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Argentia ferry terminal → Signal Hill (Cabot Tower)

Argentia ferry to Signal Hill

The drive from every airport and ferry ↓

Distance
135.7 km
Drive time
In your maps app ↗
Roads
10012
Open in Google Maps →
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Stops and map ↓

Signal Hill from the air at dusk: Cabot Tower on the summit above the Narrows, the road winding up past the car park, and St. John's harbour and city behind.
Signal Hill from the air at dusk: Cabot Tower on the summit above the Narrows, the road winding up past the car park, and St. John's harbour and city behind.Photo: Shhewitt · source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Filmed here: Frontier. The Frontier drive · every spot from every airport

You arrive by ferry — North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Argentia

Marine Atlantic runs this crossing seasonally, against year-round sailings into Port aux Basques. People choose it for where it lands. Marine Atlantic publishes sailings and fares.

Operated by Marine Atlantic. The drive below starts where the boat lands.

Crossings & current schedule →
Driving route from Argentia ferry terminal to Signal Hill (Cabot Tower): 135.7 km by road, via Routes 100 · 1 · 2.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Tiles by OpenFreeMap. Route line computed with OSRM.

Faded lines are other drives from Argentia ferry terminal into this area: St. John's (133 km), Cape Spear (144 km), Portugal Cove ferry terminal (136 km), Witless Bay (114 km), Brigus (78 km), Harbour Grace (96 km), Clarke's Beach (78 km). Each splits off where its line leaves this one.

  1. Stop 1: Fitzgerald's Pond Provincial Park

    A Provincial Park Reserve, not a provincial park with a campground. ParksNL defines these as pre-1997 parks whose campground area was deproclaimed and privatised, with the rest kept to protect natural features. It states that park reserves have no visitor services, so there is no washroom. It sits on the driven line and costs no extra driving.

    Directions →
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    Show on map: Fitzgerald's Pond Provincial Park ↑

  2. Stop 2: Butter Pot Provincial ParkDetour

    The drive runs along this park's boundary, but the park reaches well inland. ParksNL calls Butter Pot one of the most popular provincial parks in Newfoundland and Labrador. Its page lists ponds to swim, fish and paddle, sandy beaches, a campground, trails, and a view over the water from the top of Butter Pot Hill. A place to spend time, not a quick stop.

    Stopping here adds 6.6 km to the drive.

    Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
    Show on map: Butter Pot Provincial Park ↑

  3. Stop 3: Railway Coastal Museum

    At 495 Water Street, St. John's old railway station, now the Railway Coastal Museum, about the Newfoundland Railway and the coastal boats.

    Stopping here adds 0.9 km to the drive.

    Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
    Show on map: Railway Coastal Museum ↑

  4. Stop 4: Trans-Canada Highway Zero Km

    Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada, beside St. John's City Hall on New Gower Street, the old Trans-Canada.

    Stopping here adds 0.7 km to the drive.

    Directions →
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    Show on map: Trans-Canada Highway Zero Km ↑
  5. Commissariat House, a grey clapboard Georgian house with white trim, among trees in St. John's.
    Photograph: Mo Laidlaw · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Stop 5: Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist

    A few hundred metres along Military Road: Parks Canada's register describes a massive stone cathedral built in the mid 19th century in the Lombard Romanesque Revival style, a national historic site since 1983.

    Stopping here adds 1.2 km to the drive.

    Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
    Show on map: Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist ↑

  6. Stop 6: Quidi VidiDetour

    A small village on its own harbour, north of Signal Hill. The Canadian Register of Historic Places lists Mallard Cottage here, a national historic site typical of the houses Irish immigrants built in the early 1800s, and the Quidi Vidi Battery, a provincial historic site rebuilt on the site of a British coastal battery.

    Stopping here adds 3.2 km to the drive.

    Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
    Show on map: Quidi Vidi ↑
⛽ Fuel and gravel, road by road ▾
  • Route 100 →Whole road: 3 fuel stations mapped, longest gap 63 km. Unpaved mapped: none; 0% has no surface tag, so unknown.
  • Route 1 →Whole road: 54 fuel stations mapped, longest gap 119 km. Unpaved mapped: none; 68% has no surface tag, so unknown.
  • Route 2 →Whole road: 10 fuel stations mapped, longest gap 28 km. Unpaved mapped: none; 70% has no surface tag, so unknown.

