Newfoundland Road Trip: St. John’s to Gros Morne National Park

Newfoundland is an island. You can get there by flying or by ferry. We chose to fly into St. John’s, Newfoundland’s largest city.

A must-see in Newfoundland is Gros Morne National Park. It is located on the west side of the island. St. John’s is on the east side.

We stayed in Rocky Harbour. This small community is a great home base for exploring Gros Morne National Park.

St. John’s to Rocky Harbour

Before leaving St. John’s, we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart to pick up some essentials.  (For us, essentials include a small cooler, car snacks, drinks, paper products, and baggies.)

I suggest allowing a whole day to make the trip from St. John’s to Gros Morne National Park. It is approximately 703 km (437 miles) from St. John’s to the town of Rocky Harbour.

Google maps shows that the drive takes about 7 hours. We encountered June snowfall en route which slowed us down a bit. Otherwise, Google’s time estimate is pretty accurate.

We stopped for lunch at a Subway in Gander, Newfoundland.  There are several places to grab a quick bite in Gander or further down the road in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Along the way, you’ll notice signs warning drivers of moose on the roadway. Take this warning seriously and drive with caution. They aren’t kidding.

Whenever we take any kind of road trip, we always listen to audiobooks on Audible. On this journey, we listened to Way of Kings.  I love listening to a story and gazing at the landscape of someplace new!

Once you reach Gros Morne National Park, you’re in for a real treat! The scenery is spectacular!

If you’re planning a trip to Newfoundland and considering whether or not it is worth it to make the drive from St John’s to Gros Morne National Park, the answer is YES! Allow a day and take your time. Driving across Newfoundland is a great way to experience this Canadian treasure!

For more information on Newfoundland, check out the following:

• Planning a Newfoundland Vacation
• Newfoundland’s Cape Spear
• 6 Must-See Sights in St John’s, Newfoundland
• 7 Reasons to Add Newfoundland to Your Bucket List