Few destinations are as unique as Newfoundland, and there’s no better way to explore the province than on a road trip.
My Newfoundland road trip included 10 days of the best that the province has to offer, from the icebergs of Twillingate to the pubs of St. John’s to the epic hikes within Gros Morne National Park. Exploring the island by car is super easy thanks to its well-maintained roads and how well-connected even the most rural of villages are.
However, if you’re scheming a trip to Newfoundland, you definitely need to do a good chunk of planning. For example, rental cars are limited, so you need to reserve yours months in advance if visiting Newfoundland in summer.
With that in mind, here’s a 10-day Newfoundland road trip itinerary covering all of the top sights. I’ve also included several tips to ensure your journey is as seamless as possible.
Tips for Getting Around Newfoundland by Car
Driving around Newfoundland isn’t just what gets you from place-to-place, it’s part of the experience. The drives are often through really picturesque landscapes, so I didn’t mind the somewhat lengthy trips in between stops at all. Traffic is nonexistent once outside of St. John’s, and you’ll constantly want to pull over for photos.
That said, there are a few things you need to know before getting behind the wheel:
- Book your rental car early: Rental inventory is limited, especially in St. John’s and Deer Lake. If you’re visiting between June and September, book 4 to 6 months in advance.
- Expect longer drive times than Google suggests: Distances might not look far on the map, but you’ll be dealing with winding coastal highways and scenic pull-offs you can’t resist.
- Watch for moose, especially at dusk: Moose are no joke in Newfoundland. They’re huge, they’re unpredictable, and they tend to appear at the worst possible times. Avoid driving at night or before sunrise is possible. I had a close call driving to the Deer Lake Airport.
- Gas up when you can: Once you’re outside the bigger towns, gas stations can be few and far between. If you see one and you’re below half a tank, just stop.
- Download offline maps: Cell service drops in more remote areas, especially around Gros Morne and Lark Harbour. Download your maps ahead of time so you’re not stranded without directions.
- Build flexibility into your schedule: Weather changes quickly in Newfoundland. Fog, wind, rain, and snow can roll in out of nowhere. Leave room in your itinerary to swap hiking days or boat tours if needed.
10-Day Newfoundland Itinerary
Day 1: St. John’s – Settle In, Hike to Signal Hall
St. John’s is the best and most convenient place to start your Newfoundland trip. The provincial capital is heavily Irish influenced, with settlers arriving here throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The city has really fun nightlife for its size, so it’s worth going out when the sun goes down.
Duckworth Street and, most notably, the adjacent George Street are the hotspots for pubs and partying in St. John’s. George Street actually has the most pubs per square foot in the world!
If you want to get your legs moving on Day 1 after perhaps a long flight or drive to Newfoundland, hike the Avalon East Coast Trail from downtown St. John’s to the summit of Signal Hill. The trek guides you through the picturesque and colorful Battery neighborhood with homes perched on steep cliffs. You’ll actually be weaving around peoples’ yards at one point. Then, you’ll parallel the water before trekking up the small mountain. The views at the top are stunning. Looking back, you can see the entire St. John’s metro area. Looking straight ahead, you’ll see the endless Atlantic Ocean.
Day 2: St. John’s – Wander Charming Quidi Vidi, Have a Night Out
This area looks and feels like a remote fishing village but is only a 10-minute drive or 1-hour walk from downtown. You can actually continue your trek down the other side of Signal Hill if you wish, and within 30 to 45 minutes you’ll stumble into Quidi Vidi.
Make sure to grab a couple of beers at Quidi Vidi Brewery. There’s usually live music if you’re there in the evening or on the weekend. Outside, there are several food trucks. The best place to eat here is the famous Mallard Cottage, a restaurant that makes you feel as if you’re dining in a 19th-century living room. You can finish the evening by grabbing a couple of pints at The Inn of Olde and getting to know the owner, Linda.
Other sights worth seeing in St. John’s include:
- The Rooms Art Gallery
- Bowring Park
- Cabot Tower at Signal Hill
- The Basilica of St. John’s
- Johnson GEO Centre
- Memorial University Botanical Garden
- Jelly Bean Row
Day 3: Take a Day Trip From St. John’s to Cape Spear
A reallynice day trip from St. John’s is a bike ride to the easternmost point of North America, Cape Spear.
