Your Newfoundland Ferry Guide: Top Tips for Taking Ferries to Newfoundland and Labrador

If you’re planning a road trip to Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s more than likely necessary for you to take at least one if not two or more ferry trips during your trip around this beautiful province. This guide is designed to help you not only better understand how to take ferries to Newfoundland, but make the most of each ferry trip, and plan an adventure that pairs perfectly with these trips.

newfoundland-ferries — Early morning light at the Blanc Sablon, QC ferry terminal, awaiting our departure from Labrador to Newfoundland.

Newfoundland and Labrador is an expansive province filled with exciting places to visit in all corners. Since the island of Newfoundland is surrounded by water, and Labrador is primarily coastal along the Atlantic Ocean and Labrador Sea, boat travel in and around this province is a rite of passage. Consider it some of the necessary field research that’s needed to truly appreciate this place.

Chris and I had the honour of spending a month in Newfoundland & Labrador as writers-in-residence for the province. We covered a lot of ground in our time there, from arriving in St. John’s and driving around the Irish Loop, to experiencing the Writers at Woody Point Festival in Gros Morne National Park, and visiting Battle Harbour in Labrador.

Some people second guess the size of Newfoundland & Labrador, and liken it to some of it’s smaller neighbouring maritime provinces. In fact, Newfoundland & Labrador is more than three times the size of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island combined. If you’re trying to plan a trip to Newfoundland & Labrador, it can be overwhelming to decide which way to approach the province, since there are so many worthwhile areas to explore, and so many ports of entry when it comes to taking ferries to Newfoundland.

Nearly all of the ferry routes outlined in this article accommodate cars, so if you’re planning on visiting Newfoundland from another part of Canada and bringing your car with you, you’re in luck. Newfoundland and Labrador lends itself well to road trips, and there is no shortage of excellent routes to choose from to explore on your trip.

No matter which part of Newfoundland & Labrador you’re looking to take a ferry to, we hope this article will serve you well to help plan the ultimate adventure on your next trip to this fantastic province.

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Tips to Consider Before Taking the Ferry to Newfoundland

Regardless of which ferry route you plan on taking, there are some things to keep in mind for any trip on a Newfoundland ferry:

Book your ticket in advance. Especially if you’re travelling during the busiest times for tourism in Newfoundland in the spring and summer months, ferries often book up days, weeks, or even months in advance. As soon as you know you’re planning on taking a ferry to Newfoundland, go ahead and book that ticket.
It’s relatively easy to book your ticket online. You’ll need to know whether you’re taking a vehicle, and if so, what size it is. Most ferries in Newfoundland can accommodate vehicles as large as a transport truck or motor coach, but space is limited. If you’re travelling with a larger truck, camper van or RV, then booking ahead becomes even more important.
Make sure you read through the rest of these tips and the recommendations for each route in this blog post before you book!
Consider the length of the ferry ride. While some of the ferry routes below are relatively short (2-4 hours), there are some routes that are very long (7+ hours). As close as Newfoundland might look to its maritime neighbours on a map, it can actually take quite a long time to travel between these destinations. If you’re planning on taking a longer ferry ride, consider what you’ll be more comfortable with on your journey.
Many people don’t mind setting up shop and sleeping on the regular ferry seats for the duration of a trip, but several of these ferries offer accommodation on board to make your trip a little more comfortable. Especially if you plan on driving on the other side, having a restful night’s sleep isn’t only appreciated, but it’s the safe choice.
Whenever I’m up for a long-haul overland journey, I like to take travel sheets like these with me just in case I don’t know about where I’ll be settling in for the night.

Space is limited, and for good reason, especially during the summer months on Newfoundland and Labrador’s ferries.

Understand the departure and arrival time of your ferry. It’s important to note that many parts of Newfoundland & Labrador aren’t densely populated. While some ferry ports are closer to more bustling parts of the province, many are quiet, and won’t necessarily have shops, gas stations or accommodations available to you at your time of arrival.
As with any road trip or long-haul trip, thinking about what awaits you at your port of arrival is smart when planning ahead. Similarly, if you’re planning on taking an early morning ferry, then you’ll need to give yourself plenty of time to reach the ferry dock and check in. This means that you need to plan ahead and book accommodation near your port(s) before your journey.

