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Itinerary · Newfoundland & Labrador
Newfoundland Grand Tour
Twelve days from St. John's to L'Anse aux Meadows — icebergs, fjords, and the edge of the continent.
- Duration
- 12 days
- Pace
- Moderate
- Best months
- Mid-June – early September
- Suggested cadence
- 2–3 nights per base
Trip overview
Canada's easternmost province is its most distinctive — a thousand-year history of Vikings, Basque whalers, and outport fishing villages, set against fjords, icebergs, and the only confirmed Norse site in North America. This loop pairs Gros Morne (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with the Viking Trail and the Bonavista Peninsula.
- Route summary
- St. John's → Bonavista Peninsula → Twillingate → Gros Morne → L'Anse aux Meadows → return.
- Ideal traveller
- Slow-travel couples, photographers, history buffs, and hikers who like solitude.
- Recommended season
- Mid-June through early September. Icebergs peak late May–June; whales June–August.
- Distance
- ≈ 2,200 km driving (round-trip from St. John's)
- Provinces covered
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Major stops
- St. John's · Bonavista · Twillingate · Deer Lake · Gros Morne · L'Anse aux Meadows · Fogo Island
Route map
Suggested travel flow.
≈ 2,200 km driving (round-trip from St. John's)
Approximate route · 5 of 7 stops mapped
- 01
Stop 1 →
- 02
Stop 2 →
- 03
Stop 3 →
- 04
Stop 4 →
Deer Lake
- 05
Stop 5 →
- 06
Stop 6 →
L'Anse aux Meadows
- 07
Stop 7 · finish
Fogo Island
Route is approximate — pins show major stops only.
Day by day
The full itinerary.
Day
01
Arrive St. John's
Settle into the Alt Hotel or JAG Hotel. Sunset on Signal Hill, dinner on Water Street.
Highlights
- Signal Hill sunset
- Water Street pubs
Day
02
Overnight
St. John's + Cape Spear
Morning walk along the East Coast Trail to Cape Spear — the easternmost point in North America. Afternoon at The Rooms museum. Dinner at Mallard Cottage.
Photo: Cape Spear lighthouse with the Atlantic behindEat: Mallard Cottage, Raymonds, ChinchedDay
03
Overnight
Trinity
~340 km · 4 hr
St. John's → Bonavista
Drive north to the Bonavista Peninsula. Stop at Random Passage set on the way. Overnight in 19th-century Trinity.
Highlights
- Trinity historic village
- Random Passage set
Day
04
Overnight
Trinity
Bonavista + Elliston
Puffin-watching at Elliston (you can stand within metres of them), Dungeon Provincial Park, and the Bonavista Lighthouse.
Photo: Puffins at Elliston in the late-afternoon lightWildlife: Atlantic puffins, humpback whales offshoreDay
05
Trinity → Twillingate
Long drive west to Iceberg Alley. Settle in at the Anchor Inn. Sunset at Long Point Lighthouse.
Wildlife: Icebergs offshore (May–June peak), humpbacks (June–August)Day
06
Overnight
Iceberg & whale boat
Half-day Iceberg Quest or Twillingate Adventure Tours boat trip. Lunch at Doyle Sansome & Sons in Hillgrade.
Highlights
- Iceberg boat tour
- Long Point Lighthouse
Day
07
Overnight
Rocky Harbour
~430 km · 5.5 hr
Twillingate → Gros Morne
Cross the island to Gros Morne National Park. Settle at the Ocean View Hotel in Rocky Harbour.
Camp: Berry Hill Campground (Gros Morne NP — oTENTik available)Day
08
Overnight
Rocky Harbour
Tablelands + Trout River
Walk the Tablelands — Earth's mantle exposed at the surface, a Mars-like geology. Afternoon at Trout River Pond.
Highlights
- Tablelands hike
- Trout River Pond
Photo: Tablelands at midday with Bonne Bay behindDay
09
Overnight
Rocky Harbour
Western Brook Pond fjord
Three-hour boat cruise inside the landlocked fjord — 600 m cliffs on both sides. Evening at Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse.
