Region
Eastport Peninsula
Base here 2–3 nights for beaches and outports; it is also the cheapest base for Terra Nova National Park.
Key facts · Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD, $)
- Language
- English and French
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−3:30 to UTC−8
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
A small arm of land in Bonavista Bay with seven outport villages, sandy beaches and a working arts scene, next to Terra Nova National Park. It is a base, not a checklist: sleep in Eastport or Sandy Cove, drive the 20 minutes between villages, and use it for the park and for the ferry to St. Brendan's.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- EastportCity guide
Largest village, most beds, Beaches Heritage Centre and galleries.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND - Sandy CovePlanned
2-km beach, Crooked Tree Park, Old Trails access.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Day trip
- SalvagePlanned
Fishing stages, Fisherman's Museum, harder trailheads.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Happy AdventurePlanned
Harbour, tearoom, seafood restaurant.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- BurnsidePlanned
Archaeological centre, Long Chute Lookout, ferry to St. Brendan's.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- Eastport 2: one beach and village day, one Terra Nova day
- 3 nights
- Eastport 3: add Salvage and the Old Trails, or the St. Brendan's ferry
- Village shops and restaurants keep short, seasonal hours — buy groceries in Clarenville or Gander before turning onto Route 310.
- Cell coverage is patchy on the trails and on the Burnside road; download offline maps.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terra Nova National Park | Eastport | 20 min | unknown | Park boundary is minutes from Route 310; hiking, canoe rental at Sandy Pond, golf. |
| Salvage | Eastport | 20 min | unknown | Museum and stages close late afternoon; the Old Trails entrance behind the museum is the steep one. |
| St. Brendan's | Burnside | 45 min | unknown | Ferry crossing about 45 minutes; check the day's sailings before driving out. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding here; you carry your own bags between villages.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastport | × | × | × | × | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × |
| Canada (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonavista Bay coastEastport Peninsula and Terra Nova | cold | cold | cool | ok | ok | best | best | best | best | ok | cool | cold |
- Bonavista Bay coast
- Coastal fog and rain can arrive any summer day; July and August are the only reliably warm months, and even then the sea stays cold.
Icebergs and caplin are the seasonal hooks: caplin roll onto Sandy Cove Beach in late June and July, and icebergs show in the bay in late spring and early summer when conditions allow.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | Eastport | Trans-Canada Highway west to Route 310 | ~3 h 30 by car | About 280 km to the junction, then the peninsula road; no public transport from the junction.About 174 mi to the junction, then the peninsula road; no public transport from the junction. |
| Gander | Eastport | Trans-Canada Highway east to Route 310 | ~1 h 30 by car | Gander has the nearest airport with car rental. |
| Port aux Basques ferry | Eastport | Trans-Canada Highway east | ~8 h by car | About 650 km; plan an overnight stop rather than driving it in one go.About 404 mi; plan an overnight stop rather than driving it in one go. |
| Argentia ferry | Eastport | Routes 100/101/202 then Trans-Canada and Route 310 | ~3 h by car | Summer-only ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia. |
| St. John's | Eastport Junction | DRL Coachlines daily bus | check | The bus stops at the junction on the Trans-Canada; you arrange the last 15 km yourself.The bus stops at the junction on the Trans-Canada; you arrange the last 9.3 mi yourself. |
Regional passes
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh seafood and wild game | Happy Adventure: harbour-front restaurant | Harbour views; hours are seasonal, so call or check before driving out. |
| Farm greens and vegetables | Eastport: Church Street farm store | Open through the summer only; good for picnic supplies. |
| Tearoom baking | Happy Adventure | Small tearoom and shop; closes early. |
| Brewery food | Salvage | Brewery with food; check days open in shoulder season. |
Go next
Eastern Newfoundland
plannedRoute 310 back to the Trans-Canada
Bonavista, Trinity and Terra Nova are the rest of this corner of the island.
Bonavista
~2 h by car via the Trans-Canada and Route 230
Pair it with the peninsula for a two-base loop.
Gander
~1 h 30 by car
Airport and the practical last night before a flight.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Province-wide routes
Plan the island loop before booking the peninsula.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Sources
- officialParks Canada — Terra Nova National Park
- officialNewfoundland and Labrador Tourism
- officialMarine Atlantic
- officialDRL Coachlines
- secondaryWikivoyage: Eastport Peninsula, revision 5336214 (CC BY-SA 4.0)