Know the local time. This corner of North America is filled with nuanced changes in time. It’s important to not just check once or twice, but check at least three times to make sure that you understand the departure time accurately for your journey. We actually made friends with some people who missed their ferry from Labrador/Quebec to Newfoundland for this reason!
The island of Newfoundland is on its own time zone, Newfoundland Time Zone (NTZ), which is 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic Standard Time (AST). While most of Labrador is on AST, when you take the ferry from western Newfoundland, you arrive in northeastern Quebec, which is on EST. If you end up making the journey to the French Territory of Saint-Pierre & Miquelon, their time is 30 minutes ahead of NTZ, too.
All this to say that if I just made you more confused about times in this region, then it’s all the more reason to triple check the departure time for your own ferry so it doesn’t alter your plans.

Arrive early. This goes along with understanding the departure and arrival times, and knowing the local time, but it can’t be overstated that you should arrive early for your ferry ride to Newfoundland.
Let it be known that I am notorious for cutting corners if it’s possible for the sake of time. I never arrive to a concert at the time on the ticket for doors, and I do my best to be on time to meet friends, but I’m known to regularly be about 5-10 minutes late to most things. Time isn’t something I often stress over.
When it comes to ferries to and from Newfoundland, however, timing is everything. Because if you miss a ferry, it’s possible that the journey you booked doesn’t run every day, so missing it potentially means having to a wait a few days for the next one. Double check the requirements on your ferry pass in advance, but most ferries require that you check in (even if you have a ticket already) more than two hours before the ferry’s scheduled departure time. If you miss the check-in window, you can lose your ticket to someone who came to pay on arrival.

Consider comforts and essentials for a ferry trip. I’m not someone who gets seasick easily. But I’ve been in enough travel experiences on boats in different parts of the world where even if I didn’t get sick, I felt uneasy. Because of this I always have a couple tablets of Gravol (dimenhydrinate) at the ready on any trip I take.
Anyone who knows their way around oceans knows and understands just how unpredictable the Atlantic Ocean can be. And while there may be some days where you take a relatively smooth and uneventful ferry ride, you can just as easily take the same route the following day and be met with a rocky ride. If you get seasick easily, my advice is to take anti-nauseau medicine like Gravol before you get on the ferry to give it time to work, and pack a few comfort foods and drinking water.
I know that everyone deals with motion sickness differently, but I always find that having a couple comforting and bland snacks (saltine crackers, anyone?) and a full bottle of cold, insulated water in my favourite water bottle is enough to make me feel good just knowing that it’s there if I need it.

Think about how many meal times you’ll be on the ferry for. I know I mentioned this in the above section, but depending on your meal preferences and potentially dietary or allergy restrictions, it’s important to plan ahead.
Most ferry companies offer hot foods and meals, all offer chips and other small snacks, but depending on what you like to eat and your desire for sustenance, it never hurts to pack a sandwich or grab some food to go before hopping on your ferry ride. You can often check the ferry service’s website for their frequently asked questions and information to see what their boat offers to get a sense for what will be available on your trip.

Fill up on gas before leaving. This applies to those of you taking your car on the ferry, which applies to most travellers through Newfoundland & Labrador. I personally feel like filling up your tank before arriving at the ferry terminal is key. This way, you aren’t in a situation where there may be a giant line at a gas station on the other end, or if there are few gas stations and/or they’ve run out of gas (which isn’t common, but can occasionally happen), then it’s just always best practice on any road trip in Canada to fill up when you can.

A Note on Recommended Routes

If you’re planning a larger road trip throughout Newfoundland & Labrador, there are a few recommendations I’d make based on my own experience travelling around Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Quebec, and meeting other travellers who shared their experiences with me.

When you bring your own car to Newfoundland, you inevitably have to take a ferry to get on the island. If you’re travelling in the summer months and planning a full road trip around the province, then there’s one particular route I’d recommend:

Start with a brief Nova Scotia travel journey, and drive to Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Take the ferry trip from North Sydney, NS to Argentia, NL. Start your Newfoundland trip in its easternmost stretches like St. John’s, the Irish Loop and the Bonavista Peninsula, before making your way west.
After that, if you plan on visiting Labrador, you can take the Viking Trail and cross from St. Barbe to Blanc Sablon, QC before driving further north up to Labrador.
You can drive back through mainland Canada in Quebec from here if you’d like, but I’d personally recommend returning to Newfoundland by ferry and finishing by driving down to Port aux Basques, NL for a return trip to North Sydney, NS.

Of course everyone travelling to Newfoundland will have a different time frame in mind and point of origin, but unless you live in parts of northern Quebec, the roads in these stretches that border Labrador are known to be relatively rough and poorly maintained.

