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The Ultimate Quebec Road Trip Itinerary for 2024: An Itinerary You NEED to Steal

By: Author Girl with the Passport

Posted on Last updated: November 8, 2023

Categories North America

Ready to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Quebec and all that it has to offer as you plan an ultra-rad Quebec road trip itinerary this summer and beyond?

Heck yeah, you are since Quebec is easily one of the most gorgeous provinces in Canada and is home to some of the most beautiful places to visit in the entire country.

However, with so much to see and do, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to planning some of the most scenic drives in Quebec .

Well, luckily for you, I’ve been hopping across the border and traveling throughout Quebec for well over 30 years now.

Yup, my family has a house on Lake Champlain – near the border in New York – and I’ve been loving Quebec since the ripe old age of six.

Therefore, I have the inside scoop on what to do, where to go, and what to see when planning the best ever Quebec road trip .

So, stop seeing Quebec like a tourist and start experiencing all that this next-level magical province has to offer as you enjoy some of the best-hidden gems in the region with this comprehensive guide to planning a road trip through Quebec .

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

14 Day Quebec Road Trip Itinerary Summary

• Day 1 – 2 – Montreal
• Day 3 – Eastern Townships
• Day 4 – 5 – Quebec City
• Day 6 – La Malbaie
• Day 7 – 8 – Tadoussac
• Day 9 – Rimouski
• Day 10 – Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
• Day 11 – 12 – Gaspé
• Day 13 – Percé
• Day 14 – Carleton-sur-mer

Alternative 21 Day Itinerary for Quebec

• Day 1 – 3 – Montreal
• Day 4 – 5 – Eastern Townships
• Day 6 – 8 – Quebec City
• Day 9 – 10 La Malbaie
• Day 11 – 13 – Tadoussac
• Day 14 – Rimouski
• Day 15 – 16 – Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
• Day 17 – 18 – Gaspé
• Day 19 – 20 – Percé
• Day 21 – Carleton-sur-mer

Best Quebec Road Trip itinerary

1. montreal.

The largest city in Quebec is also one of the hippest in Canada!

After all, Montreal is known throughout the country for its rich history, awesome festivals, and stellar takeaway food like poutine and bagels.

You’ll also find unique neighborhoods full of cafes and shops, as well as a thriving street art scene that everyone will enjoy.

As a result, this enchanting city makes for an ideal first stop on your epic Quebec road trip .

Trust me, you’ll find a long list of things to do in Montreal that keep you there for a week. But, if you’re looking for a taste of the city, I recommend adding at least two days in Montreal to your road trip itinerary.

Top Things to do in Montreal

• Notre Dame Basilica – Reminiscent of the grand Notre Dame in Paris, Montreal’s Notre Dame is a must-visit. The church is nearly 200 years old and is home to stunning stained-glass windows from Limoges. Be sure to look up so you can take in the vaulted ceiling with its 24 karat gold stars against a rich dark blue background. Plus, there’s a light and sound show called Aura too.
• Museum of Fine Arts – Montreal is filled with museums, but the best and largest is the Museum of Fine Arts. The museum is spread out over five pavilions and features a concert hall, a theater, and even hosts a variety of events. You’ll also find over 45,000 pieces of art within, that includes everything from paintings to sculptures.
• Street Art – If you’re looking for free things to do in Montreal then wander the streets in search of street art. You’ll find a heavy presence throughout the city, especially in Old Montreal, Chinatown, and in Griffintown. However, the best neighborhood to find stunning murals Plateau Mont-Royal. Here you’ll find the most iconic pieces that Montreal is known for. There’s even a guided tour that you can take that is known as the Official Mural Tour!
• Mont-Royal Park – Ascend over 500 wooden stairs that will take you to gorgeous lookouts, a stunning waterfall, and to some of the best views of Montreal. In fact, Mont-Royal Park is filled with a ton of amazing things to do and places to visit. After all, there are hiking trails, museums, Saint Joseph’s Oratory, and more. You can also pop into Mount Royal Cottage, a historic building complete with a gift shop and nifty little café.

What to Eat in Montreal

• St-Viateur Bagel – One of the best places to grab wood-oven baked bagels in Montreal!
• La Banquise – This all-night diner serves Québécois grub, like one of the best poutines in the city.
• Île Flottante – For stylish French dishes with a n incredible presentation. Reserve a table and try their seasonal tasting menu.

Where to Stay in Montreal

• Hygie Hotel (budget) – This small pod hotel offers both dorm and private rooms. With a garden, terrace, and ideal location in the old port, Hygie Hotel is a great option for budget travelers.
• Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown (mid-range) – Located downtown and close to the top sights, this mid-range hotel has everything you need. It has contemporary rooms, a restaurant, and parking.
• Boxotel (luxury) – With studios, lofts, and apartments, this 4-star luxury hotel boasts a gym, hammam, rooftop terrace, and city views. Plus, it’s ideally located downtown.

Di stance and Travel Time from Montreal to Magog: 1.5 hours and 75 miles east of Montreal

2. Eastern Townships

Quebec’s Eastern Townships are known for their wineries, natural landscapes, and culinary scene.

This region is also situated within the southeastern portion of the province, between the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the US border.

Therefore, it features a collection of small towns and cities, like Magog, that make for a picturesque stop on your Quebec road trip itinerary.

Things to do in the Eastern Townships

• Le Cep d’Argent Vineyard – When in Quebec’s wine region a visit to one of the area’s top wineries is a must. And one of the best winegrowers in Magog is Le Cep d’Argent Vineyard. The winery offers incredible views of the fields and the Magog River. So, stop by for a tasting, a tour of the winery, and to enjoy some local wine at one of the first wineries in Quebec!
• Mont-Orford National Park – For outdoor enthusiasts this is one of Magog’s top attractions. After all, Mont-Orford National Park has a ton of fun things to do like hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and more! So, if you’re planning a road trip in Quebec in the fall then this park is a great stop to take in the fall colors.
• Spa Nordic Station – Add a few hours at the spa if you’re looking for some pampering during your Quebec road trip! See, The Spa Nordic Station offers guests a range of treatments and packages. You can enjoy Swedish massages, saunas, cold waterfalls, and even three-course meals!

What to Eat in Magog

• Alessa Trattoria – This modern Italian restaurant has the best pizza in town!
• Pinocchio – Perfect for French cuisine, specifically salmon tartar and a perfect crème brulee.
• Cantine Chez Paul Enr – Stop here for the best poutine in the area!

Where to Stay in Magog

• Auberge jeunesse Magog-Orford (budget) – Located downtown, this budget accommodation offers guests both private and dorm rooms. There’s also a café within this charming century-old building where you can enjoy complimentary breakfast.
• Hotel Verso – This new beach hotel is also downtown. Hotel Verso has a cool mid-century modern vibe, awesome views of Lake Memphremagog, and a Mediterranean bistro.

Distance and Travel Time from Magog to Quebec City: 2.5 hours and 157 miles

3. Quebec City

The top stop on any Quebec road trip is, of course, the capital, Quebec City!

Home to one of North America’s oldest settlements, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Europe! Yup, there really are so many reasons why this city, with its walled old town, a castle-like hotel, and a thriving food scene should be on everyone’s Canada road trip bucket list!

Things to do in Quebec City

• Explore Old Quebec – Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dig deep into the history of Quebec with a wander through the old town or with a walking tour . Walk the cobblestone streets, stroll the old stone walls, and check out the top sights like Place Royale, and the oldest stone church in North America. Then take the funicular up to the Dufferin Terrace and stroll the boardwalk.
• Observatoire de la Capitale – For some of the best views of Quebec City head to the tallest skyscraper in the city. From the 31st floor you’ll enjoy sweeping 360-degree views of the city, the St. Lawrence River, and even the Laurentian Mountains.
• Take a Food Tour – The city has begun to make its mark on the culinary scene in the province. A great way to experience Quebec City is on a food tour. There are a variety of food tours available that bring you to all the best places to eat and taste the best foods the city has to offer.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts – With a bunch of great museums, one of the best is the Beaux-Arts Museum. Set over four pavilions, within the Plains of Abraham, this art museum has over 38,000 pieces in its collection. You’ll find works from both Quebec and international artists too. Also, don’t forget to check out the rooftop garden and on-site art garden too.

What to Eat in Quebec City

• La Buche – Enjoy traditional Quebecois cuisine like tourtiere and crepes.
• Le Chic Shack – This casual restaurant is known for their gourmet burgers, but you’ll want to try their poutines and homemade sodas.
• La Planque – This lively spot brings Canadian fare to the next level! Try one of their seafood dishes.

Where to Stay in Quebec City

• Auberge Internationale de Québec (budget) – For budget accommodation, this hostel in old Quebec City is perfect! It has both dorm and private rooms as well as a terrace and café.
• Le Monastere des Augustines (mid-range) – If you’re looking for unique places to stay, try this converted 17th century monastery. Located just minutes from the old town, this hotel has cozy rooms, a restaurant, and yoga classes.
• Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac (luxury) – This dreamy castle-like hote l is a National Historic Site of Canada. It has luxurious rooms with views of the St. Lawrence River, a spa, restaurant, wine bar, and indoor pool.

Distance and Travel Time from Quebec City to La Malbaie: 1.75 hours and 88 miles

Pro Tip: Ensure your accommodation offers parking if you’re staying in the old town.

Plus, stop at Montmorency Falls on your way to La Malbaie. This waterfall is higher than Niagara Falls and is one of the top attractions in Quebec!

4. La Malbaie

Best known for the Charlevoix Meteorite Crater, La Malbaie is a great addition to any road trip in Quebec!

In fact, the road from Quebec City to La Malbaie is considered one of the most scenic drives in Canada!

So, any nature lovers embarking on this quebec road trip itinerary will love all of the parks and outdoor adventures to be found in the area.

However, there’s something for everyone here, from museums to a quaint downtown.

Things to do in La Malbaie

• Hautes‑Gorges-de-la-Rivière‑Malbaie National Park – This incredible regional park is part of the UNESCO Charlevoix biosphere reserve. The Malbaie River runs through a towering gorge and is home to 10 hiking trails and multiple waterfalls. The most popular hike is Acropole des Draveurs Trail. Plus, you can also take a guided boat tour through the gorge.
• Garden of the Four Winds – This privately owned garden is the largest of its kind in Canada. Covering 20 acres, there are around 25 different gardens including rock, sculpture, and Japanese. This whimsical attraction also has waterfalls, an enchanted tower, and sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River.
• Au P’tit Bonheur Art Gallery – Set in a lovely home, this large art gallery showcases the works of over 30 painters and sculptors from Quebec and across Canada. Throughout the exhibit space you’ll even find the owner’s collection of antique glass.

What to Eat in La Malbaie

• Chez Truchon – Auberge & Bistro – This lovely inn and French bistro is set within a century home. Top dishes are the foie gras and filet mignon.
• Maison du Bootlegger – If you’re looking for dinner and a show then head to this museum and restaurant. Enjoy a guided tour of the 1860s Speakeasy with hidden passageways and doors. And then for dinner you’ll want to order the steak!

Where to Stay in La Malbaie

• Auberge de Jeunesse La Malbaie (budget) – This hostel is minutes from downtown and offers a range of rooms. Some of the rooms even have water views!
• Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu ( luxury) – This luxurious 1929 chateau hote l has awesome views of the St. Lawrence River, and three restaurants.

Distance and Travel Time from La Malbaie to Tadoussac: 1 hour and 46 miles

Pro Tip: On your way to Tadoussac, add stops at Fromagerie Saint-Fidele to try local cheeses and to check out the observation deck in Saint-Siméon. Also take the ferry from Baie Sainte-Catherine to Tadoussac since it’s free and runs year-round.

5. Tadoussac

The charming village of Tadoussac is a popular destination for whale watching and outdoor adventures.

It’s also located at the edge of the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence River and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world!

You’ll also find rich history here since this village was founded in 1600 and is now one of the oldest settlements in North America – making it an essential part of any Quebec road trip itinerary.

