how many days you need, when to go, what to book first, and links to every destination guide and itinerary you need to plan the trip.
🗺️ Choose Your Route By Duration
The right Newfoundland road trip route depends entirely on how many days you have. Driving around Newfoundland, including major scenic routes and stops at key attractions, generally takes about 10 to 14 days. Here are the four primary options.
For any itinerary that reaches Gros Morne or beyond, flying in at St. John’s (YYT) and out at Deer Lake (YDF) or vice versa is strongly recommended. The alternative driving back to St. John’s from Gros Morne takes 7 hours and costs a full travel day. Deer Lake Airport has Air Canada service from Toronto and Montreal. Confirm one-way car rental availability when booking.
🛣️ Best Scenic Drives in Newfoundland
Newfoundland has some of the finest coastal and mountain driving in Canada. These are the named scenic routes worth building your road trip around.
A circular drive from St. John’s along the eastern and southern Avalon Peninsula coast Bay Bulls, Ferryland, St. Vincent’s Beach, Mistaken Point, Cape St. Mary’s. One of the finest coastal drives in Atlantic Canada.
Connects Trinity, Port Rexton, Bonavista, Elliston, and Port Union on the Bonavista Peninsula. Combines the Skerwink Trail, Elliston puffins, Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, and Dungeon Provincial Park in a compact coastal loop.
The great Northern Peninsula highway through Gros Morne National Park, along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, past the Arches and Port au Choix, to the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America.
A scenic southern loop passing Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, and the Placentia Bay coastline. Best combined with a 2-day Irish Loop trip for a complete Avalon Peninsula circuit.
Circles the northern tip of the Avalon Peninsula through Heart’s Content (first transatlantic cable station), Brigus, Carbonear, and Baccalieu Island an undervisited alternative to the busier Southern Shore.
The spine of the island not strictly scenic, but the essential east-west connection. Passes Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, and the heart of Central Newfoundland. Allow 10–12 hours non-stop; 2–3 days with meaningful stops.
📍 Destination Guides All Regions
Every major destination on the island has a dedicated guide. Click through for things to do, where to stay, and how to get there.
Avalon Peninsula
Signal Hill, Jellybean Row, George Street, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Cape Spear day trip
Ferryland Lighthouse Picnic, Colony of Avalon, St. Vincent’s Beach, Cape St. Mary’s
30,000 gannets on Bird Rock · 1.5 km trail · Free
Humpbacks metres from shore · Free · 2–2.5 hrs from St. John’s
Bonavista Peninsula
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, Dungeon Park, Ryan Premises, Discovery Trail
Skerwink Trail, Rising Tide Theatre, Two Whales Coffee, whale watching
World’s most accessible puffin colony · Free shore viewing · 135 root cellars
Central Newfoundland
50%+ of NL icebergs · Iceberg Man Tours · Fish Fun Folk Festival
Brimstone Head, Tilting Heritage District, Fogo Island Inn, 45-min ferry
Western Newfoundland
Western Brook Pond boat tour, Tablelands, Gros Morne Mountain, Green Gardens
L’Anse aux Meadows, St. Anthony icebergs, Viking Trail drive
Wildlife Experiences
📅 When to Go Season by Season
| Season | Icebergs | Whales & Puffins | Weather | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Late May | Peak icebergs | Minkes arriving | Cool, long days | Low better prices |
| June ★ | Last icebergs | Triple play possible | Warming, 16–18 hr days | Building best value |
| July | Gone mostly | Peak 90%+ sighting rates | Warmest | Peak book everything |
| August | None | Excellent | Warm | High |
| September | None | Good | Cooling, fall colour | Low shoulder rates |
📋 What to Book First
Five things must be booked before anything else. Everything else is flexible. These sell out early and ruin itineraries when left to the last minute.
Summer inventory at St. John’s Airport sells out completely. Last-minute bookings get trucks and vans at premium rates. For one-way trips (YYT to YDF), confirm availability at booking not all providers offer this.
Gros Morne’s most in-demand experience. Sells out daily in July and August. Book via BonTours before you book accommodation or other activities. Build your Day 9/10 schedule around your confirmed tour time.
O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Tours and Gatherall’s both fill fast in peak season. Book online in advance. Walk-on availability exists in shoulder season (May, June, September) but not July or August.
Options near Gros Morne are limited and fill early. Ocean View Hotel, Ennis House B&B, and Spruce Grove Cottages are your first choices. If Rocky Harbour is full, Norris Point and Woody Point are viable alternatives.
Baskets sell out on sunny summer afternoons. Call or book online before leaving St. John’s on Day 2. Without a pre-ordered basket, the drive to Ferryland headland has no food option and the experience loses its signature element.
💡 Newfoundland Road Trip Tips
The Northern Peninsula and Bonavista Peninsula have limited fuel options outside main towns. Fill up in Bonavista, Gander, St. Anthony, and Rocky Harbour before heading into more remote areas.
Newfoundland has one of the highest moose densities of any national park region in Canada and the animals are common across the entire island. Avoid driving after dark on rural roads, particularly on the Trans-Canada. Dawn and dusk are the highest-risk periods.
Driving across Newfoundland from St. John’s east to Port aux Basques in the west takes approximately 10–12 hours without stops. Plan your driving days accordingly never attempt the full Trans-Canada in a single day on a road trip. Spread transit days across 2 days minimum with meaningful stops.
Newfoundland has its own unique half-hour time zone 30 minutes ahead of the Maritime provinces and 1.5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. This affects flight and ferry times from the mainland, particularly for early morning departures.
Download offline maps (Google Maps or maps.me) for rural sections including the Northern Peninsula and Bonavista Peninsula. The Viking Trail north of Gros Morne has limited cell coverage. Additionally, save key phone numbers offline Iceberg Man Tours (709-884-2242), BonTours, your accommodation.
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