An Epic RV Trip to Newfoundland, Canada (Part Two)

This is part two of an epic two-part series about RVing in Newfoundland with Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial on the Road. In this guest-post (and on the RV Atlas podcast) Gretchen takes us into Central Newfoundland and onward to St. John's and Western Newfoundland. 

To learn everything you need to know about planning a trip to Newfoundland (including details about the ferry) and to explore Western Newfoundland please check out part one of this series by clicking here.

To listen to Jeremy interview Gretchen click on the media player above or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your shows.

RVing in Central Newfoundland

After a tour of the western coast of Newfoundland, we started to make our way east. The Trans-Canada Highway takes you all the way to St. John’s on the east coast, but it’s worth getting off the main highway to make some stops along Newfoundland’s northern coast as well.

We nearly cut Fogo Island, just off the coast of the northern shore of Newfoundland, out of our itinerary several times, but we’re so glad we made it there! It’s gotten a lot of attention recently as the site of the posh Fogo Island Inn, where rooms start at around $2000/night. But even us regular folks can bring our RVs over via a short ferry ride and check out this starkly beautiful rocky island dotted with picturesque fishing settlements.

Fogo is a hiker’s dream; we loved the short but steep Brimstone Head Trail and the longer Fogo Head Trail, both of which reward you with spectacular ocean views complete with icebergs if you’re there at the right time. After hiking Fogo Head we had a great meal at the adorable Bangbelly Cafe. And we drove over to gawk at the Fogo Island Inn from the outside as well, since that’s the closest we’re ever likely to get to staying there.

Brimstone Head RV Park

Suggested Campground: Brimstone Head RV Park, another one run by a local Lions Club, is the only game in town/on island. It’s a no-frills place, with utilitarian bathhouses with pay showers and rows of tightly packed gravel sites…but many of those tightly packed gravel sites are directly on the ocean; you can watch the sun set over a sea full of icebergs, and it will only set you back $35CAD. There are w/e sites, but no dump station on site; you’ll need to use the one in Seldom, on the way back to the ferry instead. Lots of hiking trails and restaurants are within easy walking distance.

We hadn’t seen enough icebergs after Fogo, so we made our way to Twillingate next, less than an hour from the Fogo ferry and famous for iceberg viewing and whale spotting. We saw a ton of icebergs from the interestingly shaped Long Point Lighthouse; you can climb up to the top of this working lighthouse and tour the small museum downstairs. A stormy afternoon interfered with our hiking plans here, but there’s a large system of trails called the Rockcut Trails that people rave about.

We did check out the Wooden Boat Museum, where my husband Dave spent a very long time talking to the on-site boat builder about every detail of the process. The Beothuk Interpretation Center is also nearby and tells the fascinating history of the indigenous Beothuk people, whose culture didn’t survive long after European settlement of Newfoundland.

We enjoyed a Canada Day dinner at Split Rock Brewing Co., where there are great beers, live music, and a big variety of wing flavors. We also had local seafood at Sansome’s Seafood, whose location down a tiny road we only found thanks to a tip from a local resident. Sansome’s is very popular and doesn’t take reservations, so show up early or be prepared to wait!

Dildo Run Provincial Park

Suggested campground: Dildo Run Provincial Park wa...