Ancient fjords, towering sea stacks, icebergs drifting past your campsite, and moose at every turn. Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada's most dramatic camping destination — remote, wild, and utterly unforgettable.
Newfoundland's most sought-after campgrounds — particularly within Gros Morne and Terra Nova national parks — are among Canada's most competitive reservations. Combined with the logistics of the ferry crossing, a failed campground booking can derail an entire trip.
Northern Stay's private network across Atlantic Canada provides reliable, quality alternatives. When you've made the crossing on Marine Atlantic, the last thing you want is to scramble for a campsite on a rainy NL evening.
Our Getaway Pass covers 30 nights per season — perfect for a multi-week Newfoundland road trip combining national park visits with private campground stays along the Trans-Canada and beyond.
30 nights across our private campground network. Perfect for extended NL road trips.
From fjords to sea stacks to Viking settlements, Newfoundland's campgrounds sit amid some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring ancient fjords, the Tablelands (exposed Earth's mantle), Long Range Mountains, and Western Brook Pond. Multiple campgrounds within the park.
National Park UNESCO FjordsNewfoundland's only east coast national park, on the shores of Bonavista Bay. Newman Sound Campground offers full services amid boreal forest with kayaking, hiking, and whale watching.
National Park Kayaking WhalesThe southern Avalon Peninsula offers remote camping near the famous Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve — North America's most accessible seabird colony with 25,000 gannets.
Wildlife Seabirds AvalonOne of Newfoundland's most rewarding road trips — sea stacks at Cape Bonavista, puffins at Elliston, historic Trinity, and iceberg viewing platforms. Camp at Dungeon Provincial Park nearby.
Road Trip Puffins IcebergsCanada's "Iceberg Capital" on Notre Dame Bay. Camping here in May and June means watching icebergs drift past from shore. Humpback whales, sea kayaking, and rugged island character.
Icebergs Whales IslandsCamp near the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Northern Peninsula. Combine with hiking and the dramatic landscapes of the Great Northern Peninsula.
UNESCO Viking History Northern PeninsulaNL's most accessible provincial park, just 45 minutes from St. John's. Excellent for a first night after arriving from the Argentia ferry, with full-service sites, swimming, and hiking.
Provincial Park Near St. John's SwimmingA hidden gem near Stephenville on the west coast. Outstanding trout fishing, a volcanic pond, and the view of the Anguille Mountains make this one of NL's most scenic provincial parks.
Provincial Park Fishing ScenicNewfoundland and Labrador occupies a unique place in the Canadian camping imagination. It is the last province many campers get to, and often the one they talk about most when they return. The sheer scale of its wildness — the empty highways lined with boreal forest, the sudden appearance of a 20-metre iceberg offshore, the moose standing in the fog — creates an experience unlike any other in Canada.
Unless you're flying in, you will arrive by Marine Atlantic ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia. Two routes operate: the shorter crossing to Port aux Basques in western Newfoundland (6–7 hours, year-round), and the longer overnight ferry to Argentia on the Avalon Peninsula near St. John's (14–17 hours, June through September only). Both accommodate RVs and trailers of all sizes — vehicles are loaded onto car decks, and passengers can access cabin accommodations, dining, and lounges during the crossing.
The ferry is one of Canada's most competitive bookings in summer. Marine Atlantic opens reservations in early winter for the following summer season, and popular sailings — particularly the Argentia route in July and August — can sell out within hours. Book as early as possible, ideally in January or February for a summer trip. Check Marine Atlantic's website directly for current pricing and availability, as rates vary significantly by vehicle size and travel dates.
Gros Morne is one of the world's great parks and should anchor any serious Newfoundland camping trip. The park contains multiple campgrounds serving different parts of its spectacular landscape. Berry Hill Campground is the main full-service facility near Rocky Harbour, offering pull-through sites for large RVs with electrical hookups and access to the visitor centre, boat tours on Western Brook Pond, and the Long Range Traverse hiking route. Lomond Campground sits at the southern end of the park on the shores of Bonne Bay — a more sheltered site popular with sea kayakers. Trout River Campground gives access to the extraordinary Tablelands and Trout River Pond boat tours.
Parks Canada reservations for Gros Morne open in January and fill quickly. Book all three nights if you want variety, or focus on one campground as a base. The park's hiking trails range from easy walks to multi-day backcountry routes — the Long Range Traverse across the Highlands requires a permit and weather briefing from the park.