I rented an e-bike from Pedego, a bike shop in downtown St. John’s. It’s a little more than an hour ride each way. This will give you your first taste of rural Newfoundland.
Nothing against the capital city, but remote Newfoundland is where most of the magic lies. You’ll quickly find yourself surrounded by forest on the bike-friendly roads leading to Cape Spear. Bring a light jacket and a hat, as it was truly one of the windiest places I’ve ever visited.
The lighthouse at Cape Spear is the oldest in Newfoundland. It operated continuously until 1997. In addition to the lighthouse, you’ll find old World War II artifacts, along with a well-stocked café and gift shop.
Day 4: St. John’s to Twillingate – Get to Know This Quaint Coastal Town
Once you’ve rented your car in St. John’s, your first stop can be to either Twillingate or Bonavista. Both of these coastal towns are two of the best places in Newfoundland to see icebergs. While you can definitely visit both, if you only have 10 days, it might be worth dedicating your time to one or the other.
My choice would be Twillingate. In addition to being the best place to catch icebergs, it’s also home to see incredible hiking. The town also has a super impressive dinner theatre that puts on live performances in the summer months.
If you’re driving to Twillingate from St. John’s, plan for at least five hours on the road, including stops.
I chose to stay in Twillingate for two full days, and they were some of my all-time favorite days while traveling. It didn’t hurt that I went during peak iceberg season in late June. If you visit between mid-May and late July, there’s a good chance you’ll see icebergs floating down from Greenland. If you’re visiting later in the summer or early fall, don’t worry. That’s still prime whale and puffin season in Newfoundland.
I booked my iceberg tour through Twillingate Adventure Tours and had an amazing time. If there are icebergs visible off the coast, rest assured they’ll be taking you to see them.
Day 5: Twillingate – Chase Icebergs, See Puffins, and Hike
Twillingate warrants a second full day because of the stunning coastal landscapes, including a few of my favorite hikes in Newfoundland. Some include:
- Spillers Cove Trail
- French Beach Trail
- Nanny’s Point and Longpoint Lighthouse Loop
Spend a few hours hiking in the morning. If you can bear the early summer wake-up call, I’d recommend getting to a good spot to see the sunrise beforehand. On a clear morning, you’ll be one of the first people in North America to catch the sunrise.
For later in the day, I recommend visiting The Wharf, Captain’s Pub, or Pier 39 for food and drinks.
As mentioned, I also can’t recommend a visit to the Twillingate Dinner Theatre enough. The performance really punches above its weight class given it’s hosted in such a small town of just a couple thousand residents. Shows start in late May and wraps up in September. Prepare to be served an exceptional 5-course meal throughout the extent of the show, most of which involves locals singing traditional Newfoundland tunes.
Day 6: Gros Morne National Park – Experience the Tablelands
Venturing to the west coast is a must for a Newfoundland road trip. This is where you’ll find the more mountainous landscape. The most notable and beautiful part of the area is Gros Morne National Park.
This has to be one of the most underrated national parks in Canada. It’s one of the best places to see fjords on the continent, and you can boat through them within the park at Western Brook Pond.
Gros Morne is also the only place on the continent where you can walk on Earth’s mantle. This Mars-like area is known as The Tablelands. Hikers of all levels can reach the core, as it’s a flat 3-mile round-trip walk from the parking lot.
You’ll likely drive around Bonne Bay while exploring this part of Newfoundland. The views from the road are jaw dropping. The national park’s visitor center sits high above the bay and offers incredible views of its own.
Since the morning hours will involve getting to Gros Morne from Twillingate, I’d recommend just one activity for the day: hiking at Tablelands. You can save another hike and the boat tour through the fjords for Day 2.
Day 7: Gros Morne National Park – Take a Boat Tour Through Fjords and Hike Green Gardens Trail
There are so many stunning hikes in Gros Morne that it definitely warrants two full days at minimum.
My absolute favorite hike is the Green Gardens Trail. This is a 6-mile round trip hike that takes you through a variety of landscapes. You’ll start in rugged flatlands, before wandering downhill through grassy shrubs and coastal forest. At the end, you’re rewarded with coastal cliffs overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence. There’s a good chance you’ll see sheep roaming the hillsides or maybe even a moose in the distance.
