Trans Labrador highway
For all those thinking about taking this route, here is my report on our trip there last summer. We travel with a 35'-0 fifth wheel trailer. We had spent a month in Newfoundland and wanted to take a different route back home to Utah. Being the adventurous type, we decided this was the road for us. We started in Red Bay and ended in Baie-Comeau,Quebec. Total miles was 1094, of that, 508 was gravel.
1-Red Bay to Port Hope Simpson was 82 miles and took 4 hours. Rough gravel road with lots of wash boards and ruts, due to a lot of local traffic (semi trucks, etc.). Fuel available in Port Hope Simpson. No campground available but the store at the top of the hill where we got fuel let us stay in his parking lot.
2-Port Hope Simpson to Happy Valley/Goose Bay was 250 miles and took 6.5 hours. All gravel and rough until the Charlottetown turnoff, then the road was smooth and able to drive at 45 mph. Fuel available in Happy Valley/Goose Bay. We stayed at a campground in Happy Valley.
3-Happy Valley/Goose Bay to Wabush was 340 miles and took 7.5 hours. Only 80 miles of this section was gravel and was in good condition and smooth. Asphalt portion was new and in excellent condition. Fuel available in Churchill Falls and Wabush. We boondocked in a shopping center parking lot
4-Wabush to Relais-Gabriel was 152 miles and took 6 hours. The first 41 miles is gravel and is rough with lots of wash boards and ruts, again due to a lot of local traffic. The rest was asphalt. The first part of the asphalt was terrible. No pot holes, just lots of dips and bumps. Just had to slow down. Then new smooth asphalt. Fuel available in Relais-Gabriel. We boondocked in a pulloff just before reaching Relais-Gabriel.
5-Relais-Gabriel to Baie-Comeau was 220 miles and took 8 hours. First 55 miles was gravel and was in good condition. Then 165 of asphalt which had some new (good) sections but most was terrible condition. Would have rather driven on the gravel than this asphalt section. Again, just slow down and enjoy the adventure.
Labrador is in the process of paving the whole route so some delays due to that, but overall it was a great adventure and would do it again (although I did get out and kiss the asphalt when we were finally done with the gravel). We did pick up a satellite radio in L'Anse Au Clair and turned it in in Wabush but did not need it but glad we had it as there is a lot of wilderness there and long stretches without seeing any other people.
1-Red Bay to Port Hope Simpson was 82 miles and took 4 hours. Rough gravel road with lots of wash boards and ruts, due to a lot of local traffic (semi trucks, etc.). Fuel available in Port Hope Simpson. No campground available but the store at the top of the hill where we got fuel let us stay in his parking lot.
2-Port Hope Simpson to Happy Valley/Goose Bay was 250 miles and took 6.5 hours. All gravel and rough until the Charlottetown turnoff, then the road was smooth and able to drive at 45 mph. Fuel available in Happy Valley/Goose Bay. We stayed at a campground in Happy Valley.
3-Happy Valley/Goose Bay to Wabush was 340 miles and took 7.5 hours. Only 80 miles of this section was gravel and was in good condition and smooth. Asphalt portion was new and in excellent condition. Fuel available in Churchill Falls and Wabush. We boondocked in a shopping center parking lot
4-Wabush to Relais-Gabriel was 152 miles and took 6 hours. The first 41 miles is gravel and is rough with lots of wash boards and ruts, again due to a lot of local traffic. The rest was asphalt. The first part of the asphalt was terrible. No pot holes, just lots of dips and bumps. Just had to slow down. Then new smooth asphalt. Fuel available in Relais-Gabriel. We boondocked in a pulloff just before reaching Relais-Gabriel.
5-Relais-Gabriel to Baie-Comeau was 220 miles and took 8 hours. First 55 miles was gravel and was in good condition. Then 165 of asphalt which had some new (good) sections but most was terrible condition. Would have rather driven on the gravel than this asphalt section. Again, just slow down and enjoy the adventure.
Labrador is in the process of paving the whole route so some delays due to that, but overall it was a great adventure and would do it again (although I did get out and kiss the asphalt when we were finally done with the gravel). We did pick up a satellite radio in L'Anse Au Clair and turned it in in Wabush but did not need it but glad we had it as there is a lot of wilderness there and long stretches without seeing any other people.
