When Is The Best Time of Year To Visit Newfoundland?

After exploring Newfoundland for 5 weeks, it is hard to imagine a bad time to discover this beautiful province. This being said, if you are looking to experience the most that the rock has to offer, one time of year in particular tops all the others.

The best time to visit Newfoundland is between May and September each year, with the very best month coming in July. (As experienced by us traveling in the month of July and early August, and confirmed by locals)!

Read on for a breakdown of what exactly Newfoundland weather is like throughout the year and what amazing natural wonders and sights come in different seasons, to help you plan your perfect trip to Newfoundland!

About Newfoundland’s Weather & When To Visit

Purple flowers in long green grass spreading out past a red Adirondack chair perched overlooking a green cliffside in Newfoundland in summer
When the good weather arrives in Newfoundland, it is hard to beat

December-March: Winters in Newfoundland bring short days and cold weather (with most days on average being below freezing), perfect for winter activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, or ice-staking.

March/April- June: Spring brings some warmer temperatures, but with many days that are dreary, gray, and wet. While in some places June might feel like summer, the locals were quick to tell us that this is not typically the case in Newfoundland… which gets over 200 days of precipitation a year in many places on the island. Although it can be hard to predict, April and May are often the heart of iceberg season…making it worthwhile to brave some colder soggy weather for a chance to see the historic giants floating by.

A field of purple pitcher plants blooming in a green grass field in Newfoundland in summer
Keep an eye out for the flower of Newfoundland (the purple pitcher plant) blooming in summer

July-August: One of our first interactions with a local Newfoundlander was about the weather…because when we arrived in July it seemed almost too good to be true. It was their opinion that Newfoundland gets about 3 weeks of good weather a year (with far less precipitation) and that typically comes in July. While we did see a few days of rain on Newfoundland over the course of our 5 weeks traveling the island, overall the summer weather was true perfection. Sunny days, comfortable temperatures (highs hovering between mid-60’s and mid-70s (°F), and low humidity, made for a summer trip we won’t soon forget.

A stream running over rocks through a lush green valley set below Gros Morne Mountain in Newfoundland
High amounts of rain bring lush green vegetation for the summer

September-November: As the weather cools down, so does tourism in Newfoundland. Fall can be a great time to visit to avoid crowds as long as you are okay with the fact that some seasonal businesses do close down after the peak summer season. You might miss the icebergs, puffins, and whales, but this could be a great time for a quiet hiking retreat among the other local wildlife in Newfoundland’s untouched natural beauty.

READ MORE: 31 Amazing Things To Do In Newfoundland

Best Time of Year To Visit Newfoundland To See Icebergs

A white and bright blue iceberg floating in the harbour off the coast of Newfoundland in July
This iceberg was floating in a harbor in northern Newfoundland in July

Newfoundland’s Iceberg Alley is the place to go to see gigantic chunks of ice that have broken off of 10,000-year-old glaciers floating by.

Icebergs of various shapes and sizes can be seen from the coast of Newfoundland each spring, sometimes stretching into early summer.

Icebergs typically will be largest and closest to shore along the northern sections of Newfoundland, slowly melting and making their way further out to sea as they round their way toward the eastern coast.

Although our visit did not start until July, we were luckily able to spot dozens of icebergs in multiple locations across Newfoundland!

Two icebergs floating in blue water surrounded by lush green vegetation on the cliffs near the waters edge
The parade of icebergs is a sight you don’t want to miss!

The iceberg season is typically longer on the northern parts of the island (such as the Great Northern Peninsula), with the best chances to see icebergs coming in late spring and early summer (April, May, and into June).

If you prefer to see icebergs up close and not just from shore, book a local boat or Zodiak tour to see the icebergs (and maybe even whales or puffins too!).

Your best bet to see icebergs will be between May and July, but you can get lucky later in the season (depending on the year) if you would rather visit when the weather is nicer.

You can sign up for Newfoundland iceberg alerts on Iceberg Finder

READ MORE: When & Where To See Icebergs in Newfoundland

Best Time Of Year To Visit Newfoundland To See Puffins

White and black puffins with bright orange beaks posing on the cliffside at Elliston Point in Newfoundland
Puffins along the cliffside

Another big draw of Newfoundland is the tens of thousands of puffins and other species of seabirds that come to nest on Newfoundland’s rocky coast and coastal islands each year.

On the eastern section of Newfoundland, seabird activity tends to peak in mid July, with the season generally starting in June and ending toward the end of August. In northern Newfoundland seabird season tends to run from July to early September, peaking in early August.

