Region

Newfoundland and Labrador

Fly into St. John's or Deer Lake and drive; the island is 900 km (559 mi) across, so pick one coast, not both.Fly into St. John's or Deer Lake and drive; the island is 559 mi (900 km) across, so pick one coast, not both.

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Key facts · Canada

Best months: Jun–Aug
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD, $)
Language: English and French
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: Six zones: UTC−3:30 to UTC−8

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 8Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…

North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
Atlantic Canada ↗The Maritimes means Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI only; Newfoundland and Labrador is Atlantic but not Maritime.
Atlantic Canada ↗Most sights, ferries and seasonal hotels run late June to early September; outside that, check each opening before booking.

Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada's tenth province, and the largest of the four Atlantic provinces: an island (Newfoundland) plus a mainland coastal region (Labrador) that borders Quebec. It joined Canada only in 1949, and its culture, dialects and music carry Irish, English and French roots. Most first trips land at St. John's (YYT) and stay on the Avalon Peninsula, or land at Deer Lake and drive the west coast. Labrador is a separate, far more remote trip: long gravel-and-pavement highway, no fuel for 400 km stretches, no mobile coverage outside three towns. Give the island 7–10 days; give Labrador its own trip.

Where to sleep

6 places in this region

Sleep base

St. John'sTrip line
Avalon Peninsula base: Signal Hill, the Battery, Cape Spear, East Coast Trail.
Best Dec–Apr
JFMAMJJASOND
Open St. John's →
Corner BrookCity guide
West coast base near Deer Lake airport and Gros Morne.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Corner Brook →

Day trip

Gros Morne National ParkGuide: planned
Tablelands, fjords, Western Brook Pond; 1–2 days from Corner Brook.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
BonavistaCity guide
Eastern outport and lighthouse; long day from St. John's or an overnight.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Bonavista →
TwillingateCity guide
Iceberg and whale watching from the north-central coast.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Twillingate →
Labrador CityCity guide
Western Labrador, reached by Quebec Route 389; start of the Trans-Labrador Highway.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Labrador City →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

7 nights: St. John's 3 + Bonavista or Trinity 2 + back via the Avalon 2
10 nights: St. John's 3 + central coast 2 + Deer Lake / Gros Morne 3 + Corner Brook 2
12 nights: Island loop: St. John's, Bonavista, Twillingate, Gros Morne, Port aux Basques ferry out

Driving the island end to end is over 900 km (559 mi) on the Trans-Canada Highway; roads away from it are among the roughest in Canada — potholes and heaved pavement.Driving the island end to end is over 559 mi (900 km) on the Trans-Canada Highway; roads away from it are among the roughest in Canada — potholes and heaved pavement.
On the Trans-Labrador Highway there is no fuel or service for more than 400 km (249 mi) and no mobile coverage outside Labrador City, Churchill Falls and Goose Bay. Carry an extra can of fuel, food and a survival kit.On the Trans-Labrador Highway there is no fuel or service for more than 249 mi (400 km) and no mobile coverage outside Labrador City, Churchill Falls and Goose Bay. Carry an extra can of fuel, food and a survival kit.
Rural Labrador fuel is the most expensive in Canada outside the northern territories.
There is no intercity bus into the province; buses connect to the ferry terminals at North Sydney and Port aux Basques.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Cape Spear	St. John's	25 min	unknown	Most easterly point in North America; windy, bring a layer.
Signal Hill	St. John's	15 min	unknown	Fort and walking trail above the harbour; walkable from downtown.
Gros Morne National Park	Corner Brook	60 min	unknown	About an hour to the park gate; boat tour on Western Brook Pond needs a booked slot.

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding; you carry your own bags. On ferries, foot passengers walk on and vehicles queue early.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
St. John's	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	×	×	×	ok	go
Corner Brook	×	ok	ok	×	×	go	go	go	go	×	×	×
Bonavista	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Twillingate	×	×	×	×	go	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Labrador City	×	ok	ok	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Atlantic Canada (country-wide)	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Avalon Peninsula / St. John'seastern Newfoundland	cold	cold	cool	ok	ok	best	best	best	ok	ok	cool	cold
West coast / Gros MorneCorner Brook, Deer Lake	cold	cold	cool	ok	ok	best	best	best	ok	ok	cool	cold
LabradorLabrador City, Goose Bay, coast	cold	cold	cold	cool	ok	ok	best	best	ok	cool	cold	cold

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, grey

Avalon Peninsula / St. John's: Coastal fog and wind year-round; summer days often 15–20 °C (59–68 °F). Icebergs pass offshore late spring to early summer.Coastal fog and wind year-round; summer days often 59–68 °F (15–20 °C). Icebergs pass offshore late spring to early summer.
West coast / Gros Morne: Shortest, coolest summers; mountain weather changes fast.
Labrador: Sub-Arctic: snow possible into May, blackflies in June–July, first snow by October.