Things to do in Tadoussac

• Go Whale Watching – One of the bucket list things to do in Quebec is go whale watching ! And Tadoussac is one of the best places in the Côte-Nord region to see a wide variety of whales. The best time to take a tour is from May to October. During this time, you can see humpback whales, blue whales, and more! However, you can also see beluga whales here throughout the year.
• Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre – In this museum you’ll learn all about the whales that visit the area through videos, exhibits, and even whale song! There’s also an impressive 43-foot-long sperm whale skeleton within their collection!
• Saguenay Fjords National Park – This scenic park is a must for outdoor adventurers! Park activities include sea kayaking, cycling, and hiking. There are also a dozen different hiking trails within the park, one of which, Le Fjord trail, even goes right into Tadoussac. The top two trails for epic views though are Notre Dame du Saguenay Statue Trail and Giant’s Viewpoint via River Path.

What to Eat in Tadoussac

• Mathilde Express – If you’re looking for great take out this spot is attached to the Chez Mathilde Bistro. A go-to dish is their fish and chips.
• Café Bohème – This charming café serves French-inspired food that includes a variety of vegan dishes. A favorite is their savory crepe.
• Le William – This fine dining restaurant is located in Hotel Tadoussac and offers regional cuisine and waterside views. One of the most popular menu items is the halibut.

Where to Stay in Tadoussac

• Hôtel Tadoussac – This iconic hotel dates to 1864 and is conveniently located close to everything. It has a spa, outdoor pool, restaurant, and rooms with awesome views of the water.
• Canopee Lit – Just outside of town you’ll find one of the coolest places to stay in Quebec. This unique resort lets you sleep among the trees in their treetop cabins and spheres.

Distance and Travel Time from Tadoussac to Rimouski: 2 hours and 40 minutes and 96 miles

Pro Tip: Continue driving along Quebec Route 132 to Forestville. From there you’ll take the Rimouski – Forestville Ferry. It runs a few times a day and takes an hour to cross.

6. Rimouski

Back on the southern banks of the St. Lawrence River, you’ll find yourself driving along one of the most scenic roads in Quebec, Route 132.

The Highway takes you along the coast and wraps around the Gaspe Peninsula. In particular, Rimouski is located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and is a city known for its epic parks, vibrant downtown, and seaside boardwalk.

Things to do in Rimouski

• Hell’s Gate Canyon – This awesome adventure park is home to the highest suspension bridge in Quebec! Towering over 200 feet, the bridge crosses the canyon here for epic views of the surroundings area! Canyon des Portes de L’enfer, as it’s called in French, is also home to a network of hiking trails, waterfalls, and a life-sized maze.
• Bic National Park – One of the best parks in the region, especially for wildlife viewing, is Bic National Park. Encompassing 8,200-acres, the park stretches along the shores of the St. Lawrence and offers visitors plenty of opportunities for sea kayaking and hiking. Plus, it’s a popular spot to see seals and seabirds. Don’t forget to check out the Raoul-Roy Lookout too!
• Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site – Learn about many of the events that took place in the area at this historic site. The site is home to the Onondaga, which is the first publicly accessible submarine in Canada, as well as the Empress of Ireland Museum. The museum also tells the story of the steamship and its wreck off the coast. It’s also where you’ll find the Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse, which is the second tallest in Canada. Be sure to take the tour that brings you up to the top for an amazing view!

What to Eat in Rimouski

• Le Crêpe Chignon – If you’re looking for light fare in a casual space then head to this café and order their beloved crepes.
• La Réserve Bistro – This fine dining French bistro has a seasonal menu of regional fare. One of the best dishes is their braised beef.

Where to Stay in Rimouski

• Motel Lyse (budget) – Located just outside of downtown Rimouski, this budget mote l has free parking and comfortable rooms.
• Hotel Le Saint Germain (mid-range) – This mid-range hotel is located downtown, has modern rooms, free breakfast and parking. Many rooms have awesome water views and kitchenettes too.

Distance and Travel Time from Rimouski to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts: 2 hours and 113 miles

7. Sainte-Anne-des-Monts

Continuing along Quebec Route 132, you’ll arrive at another small city, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. The city sits along the St. Lawrence River but is backed by the Chic-Choc Mountains.

It’s also known as the gateway to the Gaspésie National Park, making it a favorite destination in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region for outdoor lovers and adventure seekers.

However, you’ll find a scenic boardwalk, museum, and a microbrewery here too as you continue with your Canada road trip itinerary.

Things to do in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts

• Exploramer – Located at the dock, this museum is a fun spot for kids and adults alike! So, step inside to learn all about the aquatic species that call the St. Lawrence River home. In total, there are over 20 tanks with fish and other marine creatures inside them, plus touch pools and even tasting activities. Plus, if you’re looking to get out on the water, they run several sea excursions that allow you to explore the ecosystem of the St. Lawrence.
• Gaspésie National Park – A top destination year-round, Gaspésie National Park is home to the McGerrigle and Chic-Chocs mountains. So, in the summer, activities include hiking, canoeing, fishing, and camping. In the winter, you can enjoy snowshoeing and skiing. Additionally, Mont Jacques-Cartier sits within the park and is the second highest peak in Quebec. The park is also home to the last remaining herd of caribou found south of the St. Lawrence.
• Monique and Gisèle Benoit Center – The center is a great place to learn about the plant and animal life that calls the area home. Thanks to these well-known naturalists, the center is filled with displays that showcase their paintings. There’s also a spot to view documentaries as well as a gift shop. Be advised that it is open seasonally from June to October and admission is free.

What to Eat in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts

• Marie 4 poches – If you’re looking for something light or quick takeaway for your Quebec road trip, this adorable little bakery is the perfect stop. They have an assortment of baked goods, and sandwiches for you to enjoy.
• La Broue dans l’Toupet – Located within the Hotel & Cie, this restaurant is known for amazing seafood, like their crispy calamari.
• Auberge Chateau Lamontagne – This hotel has a lovely French gastropub that sits high atop a hill overlooking the water. You can’t go wrong with one of their seafood menu items that can be paired with a glass of wine.

Where to Stay in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts

• Gîte La P’tite Falaise (budget) – Located right downtown, this budget-friendly bed and breakfast is within walking distance of many top sights and restaurants. It also has cozy rooms, free parking, and bicycles to rent.
• Auberge Chateau Lamontagne – Perched on a hill, with sweeping views of the St. Lawrence, this heritage hotel dates to 1873. Along with a restaurant, it has both rooms and chalets.

Distance and Travel Time from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to Gaspé: 2.5 hours and 125 miles

Pro Tip: Make a Quebec road trip itinerary stop at Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse on your way to Gaspé.

At this historic site you’ll find sweeping coastal views. It’s also just two hours from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts but the road leading up to it can be rough.

8. Gaspé

A necessary addition to any Quebec road trip itinerary is Gaspé! This incredible city sits at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula and was even noted by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top places to visit in Canada!

And well before Jacques Cartier came ashore in Gaspé Bay, the indigenous Mi’kmaq people called the area gespeg, which means ‘land’s end.’

Therefore, Gaspé is known for its incredible landscapes and for being the ‘Birthplace of Canada’.

Things to do in Gaspé

• Forillon National Park – One of the best parks in Quebec can be found in Gaspé. In fact, Forillon National Park stretches out into the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and is filled with both historic sites and outdoor activities. A couple of the heritage sites include the Fort Peninsula and the Cap Gaspé Lighthouse. Along with scenic lookouts and many bird/whale watching sites, there are nearly a dozen hiking trails tucked away inside.
• Gaspesie Museum – This museum shares with visitors the history and culture of the Gaspé Peninsula. As a result, you’ll find an array of exhibits that showcase the area’s people, places, and stories. And one of the newest attractions is an immersive exhibit that brings nearly 400 million years of history to life! From the museum you can also walk along the boardwalk to get to the next sight!
• Birthplace of Canada – Set along the boardwalk that hugs the shore is one of the most popular monuments in Gaspé. Here, in 1534, Jacques Cartier put up a cross that would go on to earn Gaspé its nickname of “Birthplace of Canada.” Now, a replica stands in its place. The historic site is also home to a variety of activities, like costumed historical figures sharing stories and other free events to add to your Quebec road trip itinerary.

What to Eat in Gaspé

• Casse-croute Jo-Ann – A fun seasonal roadside food stand that is said to have the best poutine in the area. However, their lobster roll is a safe bet too!
• Brise Bise – This colorful restaurant serves up comfort food and live music. Be sure to try their shrimp poutine.
• Cafe Des Artistes – Go for the coffee, views, and cool aesthetic! Stay for the delicious breakfast options and the smoked salmon bagel!

Where to Stay in Gaspé

• Motel Le Noroît – Located on the water at the edge of Forillon National Park, this budget motel is a great find for cheap accommodation in an awesome location.
• Hôtel Plante – Set within Gaspé, this mid-range hotel has renovated rooms and an indoor pool. Because of its hillside location you’ll get views of Gaspé Bay.
• Chalets du Bout du Monde – These adorable cottages are rustic-chic with incredible water views. Each cottage also has a kitchen, deck, and barbeque.

D istance and Travel Time from Gaspé to Percé: 45 minutes and 39 miles

9. Percé

This charming fishing village is known for two big natural features! The first is Perce Rock, a limestone rock formation towering high above the sea just offshore.

And the second is Bonaventure Island, which is a hotspot for birders. Beyond all that, Perce is filled with quaint shops, cafes, and colorful buildings just waiting to be explored as part of any Quebec road trip itinerary.

Things to do in Percé

• Bonaventure Island – A bucket list item for any road trip in Quebec is a tour of this incredible island! Hop aboard a morning boat tour that takes you around Percé Rock and then stops at the island. This island is also famous for being home to the largest colony of gannets in North America. Along with these must-see birds, the island has four scenic hiking trails, century old homes, and other wildlife off its shores like whales and seals.
• Percé UNESCO Global Geopark – For a host of fun activities and during which you can learn about the region’s geological significance visit Percé Geopark. Here, you’ll find interactive exhibits, a zipline, and an epic viewing platform. It’s a short, thirty-minute, hike to the glass platform that stretches out over the cliff. Standing over 650 feet above sea level, you can see the famous Percé Rock and other key sights too.
• Percé Boardwalk – Relax and soak in the beautiful sea views you get with a stroll along the Percé boardwalk. Winding its way along the shore, the boardwalk offers views of the Percé Rock and give you beach access to lounge chairs where you can sit and unwind. Plus, there’s an observation tower off the boardwalk for sweet panoramic views.

What to Eat in Percé

• Nath & Compagnie – If you’re looking for unique places to eat in Percé, then you’ll love this quaint library café. Surrounded by books, you can enjoy a range of light fare, desserts, and pastries.
• Pub Pit Caribou – This rustis pub has all the charm and spunk that you’d expect in a fishing village! Go for their impressive beer selection and smoked salmon and stay for the live entertainment.
• Buvette Thérèse – This is the best restaurant in town for fish and chips. Or, you can opt for one of their poutine varieties instead if you need to refuel after your Quebec road trip itinerary.

Where to Stay in Percé

• Riotel Percé (budget) – With views of the water, this beachfront hotel is close to many of the sights and has contemporary rooms and a restaurant.
• Auberge Au Fil des Saisons – This is another budget option nestled inside a Victorian bed and breakfast . It’s also within walking distance to all the attractions and serves a delicious breakfast.

Distance and Travel Time from Percé to Carleton-sur-mer: 2.5 hours and 124 miles

10. Carleton-sur-Mer

The last stop on your Quebec road trip itinerary is a charming town on the southern shores of the Gaspé Peninsula.

Wedged between mountains and the sea, Carleton-sur-Mer provides visitors with everything from outdoor activities to relaxing time spent wandering boardwalks and learning about the area’s intriguing history and culture.

Things to do in Carleton-sur-Mer

• Mont-Saint-Joseph – The number one thing to do in Carleton-sur-Mer is to visit the lookout at Mont-Saint-Joseph! This regional park offers a ton of outdoor adventures including rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. You can even sleep on the mountain in a geodome! In fact, the lookout sits over 1800 feet above sea level. Here, you’ll find a long boardwalk and large terrace overlooking Chaleur Bay. Plus, on a clear day you can see all the way out to the Acadian coast of New Brunswick.
• Carleton-sur-Mer Lighthouse – At the end of a narrow peninsula sits a replica of the original 1900s lighthouse which stood there. The area, which is called Pointe Tracadigache, is the perfect spot to watch the sunset after a beautiful Quebec road trip itinerary.