To see puffins and seabirds in Newfoundland we recommend visiting during July and August.

READ MORE: When & Where To See Puffins in Newfoundland

Best Time of Year To Visit Newfoundland To See Whales

Newfoundland is one of the best places for whale watching in the world!

Each year an influx of food (capelin) brings whales (and seabirds) closer to Newfoundland’s shore to feed.

We were left speechless by the amount of whales we saw spouting just off the island’s coastline. It was truly as if we were unable to go on a hike or relax a an overlook without spotting at least 10.

Over our 5 weeks traveling around Newfoundland, we saw hundreds of whales, starting near Rocky Harbour, up in Quirpon and St. Anthony, in Twillingate, and even all the way down south on the Avalon Peninsula at Cape Race.

The eastern side of the island (such as Witless Bay Ecological Reserve) has the longest whale-watching season, typically running from June to August, while the northern side of the island (such as Twillingate) picks up in late July or early August and tapers off in early September.

The best time for whale watching in Newfoundland will be late July through August.

Reserve a whale and puffin sightseeing tour at Witless Bay:

Best Time To See The Newfoundland Trifecta: seabirds, whales, & icebergs

A couple standing on a cliff overlooking two icebergs sitting in the harbour when visiting Newfoundland in summer

When we were planning our trip to Newfoundland, we were crossing our fingers and toes that we would be able to see the infamous icebergs.

This said, as RVers, we typically try to follow the weather (for both safety and comfort). Planning our trip for 5 week from July into August, we weren’t quite sure what we would get.

One single puffin holding a small twig in its bright orange beak

Lucky for us, mother nature was on our side!

Not only did we see icebergs in several locations around the island, but also an array of whale, puffin, and seabird activity. Early July to early August was a great season for us to be there to experience all that Newfoundland has to offer, but of course each year can be hard to predict exactly.

We are totally biased, but we highly recommend making your trip to Newfoundland an RV road trip, and spending as much time on the island to see and experience as much as you can!

A couple standing in front of bird rock where thousands of sea birds come to nest at Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve each year
Don’t miss the seabirds on Bird Rock at Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve (a perfect addition to the Irish Loop)

READ MORE: The Perfect Newfoundland RV Trip

Frequently Asked Questions For Visiting Newfoundland

Newfoundland is an island that requires travel by plane or ferry to arrive. The largest airport on the western side of the island is Deer Lake Regional Airport, while St. John’s International Airport services the eastern side of Newfoundland.

You can bring your car, truck, SUV, trailers, and RVs on the Marine Atlantic Ferry, with services from North Sydney Nova Scotia to Port Aux Basques (year-round) and Argentia (seasonally). There is also a ferry service between Labrador (on mainland Canada bordering Quebec) and

READ MORE: All About Taking The Ferry To Newfoundland

The island of Newfoundland operates on Newfoundland Standard Time (NST), which is 3.5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-3:30), a half-hour behind Atlantic Time, and 1.5 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. Labrador unofficially observes Atlantic Time except for the portion between L’Anse au Clair and Norman Bay, which is on Newfoundland time.

The best way to experience all that this island province has to offer is by car or RV. Opt for a self-driving package through a local tour operator, or branch out on your own and stay in some of the island’s best campsites in your RV. If you do plan to fly in and rent a vehicle to explore with, be sure to do so in advance!

Find rental cars near Deer Lake:

Find rental cars around St. John’s:

PLAN YOUR TRIP TO NEWFOUNDLAND

Book Accommodations

Use Booking.com to compare prices on local hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, and more.

If you are looking for private rentals, consider one of the many VRBO properties in Newfoundland.

Newfoundland also has amazing camping options all over the island! Check out our Newfoundland RV Trip Itinerary to see all of the great campsites we stayed in!

Rent A Car

Newfoundland is made up of rural and remote communities separated by long stretches of road through untouched wilderness. The best way to explore is to have a vehicle to get around in!

Be sure to reserve your rental car for Newfoundland early through a service like rentalcars.com, which will compare available cars at different locations and from different companies in the area.

Rent An RV

Want to RV around Newfoundland, but don’t have an RV of your own?

Consider renting one from a private owner through RV Share or use a larger company like Cruise America/Cruise Canada.

What To Pack

  • Up-to-date passports for all family members
  • Up-to-date rabies certificate for all pets
  • No fresh produce or plants
  • Bug spray, screen tent, head net (in the warmer months, the bugs can be ferocious!)
  • Rain gear and waterproof hiking shoes

More Resources To Plan Your Perfect Trip To Newfoundland

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