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Argentia ferry terminal → Cape Spear

Argentia ferry to Cape Spear

The drive from every airport and ferry ↓

Distance
144.3 km
Drive time
In your maps app ↗
Roads
100121011
Open in Google Maps →
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Stops and map ↓Where to eat near Cape Spear ↓

Cape Spear lighthouse, white with a red roof, standing on the bare headland above the Atlantic at the easternmost point of North America.
Cape Spear lighthouse, white with a red roof, standing on the bare headland above the Atlantic at the easternmost point of North America.Photo: Nilfanion · source · CC BY-SA 3.0

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 Cape Spear: 144.3 km by road, via Routes 100 · 1 · 2 · 10 · 11.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Tiles by OpenFreeMap. Route line computed with OSRM.

Faded lines are other drives from Argentia ferry terminal into this area: Signal Hill (Cabot Tower) (136 km), St. John's (133 km), Portugal Cove ferry terminal (136 km), Witless Bay (114 km), Brigus (78 km), Harbour Grace (96 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 →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
    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 MuseumDetour

    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 2.4 km to the drive.

    Directions →
    Other map appsApple · Google · Organic Maps · OsmAnd (both work offline, no tracking) · Waze
    Show on map: Railway Coastal Museum ↑
⛽ 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.
  • Route 10 →Whole road: 7 fuel stations mapped, longest gap 91 km. Unpaved mapped: none; 77% has no surface tag, so unknown.
  • Route 11 →Whole road: 2 fuel stations mapped, longest gap 17 km. Unpaved mapped: none; 0% has no surface tag, so unknown.

Drive measured Oct 19, 2026, Argentia ferry terminal to Cape Spear. Your maps app gives the time on the day. How we measure

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

144.3 km. Off the ferry at Argentia to Cape Spear, on Routes 100, 1, 2, 10 and 11.

When you get to Cape Spear

Sunrise and sunset at Cape Spear, by month
Month (the 15th)SunriseSunset
January7:43 am4:34 pm
February7:06 am5:22 pm
March7:14 am7:05 pm
April6:12 am7:48 pm
May5:23 am8:29 pm
June5:02 am8:59 pm
July5:18 am8:54 pm
August5:56 am8:14 pm
September6:36 am7:14 pm
October7:18 am6:13 pm
November7:05 am4:25 pm
December7:41 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

