This province was Britain’s first overseas colony, and was settled over 500 years ago. The province has TONS of charm, a unique dialect, and lots of history. The island is sprinkled with quaint fishing villages (they call them “outports”). While here, don’t forget to visit Gros Morne National Park, with its stunning fjords, L’Anse aux Meadows, where Vikings first settled on North America, and Signal Hill in St John’s.
The total Newfoundland highway distance is 928 kilometres. Here is the route of the Trans-Canada Highway from east to west:
You arrive in Newfoundland at the ferry landing at Port Aux Basques, off the a ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia. The Trans-Canada heads north 214 km past Stephenville to Corner Brook, which is Newfoundland’s second largest city.
Gros Morne-The Lookout (David Preston)
At Deer Lake, Route 430 leads a few miles north to reach Gros Morne National Park. You can take this road along the Long Range Mountains and several west Newfoundland towns to the northern tip of the island, to the town of St Anthony and where the L’Anse aux Meadows historical site unearths the first Viking settlement on North America. This side trip is 460km (one way) and takes about 5:30 hrs. See the VIking Trail itinerary.
The Long Range Mountains come into view around Deer Lake. In the island’s interior, you pass many small lakes (called “ponds”), rocky outcroppings, and unique ecosystems. The highway passes Springdale, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Bishop’s Falls before heading in an easgterly direction.
The highway leads southeast to the town of Gander, which was once a major stop-over point for propellor-driven trans-Atlantic airplane flights.
Newfoundland & Labrador map
The road heads southerly direction, passing theough Terra Nova National Park and then crosses the Avalon Peninsula, heading east.
From whitbourne, You can head south to Argentia to catch the summertime Newfoundland Ferry to North Sydney, Nova Scotia. and tape the Irish Loop Trail around the perimeter of the Avalon Penisula.
At Goobies, just south of Clarenville you can drive Route 210 dow nthe St Mary’s Peninsula and catch a ferry to the French colony of St Pierre & Miquelon. This detour is 233 km (2-1/2 hours) plus a 1-1/2 hour ferry ride from Fortune.
You should take the time to visit the many small fishing villages that echo the quiet life in Newfoundland of over a hundred years ago, with such colourful names as Brigus, Harbour Grace, Come By Chance, usually just a few minutes off the Trans-Canada.
After Whitbourne you are on the home stretch, heading through B utter Pot Provincial Park, past Conception Bay South and Mont Pearl
Signal Hill Cannon overlooking St John’s Harbour (David Preston)
St. John’s, capital city of the island province of Newfoundland, and Canada’s oldest city (over 500 years old!), is the eastern starting / ending point of the Trans-Canada Highway. The end of the Trans-Canada is commemorated by the “Mile One Stadium” (arena) in downtown St John’s, interestingly 7,800-some kilometres from the “Mile 0” Marker in Victoria, British Columbia at the Western End of the Trans-Canads..
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