This video breaks down how to take a side-by-side across Canada’s Newfoundland based on a detailed planning video.
Some adventure videos demand your full attention before you even know whether the trip they document is remotely realistic for you, especially when they cover something as large and logistically complex as crossing Newfoundland by side-by-side. This one is different. Before committing to an hour-long planning deep dive, I took the notes so you don’t have to.
Consider this a primer…a way to decide whether this is even a trip you want to seriously entertain before you sit down with a coffee, a notepad, and the full video. If it is, you should absolutely watch it. The amount of care and clarity behind this project deserves the views.
The creator, East Coast ATV, lays everything out plainly. No bravado. No shortcut thinking. Just a methodical explanation of what it actually takes to traverse Newfoundland by ATV or UTV, from ferry bookings to daily mileage, navigation strategy, packing decisions, and the small details that only reveal their importance once you’re already committed.
Planning starts with time. You choose your window, then lock in ferry crossings early, including vehicle space and overnight accommodations if needed. It’s an upfront commitment, but the cancellation policy makes early booking a low-risk move. From there, the trip narrows into route selection, lodging, and logistics.
This part will feel familiar to anyone who has planned long motorcycle trips. Weather exposure, fuel range, daylight, and fatigue shape everything. Where the experience starts to diverge is space. On a motorcycle, every decision is a tradeoff. Extra fuel means less comfort. Comfort means fewer backups. Packing becomes an exercise in subtraction. You wear your boots everywhere. You carry what you must and accept the discomfort that follows.
A UTV changes that equation. There’s more room for grace. That doesn’t mean careless packing. It means planning with intention instead of constant sacrifice. You still need to think about fuel range, weather windows, and how much suffering you’re willing to tolerate, but you’re no longer forced to strip the experience down to survival alone.
Route planning demands patience. Daily mileage should reflect terrain, not optimism. Shorter routes can take longer. Easier-looking lines can drain more energy. Fatigue still builds, even with four wheels and a seat. I’ve spent long days in UTVs, and while the physical toll is different than a motorcycle, it’s still real. Mental fatigue sneaks in more quietly, especially when terrain demands attention for hours at a time.
Crossing Newfoundland in UTV
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The video emphasizes setting realistic daily goals, basing them on past experience, and leaving margin for the unexpected. Getting lost happens. Mechanical issues happen. Time disappears faster than planned. I’ve learned to set a firm end-of-day deadline—often dictated by sunset—and then build in a buffer before that. Two hours of grace can turn a stressful day into a flexible one. Night riding is sometimes unavoidable, which makes lighting, auxiliary lamps, and visibility planning essential rather than optional.
Navigation is where trips like this either hold together or unravel. Cell service is unreliable, so routes need to be downloaded and usable offline. GPS files matter. Dedicated units like a Garmin InReach help. Phones help too, provided maps are saved in advance, and battery management is taken seriously. Redundancy is the point. Multiple devices, multiple file formats, and multiple ways to orient yourself when one system fails.
On longer motorcycle trips, I’ve relied on a dedicated GPS alongside my phone, often cross-referencing GPX files with Google Maps routes where possible. Saving offline map regions ahead of time through apps like onX Off-Road, sharing routes with people back home, and keeping devices fully charged (or backed up with spare batteries) have saved me more than once. The same logic applies here. When things go sideways, clarity beats precision every time.
Packing strategy is about restraint. Lay everything out. Then, as you go, start removing what you can reasonably replace. Emergency gear stays. Comfort earns its place only after essentials are secured. Warmth isn’t optional. Dry layers matter. Food, water, and electrolytes are non-negotiable. Extra weight needs to justify itself.
UTVs make it tempting to bring everything. That temptation should be resisted just enough to leave room for the unexpected, whether that’s groceries, supplies, or parts that need to be carried out after a failure. Comforts can be worth it. They reduce fatigue and make long days more enjoyable, but only after you’ve protected your margin.
Weather planning runs parallel to every decision. Conditions change quickly. Routes that look safe on a map can become liabilities after heavy rain, flooding, or sudden temperature drops. Understanding alternate exits, paved connectors, and bailout routes matters. So does knowing where higher ground sits along your path.
Crossing Newfoundland in UTV
This is where satellite communication becomes essential. Devices like Garmin InReach or similar systems aren’t about drama. They’re about staying connected when the landscape doesn’t care whether you planned well or not. Rescue insurance is also worth considering in remote regions, where extraction is slow, expensive, and complicated.
Recovery and first aid belong quietly in the background of every decision. Tow straps, winches, traction aids, shovels, and basic repair tools form the baseline. A serious first aid kit matters. Training matters more. Four wheels offer shelter, but they don’t eliminate risk. They simply reshape it.
There’s also a responsibility component that deserves attention. Trips like this move through communities, not just wilderness. Trail access exists because riders respect the places and people they pass through. Slow down in towns. Keep noise in check. Avoid throwing dust near homes, campsites, or parked vehicles. Courtesy preserves access. Access keeps trips like this possible.
What the video does best is remove mystery. It doesn’t sell the trip as easy or extreme. It presents it as achievable, provided you respect the planning, the environment, and your own limits. That honesty is why it works.
If this kind of journey is even a remote possibility for you, the full video is worth your time. This article gives you the framework. The video fills in the texture. Between the two, you’ll know whether crossing Newfoundland by side-by-side belongs on your list—or stays where it should, as a good idea admired from a distance.