127 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 127, 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
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 126.6
  • Burger Kingfast foodkm 126.8 · 1032 m off the road
  • McDonald'sfast foodkm 126.8 · 994 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 126.8 · 952 m off the road
  • Peter's Pizzarestaurantkm 127.6 · 1017 m off the road
  • Rack and Roll Lounge and Games Roompubkm 127.6 · 1113 m off the road
  • Red Pepperrestaurantkm 127.6 · 1028 m off the road
  • Wendy'sfast foodkm 127.6 · 717 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 127.6 · 936 m off the road
  • Domino'sfast foodkm 128.6 · 1175 m off the road
  • Mary Brown'sfast foodkm 128.7 · 1022 m off the road
  • The Big R Restaurantrestaurantkm 129.1 · 906 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 130.1 · 1305 m off the road
  • Mr. Subfast foodkm 130.1 · 1396 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 130.1 · 1369 m off the road
  • Burger Kingfast foodkm 130.1 · 1404 m off the road
  • Fabulous Foodsrestaurantkm 130.2 · 1741 m off the road
  • RJ Pinoy Yumrestaurantkm 130.2 · 1456 m off the road
  • No Name Pizzafast foodkm 130.2 · 1406 m off the road
  • Ziggy Peelgoodsfast foodkm 130.2 · 1348 m off the road
  • The Cove Climbing Cafécafékm 130.2 · 597 m off the road
  • KFCfast foodkm 130.2 · 1449 m off the road
  • Leo's Fish and Chipsfast foodkm 130.3 · 1668 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 130.3 · 159 m off the road
  • Chinched Bistrorestaurantkm 130.4 · 1331 m off the road
  • Yellowbelly Brewerypubkm 130.4 · 1602 m off the road
  • The Kegrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1516 m off the road
  • 3 Sisters Vietnamese Subsfast foodkm 130.4 · 1867 m off the road
  • Afghan Restaurantrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1617 m off the road
  • Piatto Restaurantrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1610 m off the road
  • The Republicpubkm 130.4 · 1603 m off the road
  • Biancarestaurantkm 130.4 · 1993 m off the road
  • Sushi Islandrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1835 m off the road
  • The Sprout Restaurantrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1659 m off the road
  • Ziggy Peelgoods French Friesfast foodkm 130.4 · 1718 m off the road
  • Fat Bastard Burritofast foodkm 130.4 · 1469 m off the road
  • Jack Astor'srestaurantkm 130.4 · 1554 m off the road
  • Downtown Pizza fast foodkm 130.4 · 1457 m off the road
  • Humphreys Restaurant and Pubrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1125 m off the road
  • Kelly's Pubpubkm 130.4 · 1471 m off the road
  • O'Reilly'spubkm 130.4 · 1517 m off the road
  • Fiddlers Pubpubkm 130.4 · 1316 m off the road
  • Shamrock City Pubpubkm 130.4 · 1439 m off the road
  • Trapper John's Museum & Pubpubkm 130.4 · 1615 m off the road
  • Rob Roy Pubpubkm 130.4 · 1560 m off the road
  • Green Sleeves Pub & Restaurantpubkm 130.4 · 1545 m off the road
  • Formosa Tea Houserestaurantkm 130.4 · 1666 m off the road
  • Jumping Bean Coffeecafékm 130.4 · 1824 m off the road
  • Celtic Hearthrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1575 m off the road
  • Bridie Molloy’spubkm 130.4 · 1584 m off the road
  • Christian'spubkm 130.4 · 1483 m off the road
  • Duke of Duckworthpubkm 130.4 · 1856 m off the road
  • The Fifth Ticketrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1995 m off the road
  • Adelaide Oyster Houserestaurantkm 130.4 · 1476 m off the road
  • Merchant Tavernrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1599 m off the road
  • Chinchedrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1646 m off the road
  • Carribean Cornerrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1566 m off the road
  • LIVrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1540 m off the road
  • Frugal Steinsrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1516 m off the road
  • Saltwaterrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1507 m off the road
  • Gahan Housepubkm 130.4 · 1471 m off the road
  • Black Cat Pizzeriarestaurantkm 130.4 · 1681 m off the road
  • Casa Amigos Restaurant NLrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1670 m off the road
  • Tim Hortonscafékm 130.4 · 1826 m off the road
  • Cojones Tacos & Tequilarestaurantkm 130.4 · 1877 m off the road
  • Ches' Fish & Chipsfast foodkm 130.4 · 1688 m off the road
  • Subwayfast foodkm 130.4 · 1445 m off the road
  • The Station Loungepubkm 130.4 · 788 m off the road
  • Magic Wok Eateryrestaurantkm 130.4 · 1163 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 Cape Spear

An easy day out from Cape SpearSt. John's 16 km awayIts own page measures from the Argentia ferry; from Cape Spear it is 16 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 Cape Spear.

More, up to 42 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 144 km driven
Nearest fast charger to Cape Spear
25.7 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
none
Not proof it is all paved: 26% has no surface tag.
Mapped as paved
74%
102.1 km of 144.3 km driven
No surface tag on the map
26%
36.2 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 144.3 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 Cape Spear from the Argentia ferry?＋

144.3 km from the ferry terminal to Cape Spear.

What route do I take?＋

Routes 100, 1, 2, 10 and 11. 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-cape-spear"
  width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy"
  title="Driving route: Argentia ferry terminal to Cape Spear"></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 node/470734348 — Cape Spear.

Going with someone?

Hear when iceberg season looks worth the trip

One or two emails a year: where icebergs are showing up, and which drive gets you there.

Pressing Email me signs you up for iceberg-season email only, never shared. Unsubscribe any time. Sent by From the Airport, 582 St. Clair Ave W, Suite 326, Toronto, ON M6C 1A6, hello@fromtheairport.xyz. More about it.