What to Eat in Carleton-sur-Mer

• Boulangerie Pâtisserie La Mie Véritable – For a light meal or sweet desserts try this adorable café. A popular menu item is their ham and brie panini.
• Le Naufrageur – Microbrasserie – If you’re looking for a lively dinner with a few drinks, try this microbrewery. Plus, everyone raves about their pizza!

Where to Stay in Carleton-sur-Mer

• Motel Leblanc (budget) – This budget motel offers simple rooms right across from the water and is 5 minutes outside of town.
• Manoir Belle Plage (mid-range) – On the eastern edge of town you’ll find this l ovely beach hote l that has a restaurant. Rooms come with either mountain or ocean views too.

Map of the Best Ever Quebec Road Trip Itinerary

Additional Canada Resources You’ll Love

• Best Provinces to Live in Canada
• Best Places to Live in Canada
• Pros and Cons of Living in Canada
• Best Brunch in Montreal

There you have it! That just about wraps up this epic Quebec road trip itinerary!

Tell me, did your picks for the best scenic drives in quebec make the post if not then let me know in the comments below., and if you found this post useful, don’t forget to join our email list before pinning this post now so that you can read it again later..

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The Ultimate Quebec Road Trip From Montreal to Gaspé

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Canada's largest province, Quebec , is also one of its most beautiful, diverse, and intriguing. It is steeped in French culture—Montreal is the second-largest francophone city in the world, behind Paris—and offers visitors an abundance of history and nature, from its Laurentian Mountains (a skier's paradise) to its fjords. One of the best ways to get a taste of the region is by embarking on a 10-hour road trip from Montreal to Gaspé.

This roughly 600-mile (965-kilometer) route covers barely an iota of the province—focusing on Quebec's southwest-to-northeast corridor and showcasing very little of the far north—but it's a good sampling of the province's urban and rural regions. It begins where the vast majority of Quebec's population lives, in and around Montreal and Quebec City , then follows the Saint Lawrence River to the remarkable Gaspé Peninsula, home to four national parks and the very famous Percé Rock.

Driving in Canada  is much like driving in the United States, except that speed limits are posted in kilometers instead of miles. Signs in Quebec may be in English, French, or both. Try to travel outside of Quebec's annual "construction holiday," a two-week period over the summer during which many locals take their vacations while the province doubles down on road works (resulting in painfully slow traffic). Travelers should allocate upwards of eight days for the road trip.

Montreal is a major aviation hub, which makes it an ideal starting point for international visitors. With a population of 1.7 million (3.8 million if you count the surrounding region), this city is heavily influenced by French culture, as can be seen in Old Town , Montreal's main attraction. Old Montreal is a central riverside neighborhood that is preserved in much of its original state and profuse with European flair. Seventeenth-century architecture and cobblestone streets are just a couple of the features that make this area special. 

Top sites include the Gothic Revival Notre-Dame Basilica, Olympic Park (home to the Biodome, which hosts four different ecosystems in a spherical greenhouse), and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. To get a real feel of the city's joie de vivre , though, simply sit down for foie gras poutine—a local specialty—and an orange julep at a sidewalk café. You may even forget you're not in Paris.

The Eastern Townships

Smart Cities Dive

The Eastern Townships is a charming region of Quebec about an hour south of Montreal, sandwiched between the Saint Lawrence River's southern shore and the northeastern U.S. At one time a haven for United Empire Loyalists, today the Eastern Townships is known for being a swanky getaway for Montrealers and New Englanders due to its quaint heritage buildings, lakes, and ski resorts.

Magog  is one of the area's urban highlights. This historical town, formerly famous for its textile production, has reinvented itself as a cultural destination with ample boutiques and galleries.

Quebec City

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To get from the Eastern Townships to Quebec City, about a 200-mile (320-kilometer) drive, head north through Drummondville on Highway 55 towards Trois-Rivières, then east along Highway 138. This is the historic and rural Chemin du Roy, a much more scenic (but less speedy) alternative to taking Autoroute 40. En route, you'll discover soaring, double-spire churches, many of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. You'll also notice the bright red roofs of the buildings, originally intended to guide seamen to shore. ​

Finally, you'll hit the capital city. Strategically chosen for its position at a point high on the river, this super-sized version of Old Montreal is brimming with history and European charm. Cobblestone walkways, well-preserved 17th-century architecture, sidewalk cafés, and the only North American fortress walls that still exist north of Mexico have all contributed to Quebec City's status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

This place is bustling year-round, but especially in July and August and during the Quebec Winter Carnival (held every February and beckoning thousands with night parades, snow sculptures, shows, and ice skating). Hotel choices range from elegant boutique hotels in the Old City to larger chain hotels, but the most iconic is Chateau Frontenac, a castle-like Fairmont property.

A half-hour north of Quebec is Jacques Cartier National Park, an expansive mountainous plateau cut by deep valleys where visitors like to raft, inner tube, fish, kayak, and canoe. A 20-minute drive away, Valcartier tempts families with its acres of kid-friendly ski hills, tubing routes, skating arenas, and more.

On your way out of town, stop at nearby Montmorency Falls (taller than Niagara Falls ) and Île d'Orleans, where sprawling fields of berries, apple orchards, and colorful farmhouses abound.

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There are lots of places to stop along the Saint Lawrence Route ( Route du Fleuve ) en route to La Malbaie. This scenic drive covers 30 miles (50 kilometers) on Highway 362 between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie in southern Quebec's Charlevoix region, known for its agricultural prowess. The route through Charlevoix is lined with picturesque towns, villages, and farms backed by mountains on one side and the Saint Lawrence River on the other. 

About a half-hour outside of Quebec City, the 17th-century Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré shrine cuts an impressive silhouette along the shores of the river. Thousands flock here for the apparent healing powers of the chapel. Baie-Saint-Paul—the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil, where Gilles Ste-Croix took to the streets with his troupe of jugglers, dancers, fire breathers, and musicians in the '80s—makes for a great lunch spot.   Today, the town is a hub for artists and craftspeople. ​

Finally, you'll reach La Malbaie, home to one of Canada's grand historic railway hotels, Manoir Richelieu. The hotel boasts an extraordinary location with exceptional vistas as well as three pools, tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, and a casino. During the snow season, skiers flock to the nearby resorts, Mont Grand-Fonds and Centre de Plein Air Les Sources Joyeuses .

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove

The drive between Malbaie and Tadoussac is only about an hour and a half, but you will need a full day (or two) to explore this region. Tadoussac is one of Canada's premier whale-watching destinations. Located at the mouth of the Saguenay River, this historic town was first settled by Europeans in the early 1500s and became home to the country's first trading post in 1600. 

The Saguenay River flows into the Saint Lawrence River, and this mix of Atlantic Ocean saltwater and inland freshwaters cultivates an optimal environment for a number of marine animals, including fin, minke, blue, and beluga whales. Whale-watching excursions from Tadoussac's harbor range from large vessels to smaller, nimbler Zodiacs. You can even go by kayak. Reservations are highly recommended. 

If you're keen to explore the region in more depth, visit the adjacent Saguenay Fjord National Park , which   lies along the shores of the Saguenay River and is open to visitors for camping, whale watching, boating, and more. The park offers huts and other rustic shelters for accommodation. 

Sainte-Anne-des-Monts in the Gaspé Peninsula

Aurélien Pottier / Getty Images

After Tadoussac, head to the south shore and begin your journey across the Gaspé Peninsula , which starts with a ferry ride across the Saint Lawrence River out of Les Escoumins. The ferry ride (which you can reserve online) takes about an hour and a half. After making your way across the Saint Lawrence River, you'll arrive in Trois-Pistoles and embark on your exploration of the Gaspé Peninsula. This Quebec region's geography puts it in close proximity to the Atlantic provinces with which it shares many maritime features, including rugged shorelines, ample fishing, and a laidback, friendly population.

Enjoy the scenic riverside drive on the south shore's Highway 132, stopping for lunch at Reford Gardens, a 1920s property notable for its imaginative landscape design and unique botanical collection, especially given the challenging growing conditions of the area. Elsie and Robert Reford left this place with a remarkable collection of photographs that depict life in the early 20th century, all on display now in the small-but-entrancing gallery.

Continue along the same highway, passing by luscious river vistas and quaint seaside towns, until you reach Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, a three-hour drive from Trois-Pistoles. From here, take Route 299 to Gaspésie National Park, a stunning protected space with many scenic (albeit challenging) hikes. Tourists can camp here or at the Gîte du Mont-Albert , a gloriously situated lodge in the park with chalets, cabins, and lodge guest rooms. There's a good chance you'll catch a glimpse of the local caribou, as a bonus.

Cyrielle Beaubois / Getty Images

From Gîte du Mont-Albert, hop on Route 198 and make your way to the Gaspé Peninsula's biggest draw by far, Percé. The town, about three hours from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, gets its fame from this immense limestone formation with a "pierced" ( percé ) arch that elevates it from a mere rock to a sculptural work of art. The famous rocks are easily seen from the shore, but boats are readily available to get you up close. 

Bonaventure Island, just a couple kilometers off Percé's shores, is a migratory bird sanctuary for the northern gannet and has more than 50,000 pairs of nesting birds (the second largest population in the world). Additionally, if you have time, Forillon National Park  offers not just green space for hiking but also a lighthouse, a heritage fishing village, and a rocky beach, all with a layered craggy backdrop that has been thwarted by the elements for more than a million years.

From Percé, it's about an 11-hour drive to get back to Montreal, but you can break up the journey by stopping for a night in Kamouraska. If you head back towards Montreal on Highway 132, you'll make a complete loop of this mostly shoreside scenic Gaspé drive. Kamouraska is about seven hours from Percé, located 15 minutes off the highway on the water's edge. 

Many of the villages that dot the Saint Lawrence shore were resort towns in the 19th century for wealthy Montrealers or New Englanders. Kamouraska has retained its appeal and continues to draw visitors to peruse its lively main street and shop its local, artisan fare. Kamouraska to Montreal is a 250-mile (400-kilometer), four-hour drive.

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Road Trip Quebec: Your Comprehensive Itinerary

Posted on Last updated: August 17, 2023

Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Buckle up and get ready to explore the scenic drives of Quebec on an epic road trip! From its rich history to its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, Quebec has it all.

So, buckle up and get ready to explore the stunning province of Quebec on this unforgettable road trip! Follow our itinerary along the highway for an unforgettable experience.

One-Week Quebec Road Trip Itinerary: Best Attractions and Destinations

Explore the top attractions and must-visit destinations in quebec during a week-long road trip..

Are you ready for an adventure in Quebec? With its rich history, vibrant cities, and breathtaking scenery, Quebec offers a plethora of attractions that will leave you awe-struck. From charming cobblestone streets to majestic mountains, this itinerary will take you on a journey through the very best that Quebec has to offer. Plus, with a travel time of just one hour from our location, Quebec is the perfect starting point for your Quebec adventure.

Our first stop on our road trip itinerary is the enchanting city of Montreal. Located in Quebec, Montreal is a cultural hub filled with art galleries, museums, and historical sites. Take a stroll through Old Montreal, where you’ll be transported back in time as you wander along cobblestone streets lined with quaint shops and cafes. Don’t miss out on visiting the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica or exploring Mount Royal Park for panoramic views of the city.

Next up on your road trip itinerary is Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage site brimming with history and charm. Step into the past as you walk through the fortified walls of Old Quebec and immerse yourself in its narrow streets filled with 17th-century architecture. Be sure to visit Chateau Frontenac , one of Canada’s most iconic landmarks, which offers breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River. Indulge in local delicacies such as poutine or maple syrup treats while exploring this picturesque city. This day of your road trip will be filled with travel time and unforgettable experiences.

