Labrador Coastal Drive (Route 510)

Route 510 hugs Labrador’s dramatic Atlantic coast for 79 kilometers, connecting tiny fishing settlements that cling to rocky shores where icebergs drift past in summer. Starting at the Quebec border in Blanc-Sablon, the gravel road winds through L’Anse au Clair and Forteau before ending at Red Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site where 16th-century Basque whalers established the world’s first industrial whaling station. The route passes ancient Maritime Archaic burial grounds, traditional fishing stages, and endless views of the Strait of Belle Isle where massive icebergs calve from Greenland glaciers.

It’s a moderate difficulty drive requiring high-clearance vehicles due to loose gravel, washouts, and steep coastal grades. Weather can change instantly from fog to fierce Atlantic storms. Summer offers 20-hour daylight and wildflowers, but bring warm clothes—it rarely gets above 15°C. The payoff is experiencing authentic Labrador fishing culture, archaeological sites spanning 9,000 years, and coastline so raw and beautiful it’ll leave you speechless. Stock up on fuel and supplies in Blanc-Sablon.