Are you planning a trip to go camping in Gros Morne National Park?
I have one piece of advice: Go! As a full-time traveller and a lover of all things Canadian, I can say that Gros Morne National Park is truly a national treasure that everyone needs to experience.
I first heard about Gros Morne National Park in 2014 while walking through the aisles at the Vancouver Outdoor and Adventure Show. I saw a picture of the iconic Gros Morne Fjord, and the destination quickly jumped to the top of our bucket list.
Fast forward to 2017 and the celebration of Canada’s 150th, our family planned a trip across Eastern Canada to celebrate. I went back in the summer of 2024 for an adult only hiking trip, which, well I’m warning you, I’m going to spam this article with in hopes of inspiring you to plan your own camping and hiking trip to Gros Morne National Park!
So, let’s dig into all of the details about camping in Gros Morne National Park so you can start booking your reservations and planning for your incredible adventure.
Where is Gros Morne National Park?
Gros Morne National Park is located on the Northwest corner of Newfoundland. It is a 7-hour drive from St. John’s and a relatively remote destination, so while there are the basic amenities you will need, you’ll be heading into small town villages, so be sure to pack the essentials for your trip.
How big is Gros Morne National Park?
Gros Morne is 1805 Square Kilometers.
What is the closest airport to Gros Morne National Park?
The closest airport is Deer Lake Regional Airport, which is located a 25-minute drive from the entrance to Gros Morne National Park. However, do note that your destination may be quite far from the entrance to the park, so be sure to map it out and give yourself ample time. If you are planning on traveling during dawn or dusk, give extra time for slower driving due to animal encounters that may happen on the road.
What makes Gros Morne National Park so special?
“It took 485 million years for Mother Nature to create Gros Morne National Park, a place unlike any other on earth” (Destination Newfoundland). Once you start camping in Gros Morne National Park, you too will see what makes this park so extraordinary. A UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll be able to walk on geological formations that are in the process of continental drift, leaving the earth’s mantle exposed! You can only experience this in a few places on earth. With picture-perfect fjords perfectly placed in between mountains, panoramic views, and hikes that bring you to world-class views, there is a mecca of experiences awaiting at Gros Morne.
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links from which I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase your tickets. Money goes to help fund Adventure Awaits and keep more informational and educational articles coming your way!
Where to go Camping in Gros Morne National Park
All of the camping sites in Gros Morne National Park are owned and operated by Parks Canada. This means that to stay, you need to reserve a campsite at all of the parks except for Lomond Campground, which is on a first come, first served system. There’s also no overnight camping in day use parking lots so booking a site is essential to a good stay.
Also, being in a campground allows you to connect better with the culture of the park, take in incredible views (wait until you see our sunset overlooking the Tablelands), and invites you to take part in their educational programming.
How to book a campsite in Gros Morne National Park
All sites must be booked in advance for stays in Gros Morne National Park when the booking system opens early in the year (typically February). I highly recommend booking in advance as soon as you can (ideally on opening day) to get the best sites and secure your preferred dates. When booking, be sure to have your account set up before the day that reservations open and do your research to know what sites you want to book and when. To learn more about the Parks Canada reservation system, visit their website.
Campsites In Gros Morne National Park
Trout River Campground
This was the view from our campsite, where the sunset lit up the Tablelands with beautiful hues of glowing reds and oranges. This view is one that travellers who have stayed at this site will often share stories of, as I have encountered many people who stayed at this site and the first thing they ask is, “Did you get to see the Tablelands sunset?”
This is the same view taken from the other side of the campsite during sunrise. A bright view overlooks the Tablelands but is not quite as magical as the evening glow. Trout River Campground is the perfect basecamp to explore the Tablelands and do the Green Gardens hike (more info below). If you’re looking for a longer trip, you can drive 1 hour to the Visitor and Discovery Centre and get information and resources to plan out your adventures.
Trout River Campground is located on the Western side of the park and has 42 pet-friendly campsites for RV’s and tents, or you can stay in an oTENTik like we did (more info on those below).
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
RV Hook Ups: No
RV Size Limit: 35 feet (11 meters)
Amenities: Fire/BBQ pit, comfort station, drinking water, playground, internet/Wi-Fi
Reservations Required: Yes
Trout River oTENTik
If you want a glamping-style experience, booking an oTENTik at Trout River is the way to go. My family loves the more comfortable style of the accommodations, and I love that I get to pack less. And check out how BIG our campsite is, giving us lots of room to play and hang out!
