Drives Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador
Cape Spear Drive
Blackhead Road · Shea Heights → Cape Spear
The drive
Route 11, also called Cape Spear Drive, leads from St. John's to Cape Spear, the easternmost point of Canada and of North America excluding Greenland. This drive is 6.7 miles, takes about 15 minutes and ends near the cape.
Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site has the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador, with guided tours about light-keeping family life in the 1830s. A light has operated here since 1836, and the Cantwell family kept it for over 150 years. A World War II gun battery stands here, and the gun barrels remain.
Cape Spear is also where two sections of the East Coast Trail end. Parks Canada posts warnings because large, unpredictable waves have swept away visitors.
Along the way
- Shea Heights
- Cape Spear
Good to know
- Parks Canada charges a daily visitor fee in season, with free admission for youth.
- Visitor services run June to October; the grounds are open year-round.
- Stay back from the water: large, unpredictable waves have swept visitors away.
Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Parks Canada: Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site.
Questions about this drive
How long does the drive to Cape Spear take?
The 6.7-mile drive on Route 11 to Cape Spear takes about 15 minutes.
Is Cape Spear the easternmost point in North America?
It is the easternmost point of Canada and of North America, excluding Greenland.
Is there a fee for Cape Spear?
Parks Canada charges a daily visitor fee, with free admission for youth.
Is Cape Spear open in winter?
The grounds are open year-round, but visitor services run only June to October.
What you get in the app
Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.
More drives near here
Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.