July and August are the warmest and busiest; June brings icebergs and whales but cooler, wetter days. Book ferries and park campsites months ahead for July–August.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Toronto / Montréal / Halifax	St. John's (YYT)	direct flights	3–4 h from Toronto	Several flights daily from Ontario, Quebec and the other Atlantic provinces.
Toronto	Deer Lake (YDF)	seasonal direct flight	check	Best airport for Corner Brook and Gros Morne; rent a car on arrival.
London Heathrow / Dublin	St. John's (YYT)	seasonal direct flights (Air Canada, WestJet)	check	Summer only; among the shortest transatlantic scheduled hops.
North Sydney, Nova Scotia	Port aux Basques	Marine Atlantic ferry	7 h	Usually twice daily year-round; cars and foot passengers. Reserve ahead.
North Sydney, Nova Scotia	Argentia	Marine Atlantic ferry	16 h	Summer only, several days a week; Argentia is about 130 km (81 mi) from St. John's.Summer only, several days a week; Argentia is about 81 mi (130 km) from St. John's.
Blanc Sablon, Quebec	St. Barbe, Great Northern Peninsula	provincial ferry	2 h	Links Labrador and Quebec's Lower North Shore to the island; winter terminus shifts to Corner Brook.
Québec Route 389 / Trans-Labrador Highway	Labrador City	drive	check	The only overland route in; long isolated gravel-and-pavement road from Baie-Comeau. Fuel up before the empty stretches.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Parks Canada Discovery Pass

check

Pays only if you visit several national parks or historic sites; Gros Morne entry is sold separately per day.

Marine Atlantic ferry

check

Not a pass: fares vary by season and vehicle length. Book early for July–August; foot passengers pay less than cars.

DRL intercity bus

check

One daily run Port aux Basques–St. John's, roughly 13.5 h; useful if you are not driving. Check current fare.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Fish and chips with cod	St. John's, outports	Cod is the emblem dish; the 1992 moratorium ended the commercial fishery, so most cod now comes from elsewhere. Check the day's catch.
Jiggs dinner	Sunday pubs and diners	Salt beef, root vegetables and pease pudding; heavy, traditional, often a Sunday plate.
Screech and the screech-in	George Street, St. John's	A rum shot ritual invented for visitors; harmless fun, usually part of a guided tour.
Seafood chowder	Corner Brook, Bonavista, Twillingate	Cream or milk base with whatever came off the boat; ask what is in it that day.
Bakeapple (cloudberry) jam	Gift shops and breakfast tables	Tart berry jam from the bogs; a common souvenir.

Go next

Atlantic Canada

Ferry to North Sydney or fly via Halifax

The parent region: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and NL.

Nova Scotia

planned

Marine Atlantic ferry, 7 h to North Sydney

Pair the two by ferry for a loop; buses meet the ferry terminals.

New Brunswick

planned

Drive via Nova Scotia, or fly via Halifax

Bay of Fundy tides and the Acadian coast.

Prince Edward Island

planned

Fly via Halifax or Montréal

Small, easy add-on if you are already in the Maritimes.

Québec

Drive Route 389 to Labrador City, or fly via Montréal

The overland link into Labrador runs through Quebec.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 3, 15 min to 1 h
Nights suggested: 7–12 nights
Ways in: 7 listed
Best months: Jul, Aug (all zones)

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Explore Atlantic Canada Up to Atlantic Canada

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialNewfoundland and Labrador Tourism
officialGovernment of Newfoundland and Labrador
officialMarine Atlantic
officialNewfoundland and Labrador ferry services
officialSt. John's International Airport
officialDeer Lake Regional Airport
officialDRL Coachlines
officialParks Canada — Gros Morne National Park
secondaryWikivoyage: Newfoundland and Labrador, revision 5319917 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about Newfoundland and Labrador

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