Can you drive Highways 389 and 500 in winter?
We've never personally drove the length of these roads in winter. However, if your vehicle is equipped with winter or all-season tires there should be no trouble negotiating the roads as long as you use common sense. Very few people have studded tires and we've never seen anybody use chains.
Many people tell us the road is in better condition in the winter when it's frozen. During the spring thaw from late March to May (depending on weather and how far north), there may be patches of ice or mud on the road. Our advice to anybody driving the road this time of year would be to take it slow and easy. One guest to our site made this recommendation: "drive only where you see tire tracks!" The plows push the snow well back from the edge of the road, so that what looks like a wide, smooth shoulder can be one meter (3 or 4 ft) ditch covered with soft snow. We advise planning on a ten-hour trip from Baie-Comeau to Labrador City, although the time may be shorter if weather and road conditions permit. In the summer, it takes us about eight to nine hours. We have heard of people driving the distance in 6½ hours; but we've known people that have been killed trying to do that, too. We do not recommend driving this road at night, especially if you're not familiar with the terrain. The road is hilly, winding, not well marked and has few guard rails.
Because eating facilities are few and far between and those that do serve food are a bit expensive, we purchase a picnic lunch and beverages at Baie Comeau.
For more information on traveling these roads, please see our "Travel" section. Our Links Section can be reached by the "Site Information" and lists more sites on remote travel.
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