Road trip from Toronto to St. John's, NL and back
 

Hello everybody,

I've been planning this road trip for quite a while now and I'm pretty sure I've got the general itinerary all worked out, so now I'm looking for some more specifics. Places I should absolutely visit, events going on, some good places to eat ect. I'm also searching for a travel buddy for half my trip, I've been asking my friends, but most of them either can't afford it, or simply don't have the time. I am in my mid 20's, and love to drive, explore and camp, but this will be the longest road trip yet and I'm on a relatively tight budget ($2000 max.) so I'll be camping and hosteling my way across. If you have any tips, tricks, great finds or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Thanks for your help!

Itinerary June 28th- July 18th* 2010:

28 Richmond Hill, ON- Ottawa, ON
29 Ottawa- Trois Riveres, QC
30 Trois Rivere- Tadoussac, QC
1 Tadoussac- Rimouski, QC
2 Rimouski-Bathurst, NB
3 Bathurst to Charlottetown, PEI
4 Charlottetown,PEI (overnight)
5 Charlotteown -North Sydney, NS
6 North Sydney- St.Johns, NL
7 St. Johns- Lewisporte, NL
8 Lewisporte to Rocky Harbour, NL
9 Rocky Harbour- Port-aux Basques, NL
10 Port-aux Basques- North Sydney, NS
11 North Sydney- Halifax, NS
12 Halifax- Moncton, NB
13 Moncton- Fredericton, NB
14 Fredericton- Quebec City, QC
15 Quebec City- Montreal, QC
16 Montreal- Richmond Hill, ON

*note: I have 2 extra days to play with, but I'm not quite sure how/ where to use them while still keeping costs down.

Just one point: I would allow a day to see St. John's , or else omit eastern NL altogether.
If you are crossing from North Sydney to Port aux Basques, it's a 6 hour trip and 9 hours driving to reach St. John's, so that you wouldn't arrive until bedtime, and would leave again the next morning to travel 5-6 hours over the same road you drove the day before.
If you are crossing from North Sydney to Argentia, it's a 14 hour trip, and 1.5 hours to St. John's, so you will arrive (after leaving N. Sydney at 1 am on the 6th)at dinnertime of July 6th.
I think you need to reconsider the NL portion of this.
Truly, I'm a Newfoundlander, but with this timeline I'd omit NL and have a chance to at least see Nova Scotia, since you're driving through it -- but not stopping enough to see the good parts!

Thanks for the tip, I really want to take the time to see NL, so maybe that's where I'll add 1 or 2 days. I was planning on getting to St.Johns by going from North Sydney to Argentia and sleeping on the ferry so that I could see St. Johns once I got there, but you're right, I should really spend the day! And on the way back I'll be taking the ferry Port aux Basques to North Sydney, again hoping to do it overnight to save a lil money. Thank you for the reminder though, I think I completely forgot to count those overnight ferry trips as days!

Hi - just wondering if the purpose of the trip is driving or to see Newfoundland. If driving - no comment; if to see some of Newfoundland, I suggest you stick to one half of the island. I suggest if you are coming into Argentia, then consider seeing the east coast only. Between St. John's, the Avalon, & Bonavista pennisula you will run out of time in six days. If you do into Port Aux Basque instead you can spend your six months in Gros Morne, St. Anthony area with maybe a side trip to Labrador Straits or spend time on the southwest coast instead. Sleeping on the ferry is the way to go.... we all have to do it anyway and it is an excellent use of your time :) enjoy.....

hello I have noticed its been almost a year since your posting I hope your trip went well and I would like to ask you how did it go? how did you do it how long it took you. You see my husband and I like the outdoors but have not had much time to explore anyway we want do this same road trip from Toronto to NF driving keep in mind we have a little 2 year old so we'll be travelling at night. We have never done something like this because of time and funds, please let me know your experience we are taking two weeks off. I hope you could help

Hi, my name is Allan I PLAN TO DRIVE ONE WAY FROM KITCHENER TO ST, JOHN'S NL to give a car to my daughter. i dont have a fixed date in mind and was not looking forward to that long drive by myself again. i can drive non stop or i can cruise and take in the sights depending on if you wanted to get to St.John's and do your trip in reverse. I dont go on the computer too often in Trinidad as it is so slow but I am going there this Monday 22nd April and will come back to Canada to deliver the car when convenient so I will give you my phone # in Trinidad if you email [email protected]
i hope we can work out something and both save in the process. thanks