Cape Spear & Petty Harbour: Our Newfoundland Day Trip from St. John’s

It was our third day in Newfoundland and, unfortunately, our final full day before leaving.

After spending plenty of time enjoying St. John’s, we wanted to get back on the road and experience a little more of the Avalon Peninsula.

Our plan was simple: drive from St. John’s to Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site, visit Canada’s most easterly point and then continue to the small fishing community of Petty Harbour.

What we did not plan for was incredibly thick fog, an unexpected stop at an 1879 one-room school, underground Second World War bunkers and getting our hands wet at a tiny local aquarium.

It turned into one of our favourite days of the trip.

Watch the full adventure below, then keep reading for everything we saw and what we would recommend if you want to combine Cape Spear and Petty Harbour into your own day trip from St. John’s.

Before leaving St. John’s, we spent some time walking along the harbour.

One fun stop is Harbourside Park, where two large bronze dog statues celebrate two breeds closely associated with the province: the Newfoundland and the Labrador Retriever.

They make for an easy photo stop while exploring the waterfront, particularly if you are already staying downtown.

Naturally, as people who travel with a pug named Lily Mae, we tend to notice dog-related attractions.

After enjoying the harbour for a while, it was time to get in the vehicle and leave the city.

Our destination was Cape Spear.

Cape Spear is only about 12 kilometres southeast of St. John’s, making it an easy excursion from the city.

The drive took us approximately 20 minutes.

That is one of the things we enjoy so much about travelling around St. John’s. You can be walking Water Street or looking at the harbour and, a short time later, find yourself surrounded by dramatic coastline and the open Atlantic.

When we arrived, we entered the parking area and made our way toward the visitor facilities.

There are washrooms and visitor services on site, and depending on the season you may also find food and other facilities operating.

But the first thing that caught our attention was impossible to miss.

The lighthouse.

The first lighthouse you are likely to notice is not actually the historic one most associated with Cape Spear.

It is the newer, concrete lighthouse constructed in 1955 when the original light was moved from the older structure.

The newer tower stands about 13.7 metres, or 45 feet, tall and remains an active navigational light.

Even through the incredibly thick fog during our June visit, the bright white structure stood out immediately.

We followed the stairs uphill and spent some time walking around it.

My recommendation is not to rush past this lighthouse simply because the older one receives more historical attention.

Walk around it.

Look at it from several directions.

And then turn around and look back at it once you have moved farther across the site.

Some of my favourite photos from Cape Spear ended up being the lighthouse disappearing into the fog behind us.

We arrived expecting enormous views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Instead, we could barely see the Atlantic Ocean.

The fog was so dense that when we looked toward the edge of the land, the scenery simply disappeared.

We could hear the ocean below.

We could hear the wind.

And throughout much of the visit, we could hear a foghorn blasting somewhere through the mist.

At first, we were disappointed.

Cape Spear is famous for its views, and we had imagined standing there looking out across the seemingly endless Atlantic.

Then something changed.

The fog became part of the experience.

The lighthouse would appear and disappear in the distance. The coastline looked mysterious. Walking around the old military installations felt more ominous than it probably would have on a bright summer afternoon.

I described it in the video as feeling like something from a Stephen King movie.

By the time we left, I was actually glad this was how we experienced Cape Spear for the first time.

Would I like to return on a clear day?

Absolutely.

But I would not trade away the foggy visit either.

From the active lighthouse, make your way toward the original Cape Spear Lighthouse.

The light began operating in 1836 and remained in service until the newer lighthouse replaced it in 1955.

The historic structure is particularly significant because it is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador. Cape Spear itself forms the easternmost point of North America, excluding Greenland.

The lighthouse has been restored to show visitors what life was like for lighthouse keepers and their families in the 19th century.

One of the most interesting parts of its history involves the Cantwell family.

Generations of Cantwells cared for the light for more than 150 years, creating an unusually long family connection to Cape Spear.

There is a plaque on the property recognizing their role.

When the historic lighthouse interior is open for the season, take the time to go inside.

The building is more than something to photograph from the outside. Seeing the living spaces gives you a much better sense of how isolated lighthouse life could have been.

I expected Cape Spear to primarily be about the two lighthouses and the geographic significance of the location.

I underestimated how much military history is here.

During the Second World War, Cape Spear became a coastal-defence site designed to help protect the approaches to St. John’s Harbour.

Remnants of that installation remain throughout the property, including large coastal guns, concrete emplacements, bunkers and underground passageways.

We followed the paths away from the lighthouses and explored the military section.

The enormous guns immediately give you a sense of the scale of the defence system.

Then you can walk through portions of the bunkers and passageways.

On our foggy morning, this became one of the most atmospheric parts of the visit.

The ocean was somewhere beyond the mist.

The foghorn continued sounding.

