Major city · Canada
Clarenville
Stop one night on the Trans-Canada between Gander and St. John's, or use it as the last full-service base before the Bonavista Peninsula.
Clarenville is a town of about 6,300 on the Trans-Canada Highway, 190 km from St. John's, at the base of the Bonavista Peninsula. It is a service stop, not a sightseeing destination: fuel, groceries, a hotel bed and a ski hill. Most travellers pass through on the way to Bonavista or Trinity, or break the drive here.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for hiking and coastal driving; Jan–Mar for skiing
- avoid Nov–Apr for driving (ice, snow, moose on the highway)
- Airports
- YYT · YQX
- Nights
- 1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Clarenville911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Clarenville, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $).Canada-wide
- SIM or eSIMRogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores.Canada-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).Canada-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.Canada-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Canada-wide
- SafetyClarenville is a small, safe town; the real risks are the Trans-Canada Highway (moose, winter ice) and long, dark drives on the peninsula.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysStatutory holidays close shops and offices, varying by province; many park facilities are seasonal (about mid-May to mid-October).Canada-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportYYT St.
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
- Sit-down mealChinese buffet dinnerC$20–30 (≈ US$15–25)
- Beerdraught in a pub / can at a storeC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
- Budget bedSuite or efficiency unit (up to 4), a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
- Mid-range bedMotel or budget room, a night, per roomC$130 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedMotel or budget room, a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$240 (≈ US$180)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- YYT St. John's International (About 190 km (118 mi) east; the nearest major airport. Rental car or DRL-LR bus onward.) · YQX Gander International (About 2 h west by road; smaller, fewer flights.)YYT St. John's International (About 118 mi (190 km) east; the nearest major airport. Rental car or DRL-LR bus onward.) · YQX Gander International (About 2 h west by road; smaller, fewer flights.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Care
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Feb
Care
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Mar
Care
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Apr
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
May
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Jun
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Aug
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Sep
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Oct
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Nov
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Dec
Avoid
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Mixed: Jan–Mar. Avoid: Apr, Nov–Dec. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)), coolest Feb (−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C) low), wettest Dec (15 rain days), driest Jul (11). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Clarenville: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
14 rd
Feb
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
12 rd
Mar
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
13 rd
Apr
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
13 rd
May
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
13 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
12 rd
Jul
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Aug
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
11 rd
Sep
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Oct
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
14 rd
Nov
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
14 rd
Dec
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
15 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a car. The town is a narrow strip between the coastal ridge and the sea, and sights sit along Highway 1 and Marine Drive. Taxis (Clarenville Cabs, Benoit's, Seaview) cover short hops if you have no vehicle. DRL-LR runs a daily bus along the Trans-Canada between Port aux Basques and St. John's, stopping in Clarenville.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h 45 min each way
Drive Highway 230 and Route 235 down the peninsula
Historic town and Cape Bonavista lighthouse; a 3.5 h round trip plus sightseeing, so go early or sleep one night.
Trinity
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h each way
Drive Highway 230 to Route 239
Restored heritage town and theatre; too far for a comfortable return day, sleep one night.
Terra Nova National Park (Port Blandford / Newman Sound area)
goDoor to door: About 1 h to the park's eastern side
Drive west on Highway 1
Coastal hiking and camping; a half-day or more.
Door to door: About 2 h 30 min by car; 2 h 45 min by bus
Drive Highway 1 east, or DRL-LR bus
Too far for a comfortable return day; stay in the city.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Trans-Canada Highway strip
Clarenville Inn, Quality Hotel and the Irving diner cluster here; easiest for one night with a car.
Shoal Harbour / Marine Drive
Closer to the water and the heritage museum; quieter, still a short drive from the highway.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
- High
- C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × C$180 | C$180 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150 | C$300 |
| Car rental, one day1 × C$70 · check | C$70 |
| Fuel, Clarenville to Bonavista and back1 × C$30 · check | C$30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$63 |
| Trip total≈ C$347 per person per day, bed included | C$693≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Fish and chips | C$16–24 (≈ US$12–18) |
| Chinese buffet dinner | C$20–30 (≈ US$15–25) |
| Beer: draught in a pub / can at a store | C$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) / C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3) |
| White Hills full-day lift ticket | Adult C$50 (≈ US$40), youth C$30 (≈ US$25), under 5 free |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$20–40 (≈ US$15–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Moose and caribou on the Trans-Canada, especially at dusk and dawn: slow down and scan the shoulder.
- Winter driving: snow, ice and sudden closures on Highway 1; check road conditions before setting out.
- Cell coverage thins on the Bonavista Peninsula beyond Clarenville; download maps offline.
- Fuel and grocery options get sparse east of town: fill up here before the peninsula.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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ClarenvilleClarenville
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in Clarenville; the US consulate-general is in Halifax and most embassies are in Ottawa.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- DRL-LR bus, St. John's → Clarenville: about 2 h 45 min; fare on the DRL-LR site
- Taxi in town: metered; short hops a few dollars
- Fuel, Clarenville → Bonavista: about C$15–20 (≈ US$11–15) each way
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where's the gas station? — Where is the gas station?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
English is the everyday language here; Newfoundland English has its own words and a fast, friendly delivery.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Clarenville. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep for hiking and coastal driving; Jan–Mar for skiing · avoid Nov–Apr for driving (ice, snow, moose on the highway) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YYT: last DRL-LR departure field-checked, rental-car fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking and driving clusters with rescue anchors: Trans-Canada strip, Shoal Harbour and Marine Drive, White Hills.
- Place pages with verified hours (heritage museum, cable monument, White Hills) and eat pages with last orders.
- Winter and moose-hazard fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialTown of Clarenville
- officialDRL-LR bus
- officialWhite Hills Ski Resort
- secondaryWikivoyage: Clarenville, revision 5237727 (CC BY-SA 4.0)