Region

Southern Newfoundland

Go only if you accept ferry-timetable travel: pick one or two outports, not a loop.

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Key facts · Canada

Best months: Aug–Sep
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 · 11Crossing 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 ↗Locals say 'newfin-LAND' (rhymes with 'understand'); the emphasis is on the last syllable.
Newfoundland and Labrador ↗Over 100,000 moose share the roads. Drive slowly, especially at night; collisions are the main visitor risk.
Newfoundland and Labrador ↗Reserve Marine Atlantic ferries ahead; crossings run on weather and water, so build in slack.

Southern Newfoundland is a fjord coast where roads mostly run north to the Trans-Canada Highway, not along the shore. Harbour Breton and the Bay d'Espoir arm are reached by Highway 360, Burgeo by Highway 480, Rose Blanche by Highway 470, and the Burin Peninsula by Highway 210. Everything between Lapoile and Burgeo has no road and no ferry. The small outports — Ramea, Grey River, Francois, Rencontre East — are ferry-only, with irregular schedules, so plan around sailings rather than distances.

Where to sleep

8 places in this region

Sleep base

BurgeoCity guide
Highway 480 end point; ferry to Ramea, largest and steadiest boat.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Burgeo →
St. LawrenceCity guide
Burin Peninsula loop with Fortune and Grand Bank; local museum.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open St. Lawrence →

Day trip

FortuneCity guide
Passenger ferry to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, France; no vehicles.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Fortune →
RameaCity guide
Island outport reached by ferry from Burgeo; museum.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Ramea →
Grey RiverCity guide
Ferry-only; strong gusts funnel down the valley to the sea.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Grey River →
FrancoisCity guide
Ferry-only outport; walking and ATVs, no cars.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Francois →
Rencontre EastCity guide
Ferry-only; check sailings before committing.
Best Jun–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Rencontre East →

Also here

Grand BruitCity guide
Abandoned; the ferry no longer stops.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Grand Bruit →

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

2 nights: Burgeo 2 nights, Ramea as a ferry day-trip
3 nights: Burin Peninsula: Fortune, Grand Bank, St. Lawrence, with a Saint-Pierre day-trip if the ferry fits
4 nights: Harbour Breton and the Bay d'Espoir arm, then one ferry-only outport

Harbour Breton to Fortune is about 650 km (404 mi) by road via Gander, roughly 8–9 hours, even though the two sit across Fortune Bay from each other.Harbour Breton to Fortune is about 404 mi (650 km) by road via Gander, roughly 8–9 hours, even though the two sit across Fortune Bay from each other.
Between Lapoile and Burgeo there is no road, no ferry and no populated place.
Ferry schedules are irregular; getting stuck in a village for extra days is the normal failure mode.
Hitchhiking works but waits can be long on Highway 210 and the Trans-Canada; rides are often long once you get one.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Ramea	Burgeo	60 min	check	Largest ferry on the coast and the one least likely to cause seasickness; takes vehicles and usually runs several times a day.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon	Fortune	90 min	check	Passenger ferry only, no vehicles; bring a passport — it is French territory.
Grey River	Hermitage	60 min	check	Ferry-only; sailings are irregular, so confirm the return before you go.
Francois	Hermitage	60 min	check	Ferry-only; if sailings are full, ask locally about a lift on a tour boat.

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding here; carry what you need on the ferry, since outports have no cars and few services.

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
Burgeo	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
St. Lawrence	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Fortune	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Ramea	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Grey River	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Francois	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Rencontre East	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	go	×	×
Grand Bruit	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Newfoundland and Labrador (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
South coastBurgeo, Ramea, Grey River, Francois, Harbour Breton	cool	cool	cool	ok	ok	ok	ok	best	best	ok	cool	cool

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, grey

South coast: July averages 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) and onshore winds off 10–13 °C (50–55 °F) sea water make fog regular; frost-free season runs about 130–150 days. Late August into September can bring a tropical storm with strong wind and heavy rain. Winter is mild for Canada — ice is light or absent off the south coast, with 5–10 °C (41–50 °F) spells and 20–30 km/h (12–19 mph) coastal winds; gusts of 120–140 km/h (75–87 mph) funnel down valleys such as Grey River. First frost is normally mid-October and the first snow mid to late November.July averages 50–59 °F (10–15 °C) and onshore winds off 50–55 °F (10–13 °C) sea water make fog regular; frost-free season runs about 130–150 days. Late August into September can bring a tropical storm with strong wind and heavy rain. Winter is mild for Canada — ice is light or absent off the south coast, with 41–50 °F (5–10 °C) spells and 12–19 mph (20–30 km/h) coastal winds; gusts of 75–87 mph (120–140 km/h) funnel down valleys such as Grey River. First frost is normally mid-October and the first snow mid to late November.

Spring dries out from April, when average air temperature reaches 0 °C (32 °F); April–June is often fair and mild by day. Sea fog is the main summer planning risk.Spring dries out from April, when average air temperature reaches 32 °F (0 °C); April–June is often fair and mild by day. Sea fog is the main summer planning risk.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	Note
Bishop's Falls (Trans-Canada Highway)	Harbour Breton and the Bay d'Espoir arm	Highway 360 (Bay d'Espoir Highway) south	The Bay d'Espoir arm passes Saint Albans, Morrisville, Milltown and Conne River.
Stephenville / Barachois Pond Provincial Park	Burgeo	Highway 480 southeast	The road end for the Burgeo–Ramea ferry.
Port-aux-Basques	Rose Blanche	Highway 470 east	Continuing east by ferry reaches Lapoile only; it is a dead end.
Trans-Canada Highway south of Clarenville	Burin Peninsula (Marystown, Fortune, Grand Bank, St. Lawrence)	Highway 210	The loop road serves the peninsula; Fortune has the Saint-Pierre ferry.
St. John's, Halifax, Montréal, Îles-de-la-Madeleine or Paris CDG (July–August only)	Saint-Pierre	Air service to nearby Saint-Pierre	Useful if you want to combine the French islands with the Burin Peninsula.

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
Cod and other local catch	Outport general stores and small kitchens	Food options are thin; carry supplies for ferry-only communities.
Brook trout and landlocked salmon	Ponds and lakes inland	Fishing is a main local activity; check licence rules before you cast.
Atlantic salmon	Rivers near the south coast	Seasonal and regulated; confirm current rules locally.

Go next

Newfoundland and Labrador

Back to the province overview

Plan the Avalon and west coast from here.

Eastern Newfoundland

planned

Road via the Trans-Canada Highway

St. John's and the Avalon Peninsula.

Labrador

Road and ferry via the Northern Peninsula

A separate trip; not a day trip from the south coast.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

planned

Passenger ferry from Fortune

French territory; passport needed.

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: 4, 1 h to 1 h 30
Nights suggested: 2–4 nights
Ways in: 5 listed
Best months: Aug, Sep

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 Newfoundland and Labrador Up to Newfoundland and Labrador

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

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Sources

Ask about Southern Newfoundland

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