Inside our oTENTik at Trout River Campground
Inside our oTENTik, we had a table, beds for up to 6 people, lights, and a small countertop to put things on. Each Parks Canada oTENTik has different amenities, so be sure to check with your specific park to find out what yours will have.
Photos Of Trout River Campground
Berry Hill Campground
Berry Hill Campground is Gros Morne’s largest and most centrally located campground, with 69 pet-friendly campsites for RVs and tents. The campsite also has Parks Canada accommodations including oTENTiks, rustic cabins, and group campsites.
We had a lot of fun staying in the rustic cabin. Similar to an oTENTik, these cabins had bunk beds and a table, but this one also had a wood stove, which helped keep us warm at night!
One of the best parts about this campground is that three hiking trails leave directly from the campground. It is also located close to Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse, the swimming pool, and restaurants and shops.
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
RV Hook Ups: 25 sites do have hookups available.
RV Size Limit: 35 feet (11 meters). If your RV is longer, you can contact the park to check availability.
Amenities: Fire BBQ pit, comfort station (including hot showers and flush toilets), kitchen station with wood stove, drinking water, playground, internet/Wi-Fi, dumping station, and laundry.
Reservations Required: Yes
Over the years I have come to appreciate the Parks Canada staff so much as we have had countless experiences with passionate staff members who are there to answer our questions, gift little items to our kids, help us out with our Xplorers Program, and do whatever they can to help ensure we have a fantastic time.
Green Point Campground
A smaller campground located on the traditional seasonal fishing village that overlooks the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, Green Point Campground has 30 pet-friendly sites for RV’s and tents, as well as our favourite oTENTiks!
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
RV Hook Ups: 25 sites do have hookups available.
RV Size Limit: 27 feet (8 meters)
Amenities: Fire/BBQ pit, comfort station, drinking water, playground, internet/Wi-Fi, dumping station, and laundry.
Reservations Required: Yes
Shallow Bay Campground
Are you looking for a campground on a beach? Well, Shallow Bay Campground is close and only a few steps from your campsite will have you on a white sandy beach! With 62 pet-friendly campsites and oTENTiks available, Shallow Bay Campground is the perfect basecamp for adventures. It is located 1 kilometer north of the small town of Cow Head, which is where you can find Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador performances throughout the summer.
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
RV Hook Ups: No
RV Size Limit: 35 feet (11 meters)
Amenities: Fire/BBQ pit, comfort station, drinking water, playground, internet/Wi-Fi, dumping station, and a sandy beach!
Reservations Required: Yes
First-Come, First-Serve Campsites in Gros Morne National Park
Lomond Campground
Lomond Campground is located on the seaside shores of Bonne Bay and is beautifully surrounded by the ocean and mountains. Recently renovated, Lomond Campground has 36 sites, 4 tiny cabins, 27 unserviced sites, 1 accessible unserviced campsite, and 6 unserviced beach sites (which I think would be my favourite). With drive-in and walk-in sites, unique accommodations overlooking beautiful ocean views, this is a campsite worth checking out.
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
RV Hook Ups: No
RV Size Limit: 35 feet (11 meters)
Amenities: Fire/BBQ pit, comfort station, drinking water, playground, internet/Wi-Fi, and dumping station.
Reservations Required: No. Reservations are not allowed.
Hotel Accommodation in Gros Morne National Park
If you want a break from camping and need a little hotel time, I recommend staying at:
Bonne Bay Inn
Located in the Woody Point community, this hillside hotel overlooks the Bonne Bay sights and beautiful scenery. Filled with East Coast charm, the bright-coloured rooms and local art welcome you into the space and showcase the essence of Newfoundland ambiance. You can soak in the views of Bonne Bay in their Blue Ocean Room or Jumpers Lobby lounge while you cuddle into a cozy corner or indulge in their local cuisine.
Book your stay at Bonne Bay Inn here!
Sugar Hill Inn
This 4.5-star country Inn in Norris Point has been welcoming guests since 1992. Their charming accommodation provides you with oversized rooms so you can stretch out and spread out (I did a yoga class in the middle of the room). After a delicious meal at their on-site restaurant, we headed down to the hot tub and sauna room for some real relaxation before settling into our room for the night. A real East Coast welcome and experience worth checking out (and also a great place to do laundry!).