Drive measured Oct 19, 2026, Argentia ferry terminal to Signal Hill (Cabot Tower). Your maps app gives the time on the day. How we measure

Add to a trip →Staying here? Days out ↓Ferry info: Marine Atlantic →

135.7 km. Off the ferry at Argentia to Signal Hill (Cabot Tower), on Routes 100, 1 and 2.

Sunrise and sunset at Signal Hill (Cabot Tower), by month
Month (the 15th)SunriseSunset
January7:44 am4:35 pm
February7:07 am5:22 pm
March7:15 am7:05 pm
April6:12 am7:48 pm
May5:23 am8:29 pm
June5:02 am8:59 pm
July5:18 am8:55 pm
August5:56 am8:14 pm
September6:37 am7:14 pm
October7:18 am6:14 pm
November7:05 am4:25 pm
December7:42 am4:09 pm

Worked out for the 15th of each month at this spot, in local time. The weather line at the top has today's.

Places to eat on the way

183 places to eat within 2 km of this drive, in the order you pass them.

The longest stretch with nothing mapped on it is 71.5 km — after Mary Brown's, until Robin's Donuts.

All 183, in the order you pass them — open the list
  • A&Wfast foodkm 45
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 45.3
  • Subwayfast foodkm 45.3
  • Mary Brown'srestaurantkm 45.9
  • Robin's Donutsfast foodkm 117.4 · 1760 m off the road
  • Donovan's Irvingrestaurantkm 118.3 · 1243 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 118.3 · 1881 m off the road
  • Costco Food Courtfast foodkm 118.3 · 478 m off the road
  • Starbuckscafékm 118.4 · 378 m off the road
  • Five Guysrestaurantkm 118.5 · 439 m off the road
  • A&Wfast foodkm 118.7
  • A&Wfast foodkm 118.7
  • Pizza Hutrestaurantkm 118.8 · 383 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 119 · 306 m off the road
  • Old Town Pizzeriarestaurantkm 119 · 1708 m off the road
  • A&Wfast foodkm 119 · 325 m off the road
  • McDonald'sfast foodkm 119.1 · 1614 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 119.1 · 1834 m off the road
  • Wendy'sfast foodkm 119.1 · 296 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 119.1 · 1735 m off the road
  • Fat Bastard Burritorestaurantkm 119.1 · 405 m off the road
  • KFCfast foodkm 119.1 · 1658 m off the road
  • McDonald'sfast foodkm 119.1 · 1610 m off the road
  • Taco Bellfast foodkm 119.2 · 1684 m off the road
  • Acropolis Pizzarestaurantkm 119.2 · 382 m off the road
  • Full House Restaurantrestaurantkm 119.2 · 323 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 119.2 · 347 m off the road
  • Asian Caferestaurantkm 119.3 · 1619 m off the road
  • McDonald'sfast foodkm 120.3 · 156 m off the road
  • Extreme Pitafast foodkm 120.4 · 331 m off the road
  • Smitty'srestaurantkm 120.5 · 353 m off the road
  • Harvey'sfast foodkm 120.5 · 464 m off the road
  • Thaï Expressfast foodkm 120.5 · 328 m off the road
  • Harvey'sfast foodkm 120.5 · 466 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 120.6 · 391 m off the road
  • Pizza Delightrestaurantkm 120.6 · 330 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 120.6 · 325 m off the road
  • Booster Juicefast foodkm 120.6 · 173 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 120.6 · 327 m off the road
  • Little Caesarsfast foodkm 120.7 · 282 m off the road
  • Dairy Queenfast foodkm 120.8 · 276 m off the road
  • Landwash Brewerypubkm 122.5 · 964 m off the road
  • Johny & Mae'sfast foodkm 122.5 · 960 m off the road
  • The Sweet Newfie Kitchenfast foodkm 123.7 · 1941 m off the road