And we were walking through old military structures built to watch for hostile vessels approaching one of Newfoundland’s most important harbours.

Cape Spear ended up being much more historically interesting than I expected.

This was one stop we definitely were not going to miss.

Cape Spear is the easternmost point of Canada and, excluding Greenland, the easternmost point of North America.

There is a marker where visitors can stop and get the obligatory photo.

We now live in Windsor, Ontario, which sits in one of the southernmost parts of Canada, so there was something particularly fun about travelling from home to the country's extreme eastern edge.

Geographic superlatives are simple attractions, but I love them.

There is something satisfying about being able to say, “This is as far east as you can go.”

Give yourself a few minutes here rather than simply taking the photo and immediately moving on.

Even when we could barely see the water because of the fog, knowing what was beyond us made the location feel significant.

Another thing I liked about the site was how easy it was to wander.

You do not need to follow one rigid route.

Most people will naturally head toward the lighthouses first, but paths continue along the coastline and toward the military installations.

We spent time simply following whatever looked interesting.

There are stairs and elevation changes, so comfortable footwear is helpful.

Weather is another consideration.

Cape Spear is extremely exposed to the Atlantic. Conditions can be colder, wetter and windier than what you experienced in St. John’s earlier the same day.

Bring layers.

And never treat the coastline casually. Stay behind barriers and heed Parks Canada safety signage around cliffs and the water.

When we eventually made our way back toward the visitor centre and gift shop, I kept turning around to look at the lighthouse.

It would appear faintly through the fog before almost disappearing again.

That image became one of my favourite memories of Cape Spear.

Travel rarely gives you exactly the conditions shown in tourism photos.

Sometimes you get rain.

Sometimes you get wind.

Sometimes you arrive at one of Canada's most famous ocean viewpoints and cannot see the ocean.

That does not necessarily mean you received the worse version of the experience.

We got a different one.

Once we felt we had explored everything we wanted to see, we returned to the vehicle and started driving away from Cape Spear.

Then the scenery changed.

After spending so much time surrounded by fog, we suddenly reached clearer conditions and Newfoundland's coastline appeared around us.

We had to pull over.

Sometimes a view hits harder because you have been unable to see anything for the previous couple of hours.

We stopped for a few minutes simply to enjoy the landscape.

That unplanned roadside moment became another reminder not to rush when driving around Newfoundland.

While travelling along Blackhead Road, we noticed a sign for the Blackhead One-Room School and Church Museum.

We had no plans to visit it.

We turned anyway.

That decision led to one of the most personal experiences of the day.

Before going inside, we drove toward the bottom of Blackhead Village Road to enjoy the coastal scenery.

Then we returned to the museum.

The restored building dates to 1879 and originally served as a one-room school before later being used as a chapel. The museum also contains local history and genealogy exhibits.

It happened to be the first day the museum was open for the season.

Even better, the woman showing us around had grown up in the community and had actually attended the one-room school when she was a child.

Suddenly this was not simply an old building filled with historical information.

We were hearing about it from someone who had been a student there.

We learned about the school and community, spent some time talking with her and left a small donation before continuing down the road.

The museum is free to visit, but it operates seasonally and has a relatively short summer opening period, so check current dates before making a special trip.

It was an excellent reminder of why we sometimes turn when we see an interesting roadside sign.

Not everything worthwhile needs to be planned.

From there, we continued to Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove.

This is exactly the type of place I picture when I think about small coastal communities in Newfoundland.

Colourful houses rise along the hills.

Fishing boats sit in the harbour.

The surrounding terrain feels dramatic.

And water seems to be visible almost everywhere you look.

Our advice is simple:

Park the vehicle and walk.

You do not need an elaborate list of Petty Harbour attractions to appreciate the community.

Walk beside the harbour.

Look at the fishing activity.

Follow the roads that catch your attention.

Take photos.

Petty Harbour looks almost too perfectly Newfoundland to be real.

One mistake we try not to make when visiting small communities is treating them as a five-minute photo stop.

Petty Harbour is small, but that is precisely why walking works so well.

There is no need to rush between major attractions.

We spent time around the harbour watching the boats and taking in the landscape.

The steep hills surrounding the community create interesting views from nearly every direction.

And even after visiting the aquarium, we came back outside and ended up wandering around again because the scenery caught our attention all over again.

One actual attraction we recommend is the Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium.

And the word “mini” is accurate.

This is not a giant commercial aquarium where you need half a day.

It is a small, seasonal, hands-on aquarium focused on marine life found around Newfoundland.

That is what makes it interesting.

The aquarium currently describes itself as a catch-and-release facility displaying local marine creatures through tanks, touch exhibits and educational programming. At the end of the season, animals are returned to the ocean.