Book your stay at Sugar Hill Inn here!
What To Do In Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne National Park Visitor and Discovery Centre
We highly recommend stopping at the visitor centre and checking out the interactive displays and hands-on experiences available for guests. Also, be sure to ask a Parks Canada staff member about any local programs or events happening that you can attend!
Best Hikes In Gros Morne National Park
Green Gardens Hike
I’ll never forget hiking out of the forest to find myself standing on top of a cliff overlooking a dramatic coastline filled with volcanic sea stacks and pebbly beaches. What we affectionately called “the reverse hike” you start off the hike by descending down 230 meters, making your way from the top of the earth’s mantle down to the beach. Once you’re at the top of the cliff you can take a staircase down to the actual beach and walk on the pebbles or if you’re wanting to go swimming in the Atlantic, take an icy dip (I’m so so glad I did!).
Be sure to pack all of the hiking essentials including lots of water, snacks, and clothing for changing weather. As you can see from my photos it was a beautiful and sunny day but ten minutes after these photos were taken the rain came in and we were all glad we had brought rain jackets and hats.
Distance: 10 km
Elevation Gain: 358 Meters
Style: Out and Back
Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
Green Gardens Hike Photos
Here are a few of my favourite photos to inspire your hiking trip to Green Gardens.
Tablelands Hike
The Tablelands were formed when the earth’s mantle was forced up to the surface during a plate collision, hundreds of millions of years ago. What’s most unique about exploring this area is that on one side of the street is the Tablelands (as pictured above) and the other side is lush, typical East Coast forest! Such unique geology!
There are a variety of trails you can take to explore the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park and I’m happy to have done both, to see the Tablelands from different perspectives.
Tablelands Trail
This trail is the most popular with tourists who are wanting to see the Tablelands but are not able to commit to a full hike. The trail winds alongside the Tablelands giving you lots of opportunities to look up to see the mantle above. The boardwalk makes for an easy trail, and if you want, you can continue on the full 7.7 kilometers or just do the first 2, for an easier hike (that’s what we did with the kids). Please note, it’s a VERY windy trail so be sure to dress appropriately.
Distance: Up to 7.7 km, but most people do the first 2km
Elevation Gain: 217 Meters
Style: Out and Back
Difficulty: Easy
Tablelands North Rim Hike – Hiking To The Top
If you want to go to the top of the Tablelands you can hike the North Rim Trail. This hike took us 5 hours and was 600 meters of elevation. At the top though we were able to see unobstructed views of The Bonne Bay Fjords and Gros Morne Mountain.
Distance: 11.7 km
Elevation Gain: 567 Meters
Style: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
Best of Both Worlds – 360 Tour by Wild Gros Morne!
The absolute best way to truly experience the Tablelands is to see them on a 360 Tour with Wild Gros Morne.
Your tour will start off with their seaside basecamp, where after a safety briefing, you will head out on a zodiac to explore the Bonne Bay. My favourite part was this photo where we were able to see the Tablelands, and found out that we would be hiking to the top of the shelf later that day.
Our time out on the water was special, as we got to learn about the history of the region, see the active port in action, and take in some of the sights like the beautiful lighthouse. After retuning to Wild Gros Morne we loaded up into the bus and headed for the base of the Tablelands.
A 3 hour hike up the off-trail slope had us at the summit and it was so incredible to look back down on the water to see where we had just been that morning. This really is my number one recommendation if you are visiting Gros Morne as you get the best of both worlds and a whole lot of perspective.
Tip: The packed lunch that they provide was the best packed lunch I have ever had, so definitely indulge in that!
Places To Visit In Gros Morne National Park
Lobster Cove Historic Site
Throughout the park there are a lot of different points of interest and historic sites to stop at, which each showcase a variety of aspects of the park history and park life. This picture was taken at Lobster Cove Historic Site and my daughter is trying to decode the message that is displayed on the flags… each flag has it’s own letter and this is how ships used to communicate with one another!
Take a Scenic Drive
Driving through Gros Morne is an adventure in itself. Whether you’re on the lookout for a moose, scanning the waters for Minke or Humpback whales, climbing up to viewpoints and lookouts, or enjoying all the small towns that dot the landscape, the park has so much to offer visitors.
