Red Bay National Historic Site of Canada

Visitor Information

How to get there

Red Bay is situated in the Labrador Straits region of Labrador - a part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The Strait of Belle Isle separates the two parts of the province.

Map of the Red Bay area, Parks Canada ©Parks Canada

The Labrador Straits is the southern coastal region of Labrador, bordering on the Strait. You may travel to Red Bay by road for about eight months of the year, and by air year-round. 

Road Travel

The Labrador Straits is accessible by road for about eight months of the year. From anywhere in continental North America, drive to North Sydney, Nova Scotia, from there Marine Atlantic's ferry service will take you to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland.

Upon arrival in Newfoundland, drive north on the Trans-Canada Highway and follow the Viking Trail (route 430) to St. Barbe. Your trip along the Viking Trail leads through beautiful Gros Morne National Park, a geologist's dream, and Port au Choix National Historic Site, a site reflecting the history of ancient native peoples. At the northern end of the Viking Trail you'll find the L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, occupied around A.D. 1000 by the Vikings.

The next stage of your trip takes you across the Strait of Belle Isle from the Island of Newfoundland to the coast of Quebec and Labrador. The Strait of Belle Isle ferry - called the Apollo - offers drive-on/drive-off service, and operates between May and early January.

For more details aboout road travel, see the Newfoundland and Labrador Travel Guide . 

Air Travel

The airport in nearby Blanc Sablon, Quebec serves the Labrador Straits region. Regional airlines provide air links between Blanc Sablon and major centres in Newfoundland and Quebec. When planning a trip to the Labrador Straits by air be sure to investigate both the Quebec route and the Newfoundland route in order to receive the most travel options.

For more details aboout road travel, see the Newfoundland and Labrador Travel Guide . 

Local Transportation

The communities of the Labrador Straits are linked by a paved highway, extending for 80 km from L'Anse au Clair (just a few kilometres from Blanc Sablon) to Red Bay. Within the region there is a full range of automotive and RV services including gasoline and diesel stations, repair shops, propane outlets, waste disposal sites, etc. Rental vehicles ranging from compact cars to full size pickups and 4-wheel drives for winter travel, are available locally.