How to Get to Newfoundland, Canada

Here is another practical guide, this time covering how to get to Newfoundland, following our advice on the best time to visit. It may sound like a simple question, but during our month-long trip, we met many Canadians who had arrived in very different ways—some by plane and others by car or campervan via ferry.

So we thought it would be useful to put together a short guide covering the different ways to get to Newfoundland. We will also explain how we traveled there, although our situation was unusual because we were living in Guadeloupe at the time—and I suspect relatively few readers will be starting from there. Newfoundland may not be at the top of everyone’s travel list, but it certainly deserves more attention.

However, there are some very nice spots, such as the beautiful island of Fogo, where we spent five days.

So, without further ado, here are the main options for getting to Newfoundland, especially from Nova Scotia, which we had originally planned to visit before changing our itinerary. Just another example of how plans change and evolve! You can also reach the island from Quebec or Labrador. Here is what you need to know.

Before you go, take a look at our article about the beautiful national park where we spent almost five days: Gros Morne National Park.

As mentioned above, our situation was somewhat unusual. Living on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe will not apply to most readers, but our route is still worth explaining briefly. We were fortunate to be able to reach Montreal at a reasonable price when booking early and remaining flexible. Booking ahead matters, as fares can rise sharply. For example, we had planned to spend Christmas in New York that year, but prices climbed so much that we abandoned the idea. At €900 per person for a flight from Pointe-à-Pitre to New York, the total was simply too high for a family of four.

We flew with Air Canada from Pointe-à-Pitre to Montreal, a flight of about five hours. At the time, fares were around €400 to €500 per person. Our schedule did not allow us to connect to St. John’s the same day, so we spent the night in Montreal. The next flight took about two hours and 25 minutes. The second fare was almost as expensive as the first, bringing the total cost of our flights from Guadeloupe to nearly €4,000 for the four of us.

Our friend Valérie, who had been living in Montreal for five years, also wrote a complete guide to everything you need to know about visiting Montreal.

Naturally, the best flight route depends on where you are traveling from. These practical points should help you get started. The island’s main passenger airports include St. John’s (YYT), Gander (YQX), Deer Lake (YDF), and St. Anthony (YAY). St. John’s, on the eastern side of the island, is the largest and best connected. It receives flights from several Canadian provinces, including Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Typical flight times include:

• Calgary/Edmonton (Canada’s West Coast) – Newfoundland : about six hours
• Ottawa – Newfoundland : about three hours
• Toronto or Montreal – Newfoundland : about three hours
• Halifax (Nova Scotia) – Newfoundland : about one hour

Depending on your itinerary, you may also be able to fly between St. John’s and Gander (in the center of the island) or Deer Lake on domestic routes, although schedules and connections vary.

Flights also connect Labrador with Newfoundland through airports such as Happy Valley-Goose Bay (YYR) or Wabush (YWK).

You may also find connecting flights from London for fares that vary by season with a stopover. Many itineraries connect through another Canadian airport. From Paris, one common option is to fly first to Montreal (often one of the most practical options) and then another flight from Montreal to St. John’s.

You can also fly between Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, the French archipelago off Newfoundland’s coast, and St. John’s. Current direct schedules are published by Air Saint Pierre. The direct flight takes about 45 minutes, and fares vary considerably by date.

Few travelers from France are likely to reach Newfoundland by sea, but this option may appeal to readers from Quebec and other Canadian provinces. Since these articles are also available in English, it makes sense to cover every practical option.

Here is what you need to know about traveling to Newfoundland by ferry. The obvious advantage of a boat trip to the island is that you can have your own vehicle (campervan, car, or other vehicle). We met several Quebecers who had done this, either coming directly from Quebec or from Nova Scotia.

You can also travel by ferry between Newfoundland and the French archipelago of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Fares and routes vary, so check the current details directly with SPM Ferries.

