Newfoundland by Motorhome: Ferry and Route Plan

A Newfoundland RV trip starts with a Marine Atlantic ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia: the year-round, roughly seven-hour crossing to Port aux Basques, or the seasonal, roughly 16.5-hour crossing to Argentia on the Avalon Peninsula. The best plan for most motorhome travellers is to sail in on one route and out on the other, which saves around 900 km of backtracking. Allow at least 12 to 16 days on the island for the Viking Trail, Gros Morne and the Avalon.

Here is how the ferries work with a motorhome, and how we would pace the island.

Marine Atlantic: the two crossings

Figures are from Marine Atlantic's route page. Port aux Basques puts you on the west coast, close to Gros Morne and the Viking Trail. Argentia lands on the Avalon Peninsula, about 135 km from St. John's.

Booking and check-in

• Book early. Marine Atlantic strongly recommends reservations for all non-commercial passengers, and says vehicle space and cabins can sell out in busy periods.
• Check in at least two hours before sailing. According to its reservations and check-in page, reservations, including cabins, may be cancelled if you miss check-in.
• Give the real vehicle length from your rental company, including any rack or hitch.
• Consider a cabin on the Argentia route. It is an overnight-length sailing, and a cabin makes the arrival day far more comfortable.

Living without the motorhome on board

The key difference from a short BC or Nova Scotia ferry: you cannot go back to your vehicle. Marine Atlantic's loading and unloading rules say passengers are not permitted to return to the vehicle deck once the vessel leaves port, and loading plans may not follow arrival order. Before you drive on:

• Pack a day bag with warm layers, medications, phone chargers, snacks, water and anything for children.
• Close the propane supply and switch off appliances, and follow any dangerous goods rules on Marine Atlantic's site.
• Leave the motorhome secure inside: latch cupboards and the fridge door.
• Note your deck colour (and on some ships the elevator colour) so you can find the vehicle on arrival.
• If you travel with a pet, read Marine Atlantic's pet policy before booking, since you cannot return to the vehicle deck during the crossing.

Route plan: in at Port aux Basques, out at Argentia

This one-way island crossing is the most efficient plan from mid-June to late September, when both routes run.

Driving distances are approximate. If your ferry arrives in the evening, spend the first night near Port aux Basques and drive north the next morning. Driving the Trans-Canada from Port aux Basques straight to St. John's is roughly 900 km, which is why sailing home from Argentia saves so much time compared with returning to Port aux Basques.

Gros Morne and the Viking Trail

Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for the Tablelands, where the Earth's mantle is exposed, and the land-locked fjord of Western Brook Pond. Plan at least three nights.

Parks Canada's Gros Morne camping page lists 236 sites at five campgrounds, open from late May to late September. For motorhomes, note the hookups:

• Berry Hill: 69 sites, 25 serviced, dump station.
• Shallow Bay: 62 sites, 11 serviced, dump station.
• Green Point: 33 sites, 8 serviced, dump station.
• Lomond and Trout River: unserviced, with no electrical hook-ups.

All five have flush toilets, showers and kitchen shelters. Serviced sites are few, so reserve early through the Parks Canada Reservation Service.

The Viking Trail (Route 430) runs north along the coast to the tip of the Northern Peninsula. L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the Norse encampment built over 1,000 years ago, is 433 km north of Deer Lake and about five hours' drive from Gros Morne. Parks Canada suggests at least three hours on site. Because it is an out-and-back drive, two nights near the tip make the trip far less rushed.

Terra Nova and the Avalon

On the way east, Terra Nova National Park makes a good two-night break. Newman Sound has 267 campsites and Malady Head 89, both with showers and flush toilets.

On the Avalon Peninsula, base yourself near St. John's for three or four nights and do day loops rather than moving camp daily:

• Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site on Canada's most easterly point, with the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province and a good chance of seeing whales and icebergs in season.
• The Irish Loop south along the coast towards Trepassey, roughly 150 km each way from St. John's.
• St. John's itself, where steep, narrow downtown streets are best explored on foot or by taxi rather than in a motorhome.

Driving tips for the island

• Moose: they are a real hazard on Newfoundland roads, especially at dawn and dusk. Avoid driving at night and keep speeds down in signed zones.
• Fuel and supplies: top up in larger centres such as Deer Lake, Corner Brook, Gander and St. John's; services thin out on the Northern Peninsula.
• Time zone: Newfoundland runs on its own time zone, half an hour ahead of Nova Scotia, so check ferry times carefully.
• Weather: fog and wind are common on the coast. Build a spare day into the plan for poor visibility or a delayed sailing.
• Rental permission: confirm in writing that your rental company allows the motorhome on the Newfoundland ferry.

Planning notes

Book the two Marine Atlantic crossings first, then build the campground nights around them, starting with Gros Morne's serviced sites. If you are picking up in Halifax, our Halifax RV rentals guide covers the first days, and the Cabot Trail by motorhome fits neatly before a North Sydney sailing. For the wider region see our Atlantic Canada motorhome routes. Far & Away Adventures can book the ferries, rental and campgrounds as one plan.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do Newfoundland in a week by motorhome?

Only with a narrow focus, such as Port aux Basques to Gros Morne and back. The full island from west coast to St. John's needs at least 12 days.

What if the Argentia ferry is not running?

Outside its mid-June to late September season, you return the way you came, through Port aux Basques. Add two driving days for the trip back across the island.

Do I need hookups in Gros Morne?

Not necessarily. Most rental motorhomes manage a few nights on batteries and fresh-water tanks, and four of the five campgrounds have a dump station.