As we continue our road trip, let’s venture into nature’s paradise – Charlevoix region. This road trip itinerary takes us through stunning landscapes featuring rolling hills, majestic fjords, and charming coastal villages. Embark on a whale-watching excursion in Baie-Sainte-Catherine or hike through Parc national des Grands-Jardins for an immersive experience in Quebec’s wilderness. Don’t forget to factor in travel time for this day of our road trip and indulge in the region’s culinary delights, such as farm-to-table cuisine and local cheeses.

No road trip in Quebec would be complete without a visit to the beautiful Laurentian Mountains. Head to Mont-Tremblant, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts all year round. Whether you’re into skiing, hiking, or simply relaxing amidst nature’s beauty, Mont-Tremblant has it all. Explore the pedestrian village filled with shops and restaurants or challenge yourself with an adrenaline-pumping zipline adventure. Make sure to plan your travel time during the day for the best experience.

Our road trip itinerary takes us to the charming Eastern Townships, known for its quaint villages, rolling vineyards, and picturesque landscapes. Take a leisurely drive through the scenic Route des Vins and stop by local wineries for tastings of award-winning wines. On this day, visit the idyllic town of Magog and enjoy water activities on Lake Memphremagog or explore Mount Orford National Park for hiking trails that offer breathtaking views.

Embark on a week-long road trip through Quebec and experience unforgettable moments every day. From exploring cosmopolitan cities to admiring the picturesque countryside, this itinerary has something for everyone. So pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready to create memories that will last a lifetime!

• Montreal: Plan your road trip itinerary and spend a day exploring Old Montreal’s cobblestone streets and visiting iconic landmarks like Notre-Dame Basilica.
• Quebec City: Immerse yourself in history as you walk through Old Quebec’s fortified walls and visit Chateau Frontenac. If you’re planning a road trip itinerary, make sure to include a day in La Malbaie.
• Charlevoix: Plan your road trip itinerary to discover stunning landscapes including fjords and coastal villages while indulging in local delicacies.
• Laurentian Mountains: Plan your road trip itinerary to include the stunning Mont-Tremblant. Experience outdoor adventures like skiing or hiking amidst breathtaking scenery.
• Eastern Townships: Drive along the scenic Route des Vins, visit wineries for tastings, and explore charming villages like Magog.

Get ready for an epic adventure as you embark on a road trip through Quebec. This province has it all – from vibrant cities to serene countryside, and everything in between. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your one-week itinerary and get ready to hit the road!

Exploring the Fjord Route and its Surroundings

If you’re looking for an unforgettable road trip adventure, look no further than the Fjord Route in Quebec. This scenic drive will take you along a breathtaking path, surrounded by towering cliffs and pristine waters. Get ready to discover charming coastal villages nestled between majestic fjords, where outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and whale watching await. Immerse yourself in nature’s beauty as you explore national parks and wildlife reserves along this remarkable route.

Drive along the breathtaking Fjord Route

As you embark on your road trip along the Fjord Route, prepare to be awe-struck by the stunning landscapes that unfold before your eyes. The route winds its way through the Saguenay Fjord, a natural wonder renowned for its beauty. Marvel at the dramatic cliffs that rise high above the water, creating a truly mesmerizing sight.

The scenic drive in la Malbaie offers plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the surroundings. Take advantage of designated viewpoints where you can capture incredible photos or simply soak in the panoramic views of la Malbaie. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for wildlife too! The area is home to various species such as seals, beluga whales, and even bald eagles in la Malbaie.

Discover charming coastal villages

One of the highlights of exploring the Fjord Route is discovering the quaint coastal villages that dot its path. These picturesque towns offer a glimpse into Quebec’s rich maritime heritage while providing a warm welcome to visitors.

Make sure to plan stops in places like Tadoussac and Sainte-Rose-du-Nord. Tadoussac is known for being one of Quebec’s oldest settlements and offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty. Explore its charming streets lined with colorful houses or take a stroll along the boardwalk overlooking the Saguenay River.

Sainte-Rose-du-Nord is another hidden gem worth exploring during your road trip. Nestled between the fjord and the mountains, this village exudes charm at every turn. Take a leisurely walk along its scenic trails or simply relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

Enjoy outdoor activities along the route

The Fjord Route is not just about driving; it’s also an opportunity to engage in thrilling outdoor activities. Lace up your hiking boots and set off on one of the many trails that wind their way through the region’s national parks and wildlife reserves. From easy walks to more challenging hikes, there’s something for every level of adventurer.

If you prefer to explore the fjord from a different perspective, hop on a kayak or join a whale watching tour. Paddle through calm waters, marveling at the towering cliffs that surround you. Keep your eyes peeled for marine life as you might be lucky enough to spot whales breaching or seals playing in their natural habitat.

For those seeking even more adventure, consider taking a ferry ride across the fjord. This allows you to experience the stunning scenery from a different angle while enjoying a relaxing journey on the water.

Immerse yourself in nature’s beauty

One of the most remarkable aspects of exploring Quebec’s Fjord Route in la malbaie is immersing yourself in nature’s beauty at every turn. The region boasts several national parks and wildlife reserves where you can truly connect with the great outdoors.

Discover Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay, where hiking trails lead you deep into lush forests and offer breathtaking views of both land and sea. Explore Cap Jaseux Adventure Park, which offers thrilling activities like via ferrata (a protected climbing route), ziplining, and treetop adventures for adrenaline junkies.

As you venture further along the route, make sure to visit Parc National des Grands-Jardins. This vast wilderness area is home to diverse ecosystems, including boreal forests and mountain peaks. Embark on a hike to Mont du Lac-des-Cygnes for panoramic views that will leave you in awe.

Unveiling the Beauty of the Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie Tour

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable road trip through Quebec? Get ready to experience the rugged beauty of the Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie Tour. This scenic route will take you on a journey like no other, allowing you to marvel at stunning coastal landscapes, explore historic sites and museums, indulge in fresh seafood delicacies, and immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene along the way.

Experience the rugged beauty of Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie Tour on your road trip through Quebec.

As you set off on your road trip through Quebec, prepare to be captivated by the untamed beauty of the Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie Tour. This region is known for its breathtaking coastal landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Picture yourself driving along winding roads with panoramic views of rugged cliffs meeting the crashing waves of the St. Lawrence River.

One highlight of this tour is exploring the picturesque fishing villages that dot the coastline. These charming communities offer a glimpse into traditional maritime life, with their colorful houses and bustling harbors filled with fishing boats. Take a break from your drive and wander through these villages, immersing yourself in their unique charm and discovering hidden gems along the way.

Marvel at stunning coastal landscapes dotted with lighthouses and picturesque fishing villages.

The Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie Tour is also home to several iconic lighthouses that add to its allure. These majestic structures stand tall against the backdrop of dramatic cliffs and rolling waves, guiding ships safely along this treacherous coastline. Make sure to stop by these lighthouses during your road trip, not only for their historical significance but also for their awe-inspiring views.

In addition to natural wonders, this tour offers plenty of opportunities to explore history and culture. Visit historic sites along the route, such as the Cartier Cross in Gaspé, which marks the spot where Jacques Cartier first set foot on Canadian soil. Dive into the region’s rich heritage by exploring museums that showcase its maritime history and cultural traditions. You can also immerse yourself in the local art scene by visiting art galleries that feature works inspired by the region’s natural beauty.

Explore historic sites, museums, and art galleries showcasing local talent along this route.

As you travel through Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie Tour, be sure to indulge in the culinary delights of the region. Fresh seafood is a staple here, with an abundance of lobster, crab, scallops, and more. Treat yourself to a mouthwatering seafood feast while enjoying panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River. Whether you choose a cozy seaside restaurant or opt for a picnic overlooking the water, this road trip will satisfy your taste buds and offer unforgettable dining experiences.

To truly appreciate all that this tour has to offer, take your time and embrace the slower pace of exploration. Allow yourself to get lost in charming coastal villages, strike up conversations with locals who are eager to share their stories, and soak in every moment of this extraordinary journey.

So pack your bags and hit the road! Unveil the beauty of Bas-Saint-Laurent Gaspésie Tour on your Quebec road trip – an adventure filled with rugged landscapes, captivating history, delectable cuisine, and vibrant art scenes waiting to be discovered at every turn.

Embarking on a New France Road Trip

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable road trip through Quebec? Get ready to step back in time as you explore historic sites from the New France era, immersing yourself in the vibrant culture, art, and cuisine of this unique region. From wandering through cobblestone streets lined with 17th-century architecture in Quebec City to visiting charming towns like Trois-Rivières and Montreal, where French heritage is still alive, there’s something for everyone on this adventure.

Explore Historic Sites from the New France Era

One of the highlights of your road trip through Quebec is the opportunity to discover historic sites that transport you back in time to the days of New France. As you make your way through the province, be sure to include stops at key landmarks that offer a glimpse into this fascinating period.

• Quebec City: Start your journey in Quebec City, where history comes alive at every turn. The iconic Château Frontenac stands tall overlooking Old Quebec, inviting visitors to explore its grandeur. Take a stroll along Dufferin Terrace and enjoy panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River while imagining life during the New France era.
• Trois-Rivières: Continue your road trip to Trois-Rivières, one of North America’s oldest cities. Here, you can visit Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site and delve into the rich history of iron production during colonial times. Don’t miss a walk along Rue des Ursulines, lined with beautifully preserved buildings dating back centuries.
• Montreal: No road trip through Quebec would be complete without a stop in Montreal. This vibrant city seamlessly blends modernity with its French roots. Explore Old Montreal’s narrow streets and admire stunning examples of 17th-century architecture such as Notre-Dame Basilica. Immerse yourself in local culture by visiting museums like Pointe-à-Callière, which showcases the city’s history from its beginnings as a fur trading post.

Immerse Yourself in Quebec’s Unique Culture

Quebec is known for its unique culture, and a road trip through this province offers countless opportunities to experience it firsthand. From art and music to cuisine and festivals, there’s no shortage of ways to immerse yourself in the vibrant fabric of Quebecois culture.

• Art: Quebec boasts a thriving arts scene, with galleries and museums showcasing works by local artists. Stop by the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in Quebec City or the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to admire masterpieces that reflect the region’s rich artistic heritage.
• Cuisine: Indulge your taste buds with Quebecois cuisine, which blends French culinary traditions with local ingredients. Try classic dishes like poutine (fries topped with cheese curds and gravy) or tourtière (a savory meat pie). Don’t forget to sample maple syrup treats along the way!
• Festivals: Throughout the year, Quebec hosts an array of lively festivals that celebrate its cultural diversity. From the Winter Carnival in Quebec City to Montreal’s Jazz Festival, there’s always something happening that will leave you feeling energized and inspired.

Soak in the Charm of Quebec’s Towns

As you drive along scenic highways and explore picturesque towns during your road trip through Quebec, you’ll quickly realize that each destination has its own unique charm. Take your time to soak in the atmosphere and discover hidden gems along the way.

• Scenic Drives: Enjoy breathtaking views as you travel along routes such as Route de la Nouvelle-France or Chemin du Roy. These roads wind through charming villages and offer glimpses into rural life in Quebec.
• Charming Towns: Make sure to visit towns like Baie-Saint-Paul, known for its vibrant arts scene, or Charlevoix, where you can relax in natural hot springs. These smaller towns provide a more intimate experience and allow you to connect with the locals.
• Outdoor Adventures: Quebec’s natural beauty is unparalleled, and your road trip is the perfect opportunity to explore it. Consider hiking trails like the Sentier de la Pointe-de-l’Islet in Gaspé or kayaking along the Saguenay Fjord for an unforgettable adventure.

Get ready to hit the open road and embark on a New France road trip through Quebec. With historic sites, vibrant culture, and charming towns awaiting you at every turn, this journey promises to be one for the books. So pack your bags, start your engine, and prepare for an adventure of a lifetime!

Driving from Montreal to Gaspé: The Ultimate Road Trip Experience

Embark on an epic journey from montreal to gaspé, covering diverse landscapes and attractions..

