Car Travel

Newfoundland has an excellent highway system, and most secondary roads are paved, but some are winding, and most suffer seasonal damage and potholes from the frequent freeze-thaw cycles through the winter, which will require you to moderate your speed. Bear this in mind when deciding how far to travel in a day. Also remember that summer is road-mending season and speed limits are reduced to 50 kph (31 mph) in construction areas. With time out for a meal, it takes about 11 hours to drive along the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1) from Port aux Basques to St. John's. The trip from Corner Brook to St. Anthony, at the northernmost tip of the island, takes about five hours. Driving from St. John's to Grand Bank, on the Burin Peninsula, takes about four hours. If you're heading for the southern coast of the Avalon Peninsula, pick up Route 10 just south of St. John's and follow it toward Trepassey.

More than 110,000 moose live in Newfoundland, and most highways run through their habitats. If possible, avoid night driving, as most moose-related vehicle accidents (about 700 a year) happen between dusk and dawn. Watch for vehicles that slow down or stop on the side of the road; the driver may have spotted a moose. Pay attention to the caution signs indicating where moose cross frequently.

In winter, some highways close during and after severe snowstorms. Year-round, the Department of Transportation's website has up-to-date information on road conditions and closures. The website of the province's tourism board has a handy Scenic Touring Routes page listing itineraries—categorized by region and then by areas of interest—all over Newfoundland.

Contacts

Department of Transportation & Works. 709/635–4127; 709/292–4300; 709/466–4120; 709/729–2382; www.roads.gov.nl.ca.

Scenic Touring Routes. www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/placestogo/scenictouringroutes.