The Newfoundland Tourist That Missed Everything: Don’t End Up Like This Guy
Newfoundland First Time Visitor Mistakes. Don’t Make These Road Trip & Ferry Errors
He booked the wrong ferry, drove the whole island in one stretch, stayed only in St. John’s, and went home without seeing the real Newfoundland. Here’s exactly how not to be him in 2026.
Top 7 Mistakes First Time Visitors Make in Newfoundland
1. Booking the wrong ferry
2. Forgetting to book ferry accommodation
3. Driving the entire island in one day
4. Basing the whole trip in St. John’s
5. Skipping the two national parks
6. Ignoring the Southern Shore & East Coast Trail
7. Not planning around iceberg & whale season
Don’t Be the Guy Who Books the Wrong Ferry
Booking the wrong ferry to Newfoundland could mean an extra 12 hours of driving on arrival. There are two main ferry routes to Newfoundland, Port aux Basques (west coast) and Argentia (east coast, much closer to St. John’s). Choose the wrong one and you’ll start your trip on the opposite side of the island from everything you came to see. If you're still trying to figure out what ferry to take to Newfoundland, use the 2026 Newfoundland ferry comparison & planning guide to understand the difference between all the ferry routes. Do not book the wrong ferry to Newfoundland.
Don’t Be the Guy Who Forgets to Book Accommodation on the Ferry
The ferry to Newfoundland can be 7 to 17 hours depending on the Marine Atlantic ferry crossing you choose. Many people assume they can sleep in the lounge chairs and arrive exhausted. Booking a cabin or passenger pod makes a massive difference in how refreshed you start your trip. Don't be the guy who forgets to book accommodation on the Newfoundland ferry and find out how to sleep well on the ferry to Newfoundland on your Marine Atlantic Ferry Crossing.
Don’t Be the Guy Who Tries to Drive Port aux Basques to St. John’s in One Stretch
Are you insane? It's 900 km from Port aux Basques to St. John's. It's a minimum 10 hours of driving if you don't take pee-breaks. Add weather, construction, fatigue, and the very real risk of moose collisions at night and you have a terrible plan. And, to top it off, you miss all the spectacular sites on the way. If you're doing the long drive from Port aux Basques to St. John's, see all the cool stuff along the way like the National Parks, people, and hidden places you'll only discover if you take your time. Go slow, drive in the day, stay safe, and have an amazing trip. Do not be the guy who risks everyone's life on an epic super drive across the island while missing what you came here for.
Don’t Be the Guy Who Only Explores St. John’s
Town is fun. We love St. John’s, for a couple of days. George Street, Jellybean Row, The Rooms Art Gallery and Museum, Signal Hill, and so much more await for you to explore. St. John's, however, Isn't the quintessential Newfoundland most people actually come for. Staying the whole time in St. John's means you'll miss out on the real magic just outside the city, and that's a lot of missing out. Do not end up leaving Newfoundland feeling like you didn't really see it.
Don’t Be the Guy Who Skips the Two National Parks
Don't be the guy who keeps driving across the province without checking out the two national parks, Gros Morne and Terra Nova two of the most spectacular places in Canada. Skipping them means missing UNESCO fjords, the Tableland Mountains, pristine boreal forest, world class hiking, really great people, and all the other things you came to Newfoundland for. Don't miss out on the National Parks in Newfoundland or you'll be crying about it later.
Don’t Be the Guy Who Ignores the Southern Shore & East Coast Trail
Communities like Mobile on Newfoundland's Southern Shore are just 30 min from downtown St. John's. Totally different than being in town, the Southern Shore has all the famous East Coast Trail Hikes, top restaurants, boat tours, year round forest bathing saunas, and suites with private spas. Stay in coastal stargazing hot tubs overlooking the Witless Bay Marine Ecological Reserve and Humpback Whale Feeding Grounds. With world UNESCO sites, the most photographed coastal meadow, the most romantic East Coast Trail hikes, and a bay full of humpback whales, you do not want to miss out on this.
Your Better 2026 Newfoundland Road Trip Blueprint
If it's not too forward of us to share some practical advice, be sure to take the right ferry, slow down, spend time in Gros Morne National Park, explore Terra Nova, then finish in a romantic spot near St. John's on the Southern Shore. Make it a multi-day trip. When you do arrive, book a cute spot on the southern shore with hot tubs and forest saunas near the East Coast Trail for some deserved rest and relaxation. Take the side roads. Use the Newfoundland road trip planning guide and experience the real Newfoundland.