Picture this: you’re behind the wheel, the wind blowing through your hair, and the open road stretching out before you. The ultimate road trip experience awaits as you embark on a thrilling adventure from Montreal to Gaspé. This scenic route will take you through a myriad of breathtaking landscapes and captivating attractions that will leave you in awe.

As you venture out of Montreal, prepare to be enchanted by the picturesque countryside that surrounds you. Rolling hills, lush greenery, and charming farmhouses dotting the landscape create a postcard-perfect scene. Take your time to soak in the beauty of nature as you drive along winding roads that lead you deeper into Quebec’s heartland.

But it doesn’t stop there! Your journey will also take you through charming towns that are steeped in history and culture. Stop by Trois-Rivières, one of North America’s oldest cities, where cobblestone streets and quaint architecture transport you back in time. Explore its vibrant art scene or indulge in local delicacies at one of its many cozy cafes.

Drive through picturesque countryside, charming towns, and stunning coastal vistas.

As your road trip continues towards Gaspé, get ready for some truly jaw-dropping moments. The scenery transforms dramatically as rugged mountains come into view and crystal-clear lakes shimmer under the sun’s warm embrace. Along the way, make sure to stop at Parc national de la Gaspésie, home to stunning peaks like Mont Albert and Mont Jacques-Cartier. Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails for an unforgettable adventure amidst nature’s wonders.

But perhaps the highlight of your journey lies along Quebec’s beautiful coastline. Prepare to be mesmerized by breathtaking vistas that unfold before your eyes as you drive along Route 132. The crashing waves of the St. Lawrence River, the towering cliffs of Forillon National Park, and the charming fishing villages that line the shore will leave you spellbound. Take a moment to breathe in the salty sea air and let the beauty of this coastal paradise sink in.

Explore hidden gems along the way, such as national parks, historic sites, and local markets.

One of the joys of a road trip is discovering hidden gems that are off the beaten path. Along your route from Montreal to Gaspé, keep an eye out for national parks, historic sites, and local markets that offer a glimpse into Quebec’s rich heritage.

Stop by Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica near Quebec City, a place of pilgrimage known for its stunning architecture and religious significance. Marvel at its intricate details and take a moment to reflect in its peaceful surroundings.

As you approach Gaspé, make sure to visit Percé Rock, an iconic natural wonder jutting out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Take a boat tour to get up close to this majestic rock formation or hike along nearby trails for panoramic views that will take your breath away.

And don’t forget to explore local markets along your journey! From fresh produce to artisanal crafts, these bustling hubs offer a taste of Quebec’s vibrant culture and provide an opportunity to interact with friendly locals who are always happy to share their stories.

Enjoy the freedom of the open road as you create unforgettable memories on this ultimate road trip.

There’s something liberating about hitting the open road with no set itinerary or schedule. As you drive from Montreal to Gaspé, embrace this sense of freedom and allow yourself to be swept away by spontaneity.

Take detours whenever something catches your eye – whether it’s an inviting hiking trail or a cozy café tucked away in a small town. Allow yourself time to immerse in each destination fully, capturing the essence of Quebec’s diverse landscapes and vibrant culture.

This road trip is not just about the destination; it’s about the memories you create along the way. Sing your heart out to your favorite tunes, laugh with friends or family, and let the joy of exploration fill your soul. The ultimate road trip experience awaits, so buckle up and get ready for an adventure like no other!

So what are you waiting for? Montreal to Gaspé beckons with its stunning landscapes, charming towns, and hidden treasures. Hit the road and let this epic journey become a chapter in your book of unforgettable experiences.

Discovering Quebec City’s Culinary Delights and Must-See Attractions

Indulge in quebec city’s culinary delights with its renowned farm-to-table cuisine..

Indulging in its culinary delights is an absolute must. This vibrant city boasts a thriving food scene that embraces the concept of farm-to-table cuisine. From charming bistros to upscale restaurants, there is something to satisfy every palate.

Quebec City takes great pride in using locally sourced ingredients, ensuring that each dish is bursting with fresh flavors. The city’s chefs are known for their creativity and innovation, combining traditional French techniques with local produce to create unforgettable meals. Whether you’re craving classic French dishes or unique Quebecois specialties like poutine and tourtière, you’ll find a wide array of options to tantalize your taste buds.

To truly immerse yourself in the local food culture, consider exploring the city’s farmers markets. The Marché du Vieux-Port de Québec offers an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and more. As you stroll through the market stalls, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with local artisans and sample their delicious creations. Don’t forget to try some maple syrup-infused treats – a quintessential Canadian delicacy!

Explore iconic attractions like Château Frontenac and Place Royale in the heart of Old Quebec.

No visit to Quebec City would be complete without exploring its iconic attractions located in the heart of Old Quebec. Begin your journey by marveling at the grandeur of Château Frontenac. This majestic hotel is not only a National Historic Site but also one of Canada’s most photographed landmarks. Take a leisurely stroll along Dufferin Terrace and enjoy breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River while imagining yourself back in the era of horse-drawn carriages.

Continue your exploration by visiting Place Royale, a charming square that holds great historical significance. As the birthplace of French civilization in North America, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a glimpse into Quebec City’s rich history. Admire the beautifully preserved buildings and immerse yourself in the ambiance of 17th-century New France.

Wander through narrow streets filled with boutiques, art galleries, and quaint cafes.

One of the highlights of exploring Quebec City is getting lost in its enchanting narrow streets. The city’s Old Town is a labyrinth of cobblestone alleys lined with an array of boutiques, art galleries, and quaint cafes. As you wander through these charming streets, you’ll discover hidden gems at every turn.

Indulge in some retail therapy by browsing through unique shops offering locally made crafts, clothing, and artwork. You’ll find everything from handmade jewelry to intricate woodwork created by talented local artisans. Take your time to explore these boutiques and find the perfect souvenir to commemorate your trip.

When hunger strikes, take a break at one of the many cozy cafes scattered throughout the city. Sip on a cup of rich coffee or indulge in a delicious pastry while soaking up the vibrant atmosphere around you. These cafes often feature outdoor seating where you can relax and people-watch as you enjoy your culinary delights.

Immerse yourself in the city’s rich history while enjoying breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River.

Quebec City’s old-world charm is deeply rooted in its rich history that spans over four centuries. As you explore its historic sites and landmarks, you’ll be transported back in time to when European settlers first arrived on Canadian soil.

To fully appreciate Quebec City’s fascinating past, embark on a guided tour or simply wander through its historic neighborhoods at your own pace. Learn about significant events such as the Battle of Quebec or visit museums like Musée de la Civilisation to gain deeper insights into the city’s cultural heritage.

While immersing yourself in history, don’t forget to soak in the breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River. Head to Terrasse Dufferin or Montmorency Park for panoramic vistas that will leave you speechless. These vantage points offer a perfect opportunity to capture memorable photographs and create lasting memories of your time in Quebec City.

Experiencing the Charm of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts in the Gaspé Peninsula

If you’re looking for a road trip adventure that combines stunning natural beauty with small-town charm, look no further than Sainte-Anne-des-Monts in the Gaspé Peninsula. This quaint village is nestled amidst breathtaking scenery, offering a perfect getaway for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Discovering the Hidden Gem of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts

As you make your way through the picturesque roads of Quebec, be sure to include a stop at Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. This hidden gem will captivate you with its old-world charm and warm hospitality. The town’s rich history can be felt as you stroll through its streets, lined with charming buildings that have stood the test of time.

Exploring Parc national de la Gaspésie

One of the highlights of visiting Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is exploring Parc national de la Gaspésie. This stunning national park boasts rugged mountains, pristine lakes, and an abundance of wildlife. Lace up your hiking boots and embark on one of the park’s many trails that offer breathtaking views at every turn.

Whether you’re an experienced hiker or just starting out, there are trails suitable for all skill levels. From easy walks along gentle slopes to challenging treks up steep mountain peaks, Parc national de la Gaspésie has something for everyone. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife encounters along the way – moose, caribou, and black bears are frequently spotted in this area.

Enjoying Outdoor Activities Surrounded by Breathtaking Scenery

In addition to hiking, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts offers a plethora of outdoor activities to satisfy any adventurer’s appetite. If fishing is your passion, grab your rod and head out to one of the nearby rivers or lakes. Cast your line and immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature as you wait for the perfect catch.

For those seeking an adrenaline rush, consider trying your hand at kayaking or canoeing. Paddle through crystal-clear waters surrounded by towering cliffs and lush forests. The Gaspé Peninsula is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, offering endless opportunities to explore its stunning coastline.

Experiencing Warm Hospitality in Cozy Accommodations

After a day filled with adventure, unwind and relax in one of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts’ cozy accommodations. From charming bed and breakfasts to rustic cabins, there are plenty of options to choose from. Experience the warm hospitality of the locals as they welcome you into their community.

Imagine sitting by a crackling fireplace, sipping a cup of hot cocoa, and sharing stories with fellow travelers. The cozy atmosphere of these accommodations will make you feel right at home while providing a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Whale Watching in Tadoussac: A Thrilling Experience

Whale watching in Tadoussac offers a thrilling and unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts. Located at the confluence of the Saguenay Fjord and St. Lawrence River, this charming village is renowned as one of the best places in the world to observe majestic whales up close. Embark on an exhilarating whale watching excursion and get ready to be amazed by these magnificent creatures.

Witness Majestic Whales Up Close

As you set sail on your whale watching adventure, prepare to be awestruck by the sheer size and beauty of these gentle giants. Tadoussac provides a unique opportunity to witness various whale species in their natural habitat. From the iconic humpback whales to minke whales, fin whales, and even blue whales if you’re lucky, there’s no shortage of incredible marine life to encounter.

Cruise Along Saguenay Fjord or St. Lawrence River

To increase your chances of spotting these magnificent creatures, embark on a cruise along either the Saguenay Fjord or the St. Lawrence River. These waterways serve as important feeding grounds for whales, attracting them with abundant food sources. The Saguenay Fjord is known for its deep waters, creating an ideal environment for larger whale species such as humpbacks and fins. On the other hand, venturing out into the vast expanse of the St. Lawrence River presents opportunities to spot multiple species throughout their migratory routes.

Learn About Marine Conservation Efforts

While enjoying your whale watching excursion, take some time to learn about marine conservation efforts that are crucial for preserving these magnificent creatures for future generations. Gain insights into ongoing research projects focused on understanding whale behavior and migration patterns. Discover how organizations work tirelessly towards protecting their habitats and raising awareness about sustainable practices that can help safeguard marine ecosystems.

Capture Unforgettable Moments

As you sail through the waters of Tadoussac, be prepared to capture unforgettable moments. Keep your camera ready to snap breathtaking photos of whales breaching, their massive bodies gracefully emerging from the water before diving back down. Observe as these gentle giants playfully interact with each other, slapping their tails or fins against the surface in a mesmerizing display of power and grace. These awe-inspiring encounters will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.

Whale watching in Tadoussac is an experience like no other. It allows you to connect with nature on a profound level and gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of marine conservation. So, pack your bags, grab your camera, and embark on an adventure filled with incredible sightings and unforgettable moments. Get ready to witness the magic of these magnificent creatures as they captivate your heart and soul.

Savoring Local Cuisine in Carleton-sur-Mer and Exploring the Area

If you’re a foodie on a road trip through Quebec, then Carleton-sur-Mer is the perfect town for you to stop and indulge in some delicious local cuisine. This charming town, located by the sea, offers a wide variety of culinary delights that will leave your taste buds begging for more.

Indulge in Delicious Local Cuisine

Carleton-sur-Mer has got you covered. The town is known for its fresh seafood, which is sourced directly from the nearby waters. From succulent lobster to mouthwatering scallops, you’ll find an array of options that are sure to please any seafood lover’s palate.

For a truly authentic experience, head to one of the local restaurants that specialize in serving up these oceanic delicacies. Imagine sitting down at a cozy table overlooking the stunning coastal views while savoring a delectable lobster dinner. It’s an experience that will make you fall in love with this picturesque location even more.

Explore Nearby Attractions

After satisfying your taste buds, take some time to explore the area surrounding Carleton-sur-Mer. There are several attractions nearby that offer unique experiences and opportunities for adventure.

