When Is the Best Time to Visit Newfoundland?

We’ve now spent almost a month on the island of Newfoundland, Canada, and I still feel that many travelers know relatively little about it. When people think of Canada, Quebec, Niagara Falls, and Vancouver are often among the first places that come to mind. After spending a month on this beautiful island, I’m finally sharing my first guide to the best time to visit Newfoundland.

I expect to publish five or six detailed articles about our stay, but it made sense to begin with a practical guide. I had already visited Canada during my road trip through the United States, crossing the border to spend a week in Banff and Jasper National Parks. The scenery was unforgettable, even if it was far from tropical!

If you’re planning a trip to Newfoundland, you can use DiscoverCars to compare rental car prices.

Today, I’m sharing everything I learned about choosing the best time to visit Newfoundland. With one child in school and the other in daycare, we did not have complete freedom over our travel dates, but I researched the seasons carefully before we left.

For more practical information, take a look at our complete guide to traveling to Newfoundland.

For many travelers, climate and weather are the biggest considerations. One glance at Newfoundland on a map is enough to make you wonder just how cold it can get. Joking aside, even though I knew where it was, the island’s exposed North Atlantic location still suggested demanding weather. Friends who have lived in nearby Saint-Pierre and Miquelon had certainly warned us about the conditions.

Newfoundland is also a large island—roughly one-fifth the size of metropolitan France. I won’t turn this into a climatology lesson, but its size matters when planning a trip. Conditions can vary considerably from one part of Newfoundland to another. That said, during our month-long stay, the differences between regions were not always especially noticeable.

The island has a cool oceanic climate, with precipitation throughout the year in the form of rain or snow. Depending on the region, annual precipitation is generally measured in the hundreds to well over a thousand millimeters—not 1,000 to 1,500 mm per month. Many areas record precipitation on roughly half the days of a typical month. The mildest period generally runs from June through September, although summer rain remains common. During our trip, from late June to late July, we experienced everything from several consecutive rainy days to brief scattered showers. It is important to be aware that rain is common in Newfoundland, even during the summer months.

Temperatures are generally warmest between June and September. In many areas, daytime summer temperatures often fall somewhere between the mid-teens and low twenties Celsius, though conditions can change quickly. Outside the main summer season, temperatures drop noticeably, and averages in many locations fall below 10°C. Snow is also possible for a much larger part of the year, especially inland and at higher elevations.

If your priority is milder weather and easier road access, July and August are usually the safest choices. Even then, rain, wind, and sudden temperature changes remain part of the Newfoundland experience. However, it is important to note that weather is not the only factor to consider when traveling to Newfoundland.

If you visit during the mildest part of the year, you will also be traveling during the busiest season. We rarely found the island overwhelmingly crowded, but the most popular places were certainly not deserted. The main practical issue is accommodation availability, whether it be campsites, Airbnb rentals, or hotels.

In fact, in some places, especially in the national parks such as Gros Morne and Terra Nova, availability can become limited. Therefore, if you plan on traveling during the summer, it is wise to plan your lodging carefully and book well ahead. I also recommend reserving the key experiences on your itinerary in advance. For instance, we had Gros Morne booked in advance, even though we made a last-minute change to our plans. Last-minute options do sometimes appear, but you may need to be flexible about location and budget.

To avoid the busiest weeks, consider traveling shortly before or after midsummer, while accepting cooler and less predictable weather.

Weather and crowds matter, but the activities you want to experience may ultimately determine your travel dates. Some of Newfoundland’s main attractions are highly seasonal.

Whale watching was not our top priority because we had already taken several trips while living in Mayotte and Polynesia. Still, it is one of Newfoundland’s signature experiences. Humpback whales are generally present from May through September, with many tours operating during the summer. Exact timing varies by location and year, so check local tour schedules and recent sightings before booking.

If you’re interested in this kind of excursion, there’s a corner of Quebec that’s perfect for it. Find out all about whale watching at Tadoussac!

Iceberg viewing varies considerably from one year to the next, as several local residents reminded us. During the year we visited, people told us that relatively few icebergs had reached the usual viewing areas. Many had melted substantially before reaching the coast. An excellent website provides live updates on iceberg positions along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Newfoundland lies along Iceberg Alley, the route followed by many icebergs drifting south from Greenland past Labrador and Newfoundland. The Titanic struck an iceberg south of Newfoundland in April 1912.

Anyway, I digress, but visiting St. Anthony to see icebergs was a must on our Newfoundland holiday, and we were fortunate to observe one up close. From the information we gathered and our personal experience this year, the most reliable period for iceberg viewing along Newfoundland’s coast is usually late May to early June, though icebergs may appear from spring into midsummer, especially farther north. By July, sightings become less predictable in many areas, so we were glad we traveled north when we did.

Seeing puffins was just as important to us. I had missed them during a trip to Iceland in 2006, so I was determined to photograph them this time. We therefore made puffin viewing a priority.

We saw them in several locations and, in some places, from surprisingly close range. For the best overlap between puffins, whales, and icebergs, late May through June is usually the strongest compromise. Puffins and whales remain visible later into summer, but iceberg sightings become less reliable.

You probably will not travel to Newfoundland specifically to pick berries, but they are a pleasant seasonal bonus. From summer into early fall, wild berries can be found along many trails, depending on the species and location. I have always been cautious about eating unidentified berries, especially after watching Into the Wild.

It is also a good time to enjoy local blueberry and bakeapple desserts. I had never tried bakeapple before, but it was delicious. Needless to say, we sampled plenty of treats along the way. We also tried some great ice creams when we were on the island of Fogo!

If hiking is one of your main reasons for visiting Newfoundland, you have two broad options. You can travel during the main summer season for milder weather and better trail access. Alternatively, you can travel in the shoulder season to find quieter trails, while accepting a greater risk of snow, mud, closures, and limited services. The quieter atmosphere is the main advantage of those less-visited periods. Temperatures will generally be lower, conditions may be wetter, and some routes may not yet be open or maintained. Check official trail conditions carefully before committing to spring or fall dates. For example, Gros Morne Mountain’s summit route closes each spring and normally reopens in late June. This brings me to the last point of this article.

Newfoundland may not be the first destination that comes to mind for a ski trip, but winter sports are available. The most reliable period generally falls between midwinter and early spring, depending on snowfall and resort operations. Two of the best-known ski areas are White Hills and Marble Mountain.

I’ll finish this guide to the best time to visit Newfoundland with my personal recommendation. We were rarely troubled by crowds, but popular places naturally became busier on sunny days. When the weather turned miserable, most visitors—including us—preferred to stay warm. Overall, I would not recommend April as the default choice for a first trip, especially if hiking is a priority. No single date can guarantee icebergs, whales, and puffins, since wildlife and ice conditions vary each year. Late May through June is probably the best compromise for combining iceberg viewing with the beginning of the main whale- and puffin-watching season. For the mildest weather and easiest hiking conditions, July and August remain the safer choice.

I’ll be back soon with another article about Newfoundland. In the meantime, I invite you to read our comprehensive article on Banff National Park, which is well worth a visit.

Written by Sylvain PONS

I had the opportunity to explore the beauty of this country I love on several different occasions and in different places (Canadian Rockies, the Island of Newfoundland for 1 month, Yukon and Québec)!

Despite our care, a mistake may have slipped into this article. If you find any, please don't hesitate to let us know so we can correct it as soon as possible and keep our information up-to-date!