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Port aux Basques ferry terminal → Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre

Port aux Basques ferry to Terra Nova National Park

Distance
647.6 km
Drive time
In your maps app ↗
Roads
1
Open in Google Maps →
Use another map appApple Maps · Google Maps · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze

Stops and map ↓

Looking over the boreal forest of Terra Nova National Park to one of its sheltered sounds reaching in from Bonavista Bay.
Looking over the boreal forest of Terra Nova National Park to one of its sheltered sounds reaching in from Bonavista Bay.Photo: rcheng30 · source · CC BY-SA 4.0

You arrive by ferry — North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques

Port aux Basques is the island's year-round ferry terminal, and everyone who comes through it has their own car already ashore.

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

Crossings & current schedule →
Driving route from Port aux Basques ferry terminal to Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre: 647.6 km by road, via Route 1.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Tiles by OpenFreeMap. Route line computed with OSRM.

Faded lines are other drives from Port aux Basques ferry terminal into this area: Burnside ferry terminal (664 km), Salvage (667 km), Dover (642 km), Clarenville (717 km), White Hills Resort (718 km), Trinity (770 km), Port Rexton (769 km). Each splits off where its line leaves this one.

  1. Stop 1: Indian River

    A green space mapped essentially on the driven line. OpenStreetMap records it as a nature reserve but not who runs it, and it is not on ParksNL's list. Treat it as a place to pull over, not somewhere with facilities.

    Stopping here adds 0.1 km to the drive.

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

  2. Stop 2: Loggers' Life Provincial MuseumDetour

    A reconstructed 1920s logging camp on the west side of Grand Falls-Windsor, mapped right beside the driven line. Central Newfoundland ran on the woods for a century, and the museum shows that work.

    Stopping here adds 4.6 km to the drive.

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

  3. Stop 3: North Atlantic Aviation Museum

    On the Trans-Canada at 135, per the museum's own page: Gander's story from 1935 to 2001, the Second World War, the transatlantic crossroads years and 9/11. Hours are linked below.

    Stopping here adds 0.1 km to the drive.

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

  4. Stop 4: Square Pond

    A pond-side stop beside the Trans-Canada. OpenStreetMap still uses its old provincial-park name; the province no longer lists it. A place to stretch your legs.

    Stopping here adds 0.7 km to the drive.

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

  5. Stop 5: Joey's Lookout

    A mapped viewpoint on the Trans-Canada east of Gander, effectively on the road. OpenStreetMap records only the name and that it is a viewpoint. It is easy to miss at highway speed.

    Stopping here adds 0.1 km to the drive.

    Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
    Show on map: Joey's Lookout ↑

  6. Stop 6: Sandy PondDetour

    One of the park's officially designated observing sites under its Dark-Sky Preserve status: the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated Terra Nova on 26 February 2018, and Parks Canada's own night-sky page calls Sandy Pond the darkest skies in the park. RASC notes the designated sites have paved parking with a walk to the observing spot. The pond also has a beach and a trail for daytime. After dark, the drive back to the highway is moose country.

    Stopping here adds 23.8 km to the drive.

    Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
    Show on map: Sandy Pond ↑
⛽ Fuel and gravel on Route 1 →

Drive measured Oct 19, 2026, Port aux Basques ferry terminal to Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre. Your maps app gives the time on the day. How we measure

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

647.6 km. Off the ferry at Port aux Basques to Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre, on Route 1.

Places to eat on the way

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

The longest stretch with nothing mapped on it is 128.9 km — after Tim Horton, until Eddies Restaurant.

