My husband and I are spending two weeks camping in Newfoundland this summer (late July/early August). We will visit Trinity area, Twillingate area and Gros Morne. Our preference is not to book sites in advance to allow us maximum flexibility. We like to go with the flow as much as possible. 
We drive a westy camper van and usually stay in provincial or national parks because we like "low tech" camping. (We just graduated to our little van after years of tenting.) While there are always some "first come, first served" sites in these parks, I don't know how risky it is to count on them in peak season. Do we need to reserve sites, or is it safe to wing it? BTW - thanks to all of you posting on your Newfoundland trips, great info!
Camping Advice for Newfoundland?
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I think at that time of year you might like to reserve especially for good sites in Gros Morne.
Maybe you could call the parks ahead to find out about how far ahead you need to book.
We are like you and prefer to wing it but have found it can be quite busy in the Atlantic Provinces at campgrounds.
Close to Twillingate, a few sites at Dildo Run provincial park ranked among the best I've ever seen. If I recall correctly, they were sites 23-24-25-26. The rest are still very good.
In Gros Morne, I stayed at the park's campgrounds in Lomond, Trout River and Shallow Bay, as well as the KOA in Gros Morne and they were all good. If you go up the northwest peninsula, there's a nice campsite in River of Ponds. You can always pull over somewhere and sleep there. It doesn't get any lower-tech.
If you can carry your equipment on backpacks for a few kilometers, I highly suggest spending a night on the Green Gardens trail. Low-tech, quiet and beautiful!
A little mistake about Dildo Run park. The sites I mentionned are tent only so you'll have to settle for good sites instead of awesome ones.
Thanks both of you. Eric, your comments on specific campsites are much appreciated. I've been enjoying your photos and hiking advice on other posts. Not sure when (month) you were camping. Did you book ahead or risk it?
Also, we arriving by the Argentia ferry so if the weather is good will spend a day at Cape St. Mary's before heading to Bonavista Bay. Have found only one campsite - an RV site really - near there. If anyone has a suggestion for a campsite within driving range, I'd love to hear it.
To clarify - meant a campground near Cape St. Mary's....
I was in Gros Morne from august 22nd and again in Newfoundland in june and didn't book anything. Can't help with Cape St-Mary, sorry.