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{{stub}}Newfoundland and Labrador is the eastern most province of [[Canada]]. The vast majority of the province's 510,000 residents live on the island of Newfoundland, while the isolated Labrador peninsula is home to approximately 27,000. The province's capital city, [[St. John's]] , is located at the eastern end of the [[Trans-Canada Highway|Transcanadian Highway]]. The province boasts the lowest crime rate in Canada, and its residents have a long-established reputation for being hospitable.
'''New Found Land''' is an eastern Maritimes Both island and mainland portions are accessible by air and by sea. A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Newfoundland_and_Labrador number of airports] dot the province, though only a select few receive regular flights from outside of the province . The federally administered Marine Atlantic ferry service runs two terminals, providing year-round service out of Port-aux-Basque and seasonal service out of Argentia. There is also ferry service to the [[CanadaFrance|French]], called islands of ''the Rock[[Saint-Pierre and Miquelon|Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon]]'' due to its austere geography and location as an island closing the St-Lawrence Bay.
The mainland part of the province is called [[Labrador]] and borders [[Quebec]].== Road Systems ==
It*[[Trans-Canada Highway]]This is Newfoundland's Capital citymain highway, [[extending East-West between St. John's]]and Port-aux-Basque. The vast majority of Newfoundland and Labrador communities are dispersed along the coast, however, often inside of harboured inlets and bays found of the island's many peninsulas. Most of these coastal communities are serviced by feeder highways, known locally as "access roads", is that run between the TCH and the Eastern starting point “tips” of the [[Transcanadian Highway]]inhabited peninsulas. and Others communities are only accessible either by air via provincial airlines, private watercraft, or provincially-operated ferries — most notably those of Newfoundland's Southern Coast, the Labrador Straits, and the Nunatsiavut area. The province’s population is sparse and widely distributed making hitchhiking to offbeat destinations difficult, but by ferry from [[Nova Scotia]]no means impossible.
There Travelling via the TCH from St. John’s to Port-aux-Basque covers 900km and takes approximately ten to thirteen hours. This significant distance demands an early morning from the hitchhiker trying to make the late night ferry before nightfall. As the departure time approaches, it is also common for ferry services goers to stop at the [[France|French]] islands of ''[[Saint-Pierre-ethighway’s many gas stations – asking for rides there is a relatively safe and effective option for night-Miquelon]]''time travel.
== *[[Trans-Labrador ==Highway]] The TLH is the only through road in mainland Labrador. It was completed in 2010, so it is finally possible to hitchhike all the way across Labrador from Newfoundland back to [[Quebec]]. It is a very unique route which draws hitchhikers and adventurers from around the world.
The [[Transcanadian Highway]] Hitchhiking is technically illegal under section 128(3) of the only main highway on province’s Highways Traffic Act. However, the island, it goes east from west. Although Newfoundlanders can statute appears to be considered some unenforced given its lack of citations in the nicest people, hitchhiking can be difficult in this provinceCanadian Legal Information Institute’s court proceeding archive.
Hitchhiking '''is''' legal all across Also, a few roadways around the province, no matter where you areSt. John’s metro area, shoulders are decent for stopping. The only problem is like the driversPitt’s Memorial Highway, forbid any pedestrian and the amount of traffic. One of the only sources of long distance drivers there are are from the ferry from [[Cape Breton]] to [[Port-aux-Basques]]. If you are not on the highway as the cars come out of that ferry going east (or were unfortunate enough to have not found anyone willing to give you a ride off the ferry, you have limited traffic eastwardcyclist access.
