Are you thinking about visiting Newfoundland?

If not, you should, it’s a magical place. The people, the views, the history, the access to free camping, everything.

I visited ‘The Rock’ this past summer and I will be heading back in 2026. There’s so much to do and to see that it’s nearly impossible to see and do everything in one visit.

My only mistake on my first visit was going a little late in the summer. I spent the month of August exploring the island, which is a bit too late to see the whales, icebergs, and some other things Newfoundland is famous for. I’ll be remedying that on my next visit in 2026 by arriving in early June.

I am no expert on Newfoundland or travel, but I want to share some of my experiences, traveling planning methods and route planning.

I hope you find these at least a little bit helpful when you begin your plans to travel to Newfoundland.

-      When to visit. June-August are best for whale watching, icebergs, and pleasant weather. September-early October is best for fall foliage, less crowds. 

-      Ferry. As soon as you know your dates, book the ferry. It does sell out very fast during the peak travel season. Booking the ferry is easy on the Marine Atlantic website, marineatlantic.ca. Marine Atlantic has a very friendly cancelation policy, 100% refund up to 48 hours prior to sailing and a $25 CAD fee for cancelations within 48 hours of sailing.

Ferry departs North Sydney, NS and takes you to either Port aux Basques or Argentia, NL. The transit time to Port aux Basques is approximately 6 hours and to Argentia is approximately 16 hours. 

I would suggest getting accommodations if you arrive or depart from Argentia. I didn’t book accommodations last year and regretted it. It’s a long transit and a bed would be great. Trying to sleep in the lounge chair or floor didn’t work too well for me. They offer several options for sleeping accommodations. The transit to/from Port aux Basques is very doable without accommodations, in my option.

Check the Marine Atlantic website for comprehensive information.

-       Information about Newfoundland. The internet is a good place to start when researching Newfoundland. That’s where I started and soon found myself on the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism website, Newfoundland Labrador Tourism. This is the best site I have found for travel information in Newfoundland. You can request a digital copy of their travel guide or have one mailed to you. I got the digital copy so I could mark it up and highlight the information I was interested in.

The website is full of useful information, itinerary’s, sights, excursion information, accommodations, etc. I found everything I needed in their travel guide.

-    Route Planning. Get a paper map to help with your route planning. I got mine from Amazon, and they are also available at many of the visitor/welcome centers. I highlighted all the places I wanted to visit/explore first and then planned the route. There aren’t many options for getting from one side of the island to the other but in the various regions you can decide on the bet route for you. You will do some backtracking but with good planning you can keep that to a minimum in many cases. I choose to take the ferry into Port aux Basques and depart from Argentia to keep from backtracking across the island too much, but that is a personal preference. It cost more to enter or depart from Argentia, but it was worth it for me. It saved me time and fuel. Note, some of the secondary roads can be rough, potholes and frost heaves, so take your time and stay alert.

-       Camping. If you plan to camp while in Newfoundland, you will find plenty of campgrounds around the island. I prefer to boondock, so I didn’t research campgrounds to deep. I found that you can boondock just about anywhere on the island. I boondocked for over 30 nights and had a waterfront view all but one night. Unless it’s designated as a no camping/parking spot I found no one will bother you. Just make sure you leave it as you found it, pack it in pack it out.

Some Provincial Parks allow free overnight camping, as do many of the lighthouses and city parks. If in doubt, ask. I used iOverlander to find most of my overnight parking and had absolutely no issues finding a great spot.

-       The People. The people in Newfoundland are very friendly. Make time to stop and meet the locals, they know the area and I have found they will give you some good ideas on places to visit, eat, park, and even share a few stories if you are interested. Just say hello and you never know, you may find a great new friend!

Viking at L'Anse aux Meadows

-     The Parks. The parks are wonderful in Newfoundland. There are 30 Provincial Parks and 2 National Parks in Newfoundland They are worth checking out. I’ll be spending more time at the National Parks on my next visit. Gros Morne and Terra Nova have a lot to offer, and I could probably spend a week at each and not run out of things to explore.

Atlantic Gannet at Cape St Mary's Ecological Reserve

Arches Provincial Park 

-      Fuel availability – I was a bit worried about the availability of diesel on my first visit, but it wasn’t really an issue. It’s readily available in most area but I would suggest topping off whenever possible. In some of the more remote areas you may have a harder time finding diesel so keep the tank topped up as much as possible. 

    The price of fuel is more expensive in Canada vs. the US but it’s not too bad in my opinion. Also, the prices from one station to the next seem to only vary slightly so don’t wait to try and find a better price down the road, get it when you see it!

-    Supplies. The same goes for supplies, food, water, etc. Get it when you can. The more remote the area the higher the price of supplies and you may not see a store for a good distance if you are in remote areas. I kept my supplies topped up just like my fuel. Getting water for your RV can be a bit challenging so keep that topped up as well. iOverlander does list places to fill your fresh water but these places aren’t as plentiful as they are in other Provinces or in the US. I’m sure if you ask nicely the locals would allow you to top off your tanks at their homes or businesses.

-    Weather. The weather can be very unpredictable, so be prepared. Make sure you pack good rain gear and boots. And don’t let a little wet weather stop you from exploring, it’s part of the adventure. Get out there and explore and enjoy. 

Beautiful sunsets everywhere

-   Don’t miss Fogo Island. This is a wonderful place to visit. The ferry to Fogo was less than $20 CAD and well worth it. No reservations are needed, but I would suggest getting in line early as the ferry will fill up. I stayed on Fogo for 2 nights, but you can do it as a day trip. I’m glad I spent 2 das there, there is plenty of things to see and good hiking places. Fogo is very unique and the people are extremely welcoming. If you are lucky, you may get invited to a shed party.

Fish Stages on Fogo Island

Walkway out to an Artist Residence 

-      Conclusion. Make plans to visit Newfoundland, you will not be disappointed. Don’t stick to a rigid schedule or route, take it easy and you never know what you’ll find if you take a little detour from your plans. Talk to the locals, they are friendly and welcoming, don’t be afraid to stop and say hello.