Holyrood is located at the head of Conception Bay, about 48 km (30 mi) southwest of St. John's. The community is spread out along the southern shoreline of a deep, well-protected, 7.25 km (4.5 mi-) long inlet of Conception Bay, known as Holyrood Bay. Settlement has always been concentrated along the shores of one of the two arms of the inlet, the South Arm, although North Arm has always been the site of a few homes as well. Good anchorage is provided by the waters in South Arm in depths of 16 to 18 fm (29.3 to 32.9 m) and in North Arm in depths of 9 to 10 fm (16.5 to 18.3 m). The port of Holyrood, which is controlled by Canadian Immigration and Customs personnel, is normally ice-free year-round.