Start with the distances
Most trip-planning mistakes in Newfoundland come from underestimating driving time. Some approximate figures from the provincial driving tables:
- St. John's to Clarenville: about 185 km, two hours.
- St. John's to Gander: about 335 km, three hours and 45 minutes.
- St. John's to Deer Lake: about 640 km, seven hours.
- Deer Lake to St. Anthony: about 418 km, five hours.
- Port aux Basques to St. John's: about 902 km, over nine hours.
Bonavista is roughly three and a half hours from St. John's, according to Parks Canada. These are driving times without stops, fog or moose.
A useful rule: if you have a week or less, pick one end of the island, or fly into one airport and out of another. See getting to Newfoundland for the airports and ferries.
A quick answer
- 5 days: one region, done well. Usually St. John's and the Avalon, or Gros Morne.
- 7 days: two regions. St. John's plus the Bonavista Peninsula, or Gros Morne plus the Viking Trail.
- 10 days: a cross-island trip, ideally flying into St. John's and out of Deer Lake (or the reverse).
- Two weeks or more: add Labrador, Fogo Island or a slower pace.
5 days: St. John's and the Avalon
Fly into St. John's and stay in the Avalon region. This needs the least driving.
- Day 1: St. John's. Signal Hill, the harbour and downtown.
- Day 2: Cape Spear, then south to Bay Bulls or Witless Bay for a boat tour to the seabird reserve, with whales in season. See where to see puffins.
- Day 3: The Irish Loop. Coastal villages and, in early summer, a chance of whales close to shore at St. Vincent's.
- Day 4: A long day trip to Cape St. Mary's for the gannet colony, about two and a half hours each way. Or spend it hiking near the city.
- Day 5: A slower day in St. John's, or a short drive to coastal towns near the city, before you fly out.
Alternative: fly into Deer Lake and spend five days in the Western region, mostly in Gros Morne. See planning a visit to Gros Morne.
7 days: St. John's and the Bonavista Peninsula
Add the Eastern region to the five-day Avalon plan.
- Days 1 to 3: St. John's, Cape Spear and a Witless Bay boat tour.
- Day 4: Drive to Trinity, stopping along the way. Trinity makes a good base for two or three nights.
- Day 5: Bonavista and Elliston. Puffins at Elliston in summer, the Cape Bonavista lighthouse, and the town of Bonavista.
- Day 6: Trinity area. Walk the town, take a boat or kayak tour, or hike a coastal trail.
- Day 7: Drive back to St. John's for your flight.
Alternative west-coast week: fly into Deer Lake. Spend three or four days in Gros Morne, then drive north on the Viking Trail to St. Anthony and L'Anse aux Meadows. See driving the Viking Trail. It is about five hours each way between Deer Lake and St. Anthony, so this week involves more driving.
10 days: across the island
With ten days you can see both ends. The easiest way is an open-jaw trip: fly into St. John's and out of Deer Lake, or the reverse. Check current routes, and whether your rental company charges a one-way drop fee.
- Days 1 to 3: St. John's and the Avalon.
- Days 4 to 5: The Bonavista Peninsula, based in Trinity or Bonavista.
- Days 6 to 7: Drive north-west to Twillingate in the Central region, roughly a day's drive with stops. Boat tours for icebergs in late spring and early summer, and whales in summer.
- Day 8: A long drive west to Gros Morne. This is a full day.
- Days 9 to 10: Gros Morne: Western Brook Pond and the Tablelands. Fly out of Deer Lake, about 30 minutes from the park's southern boundary.
This plan is busy. If you want more breathing room, drop either Twillingate or Bonavista and give the extra day to Gros Morne. To include L'Anse aux Meadows, you need at least three more days.
Two weeks or more
Extra time opens up:
- The Viking Trail to L'Anse aux Meadows and St. Anthony.
- Fogo Island, reached by ferry from Farewell in Central Newfoundland.
- Labrador, via the seasonal ferry from St. Barbe, or by air. See the Labrador region.
- Slack days for fog, cancelled boat tours or simply staying longer somewhere you like.
Tips for any length of trip
- Don't drive at night if you can avoid it. Moose are a real hazard on Newfoundland roads, especially at dusk and after dark.
- Leave weather days. Fog and wind cancel boat tours fairly often. Don't put your must-do tour on your last day.
- Book lodging early for July and August, especially in small towns where options are limited.
- Match the season to your goals. Icebergs, whales and puffins overlap only part of the summer. See when to see icebergs and whale watching in Newfoundland.
Plan it
Browse lodging, boat tours and tours and guides by region, or use the trip planner to send your dates and interests to operators.