Highlights
- Western Brook Pond boat cruise
Photo: Western Brook Pond cliffs from the boatDay
10
Overnight
St. Anthony
~390 km · 5 hr
Gros Morne → L'Anse aux Meadows
The Viking Trail (Route 430) up the Great Northern Peninsula. Stop at the Arches Provincial Park along the way.
Highlights
- The Arches Provincial Park
Day
11
Overnight
St. Anthony
Day visit + drive south
L'Anse aux Meadows
Visit the UNESCO Norse site at L'Anse aux Meadows — the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America. Lunch at the Norseman Restaurant. Drive south for the return.
Highlights
- L'Anse aux Meadows UNESCO site
- Norstead reconstruction
Day
12
Return to St. John's
Long drive across the island. Final night in St. John's — George Street pub crawl recommended.
Featured destinations
Places included in this trip.
City
St. John's
North America's oldest English-founded city — jellybean row houses and the best pub scene east of Dublin.
Explore destination →National Park
Gros Morne National Park
UNESCO World Heritage Site — fjords, the Tablelands, and 1.2 billion years of geology.
Explore destination →Experiences
What you'll do along the way.
Photography
Western Brook Pond fjord cruise
Three-hour boat ride inside a landlocked freshwater fjord.
Adventure
Iceberg boat tour from Twillingate
Get within 100 metres of 10,000-year-old ice.
Wildlife
Puffin viewing at Elliston
One of the only places on Earth where you can stand within metres of nesting Atlantic puffins.
Culture
Norse interpretation at L'Anse aux Meadows
UNESCO-led tours and reconstructed sod houses.
Camping
Sleep under Canadian skies.
Events & festivals
What's happening while you're there.
Early June · St. Anthony
Iceberg Festival
St. Anthony
Late July – early August · St. John's
George Street Festival
St. John's
May · Norris Point (Gros Morne)
Trails, Tales & Tunes Festival
Norris Point
Travel planning
Everything you need before you go.
Best time to go
Mid-June through early September. Late May–June for peak iceberg season. Late June–August for whales and warm-ish weather. September has fewer crowds but unpredictable storms.
Weather
Cool and changeable — 12–22 °C in summer, frequent fog and rain. Coastal areas can swing 10 °C between morning and afternoon.
Packing
Waterproof shell, layered fleece, sturdy hiking boots, sun hat, binoculars, motion-sickness meds for the boat tours, and an extra memory card.
Driving notes
Roads are paved and well-maintained but distances are deceptive. Watch for moose at dawn and dusk — Newfoundland has the highest moose-collision rate in Canada. Consider flying Deer Lake → St. John's on the return.
Reservations
Ocean View Hotel and Trinity B&Bs book 4–6 months ahead for July/August. Gros Morne campgrounds open Parks Canada reservations in January. Fogo Island Inn books a year ahead.
Budget
Mid-range CAD $250–$450 per person per day. Camping cuts that to $90–$140. Fogo Island extension adds CAD $2,500–$4,000 per person.
Family
Good for kids 8+ — puffin viewing, boat cruises, and Viking dress-up at Norstead are crowd-pleasers. Driving days are long.
Accessibility
Gros Morne Discovery Centre and the Western Brook Pond boat are accessible. The Tablelands and Western Brook Pond approach trail have wheelchair-friendly first sections.
Pack smart
What to bring.
- 01
Waterproof shell — weather changes in 20 minutes
- 02
Sturdy hiking boots for the Tablelands
- 03
Binoculars (whales, puffins, icebergs)
- 04
Cash for outport cafés and B&Bs
Travel guides
Read before you go.
Guide
Getting Around Canada
Flights, trains, road trips, and ferries — how to cross the world's second-largest country.
Read guide →Guide
Packing by Season
A season-by-season packing list for a country that swings from -40°C in February to +35°C in July.
Read guide →Guide
National Parks Pass
How to use the Discovery Pass, when to book ahead, and the lesser-known parks that rival Banff without the crowds.
Read guide →Frequently asked
Common questions.
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