Gros Morne Boat Tour
One of the best ways to experience Gros Morne is to spend some time out on the water. Whether you rent a kayak or take a boat tour, seeing the landscape from the other side provides a whole different perspective. We hopped on board Bonne Bay Boat Tours and enjoyed an Eco tour that brought us through the bay, seeing whales, eagles, and also taught us a whole bunch about the geology of the park and the people who live here.
Stay Up Late and See the Stars
One of my highlights of our whole 2017 Road Trip was waking up in the middle of the night to see the stars. I opened up the door to our oTENTik to a wall of stars. I felt like I was the captain of the Starship Enterprise and I was guiding us through space, one star passing us at a time. I’ve never seen the milky way so bright and present in the sky. I strongly suggest that if you have a clear night in the park you set your alarm and wake up to experience what a night sky can really be!
Gros Morne Parks Xplorers Program
Take part in a park’s program while you are visiting Gros Morne National Park. Whether you’re a kid looking to earn your parks Xplorers badge or an adult looking to do a guided hike, be sure to take advantage of one of the amazing free guided programs offered by Parks Canada. It’ll enhance your experience and let you see behind the scenes. Learn more, see more, do more!
Where to Eat In Gros Morne National Park
Taste Restaurant
A culinary delight that is good for the environment, Taste Restaurant prides themselves in serving guests sustainably sourced, locally grown food that is absolutely delicious (and beautiful to photograph). Sitting out on the deck overlooking Gros Morne National Park this was our first of many incredible culinary experiences in Gros Morne and not to be missed!
Dinner At Seaside Restaurant
An authentic East Coast experience that sits on the edge of the boardwalk this beachside restaurant offers classic East Coast food all while looking out over the sunset. Picture perfect and delicious, does it get any better than this?
If you can book a visit at sunset, do it! I took 50 or so photos of the sun as it dipped behind the clouds. Such a perfect way to end our first day at Gros Morne National Park.
Dine at Chanterelles At Sugar Hill Inn
You know it’s going to be a great meal when the Chef comes tableside to introduce himself.
A diverse menu awaits and the biggest problem you’ll have is deciding what to indulge in. We had as much fun photographing this beautiful food as we did eating it.
What To Pack For Your Camping Trip To Gros Morne National Park
Here are the essentials you should pack:
- Camping Gear (this will vary based on your style of camping accommodations that you have booked). We brought our cooking and basic camping gear like sleeping bags, but didn’t need mattresses or tents as it was included in our oTENTiks and rustic cabins.
- Full Camping List – Check out this page with a full list of everything you could possibly need for a trip and adjust it to your needs.
- Layers! I can’t articulate it enough how important layers are. The weather changes dramatically and quickly and you need to be able to adjust as needed to stay comfortable.
- Rain gear. Even in the summer. I used mine daily, even sometimes if it was just for a wind break.
- Mittens/gloves and a toque.
- Sunglasses. Sunscreen. Bug Spray
- Day hiking gear—good footwear, small backpack, water bottle
Camping in Gros Morne National Park FAQ
How many days do you need in Gros Morne National Park?
I would recommend that 4 days be your minimum if you are planning a camping trip to Gros Morne. That would allow you to experience the essentials and leave you with so much unexplored that you’ll probably do what I did and plan another trip back! If you want to see it all you could spend weeks exploring. So it’s up to you on your travel style, available time, and budget.
Are there bears in Gros Morne National Park?
There are a few bears in Gros Morne National Park, but they are not a common sight in the park. However, always be sure to keep a “bare” campsite.
Do you have to pay to go to Gros Morne National Park?
Yes, Gros Morne is a National Park and requires a day pass or Discovery Pass in order to enter. Camping sites do have additional fees that vary based on your accommodation type.
When is the best time of year to visit Gros Morne National Park?
Aim for good weather if you can, I would have liked to have do more hiking but needed more time and better weather… especially for the kids! The best months to visit are July and August, but rain can be experienced any time of the year so come prepared!
There you have it! I hope that all of these details about camping in Gros Morne National Park have inspired you to start booking your reservations and planning for your incredible adventure!
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Is this a sponsored post?: Yes, our Gros Morne National Park experience is sponsored. However, my opinions and reviews are my own.