All 93, in the order you pass them — open the list
  • Shark Cove Restaurantrestaurantkm 0 · 1429 m off the road
  • Shark Cove Restaurantrestaurantkm 0 · 1427 m off the road
  • Port Clubpubkm 1 · 289 m off the road
  • Tai-Hong Restaurantrestaurantkm 2.4
  • Pizza Delightrestaurantkm 2.6
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 3
  • Bob's Chicken Coopfast foodkm 3
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 3.1
  • Robin‘sfast foodkm 3.2 · 823 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 3.2
  • Alma‘s Restaurantrestaurantkm 3.3 · 452 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 5.3
  • Robin's Donutsrestaurantkm 38.1
  • Midway Motel and Loungepubkm 107.1
  • Pinchgut Restaurant & Conveniencerestaurantkm 198.4
  • Wendy'sfast foodkm 215.8
  • Jungle Jim'srestaurantkm 216 · 213 m off the road
  • McDonald'sfast foodkm 216.2 · 332 m off the road
  • King Henry's Pubpubkm 216.9 · 1950 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 217 · 1877 m off the road
  • Samuel's Sammiches and Sweetsrestaurantkm 217.1 · 1522 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 217.2 · 951 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 217.2 · 941 m off the road
  • Pizza Delightrestaurantkm 217.3 · 911 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 224.6
  • Oasis Grill Houserestaurantkm 243 · 263 m off the road
  • Cafe 59restaurantkm 243 · 845 m off the road
  • Langerspubkm 264.5 · 541 m off the road
  • Burger Kingfast foodkm 264.6
  • Peter's Pizzafast foodkm 264.6
  • KFCfast foodkm 264.7
  • Subwayfast foodkm 264.8 · 163 m off the road
  • A&Wfast foodkm 264.8 · 162 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 264.9 · 204 m off the road
  • Pizza Delightrestaurantkm 265 · 212 m off the road
  • Wingn' itrestaurantkm 265.6
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 266.1 · 192 m off the road
  • Big Stop Restaurantrestaurantkm 266.5
  • Tim Hortonfast foodkm 266.5 · 222 m off the road
  • Eddies Restaurantrestaurantkm 395.4
  • Red Hawk Dinerrestaurantkm 446.2
  • Badger Diner & Motelrestaurantkm 446.4
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 475 · 858 m off the road
  • Burger Kingfast foodkm 475.2 · 731 m off the road
  • Tai Sun Restaurantrestaurantkm 475.2 · 415 m off the road
  • Donnini's Pizza & Donairrestaurantkm 475.2 · 434 m off the road
  • Dairy Queenfast foodkm 475.2 · 278 m off the road
  • McDonald'sfast foodkm 475.3 · 420 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 475.3 · 531 m off the road
  • Wing'n Itrestaurantkm 475.3 · 1257 m off the road
  • War Wick'srestaurantkm 475.3 · 1349 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 475.3 · 389 m off the road
  • A&Wfast foodkm 475.5 · 978 m off the road
  • Sarah's Dinerrestaurantkm 475.9 · 1158 m off the road
  • KFCfast foodkm 476.1 · 474 m off the road
  • Greco Pizzafast foodkm 476.1 · 369 m off the road
  • Taiwanrestaurantkm 476.1 · 1229 m off the road
  • Juniper Kitchen and Bistrorestaurantkm 476.1 · 1247 m off the road
  • Furey's Trailway Take-Outfast foodkm 489.1 · 425 m off the road
  • Irvingrestaurantkm 489.3
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 489.3
  • Riverside Dinerfast foodkm 547.7 · 600 m off the road
  • A&Wfast foodkm 569
  • Subwayfast foodkm 569
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 569.4
  • Jumping Bean Coffee Companycafékm 569.5 · 974 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 569.5
  • Louis Geesfast foodkm 569.5 · 809 m off the road
  • New Highlight Restaurantrestaurantkm 569.5 · 906 m off the road
  • Pizza Housefast foodkm 569.5 · 954 m off the road
  • East Ocean Restaurantfast foodkm 569.5 · 949 m off the road
  • Lilly's Landing Family Restaurantrestaurantkm 569.6 · 986 m off the road
  • Jade Garden Restaurantrestaurantkm 569.6 · 869 m off the road
  • Grecofast foodkm 569.6 · 883 m off the road
  • Ches's Fish & Chipsrestaurantkm 569.8 · 956 m off the road
  • DQ Grill & Chillfast foodkm 569.8
  • Little Caesarsfast foodkm 569.9 · 1866 m off the road
  • The Shawarma Stationrestaurantkm 569.9 · 1143 m off the road
  • KFCfast foodkm 570.1 · 1104 m off the road
  • Mystic Roomrestaurantkm 570.1 · 800 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 570.1 · 1480 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 570.1 · 1110 m off the road
  • Pizza Delightrestaurantkm 570.2 · 816 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 570.2 · 1036 m off the road
  • McDonald'sfast foodkm 570.2 · 1045 m off the road
  • Wing 'n Itrestaurantkm 570.2 · 1795 m off the road
  • Swiss Chaletrestaurantkm 570.4 · 869 m off the road
  • Robin's Donutsfast foodkm 570.4 · 845 m off the road
  • The Newfoundland Tea Co. Restaurant & Shoprestaurantkm 570.6 · 1906 m off the road
  • Copper Kettle Restaurantrestaurantkm 599.5
  • Family Pizzarestaurantkm 606.3 · 1870 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'srestaurantkm 636
  • Happy Adventure Cafecafékm 645.1

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 Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre

An easy day out from Terra Nova National Park Visitor CentreLouil Hill Trail 9.7 km awayA walk: 3.7 km loop · easyDirections 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 Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre.

More, up to 37 km (1)

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
Port aux Basques km 3, Robinsons km 107, Corner Brook km 216, Deer Lake km 267, South Brook km 396, Bishop’s Falls km 488, Gander km 571, Glowertown km 637
Longest stretch without one
129 km
Deer Lake → South Brook, of 647 km driven
Nearest fast charger to Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre
9.3 km
by road, at Glowertown

Coming in 2026 (NL Hydro, 2026-10-22): Deer Lake (km 271) and Gander (km 571). 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
none
Not proof it is all paved: 76% has no surface tag.
Mapped as paved
24%
138.4 km of 647.6 km driven
No surface tag on the map
76%
435.7 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.

  • 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 647.6 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 at one end of the island say little about the other. Check before you set off.

    511nl.ca →

The trail, measured

Louil Hill Trail: the mapped path is 3.7 km with 83 m of climbing, from 92 m up to 147 m.

01002000 km123
to ~8% grade8–15%steeperheight exaggerated ~4×

Every cited segment →OpenStreetMap way/123274050; elevation from AWS Open Data Terrarium tiles (z14), sampled ~30 m, ascent over a 3 m noise threshold.
A line that ends at a different height from where it starts is a loop, not an out and back.

Questions

How far is Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre from the Port aux Basques ferry?＋

647.6 km from the ferry terminal to Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre.

What route do I take?＋

Route 1. 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/pab-terra-nova"
  width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy"
  title="Driving route: Port aux Basques ferry terminal to Terra Nova National Park Visitor Centre"></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 way/215300568 — Port aux Basques Ferry Terminal. Destination: OpenStreetMap node/1600343274.

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