One such attraction is Bonaventure Island, home to one of the largest northern gannet colonies in the world. Take a boat tour and witness these majestic birds up close as they soar through the sky and dive into the water for their next meal. It’s a sight that nature enthusiasts won’t want to miss.

Another nearby destination worth exploring is Miguasha National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is renowned for its exceptional fossil record of fish from the Devonian Period. Take a guided tour and learn about the ancient creatures that once inhabited these waters millions of years ago.

Immerse Yourself in Acadian Culture

Carleton-sur-Mer is not only a haven for food lovers and nature enthusiasts but also a place where you can immerse yourself in Acadian culture. The town is deeply rooted in Acadian heritage, and there are many ways to experience it firsthand.

Attend one of the lively music festivals that take place throughout the year and let the rhythm of Acadian tunes transport you to another world. You’ll find yourself tapping your feet and clapping your hands as the musicians bring the spirit of the region to life through their captivating performances.

For those interested in traditional crafts, Carleton-sur-Mer offers opportunities to learn from local artisans. From woodworking to pottery, these skilled craftsmen will guide you through the process of creating your own unique piece of art while sharing stories about their craft and its significance in Acadian culture.

Enjoy Stunning Coastal Views

As you explore Carleton-sur-Mer and its surroundings, don’t forget to take some time to simply enjoy the stunning coastal views. The town boasts picturesque beaches that are perfect for a leisurely stroll or a relaxing day spent sunbathing.

If hiking is more your style, lace up your boots and hit one of the many scenic trails that wind their way along the coastline. As you hike, you’ll be treated to breathtaking vistas of rugged cliffs, rolling waves, and perhaps even glimpses of marine wildlife swimming in the sparkling waters below.

Carleton-sur-Mer truly offers something for every tourist who loves good food, beautiful scenery, fascinating culture, and an unforgettable stay. So pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready for an adventure that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

National Parks: Forillon, Gaspésie, and Bic – Nature at Its Finest

Quebec is home to some of the most breathtaking national parks in Canada. Among them are Forillon, Gaspésie, and Bic, each offering a unique and immersive experience in nature’s embrace. From lush forests to cascading waterfalls and diverse wildlife, these parks have it all. Whether you’re an avid hiker, a nature enthusiast, or simply seeking tranquility amidst stunning landscapes, a road trip through Quebec’s national parks is an adventure you won’t want to miss.

Discover the pristine beauty of Quebec’s national parks: Forillon, Gaspésie, and Bic.

Quebec’s national parks are a testament to the province’s natural wonders and commitment to preserving its rich biodiversity. Forillon National Park is located at the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula and offers awe-inspiring coastal cliffs that plunge into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. With over 200 kilometers of trails winding through forests and along rugged coastlines, Forillon beckons hikers of all skill levels.

Gaspésie National Park boasts towering peaks that reach over 1,000 meters high, including Mont Albert and Mont Jacques-Cartier. As you hike through this majestic landscape, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views that stretch as far as the eye can see. The park is also home to an abundance of wildlife such as moose, caribou, black bears, and bald eagles.

Bic National Park is nestled along the shores of the St. Lawrence River Estuary. Its unique geological formations known as “drumlins” create a captivating landscape dotted with small islands and coves. Exploring Bic means traversing picturesque trails that wind through lush forests filled with maple trees while keeping an eye out for seals basking on rocky shores.

Hike through lush forests, admire cascading waterfalls, and spot diverse wildlife species.

One of the main highlights of a road trip through Quebec’s national parks is the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature’s wonders. Lace up your hiking boots and venture into the heart of Forillon National Park. The park offers trails for all levels of hikers, from leisurely strolls to challenging treks. Along the way, you’ll encounter breathtaking viewpoints overlooking cliffs that plunge into the sea, providing a perfect backdrop for memorable photographs.

Gaspésie National Park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts seeking an adrenaline rush. Embark on a challenging hike up Mont Jacques-Cartier, the second highest peak in Quebec, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Keep your camera handy as you may even spot one of the park’s elusive caribou herds grazing in their natural habitat.

Bic National Park invites visitors to explore its network of trails that wind through lush forests teeming with wildlife. As you hike along these paths, take a moment to appreciate the serenity and tranquility that surrounds you. Listen to birdsong echoing through the trees and keep an eye out for white-tailed deer gracefully making their way through dense vegetation.

Experience outdoor activities like kayaking, camping, or birdwatching amidst breathtaking landscapes.

In addition to hiking opportunities, Quebec’s national parks offer a plethora of outdoor activities that allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in nature’s embrace. Grab a paddle and embark on a kayaking adventure along Forillon National Park’s picturesque coastline. Glide through crystal-clear waters as seabirds soar overhead and seals playfully pop up around your kayak.

Camping enthusiasts will find solace within Gaspésie National Park’s designated campgrounds nestled amidst stunning natural beauty. Spend your nights under starry skies while being lulled to sleep by gentle rustling leaves and distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Wake up to the invigorating scent of pine trees and the promise of another day filled with exploration.

Birdwatchers will be delighted by Bic National Park’s diverse avian population.

FAQs on Road Trip Quebec

How long does a road trip in quebec typically last.

The duration of a road trip in Quebec can vary depending on your itinerary and interests. However, a week-long trip is often sufficient to explore some of the main attractions and regions.

What are some must-try dishes during a road trip in Quebec?

When in Quebec, you must try poutine, a delicious dish consisting of french fries topped with cheese curds and smothered in gravy. Other local specialties include tourtière (meat pie), maple syrup treats, and fresh seafood from coastal regions.

Is it necessary to rent a car for a road trip in Quebec?

Renting a car is highly recommended for exploring the vast landscapes of Quebec during a road trip. It provides flexibility and allows you to access remote areas that may not be easily reachable by public transportation.

Are there any specific driving regulations or considerations for road trips in Quebec?

It’s important to familiarize yourself with Quebec’s traffic laws before embarking on your road trip. Ensure you have proper insurance coverage, adhere to speed limits, and be aware of any seasonal driving conditions such as winter weather or construction zones.

The Best One Week Quebec Road Trip Itinerary

Quebec isn’t known as la belle province for nothing. This beautiful part of Canada is perfect for a road trip. You can see a lot of Quebec’s natural beauty in just one week. Quebec is a fantastic option for a scenic road trip in North America as it has a little bit of everything. Between one of the longest fjords in the world, spectacular whale-watching, a historic walled-city, and the beautiful Laurentian mountains, there’s no shortage of sightseeing.

I’ve got everything you need in this guide to plan the perfect road trip to Quebec including where to stay and some great restaurants and stops along the way.

This post contains affiliate links , If you make a purchase through these links I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Table of Contents

Planning Your Quebec Road Trip

Length:  7 days, 6 nights Approximate km/miles:  2044 km (1270 miles), 23 hours round trip Start and End Point:  Toronto, but Montreal or Quebec City would be much better Cities/Towns:  La Malbaie, Tadoussac, Quebec City Top Sights:  Whales, Saguenay Fjord, Acropole des Draveurs Hike, Montmorency Falls, Quebec City Optional Add-On: Two days in Montreal at the beginning or end

When to do A Road Trip to Quebec

While Quebec City can be visited year-round, including winter for Carnaval, this road trip is better for warmer months. If you want to see the whales in Tadoussac the best months are May to October . I did this itinerary to Quebec in August and it was quite hot and humid in Quebec City. In the future, I would avoid July-August because hotels and tours get booked up and visit in May or late September. I think autumn would be especially nice to visit Quebec to see the colourful leaves.

What to Do in Advance of Your Road trip

• Book your whale-watching tour for Tadoussac, they do book up!
• Book your accomodation. Book as early as possible as places between La Malbaie and Tadoussac will become unavailable and in Quebec City the prices will rise. I use booking.com
• Make dinner reservations for Quebec City
• Book any tours, Museum of Civilisation tickets, and via ferratas in advance to avoid disappointment.
• Book your car rental if needed to get the best rates, I use Discover Cars

Where to Stay in Quebec

For visiting Tadoussac and the Saguenay Fjord I found it best to stay on the west side of the Fjord to avoid having to take the ferry. However, Tadoussac is an adorable town. My pick would be La Malbaie for convenience with restaurants and it’s very charming. La Malbaie : Hotel au Petit Berger is where I would stay as it’s a great location and affordable. If I was splurging it would be Fairmont le Manoir Richelieu . Tadoussac: I would stay at Hotel Tadoussac . The front of the hotel is right on the water and there are fantastic views of the bay. Saint-Simeon : I stayed at Motel Vue Belvedere . Midway between Tadoussac and La Malbaie and very conveniently right at the ferry terminal to go across the St. Lawrence. It’s a great budget option. Quebec City: I stayed at B&B La Marquise de Bassano . The location could not be better, it was close to everything. The room was fantastic and really big and a really yummy breakfast is included.

Where to Eat in Quebec

Tadoussac Cafe Boheme is the perfect place for lunch without the crowds that places near the whale tours had. La Malbaie Restaurant L’Orchidee was fantastic and had delicious food and is especially great for seafood. There are vegetarian options on the menu as well. Ile d’Orleans Cassis Monna & Filles or Ste-Pétronille for pizza are both great options with scenic views. Quebec City Pizzeria No 900 for yummy pasta and pizza. Don Vegan for the fantastic food and patio right on a fountain, a seriously romantic setting! Smith Cafe was great for always being nearby and having delicious pastries and coffee, while Mary’s Popcorn was irrestible to buy and a great snack while exploring the city. Izakaya Hono is a walk from the old city but worth it for the yummy shumai dumplings and Japanese food.

Renting a Car in Quebec

If you need a rental car for this trip, make sure you book in advance to get the best deals. I use Discover Cars to compare pricing between local and international companies. It’s easy to compare ratings of companies to book with a reliable company. I found driving in Quebec to be quite easy and straightforward with lots of beautiful highway scenery.

7-Day Quebec Road Trip

Day 1: driving to saint simeon.

I started this trip from Toronto so my first vacation day was all about driving. From Toronto to Saint Simeon is about 10 hours, not including stops.

If you are coming from an international destination, flying into Quebec City or Montreal would be your best options for this itinerary.

For me, the first day was all about getting close to Tadoussac. I stayed in Saint Simeon at Motel Vue Belvedere as it was only 25 minutes to either Tadoussac and La Malbaie, although Tadoussac requires a ferry. La Malbaie is a very cute town and a great place to grab food. The drive from La Malbaie to Tadoussac is beautiful as great views of the St. Lawrence river and winding hilly roads.

Day 2: Tadoussac and Whale Watching

One of the reason’s I wanted to visit Tadoussac was for whale watching. Start your day early and take the ferry over to Tadoussac. Getting the ferry was a very simple process. I was happy to have a bit of time before my whale-watching tour to explore the area around the tour departure point as there are some great views from the rocks here. And, a good omen for the day, I saw whales in the distance.

You have a couple of options for whale watching here. There are standard boat tours with a large boat that is perfect if you are traveling with young kids or don’t want to be splashed by icy waters. Or, there are Zodiac tours. Zodiacs are a smaller open-top boat that can get closer to the whales and is quite fast. I went with this Zodiac tour and really liked it. They do give you waterproof pants and jackets to wear to protect you from the icy cold water. I recommend wearing long pants and a long shirt, and I regretted not having gloves.

The whale-watching tour I did was 2.5 hours long and ended with a short tour of the adjacent Saguenay fjord. There are a dozen species of whale here as well as seals and porpoises. Tadoussac is considered to be the best place to go whale watching in Quebec. While on the whale-watching tour I saw three different species fairly close, including humpbacks, minke, and fin whales.

After the whale watching tour, spend some time in the town of Tadoussac and grab lunch. It’s quite a cute town and it’s nice to walk along the boardwalk here.

Following lunch, explore the Saguenay Fjord National Park by driving towards Baie Sainte-Marguerite and park at “Centre de découverte et de service Le Béluga.” From here, walk the Sentier le Fjord trail and visit the Halte du Beluga lookout point. The trail is 6 km long and you will need about 2-3 hours depending on how long you spend at the viewpoint. I really liked this hike as it was easy but had fantastic views of the Saguenay fjord. From the Halte du Beluga viewpoint I could see whales in the distance but I couldn’t tell if they were belugas.