Newfoundland's Trans-Canada Highway (the TCH, or Route 1) stretches 905 kilometres from Port aux Basques to St. John's. It's an excellent road but a monotonous drive through boreal forest if that's all you see. The key is to leave the TCH frequently. Route 430 north up the Northern Peninsula to St. Anthony and L'Anse aux Meadows is one of the most spectacular drives in Canada. The Burin Peninsula (Route 210), the Bonavista Peninsula (Routes 230/235), and the South Coast (where many communities are accessible only by boat or floatplane) all reward exploration.
Moose collisions are a serious hazard in Newfoundland — the island has the highest moose density in North America relative to roadway, and hundreds of collisions occur each year. Drive carefully after dark, dawn, and dusk. Moose are most active in May–June and September–October. Consider this a genuine safety concern when planning your driving schedule.
If seeing icebergs is on your bucket list, time your visit for late May through late June. Icebergs calving from Greenland's glaciers drift south on the Labrador Current past "Iceberg Alley" — the northeast coast of Newfoundland. The best locations are Twillingate, Fogo Island, the Bonavista Peninsula, Ferryland on the Avalon Peninsula, and St. Anthony in the north. The website IcebergFinder.com tracks bergs in near-real-time during the season. Camping at Twillingate while watching a cathedral-sized iceberg drift past offshore is one of Canadian camping's transcendent experiences.
Newfoundland has no bears on the island portion (Labrador has both black bears and polar bears), but it has moose in extraordinary density — roughly one per square kilometre in some areas. It also has caribou, lynx, red fox, arctic hare, and an abundance of seabirds. Puffins are accessible at several colonies: Witless Bay (accessible by boat tour from Bay Bulls), Elliston near Bonavista (you can walk among puffin burrows on the headland), and Gull Island. Whales are commonly seen from shore, particularly along the northeast coast in summer, and humpbacks are frequently spotted on whale-watching tours from Trinity, Twillingate, and St. Anthony.
Newfoundland and Labrador has over 40 provincial parks, most operated for day-use or with limited camping facilities. The best camping provincial parks include Butter Pot (Avalon Peninsula), Barachois Pond (west coast), La Manche (Avalon), Pistolet Bay (Northern Peninsula), Frenchman's Cove (Burin Peninsula), and Catamaran (central Newfoundland). Most provincial parks in NL do not have electrical hookups at all sites — many are tent-only or have limited services. Full-service RV campers should book national parks or private campgrounds and use provincial parks for shorter stays or day hikes.
NL's climate is variable and can change rapidly. Come prepared for any weather, any time of year.
| Month | Conditions | Special Events | Campgrounds | Crowds | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | Cool, 5–14°C, fog likely | Icebergs arrive | Some open | Low | Shoulder |
| June | Mild, 10–18°C, fog | Peak icebergs, whale arrival | Most open | Low–medium | Excellent |
| July | Warm, 18–24°C | Berry picking begins | All open, filling | High | Book Early |
| August | Warm, 18–22°C | Partridgeberry season | All open, full | Peak | Book Early |
| September | Cool, 12–18°C | Fall colours, whale departures | Most open | Low | Best Value |
| October | Cold, 5–12°C | Final moose hunting season | Few open | Very low | Shoulder |
Plan your NL camping road trip around these major routes — each offering a distinct character of this extraordinary island.
The definitive NL road trip: north from Deer Lake through Gros Morne, up the Northern Peninsula to L'Anse aux Meadows. Combines UNESCO sites, dramatic fjords, and remote coastal communities.
500+ km UNESCO Sites West CoastThe Bonavista Peninsula's Discovery Trail loops through Trinity, Bonavista, Elliston, and the sea stacks of Cape Bonavista. Outstanding for puffins, icebergs, and historic outport culture.
200 km Puffins IcebergsCircle the Avalon from St. John's: Signal Hill, Cape St. Mary's, Ferryland lighthouse picnic, Witless Bay seabird colonies, and back. Great for a shorter first Newfoundland trip.
400 km loop Avalon SeabirdsFollow the northeast coast from Twillingate to Fogo Island to Joe Batt's Arm in early summer for the best iceberg viewing in Canada. Stay at campgrounds on Notre Dame Bay.
Iceberg Season Notre Dame Bay IslandsWhen Gros Morne fills up, Northern Stay's private network ensures you never sleep in a parking lot. Guaranteed campsite availability across Atlantic Canada.
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