You can walk down to the beach or relax in the Adirondack chairs above the water once you reach the coast.
Day 8: Lark Harbour – Hike Up Cape Blow Me Down
An underrated stop on a Newfoundland road trip is Lark Harbour on the southwest coast. About two hours south of Gros Morne, it’s perched at the end of a 30-mile road, giving it a true end-of-the-world feel.
There’s enough to do in this region for two days:
- Go kayaking or jet skiing in the bay
- Have a couple of meals at Myrtle’s on the Bay (get the mussels!)
- Hike the Cape Blow-Me-Down Trail
- Hike to Cedar Cove
- Hike OBIEC Copper Mine Falls Trail
- Visit Bottle Cove Beach
The Cape Blow-Me-Down Trail is a must. The trailhead is in nearby York Harbour, about 15 minutes away. The 2,000-foot summit takes around two hours to reach and about 90 minutes to descend. The views at the top are arguably the most stunning in Newfoundland, as the peaks in this range are some of the highest on the island. Just be prepared for black flies if hiking in the late spring or early summer months!
Day 9: Lark Harbour – Take a Day to Wind Down
The best thing we did in Lark Harbour was simply slow down and enjoy the setting. If you’re ready for a day with no agenda to fully unplug, this is the place to do it. It was the perfect spot to cap off a phenomenal 10-day trip to Newfoundland. The serenity still sticks with me.
We stayed at Lark Harbour House, a historic seaside cottage with modern amenities built in 1890. Captain Cook’s B&B is another great option. If you’re willing to drive about 30 minutes, The Saltbox in nearby Bottle Cove is another solid dining choice.
Day 10: Fly Home
Your final day will depend on which airport you’re flying out of. If it’s St. John’s, expect a full-day, 8-hour drive from Lark Harbour.
However, Deer Lake Airport is less than two hours away and offers flights to Toronto and Montreal. Therefore, I’d recommend flying back from Deer Lake Airport and dropping your rental car off there like we did.
If you have an afternoon or evening flight from Deer Lake, you can consider stopping in Corner Brook. It’s the second-largest city in Newfoundland with around 30,000 residents. You’ll find everything you’d expect in a small city. Stop at a café, visit Bootleg Brewery, or take a break from seafood and try something different.
In-Summary: Newfoundland 10-Day Road Trip Itinerary
A Newfoundland itinerary could include other worthy stops like Bonavista, St. Anthony, Stephenville, Terra Nova National Park, and Fogo Island. Logistically, though, this route is one of the most feasible ways to see the highlights in 10 days or two weeks without feeling like you’re in a rush.
Newfoundland Road Trip Itinerary FAQs
How long do you need to visit Newfoundland?
If you want to see the best of what Newfoundland has to offer, you should dedicate 10 days or two weeks to the province. You can do a road trip from one side of the island to the other in one week, but you might not be allotting yourself enough time to either relax or really get to know a destination.
What is the best time of year to visit Newfoundland?
Most consider summer to early fall as the best time of year to visit Newfoundland. The best weather in Newfoundland is from June to September, though even June and September can get chilly enough to require a coat, particularly at night.
Newfoundland is worth visiting in the winter if you’re into cold weather activities like snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. However, most of the province’s main attractions such as hiking, iceberg-viewing, and whale-watching won’t be possible. Plus, many roads won’t be accessible due to snow cover.
Where are the best places to visit in Newfoundland?
Some of the best places to visit in Newfoundland include:
- St. John’s
- Twillingate
- Gros Morne National Park
- Lark Harbour
- Bonavista
- St. Anthony
- Terra Nova National Park
- Blow Me Down Provincial Park
- Fogo Island
- Cape Spear
- Trinity Bay
What’s the best way to get around in Newfoundland?
The best way to get around in Newfoundland is undoubtedly by car. Busses don’t stop in most small seaside villages, which are one of the main attractions of the province. If you plan on hiking and moving around on your trip to Newfoundland, you’ll need to rent a car. Make sure to do so well in advance.
What are the best day trips from St. John’s?
Some of the best day trips from St. John’s include:
- Cape Spear, the easternmost point of North America
- Quidi Vidi
- Terra Nova National Park
- Witless Bay and Bay Bulls
- Bell Island
- The “Irish Loop,” a scenic drive along the southern shore of the island