  • Oscars Eatery & Caférestaurantkm 123.7 · 1852 m off the road
  • Jasmine's Restaurantrestaurantkm 124.8 · 1610 m off the road
  • New Moon Restaurantrestaurantkm 125 · 1517 m off the road
  • Ches's Fish and Chipsfast foodkm 125 · 1359 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 125 · 1475 m off the road
  • Topsail Road Pizzeria and Loungefast foodkm 125 · 1483 m off the road
  • Big Cheese Pizzafast foodkm 125 · 1377 m off the road
  • Jungle Jim'srestaurantkm 125 · 1374 m off the road
  • Sushi Makirestaurantkm 125 · 1374 m off the road
  • Dairy Queenfast foodkm 125 · 1498 m off the road
  • Starbuckscafékm 125 · 1488 m off the road
  • Redrock Bar & Grillrestaurantkm 125 · 1524 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 126 · 1398 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 126 · 1404 m off the road
  • Burger Kingfast foodkm 126.5 · 983 m off the road
  • McDonald'sfast foodkm 126.5 · 975 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 126.5
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 126.6 · 953 m off the road
  • Peter's Pizzarestaurantkm 126.6 · 1190 m off the road
  • Rack and Roll Lounge and Games Roompubkm 126.6 · 1294 m off the road
  • Red Pepperrestaurantkm 126.6 · 1202 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 126.6 · 1095 m off the road
  • Wendy'sfast foodkm 127.7 · 977 m off the road
  • Domino'sfast foodkm 128.5 · 1479 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 128.7 · 1331 m off the road
  • The Big R Restaurantrestaurantkm 129.1 · 1194 m off the road
  • Mr. Subfast foodkm 129.9 · 1646 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 130.1 · 1559 m off the road
  • The Cove Climbing Cafécafékm 130.1 · 851 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 130.1 · 1624 m off the road
  • Burger Kingfast foodkm 130.1 · 1658 m off the road
  • KFCfast foodkm 130.1 · 1704 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 130.1 · 369 m off the road
  • Ziggy Peelgoodsfast foodkm 131.1 · 1581 m off the road
  • The Station Loungepubkm 131.1
  • RJ Pinoy Yumrestaurantkm 131.2 · 1643 m off the road
  • No Name Pizzafast foodkm 131.2 · 1617 m off the road
  • Humphreys Restaurant and Pubrestaurantkm 131.5
  • Magic Wok Eateryrestaurantkm 131.5
  • Chinched Bistrorestaurantkm 131.6
  • Fiddlers Pubpubkm 131.6
  • Fabulous Foodsrestaurantkm 131.6 · 1055 m off the road
  • Fat Bastard Burritofast foodkm 131.8
  • Downtown Pizza fast foodkm 131.8
  • Kelly's Pubpubkm 131.8
  • Shamrock City Pubpubkm 131.8
  • Subwayfast foodkm 131.8
  • Yellowbelly Brewerypubkm 131.9
  • The Kegrestaurantkm 131.9
  • Afghan Restaurantrestaurantkm 131.9
  • Piatto Restaurantrestaurantkm 131.9 · 152 m off the road
  • The Republicpubkm 131.9 · 155 m off the road
  • Jack Astor'srestaurantkm 131.9
  • O'Reilly'spubkm 131.9
  • Trapper John's Museum & Pubpubkm 131.9
  • Rob Roy Pubpubkm 131.9
  • Green Sleeves Pub & Restaurantpubkm 131.9
  • Formosa Tea Houserestaurantkm 131.9 · 527 m off the road
  • Celtic Hearthrestaurantkm 131.9
  • Bridie Molloy’spubkm 131.9
  • Christian'spubkm 131.9
  • Adelaide Oyster Houserestaurantkm 131.9
  • Merchant Tavernrestaurantkm 131.9
  • Carribean Cornerrestaurantkm 131.9
  • LIVrestaurantkm 131.9
  • Frugal Steinsrestaurantkm 131.9
  • Saltwaterrestaurantkm 131.9