You might not mind travelling on roads like these, in which case you can go for it, but the roads from Cape Breton south into the other Maritime provinces that eventually connect to southern Quebec are much more trafficked, serviced and make for a smoother and more comfortable trip.

newfoundland-ferry — The open road on the Trans-Labrador Highway between Red Bay and Mary’s Harbour.

Ferry Routes to Newfoundland’s Western Peninsulas

If you’re planning on arriving on Newfoundland’s west coast to visit places like Gros Morne National Park and Western Brook Pond, or taking the Viking Trail north to L’Anse aux Meadows, then taking a ferry to the west coast makes a lot of sense.

North Sydney, NS to Port aux Basques, NL

If you’re planning on a larger East Coast road trip, then making your way north to Sydney in Cape Breton is quite the distance, but it is well worth it. The Cape Breton highlands is one of the most beautiful drives to experience in Canada, so you won’t regret heading up this way.

This ferry runs year round every day, and connects North Sydney, Nova Scotia (in Cape Breton) to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. Weather depending, it’s a 7 hour journey between ports. Arriving in Port aux Basques, it’s located in the southwestern corner of Newfoundland, and is about a three hour drive from Deer Lake.

This ferry is operated by Marine Atlantic, and is one of the largest ferries to Newfoundland in operation. It feels a bit more like a cruise ship than a ferry, in all honesty. All Marine Atlantic ships offer amenities like standard or deluxe accommodations, buffet restaurants and bars. You can order comfort foods and beverages from their bars, or plan on one or more large meals at their buffet while on board. Considering these ships offer the longest ferry crossings on this list, it’s welcomed that they include so many conveniences.

Depending on the time of day you take the ferry, booking an accommodation on board might make the most sense. Even if your trip takes place during the day, sometimes any opportunity to properly recharge on a road trip is a welcomed one. Plus, booking accommodation on a ferry journey makes travel on either side feel a little less daunting.

Both North Sydney and Port aux Basques are small towns, but North Sydney offers a little more in terms of conveniences. If you’re searching for a great place to stay once you reach Newfoundland from Port aux Basques, then I’d highly recommend making the 2.5 hour drive up to Corner Brook and booking a stay at the bright and modern Hew and Draw Hotel.

If you’re keen to learn more about Marine Atlantic ferries, you can visit their website.

Blanc Sablon, QC to St. Barbe, NL

This ferry route makes a crossing at the Strait of Belle Isle Area, between the northerwestern part of Newfoundland and the southeastern corner of the Labrador Coast. Ferries are operated by Labrador Marine, with two scheduled crossings per day during the summer months. The crossing takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, depending on weather, but you need to arrive at least one hour in advance of boarding.

I’d recommend reserving a ticket for a morning ferry crossing if you can. This is simply because the process of boarding and taking a ferry takes quite a while, and if you take an afternoon ferry it will result in you most likely arriving at your final destination after dark. If you’re a tourist and driving yourself, I wouldn’t recommend driving in the dark in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Especially if you’re travelling during the summer months, there are a lot of hours in the day to take advantage of, and it puts you at less risk. On the day Chris and I took the 3:30 PM ferry from St. Barbe, there was a lot of rain and high winds, and we weren’t able to make it to our accommodation in Red Bay until after dark. We were fine, but I think reaching your destination earlier in the day is just a more enjoyable option. It also gives you more of an opportunity to stop at sites along the way to your next destination.

Regardless of which direction you’re headed, it’s important to note that both sides of this ferry route are relatively isolated, except for the ferry terminals and the small towns nearby. On board, you can expect a mix of regular chairs and tables for sitting, and their cafeteria offers items like hot breakfast, soup, various types of premade sandwiches, pizza, and a variety of other snacks.

If you’re looking for excellent accommodation options near this ferry route, during our trips between Newfoundland and Labrador we stayed at both The Florian Hotel in Forteau and the Whaler’s Station Cabins in Red Bay on the Labrador side. We didn’t stay very close to St. Barbe, but enjoyed our stays at both Raleigh Rooms in Raleigh and The Tides Inn in Norris Point on the Newfoundland side.

For more information about the Labrador Marine ferry, you can visit their website.

Ferry Routes to Newfoundland’s Central and Eastern Peninsulas

If you’re planning on heading to Newfoundland and spending more time closer places like Terra Nova National Park, the Bonavista Peninsula or the capital city of St. John’s, then taking one of the ferries headed more centrally or eastern makes sense.

North Sydney, NS to Argentia, NL

The journey from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Argentia, Newfoundland is the longest ferry ride option on this list, clocking in at around 16 hours, depending on the conditions. It crosses three times per week during the summer months, and is operated by Marine Atlantic. Since this ferry doesn’t operate as regularly as its counterpart to Port aux Basques, it makes it all the more important to arrive early for this departure.