If you want to reach Newfoundland by vehicle from Quebec or Labrador, the direct ferry crosses the Strait of Belle Isle between Blanc-Sablon and St. Barbe on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula. The route is currently served by the Qajaq W. The crossing takes 1 hour and 45 minutes and covers a distance of 36 kilometers. The boat can carry vehicles and up to 300 passengers. The service operates year-round, although ice and severe winter weather can disrupt schedules or lengthen the crossing. You can check current schedules, fares, and service notices Click here. That said, this is not necessarily the most practical route for travelers starting in Montreal or Quebec City. The journey from Quebec City to Blanc Sablon takes 27 hours. That is more than 2,000 km. Finally, this route is much more interesting for people who live in Labrador, for example. Of course, it is also possible to fly to Newfoundland. Personally, if I were equipped and wanted to keep my own car, the Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Blanc-Sablon route (to the ferry) would be a good idea. The drive is roughly 600 km and takes about eight hours.

There is another, less direct option from Quebec. You can travel to Kegaska by road and then continue along the Lower North Shore by ferry to Blanc-Sablon. This involves two ferry journeys before reaching Newfoundland, but it is possible. It’s about 1,000 km from Quebec City. The journey takes about 13 hours. Check current fares and schedules on Relaisnordik’s website.

For most travelers approaching from mainland Canada, the Marine Atlantic ferries from North Sydney on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, are the main way to bring a vehicle to Newfoundland. If you are already traveling through Atlantic Canada, this option can fit naturally into a road trip. But we’re still about 1,500 km from Montreal, with roughly 15 hours of driving ahead of us. Realistically, that is close to a two-day journey once breaks are included. In fact, that was our original idea. We were going to visit New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. We eventually changed our plans after realizing how far it was from Montreal, where our flight landed.

There are two Marine Atlantic routes from North Sydney. The first takes you to the west coast of Newfoundland, to Port-aux-Basques, and the second southeast, to Argentia. Both routes are operated by Marineatlantic.

You can sleep on the ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. You can book a cabin, including options with private bathrooms. There are several types of cabins. It depends on your preferences and budget. Whether a cabin is worthwhile depends on the route, sailing time, and your budget.

Food and drinks are available in the restaurants on the ferry during your crossing. Pets can also travel, with several accommodation options available depending on the vessel and booking.

Onboard facilities vary by vessel but may include children’s areas, lounges, entertainment, and other passenger amenities.

Keep the following points in mind when planning your crossing:

• North Sydney to Port aux Basques: 178 km, approximately seven hours, with year-round daily service,
• North Sydney to Argentia: 518 km, approximately 16.5 hours, with seasonal service from mid-June to late September and up to three crossings per week,
• Vessel assignments can change, so check the official schedule and booking page for the ship operating your sailing.

Click on the following link to check times and days of sailings.

You can also take the ferry from North Sydney to Port aux Basques (west coast) and from Argentia (east coast) back to Nova Scotia.

The best route depends on your itinerary, schedule, and budget. If the higher fare and longer crossing are not an issue, I would personally consider the Argentia route.

The crossing is much longer—about 16.5 hours—and current fares should be checked directly with Marine Atlantic. If you take it at the beginning of your trip, the overnight journey may fit naturally into your itinerary. Plus, you’ll be able to drive along Newfoundland’s south coast, which is famous for its beautiful scenery and blue whale sightings. Argentia is about 135 km from St. John’s, or roughly a 90-minute drive. If you are traveling without a vehicle, check rental availability before booking, as options near ferry terminals may be limited. Also, if you’re planning to visit the whole of Newfoundland, my advice would be to go this way and save the (shorter) return trip to Nova Scotia for the end of your trip.

That brings us to the end of this Newfoundland transportation guide. Feel free to leave a comment if you know of another useful route or have practical information to add.

In the meantime, I invite you to discover Terra Nova National Park. It is another beautiful place to explore on the island.

See you soon.

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)!

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