  • Gahan Housepubkm 131.9
  • Black Cat Pizzeriarestaurantkm 131.9 · 526 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 131.9 · 529 m off the road
  • Leo's Fish and Chipsfast foodkm 131.9 · 621 m off the road
  • Ches' Fish & Chipsfast foodkm 131.9 · 578 m off the road
  • The Sprout Restaurantrestaurantkm 132 · 157 m off the road
  • Chinchedrestaurantkm 132 · 176 m off the road
  • Casa Amigos Restaurant NLrestaurantkm 132 · 211 m off the road
  • Sushi Islandrestaurantkm 132.1
  • Ziggy Peelgoods French Friesfast foodkm 132.1
  • Jumping Bean Coffeecafékm 132.1 · 464 m off the road
  • 3 Sisters Vietnamese Subsfast foodkm 132.3
  • Duke of Duckworthpubkm 132.3
  • Cojones Tacos & Tequilarestaurantkm 132.3
  • Oliver'srestaurantkm 132.4
  • Smoke's Poutinefast foodkm 132.4
  • Biancarestaurantkm 132.4
  • The Fifth Ticketrestaurantkm 132.4
  • Water St.Varietycafékm 132.5
  • Ship Pubpubkm 132.6
  • Portagerestaurantkm 132.6
  • Peaceful Loftrestaurantkm 132.7
  • Bamboo Gardenrestaurantkm 132.7
  • Bagel Caferestaurantkm 132.7
  • Ziggy Peelgoodfast foodkm 132.7 · 1631 m off the road
  • Big Bite Pitafast foodkm 132.7 · 1631 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 132.7 · 1530 m off the road
  • MajesTeacafékm 132.7 · 1645 m off the road
  • Donati'sfast foodkm 132.7 · 1523 m off the road
  • Fat Nanny'scafékm 132.7
  • Shalimarrestaurantkm 132.7
  • Pop's Dinerrestaurantkm 132.7 · 1530 m off the road
  • NJ's Kitchenrestaurantkm 132.7 · 1482 m off the road
  • Hungry Heartcafékm 132.7 · 335 m off the road
  • Georgestown Cafe and Bookshelfcafékm 132.7 · 714 m off the road
  • Smitty'srestaurantkm 132.7 · 1530 m off the road
  • Noodle Namirestaurantkm 132.7 · 1517 m off the road
  • No.4 Restaurant & Barrestaurantkm 132.7 · 167 m off the road
  • India Gaterestaurantkm 132.7
  • Saltwaterrestaurantkm 132.7
  • Subwayfast foodkm 132.7 · 1667 m off the road
  • Quintana'srestaurantkm 132.7 · 1661 m off the road
  • Big Ben's Pubpubkm 132.7 · 1648 m off the road
  • The Georgetown Pubpubkm 132.7 · 794 m off the road
  • J Korean Restaurantrestaurantkm 132.8
  • Sun Sushi & Bubbled Tearestaurantkm 132.9
  • Get Stuffedrestaurantkm 132.9
  • Fixed Coffee and Bakingcafékm 132.9
  • Pirestaurantkm 132.9
  • The Parlourrestaurantkm 132.9 · 338 m off the road
  • Smitty'srestaurantkm 133
  • Beavertailsfast foodkm 133 · 455 m off the road
  • Portobello's Restaurantrestaurantkm 133.1
  • Chatters Coffeecafékm 133.1
  • Classic Cafe Eastcafékm 133.2
  • Coffee Matterscafékm 133.2
  • Zachary's Restaurantrestaurantkm 133.2
  • Bannerman Brewing Co.pubkm 133.2
  • Piattorestaurantkm 133.3 · 1754 m off the road
  • Jumping Beancafékm 133.4 · 1598 m off the road
  • Desi Mealrestaurantkm 133.4 · 1649 m off the road
  • Pizza Supremerestaurantkm 133.4 · 1655 m off the road
  • Wedgwood Cafe & Cateringrestaurantkm 133.4 · 1686 m off the road
  • Sequerra's Restaurantrestaurantkm 133.4 · 1646 m off the road
  • Breen's Delicafékm 133.4 · 1847 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 133.4 · 1765 m off the road
  • International Flavoursrestaurantkm 133.5
  • Battery Cafecafékm 133.5
  • Gracie Joe'srestaurantkm 133.8 · 329 m off the road
  • Robin's Donutsfast foodkm 134 · 1525 m off the road
  • Newfoundland Chocolate Cafecafékm 134.5
  • Inn of Oldepubkm 135 · 1114 m off the road