During our visit, we saw creatures including:

• Starfish
• Crabs
• Capelin
• Other local marine species

Some exhibits allow visitors to carefully interact with animals such as crabs and starfish.

The staff helped explain what we were looking at and made the experience more engaging than simply walking past tanks.

We paid:

• C$12 per adult
• C$7 for children and teens ages 3–17

Those prices remain the aquarium's posted 2026 general-admission rates. Children under three are currently free.

Always confirm rates before visiting in a future season.

At C$12, I thought it was worthwhile.

You probably will not spend hours inside, but it is inexpensive, local and genuinely connected to Newfoundland's marine environment.

It is also particularly well suited to families with children.

And on our visit, it had another benefit.

It was warm.

We noticed a significant temperature difference when we reached Petty Harbour.

It felt colder than both St. John’s and Cape Spear had earlier in the day.

After walking around outside, getting into the Mini Aquarium for a while was very welcome.

This is another reason to bring layers even on a summer Newfoundland road trip.

Do not assume that because the temperature feels comfortable in downtown St. John’s, it will feel identical beside the ocean 20 minutes later.

Wind direction, fog and proximity to the water can make a noticeable difference.

Yes, and I think they pair together extremely well.

You could comfortably use this basic route:

Morning: St. John’s
Start downtown and take a quick walk through Harbourside Park before getting on the road.

Late morning: Cape Spear
Allow at least a couple of hours if you want to properly see:

• The active lighthouse
• Historic Cape Spear Lighthouse
• The most easterly point marker
• WWII gun emplacements
• Bunkers and passages
• Coastal paths
• Visitor facilities and gift shop

You could spend longer if you enjoy photography, hiking or history.

Early afternoon: Blackhead
Watch for the Blackhead One-Room School and Church Museum if it is open.

This does not need to be a long visit, but it was one of our favourite unexpected stops.

Afternoon: Petty Harbour
Walk around the harbour and community, then visit the Mini Aquarium if it is operating.

There is no need to fill every minute with attractions.

Petty Harbour itself is part of the attraction.

Evening: Return to St. John’s
From Petty Harbour, it is an easy drive back toward the city.

That leaves plenty of time for dinner downtown and one more evening in St. John’s.

Bring layers
Cape Spear and Petty Harbour can feel much colder and windier than St. John’s.

Wear proper shoes
You will encounter stairs, hills, paths and uneven areas around Cape Spear.

Do not skip Cape Spear because of fog
You may lose the huge ocean views, but the atmosphere can be incredible.

Explore beyond the lighthouses
The WWII coastal defences were one of the most interesting surprises at Cape Spear.

Find the easternmost-point marker
It is an easy thing to miss if you only focus on the lighthouses.

Leave room for unexpected stops
We did not plan to visit the one-room school. It became one of the most memorable parts of the day.

Check seasonal opening dates
The historic lighthouse interior, Blackhead museum and Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium all have seasonal schedules.

Give Petty Harbour time
Do not drive in, photograph the harbour and immediately leave.

Walk around.

Take the weather seriously
Newfoundland coastal weather changes quickly. Fog, wind and cold temperatures can appear even during summer.

Without question.

I actually think the weather made our first visit more memorable.

A clear day would have provided enormous Atlantic views, and that is something we still want to experience.

But the fog gave us something completely different.

The active lighthouse emerged from the mist.

The foghorn sounded continuously.

The old military bunkers felt eerie.

And Canada's most easterly point seemed to disappear directly into the Atlantic.

Cape Spear is one of those places where imperfect weather does not necessarily create an imperfect visit.

Absolutely.

Petty Harbour provided a completely different experience from Cape Spear even though the two are close enough to combine into one outing.

Cape Spear was dramatic, historical and windswept.

Petty Harbour felt intimate and lived-in.

We enjoyed the harbour, colourful homes, fishing boats and Mini Aquarium, but mostly we liked simply being there.

It looked exactly like the type of Newfoundland fishing village we hoped to experience.

Eventually, we had to accept that the day was over.

We returned to St. John’s knowing our second consecutive Newfoundland trip was almost finished.

That was not easy.

Between this day and our earlier adventures around St. John’s, Bay Bulls, Torbay and other parts of the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland had once again given us more reasons to return.

At least someone was happy to see us come home.

Lily Mae had stayed behind for this part of the trip, so we brought her home a Newfoundland souvenir: a stuffed whale.

We got to see actual whales earlier in the trip.

Lily got her own whale.

Everyone wins.

Cape Spear and Petty Harbour made an excellent final full day, but they also reinforced something we already knew.

We are nowhere close to finished with Newfoundland.

Read our previous Newfoundland story, Whales, Cafés, Coastal Views, and Why We Love Newfoundland, for our favourite St. John’s stops and our whale-and-puffin tour from Bay Bulls.