After the hike, head back towards Tadoussac and to dinner and your hotel for the night. One quick stop you can do is at a cute covered bridge, the Pont Louis-Gravel, not far from the Sentier le Fjord trail.

Day 3: Explore More of Quebec’s Nature

On my third day, I decided to tackle the Acropole des Draveurs hike. It’s a 10.6 km out and back hike that is constant uphill and takes about 5 hours in total. The hike is located in the Hautes‑Gorges-de-la-Rivière‑Malbaie National Park and is considered to be one of the best hikes in Quebec. The views at the top are absolutely amazing and breathtaking but the hike itself is quite difficult, especially on a hot day. It’s also a terrible idea right before Quebec City, which itself has a ton of stairs in the old city. If you do decide to do this hike, make sure you get there early and take plenty of water.

A more relaxing option for today’s plan is to explore more of the Saguenay Fjord National Park. One thing I really wanted to fit into my itinerary was doing one of the via ferratas in the park. There are also lots of trails to in Saguenay that looked nice for a day of hiking.

End your day in La Malbaie. There are some nice restaurants here but you may need reservations as they do fill up. It’s nice to drive along the main highway here that goes in front of the bay and then take chemin du Havre road towards the La Malbaie train station. It’s a very nice little town and is a good option to stay at, especially if you want to stay at the Hôtel Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu , a gorgeous hotel on the edge of La Malbaie.

Day 4: Drive to Quebec City

Even though today is a bit of a transit day, there are still things to stop and see on the way to Quebec City so I recommend leaving early to give time for that.

The first stop of the day is Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré . This shrine is believed by Catholics to cure the ailments of the sick and disabled. There is a display inside of crutches canes that I believe are from those who have become better after praying at the shrine. This basilica is a great stop if you are into architecture. The interior has beautiful mosaics and paintings. The highlight for me here was the basement chapel as the murals here seemed based on the early history of Quebec. The ceiling also had a beautiful snowflake motif.

From Sainte Anne’s head to Montmorency Falls . The parking situation was a little chaotic when I visited. There are three parking lots. One at the base of the cable car, this parking lot seemed like it had a lot of space, you can buy cable car tickets in advance here . There are also two parking lots at the top of the falls that are walking distance to the falls. The one on the east side of the falls off of rue Montmorency is the one I would recommend as the line moved quickly. The parking lot on the west side off of chemin du manoir seemed awful with lots of cars and camper vans backed up onto the main street.

Montmorency Falls is definitely worth visiting. At 83m (272 ft.) tall it’s taller than Niagara Falls and it’s quite an impressive sight. I spent a couple of hours wandering across the bridge and looking at the viewpoints from the panoramic stairs. You could also easily spend a day here as they also offer ziplines and a via ferrata.

After Montmorency Falls, you will be a 15-minute drive to Quebec City. At this point you either head to your hotel and check in or extend your day and drive around Ile d’Orléans . Ile d’Orléans is an island in the St.Lawrence river that is connected to the mainland by a long bridge. It’s one of the first places colonized by the French and is beautiful to drive around and stop at the small shops and farms.

One of the highlights on Ile d’Orleans was Cassis Monna & Filles , a blackcurrent farm. The farm has views of the orchard and you can learn a little bit about the farming practices and buy a bottle of Creme de Cassis for Kir Royales. I wish I had made a reservation for lunch here as it looked fanastic but was too busy. I ended up trying the blackcurrant softserve ice cream, which was delicious. Another great stop on the island was La Nougaterie Québec , which has fresh candy and nougat and is really yummy. Chocolaterie de l’Ile d’Orleans is a chocolate and ice cream shop that is very popular and delicious. I had a couple of cideries on my list but unfortunately they were closed the day I visited but Ste-Pétronille and Verger Bilodeau were both on my wishlist.

After exploring the island, check in to your hotel in Quebec City. I recommend one in walking distance to everything in the Old Town of Quebec. The B&B La Marquise de Bassano was perfect, I could not have been happier with the value and room here.

Day 5 and 6: Quebec City

Two full days in Quebec City should be enough to explore the Old Town and get a feel for the city. Quebec is the only city north of Mexico whose walls still exist, and because of this the entire walled area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You won’t need a car for this part so you can park it for the next couple days. I found everything in Quebec City to be in walking distance except for the Plains of Abraham. If you want to skip some of the stairs and walking this hop-on-hop-off bus tour would be a great option for the first day.

Spend your first day in Quebec City exploring Vieux-Québec (Old Quebec). There are lots of cute shops to discover and historic sights. Make sure to give yourself time to take in the street performances in front of the Chateau Frontenac Hotel . The circus acts are a lot of fun and were one of the highlights for me.

If you’ve bought a hop-on-hop-off bus tour , it’s a great day to make a visit to the Plains of Abraham. I found it easy to spend the day wandering the historic area looking at the art installations and the charming stone buildings. It’s worth it to walk to the end of Dufferin Terrace and up to the Citadelle for views of the city. You can then walk along the Citadelle walls a bit and make your way over to St. Louis Gate. While you can’t easily walk the walls of Quebec City, you can go up on the gates.

End the day strolling along the Dufferin Terrace for views of the St. Lawrence and Chateau Frontenac.

On your second day in Quebec City, spend some time relaxing in the morning and exploring the lower part of the old town. Make sure to take in the Quebec City Mural and the Place Royale if you haven’t yet. Then head over to the Museum of Civilisation . You may need to book your tickets in advance for this as it is popular, especially the special exhibits. You can easily spend an afternoon here and it’s a great respite from the humid, hot weather Quebec can have in summer (especially in August). One thing I wish I had time for was a visit to the Nordic Spa that’s located right in the city, maybe next time! Spend your evening strolling the streets and taking in performances in front of the Chateau Frontenac.

How to Extend this Quebec Road Trip

If you have more than a week in Quebec, I highly recommend adding on a 2 day visit to Montreal . For this itinerary, it would work well to add Montreal to either the very beginning or end of the trip. Montreal could also work well as a start and end point if you are arriving internationally by plane.

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This sure did bring back a lot of memories of my road trip back in 2010 (that long ago!) I only did Montreal and Quebec Ville but it looks like there is so much more to see, so I need to go back. Great tips here and loving the photography. 🙂

Hi Danik, glad you enjoyed the post, thank you for your comment! Quebec is such a great place to road trip, it might be my favourite in Canada. Hope you get a chance to revisit it!

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How to have adventures near and far.

Quebec Road Trip Itinerary (with Scenic Stops)

Ready to road trip through Quebec? Good call! Quebec is a beautiful province for a road trip. You will find everything from vibrant cities with delicious food to landscapes that will take your breath away. I have done a couple of Quebec road trips myself! It is fun, but also a big endeavor to plan a Quebec road trip. I have taken some of the work out of it for you with this guide. Discover road trip destinations, scenic stops to break up long drives, and tips for navigating Quebec.

I have included Google Map links to every location and a big map of the entire trip at the end!

What to Expect on a Quebec Road Trip

Language. The furthest East you progress through Quebec, the less English you hear. Many people in Montreal speak French and some in Quebec City, but then it is unusual to meet people who speak English. Be prepared to use Google translate on your phone if needed. If you are traveling from abroad, this means you may need a data plan.

Roadside stops . Quebec has done an incredible job of making it easy to drive across the country. There are periodic roadside stops where you can park, have a picnic lunch, and use a clean and well-maintained washroom. These are indicated by signs with symbols and are clearly marked from the main roads so you will have no problem finding them. 

Driving. If you are not from Quebec, you may find the driving style in Quebec (particularly East of Quebec City) a little different. I am from Ontario and I find driving in Quebec very different, for two main reasons. First, in Quebec, many drivers will drive in the left lane on two-lane highways (rather than using it as a passing lane). More rural areas of Quebec are single-lane with periodic passing lanes. There can be intense moments leading up to the passing lanes as drivers prepare to overtake one another or speed up in an attempt to not get passed. 

Duration. I recommend at least a week for a Quebec road trip! There is so much to see and do and a week will allow you several days that do not involve any driving so you can stretch your legs and just enjoy your trip. 

Quebec Road Trip Destinations and Scenic Stops

I started my Quebec road trip from Ottawa, Ontario – which is right on the Ontario and Quebec border. I have ordered the stop moving from West to East across Quebec but I recommend shuffling them up slightly so that you have places to explore on your way out and on your way back. I have included cities and towns to visit and others that make great scenic stops to break up the drive.

Chutes de Plaisance

Chutes de Plaisance is an incredible waterfall located partway between Ottawa, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec. Whichever way you are headed, this is a great scenic stop on a Quebec road trip. The waterfall huge and very impressive and the visiting area includes beautiful picnic tables and three observation points where you watch the falls. This would also make a great day trip from Ottawa or Montreal. We spent about 2 hours here. 

Quebec Road Trip Recommendation for Chutes de Plaisance

Make this a scenic stop. Spend the night in Montreal or Trois Rivères. 

View on Google Maps. 

Montreal is one of my favourite cities in the world. It is beautiful, vibrant, the food is amazing, and there is always something happening. My partner has done internships in Montreal so I know the city very well. Montreal is very multi-cultural and most people speak English. It can be busy and congested so stay in an area that is close to what you want to see. If you are moving around the city it will likely be easier to take the metro than to drive. The metro is easy to navigate (except Barrie station, which is big and confusing at first). 

I recommend a minimum of two nights in Montreal so that you have a couple of days to explore. If you only have one day, explore Old Montreal using this guide . Got two days? Make your way to the Plateau-Mont-Royal area to discover beautiful places and take yourself on this self-guided Montreal food tour (kid-approved, according to my readers). If you want to spend a few days in Montreal, refer to my 3 Days in Montreal Itinerary . 

Quebec Road Trip Recommendation for Montreal

Stay. You need at least a couple of days to really enjoy Montreal. 

View on Google Maps

Trois Rivères

The charming town of Trois Rivères is one of the oldest towns in Quebec and it makes a great stayover or scenic stop. I have already spent a lot of time in Montreal so decided to stay here instead. We had a great time exploring the area near the harbour. There is a main street with lots of delicious food options. Near town hall there is a beautiful fountain that is lit up at night and by the waterfront, a staircase tells the history of the town.

Quebec Road Trip Recommendation for Trois Rivères

Stay or scenic stop. If you have not been to Montreal, prioritize going there, but if you have then Trois Rivères is a nice alternative. 

Quebec City

Quebec City is an exceptional place and very unique as Canadian cities go. It has a fortified colonial core, containing an area referred to as Old Quebec that sits above the Old Port. This is the site of Château Frontenac Hotel, the most photographed hotel in the world. Outside of the downtown, you will find a waterfall taller than Niagra Falls – yes, you read that right. There is a waterfall taller than Niagra falls and there are suburbs and grocery stores built around it. Check out my guide to Quebec City for my recommendations of where to go and what to see during your visit!

On our most recent Quebec road trip, we actually stopped in Quebec City twice. On the way, we enjoyed a scenic stop at Montmorency Falls. On the way back, we spent 2 days in Quebec City.

Quebec Roadtrip Recommendation for Quebec City

Stay for at least two nights. I recommended visiting Montreal or Quebec City on your way out and then visiting the other on the way back!

View on Google Maps.

Baie-Saint-Paul

The charming, waterfront town of Baie-Saint-Paul is an excellent scenic stop as you drive further East past Quebec City. There are several scenic view points on either side of the town, a beautiful waterfront that you can walk down to, and lots of local restaurants and small shops to explore. If you enjoy small towns, this is a great stop. Depending on the season, there is also a scenic train ride available on the Charlevoix Train.

Quebec Roadtrip Recommendation for Baie-Saint-Paul

Scenic stop. Stretch your legs, enjoy the view, and explore the town for a couple of hours if you want to! There are a couple of different routes you can take after Baie-Saint-Paul. I recommend route 362. It goes along the water and is an absolutely beautiful drive to the next town, Malbaie. 