While Argentia isn’t exactly right next St. John’s, it’s only about 1.5 hours by car. Given the size of Newfoundland, that’s a relatively close access point to the capital city of the province. It’s also operated by Marine Atlantic Ferry, just like the North Sydney to Port aux Basques ferry route.

Since this ferry ride is such a lengthy one, I would absolutely recommend booking an accommodation on board the ferry for this journey. Sleeping isn’t allowed on floors, in hallways or in vehicles on the ferry, so unless you want to sleep upright in a chair before reaching your destination and most likely needing to drive when you arrive, an overnight accommodation is the best option.

Accommodation options are all private. Marine Atlantic ferries offer accessible cabins, cabins with two twin beds, two sets of bunk beds, or larger suites with queen-sized beds. There are even designated, pet-friendly cabin options on several of their ships.

Once you arrive in Argentia, I’d recommend heading either north to Dildo, or southeast to the Avalon Peninsula. If you’re headed towards the Avalon Peninsula, I’d highly recommend staying at The Keeper’s Kitchen B&B. Owners Michelle and Raidar are lovely hosts and understand this part of Newfoundland and all that it offers very well. The Edge of the Avalon Inn is also an excellent place to stay, with seriously friendly staff and owners. If you’re looking for a place to base yourself when you’re heading north to Dildo, then I’d recommend staying at South Dildo Park’s Glamping Suites.

For more information about Marine Atlantic and their accommodations on board, you can head to their website.

Saint Pierre & Miquelon, France to Fortune, NL

If you’re planning on visiting the French territory of Saint Pierre & Miquelon during your time out east, then there’s only one way to get there overland, and that’s by taking the ferry that runs between the islands of either Saint Pierre or Miquelon and the ferry port in Fortune, Newfoundland. The Saint Pierre to Fortune route runs all year round, but the Miquelon to Fortune route only runs in the summer months.

This ferry route is operated by SPM Ferries, and the trips from Saint Pierre to Fortune or Miquelon to Fortune both take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, weather dependent. The ferry terminal for passengers in Saint Pierre & Miquelon is relatively spacious, and offers free wifi in its waiting area. The ferry terminal for passengers in Fortune, Newfoundland isn’t as spacious.

This is an international border crossing, so you’ll need to be prepared to pay in Euros for everything once you arrive, and have your passport ready. Make sure you check the entry requirements for your nation’s passport in terms of entry regulations for France. At the time this article was published, Canadian and American passports could enter France without a visa, but make sure you double check your entry requirements before going. Give yourself a little extra time for immigration prior to boarding the ferry.

On the note of an international border, if you’re bringing your own car across to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, be prepared to treat this like a regular international border crossing. Your vehicle may be inspected, and ensure your license, etc. is all up to date. Unfortunately if you’re taking a rental vehicle around Newfoundland, it more than likely isn’t possible to take your rental car across the border. This was the case for Chris and I, and we arranged to have our car parked at a local property in Fortune during our visit to Saint Pierre & Miquelon.

The ferries themselves are modern, clean and sleek. On board they have rows of comfortable seats, and there’s a small snack bar on board offering chips, coffee, and light snacks. Note that when you book your ticket for these ferries, all prices will be in Euros.

If you’re looking for accommodation options near this ferry route, we enjoyed our stay at The Clarenville Inn on our way down to Fortune, NL. This location also makes for an excellent base to explore the Bonavista Peninsula and Terra Nova National Park. On the Saint Pierre side, Les Terrasses Du Port is an excellent hotel, located walking distance from the ferry terminal.

For more information about the SPM Ferries and their schedules, you can visit their website.

Making the Most of Your Trip to Newfoundland and Labrador

Whichever route you choose on your ferry trip to Newfoundland and Labrador, just know that you will be blown away by the beauty, nature and the warmth of its people when you visit.

Although planning a trip to Newfoundland can feel overwhelming, I’d highly recommend focusing your energy on a few regions in the province. This will bring you so much happiness on your trip, and will leave some quiet time for you to enjoy the peace and stillness of this province even more.

If you ever have any questions about any of the content we post on our website, please feel free to reach out to us! We love to engage with our readers and share even more tips your way. Don’t forget to check out all of the other resources about travelling to Newfoundland here on our site.

I’d like to thank Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism for hosting me as a writer-in-residence to better understand this province in Canada. This article was written in collaboration with them. All opinions expressed are completely my own.