Westward is a different story, as most long distance drivers are heading to the ferry at various times. Early in the morning is the best time to leave, because it takes 10 hours to cross, and the two ferries generally depart to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia at around 7AM and 11PM.== Ferries ==
There is also Travellers can buy a ticket for a second Marine Atlantic ferry in the summer that departs from Argentiaon-line, by phone, Newfoundlandor at a terminal. This It is not uncommon during the peak travel season for the Port-aux-Basque ferry costs much more to get sell out of tickets – even for (on and also takes 8the rare occasion) "walk-10 on" passengers. This can pose a problem while hitchhiking given its unpredictable nature. Calling ahead your reservation, even several hours longerbefore departure, and most people heading will likely be enough to it are tourists who don't want to drive across the island to go backensure your passage. Walk-on tickets cost $42.43 as of May 2015.
My only advice to hitchikers in Newfoundland The Argentia ferry is: "Keep walking backwards melocated two hours from St. John’s. It is largely frequented by tourists and generally has fewer passengers, both factors decreasing the chances of finding a ride. Walk-son!"on tickets cost approximately $110.
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There are many small towns in the rural areas that are quite close together. It can be a hassle at times but you will always find someone to pick you up. Night traffic is usually light in rural areas and it is generally a good idea to stay at a town or road junction instead of walking in "the middle of nowhere"
== Newfoundland Laws ==
Hitchhikers travelling on the Marine Atlantic ferries should solicit rides from passengers prior to offloading. This is because walk-on passengers must board a pedestrian bus to the ferry terminal, all the while cars are exiting the ferry heading for the highway.
<!-- ?? It’d be nice to develop more of the provincial ferry info" -->
<!-- ?? My only advice to hitchhikers in Newfoundland is: "Keep walking backwards me-son!" -->
== St. John's ==
One way of getting out of St. John's is via Pitts Memorial Drive. It's located downtown towards the west end of Water Street. A small traffic island underneath a set of traffic lights is the best place to plant. It is important to have a “TCH” sign or to ask the driver if he or she is going as far as the TCH on-ramp, because Pitts Memorial is a busy commuter roadway unsuitable for hitchhiking. Avoid the once-suitable Kenmount Road area as recent urban expansion and increased traffic has made this route difficult for hitchhiking.
A $15 bus ride to Whitbourne will save the hassle of trying to get out of the city and off the Avalon Peninsula. You stand a much better chance of scoring a good ride quick from here than in town! At the very least get a cab to the overpass. The cabbie will know where you mean ;) but the bus is probably cheaper and more effective.
== Experiences ==
In 2014 July-August [[User:Bella|Bella]] and boyfriend hitchhiked Newfoundland as did a fellow friend and another traveller they met in Trinity East. The people of Newfoundland are relaxed you will have an '''amazing''' time hitch hiking, if you talk to the drivers in a lovely way and actually care about their stories and them as humans you will no doubt be given food and sometimes accommodation!
Newfoundlanders are The most helpful people in Canada and you will have a great time! If it isn't legal then you would never know. You rarely see police drive by in rural Newfoundland. The places are easy to get to as locals usually want to say hello.
.St John's ..check with highway police for inner city hitch hiking.
I hitchhiked through western Newfoundland and across mainland Labrador back in September, 2012 and loved it. Gros Morne National Park is a must see, and the trans-labrador highway is unfogettable. This is easily my favorite province of [[Canada]]. [[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] ([[User talk:Thewindandrain|talk]]) 04:36, 31 July 2014 (UTC)
The hitching spot at the start of Pitt's Memorial Drive is not perfect as there's no convenient place for cars to pull-over safely, but if it's a slow Sunday morning, it works! (Verified May 2015). [[User:Drumroots|Drumroots]] got a lift which wasn't going as far as the TCH, so he had to hitch on Pitt's Memorial Drive itself; however, he didn't have to wait too long for another lift to the TCH, the driver detouring a little to plant him at the first service station on the TCH which is just after the Pitt's/TCH intersection.
In general, Drumroots found hitching in Newfoundland very easy and the locals to be very hospitable and generous.
{{Provinces Canada}}
{{IsIn|Canada}}
[[Category:Island]]
[[Category:Newfoundland and Labrador]]