Not ranked or complete, and nobody pays to be here. No opening hours: phone ahead. Open map data, swept 2026-10-18. How we measure · Add a missing place

New place to eat, or one that's missing? This list comes from OpenStreetMap, so nobody can pay to be on it. Add it to the map yourself (about twenty minutes on a phone), or email us the details and we'll put it on the map.

Short drives from Signal Hill (Cabot Tower)

An easy day out from Signal Hill (Cabot Tower)Cape Spear 19 km awayIts own page measures from the Argentia ferry; from Signal Hill (Cabot Tower) it is 19 km.Directions from where your phone is now:
Directions →
Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze

Or any of these: nearest first, measured by road from Signal Hill (Cabot Tower).

More, up to 38 km (10)

Distances by road, measured on OpenStreetMap October 16, 2026, from where this route ends. Your maps app gives the time on the day. How we measure

Doing it electric

Fast chargers on this drive
Paradise km 117, St. John’s km 119
Longest stretch without one
117 km
Argentia → Paradise, of 135 km driven
Nearest fast charger to Signal Hill (Cabot Tower)
17 km
by road, at St. John’s

Coming in 2026 (NL Hydro, 2026-10-22): Whitbourne (km 46) and St. John’s (km 119). Not counted until it opens.

NL Hydro fast chargers within 3 km of the drive. Check the app for one that's working. Exported 2026-10-22. How we measure

Every route compared →NL Hydro: plan your road trip →

Paved or not, per the map

Mapped as unpaved
0.1 km
Lake to Lookout Walk (0.07 km, 0 km from Signal Hill (Cabot Tower))
Mapped as paved
75%
95.8 km of 135.7 km driven
No surface tag on the map
25%
32.6 km: surface not recorded

In a rental car: Hertz Canada’s terms say “use off paved roads or on roads which are not regularly maintained” voids the damage waiver. Check your own agreement. Hertz’s terms ↗. Source for these figures: OSRM driving profile, stored route query, with node annotations; OpenStreetMap surface tags via Overpass, checked 2026-10-19. Today's road conditions: 511.

Before you go

These change, so we link to the people who keep them up to date.

  • The crossing you arrive onSeasonal — Argentia is not the year-round crossing

    Port aux Basques runs through the winter; Argentia does not. Confirm the sailing first, because the other landing is on the far side of the island.

    marineatlantic.ca →

  • MooseYear round, worst between dusk and dawn

    The province says the likelihood of injury in a moose collision is twice as high between dusk and dawn as in daytime. This is 135.7 km, much of it unlit two-lane highway; plan the drive for daylight where you can.

    gov.nl.ca →

  • Road conditionsYear round, matters most November–April

    Conditions change fast on this coast. Check before you set off.

    511nl.ca →

Questions

How far is Signal Hill (Cabot Tower) from the Argentia ferry?＋

135.7 km from the ferry terminal to Signal Hill (Cabot Tower).

What route do I take?＋

Routes 100, 1 and 2. Your maps app has the turns.

Do I need a car?＋

You came off the ferry with one, so this is your own drive.

No recorded track yet.Drove it? Send yours →

Put this map on your site

Run a place to stay, a tour or a town page on this drive? Add this map to your site. It shows your guests the drive and its distance. It is free, needs no account, and we keep the figures current.

<iframe src="https://fromtheairport.xyz/embed/arg-signal-hill"
  width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy"
  title="Driving route: Argentia ferry terminal to Signal Hill (Cabot Tower)"></iframe>
Add ?lat=&lon=&label= to the URL to pin your own property on the map.

Every distance and coordinate on this page was checked against its source on October 19, 2026. Origin: OpenStreetMap node/605220569 — Argentia. Destination: OpenStreetMap relation/7531386 — Cabot Tower.

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