L’Anse-Saint-Jean

L’Anse-Saint-Jean is a breathtaking town located in the Saguenay Fjords. If you love sweeping landscapes and big adventures, this town is for you. It is very small but there is a lot to do and there are also several easily accessible scenic lookouts. My partner and I spent 3 full days here on our Quebec road trip!

I recommend at least two days, possibly three if you want to add in a day to relax and hit the spa, like we did. L’Anse-Saint-Jean offers kayaking, horseback riding, and hiking, or you can take a day trip by boat to Tadoussac for whale watching. The town contains only small, local restaurants and all of them are amazing! Check out my full guide of things to do in L’Anse-Saint-Jean.

Quebec Roadtrip Recommendation for L’Anse-Saint-Jean

Stayover. I recommend you chose to stay in either L’Anse-Saint-Jean or Tadoussac. You can do a day trip by boat from one to the other. Both places offer kayaking and some hiking and both are beautiful towns. L’Anse-Saint-Jean offers a little bit more adventure and fjords, Tadoussac offers more chances to see whales.

Tadoussac is a beautiful town situated where the Saguenay Fjords meet the Saint Lawrence River. It is most well-known for whale watching. You can go on a boat or Zodiak tour to see whales (I recommend this one) and you might be able to spot some from the shore on a couple of the walking trails. I stayed in Tadoussac severals years ago and it is beautiful. Like L’Anse-Saint-Jean, I suggest at least a couple of days before making your way back through Quebec. One day to be out on the water and one day to explore the town or go hiking should do it. Many of the boat tours will take you slightly into the fjords as well, so you will have a chance to see them a little bit.

Quebec Roadtrip Recommendation for Tadoussac

Stayover. From Tadoussac or L’Anse-Saint-Jean, it is time to turn your Quebec road trip back around!

Quebec Road Trip Map

Here is a map of the entire Quebec road trip (ending in Tadoussac). The total driving time (from Ottawa) is 7 hours one way for Tadoussac or 7.5 hours one way for L’Anse-Saint-Jean. From the map, you can see that the stops are placed about 1-2 hours apart. Pick and choose your combination based on your starting point! Going from Ottawa, I recommend the way out include: Chutes de Plaisance as a scenic stop, Montreal stay over, Quebec City scenic stop at Montmorency Falls, and arrive in L’Anse-Saint-Jean or Tadoussac. On the way back, stop at Baie Saint Paul as a scenic stop, stay in Quebec City, and make your last scenic stop in Trois Rivères coming back.

What are you looking for?

Ultimate 10 day quebec road trip itinerary [fresh for 2024].

Like all provinces in Canada, Quebec is in its own ways entirely unique.

Not least the fact it’s a predominantly French speaking province (which already makes it unique within an English speaking country!) 

On top of that, Quebec offers so much in terms of history, culture and scenery.

We actually did a Quebec road trip during the winter/spring months, so there was a lot of snow around.

Spending a while exploring as much as we could and capturing the true natural and architectural beauty of this part of North America.

Below I have pulled together our experience to craft what I believe to be the ultimate 10 day itinerary for road tripping Quebec.

Allowing you to see a mix of wonderful cities, national historic sites, spectacular nature and as much of the province as possible!

Travellerspoint

Do you have your vehicle sorted yet?

If you’re flying into Canada you’re going to need to find a vehicle to rent for your trip.

We’d strongly recommend renting a campervan for this Quebec road trip as you’ve got your accommodation, vehicle and food all in one.

Renting an RV means you can save on other items such as hotels and eating out, but you do need to remember there are other costs involved that you might not have considered, like petrol, taxes and added extras.

When searching for the perfect vehicle for this Canada road trip you’ll want to make sure it has all the amenities and facilities you need to make this road trip perfect.

A great way to find the vehicle that’s just right for you is to use a motorhome rental agency. We love GoSee .

Previously known as Motorhome Republic, it’s one of the largest and most renowned rental agencies in the world so you can rely on them to get you the best vehicle.

This Quebec road trip itinerary starts in Montreal, where there are loads of great RV rental firms. In fact, Canada as a whole has endless RV Rentals so you'll have plenty of choices.

If you would rather rent a car and stay in hotels, we recommend Rentalcars for car rentals or you can check out our guide to the best car rental sites here...

We also have a guide on how to get cheap hotels , to help you keep your road trip costs down.

Where to start your Quebec Road Trip?

In terms of convenience, I would suggest starting in Montreal since it’s easy to fly there and you’ll find lots of options when it comes to RV rentals .

When is the best time to visit Quebec?

We visited in the winter/early spring months and it wasn’t a bad time to visit, it was just super cold and there were some challenges with keeping the van warm.

However, it’s quite charming if you love snow, and want to see Quebec city in the snow (which is a very European style city- the only European style one in all of Canada).

If you'd prefer beautiful fall colours, then go in the autumn since Quebec is famous for its oranges, red and yellows!

And of course summer is a popular month, with great temperatures, but expect higher prices and more crowds. 

Ultimate Quebec Road Trip Itinerary 

I’m basing this road trip as if you're starting from Montreal, and the reason I’m doing so is because that is your best location to get a campervan rental. However, you could start from Quebec City direction, if you’ve got your own vehicle and are coming in from New Brunswick! 

Canada really is one of the best places to visit anywhere in the world , especially for road trips! 

So kick back, relax and enjoy this 10 day Quebec road trip itinerary to really make the most of this beautiful corner of the world.

Days 1-2: Montreal

Montreal is an awesome place to visit, there is so much to see and do in this city, and you will definitely need at least 2 days to see the highlights (if you miss anything, you can always visit more sites on the return of your Quebec road trip!)

This is a bucket list destination for sure, with so many brilliant things to do in Montreal, Quebec .

From world class museums and colourful street art, to cosy jazz bars and renowned music and comedy festivals throughout the year.

The great thing about Montreal is that there’s always amazing things to do no matter what the season, or weather.

Some of our top recommendations include:

• Axe Throwing - definitely one of the most unique activities in the city, we did it at a place called Rage
• Visit the Underground City - Montreal has the largest underground pedestrian network in the world
• Montreal Botanical Gardens
• Food tour around Mile End

If you're looking to see the highlights of Montreal in a short amount of time then check out this guided bus tour or this hop-on hop-off bus tour ! 

Day 3: Trois-Rivières (1 hour 50 minute drive from Montreal) 

After spending a few days enjoying Montreal, it’s time to get on the road and head to the town of Trois-Rivieres , which is around 140 km away.

This is a super cute little town that offers a lot of charm, and a bunch of great vegetarian restaurants (yay for us!). 

It’s the second oldest city in Quebec and one of the oldest industrial cities in the whole of Canada, with traces of the historical local paper industry scattered through the riverfront Borealis museum .

Some of the best things to do in Trois-Rivieres include:

• Stroll through Old Trois Rivieres
• Centre d’exposition Raymond-Lasnier - contemporary art centre
• Grab a bite to eat - like we said, there’s an amazing selection of veggie and vegan restaurants in Trois-Rivieres  
• Old Prison of Trois-Rivières - dates back to 1822
• Visit the Forges du Saint-Maurice   - a national historic sight with artefacts from Canada’s first iron-working community

Here's some more information on the best things to do in Trois-Rivières !

Days 3-4: Quebec City (1 hour 22 minute drive from Trois-Rivieres)

During your road trip to Quebec city, you'll likely come across a few other worthy spots to visit.

However, Quebec City is one of the highlights of this road trip so you'll want to spend at least two days here. It's the capital of the Quebec province, but the second largest city.

It doesn’t feel like Canada at all . In fact it feels like a totally different place, in particular a cute European French town and we loved it.

It's easily one of the best places to visit in Canada (at least in my opinion).

With the cobblestone streets, cute cafes and restaurants, and the many historic sights, you’re guaranteed a magical experience in Quebec City.

If you’re not already feeling suitably convinced to visit, it’s worth mentioning that Quebec City is the oldest city in Canada, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right.

We have a full guide on what to do in Quebec city , so feel free to pull more information and some things to do from there. 

I personally feel like one full day in Quebec city is enough to get an overview of all the sites, however, if you wanted to stay overnight you could treat yourself to a stay in the “ castle ”.

Some of our favourite things to do in the city include Petit-Champlain , Chaudiere Falls Park, and Old Quebec City. Depending on the time of year, you can also go whale-watching.

To see the best of Quebec city then why not check out this 2-hour walking tour or this sightseeing cruise !

Days 4-5: Saguenay (3 hour 5 minute drive from Quebec City)

You’ll be taking the slightly longer route to Saguenay from Quebec City, so you can stop at Montmorency Falls.

It’s only a 7.5 mile journey from Quebec City, so not exactly a full day trip, but you’ll want to allow a good few hours to explore and enjoy the area.

The waterfalls are surrounded by the Montmorency Falls Park, and are found at the mouth of the Montmorency River. These falls are 83m tall, 30m higher than Niagrara falls .

There are staircases that allow visitors to view the falls from several different perspectives, and visitors can access both sides of the park via a suspension bridge. To see some of the best views of the park and waterfalls, take the cable car .

If you’re visiting in summer months, the waterfalls give off a yellow glow thanks to the high iron content in the water bed. The park also hosts an international fireworks competition in the winter, with the waterfalls providing a stunning backdrop.

The drive from Montmorency Falls to Saguenay will take you via the Laurentian Mountains, which is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world dating back to around 1 billion years ago. Once you arrive in Saguenay, you can spend the evening in this charming city.

This city is best known for Saguenay Fjord National Park, which leads to the Saint Lawrence River. Saguenay Fjord is definitely one of the best places to visit in Quebec, and there’s incredible scenery no matter what time of year you visit. 

It’s a fantastic place for wildlife or bird watching. You might catch sight of moose, beaver, porcupine and maybe even a beluga whale!

There are also some great museums to visit in Saguenay. The Musée du Fjord has history displays and an aquarium, while La Pulperie de Chicoutimi museum has lots of regional history and is located in an 1800s wood-pulp mill.

You can find out about the 1996 floods at the Musée de la Petite Maison Blanche and there is also skiing available in the winter months. 

Some of the other brilliant things to do in Saguenay include:

• Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin - with its 35 km of maintained trails, 7.5 km of which are open in the winter for walking, running or cycling
• Go back in time at the The Val-Jalbert Historic Village
• Enjoy some local food - visit a local market, or cheese shop, or order cheese and crackers at a local cafe

Here's some more information on things to do in Saguenay if you're interested!

Days 5-6: Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, (1 hour 58 minute drive from Saguenay)

On the evening of day 5 (or after you’ve finished up any sites in Saguenay) make the drive to Jacques-Cartier National Park . This large national park offers a visitor centre, hiking trails, campsites & rustic chalets

Fees are charged at most parks in Canada, so a great way to say money is by buying an annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass . It’s valid for a full 12 months from your date of purchase.

A family/group pass covers up to 7 people in one vehicle and costs $145CAD for the year or an adult pass is $72CAD.

Park daily admission fees can quickly add up, so this pass can pay for itself in as little as 7 days . It’s a fantastic investment if you plan on doing multiple Canada road trips , especially if you’re planning on heading to lots of parks.

On arrival at the national park, find yourself a place to camp overnight. Jacques-Cartier is home to 113 campsites , both primitive and serviced. For maximum tranquillity all of their ‘rustic’ campsites are accessible only by foot or canoe. Des Alluvions and La Bétulaie campsites are accessible by car.

These two campsites also offer ready to camp tents. Simply arrive at the campsite after an eventful day outdoors, and everything will be ready for you for a cosy night's sleep.

Winter camping is permitted at Des Alluvions and Grand-Duc, 500m and 4.5km from the visitor centre respectively. Availability will depend on snow conditions so check weather conditions in advance.

Plenty of the campsites have RV capacity, but on top of this, the De La Vallée RV area offers sites specially designed to accommodate motor homes.

After an overnight camp it’s time for a hike in the morning. There are plenty of amazing hikes to enjoy in Jacques-Cartier. 

One of the most popular hikes is the Les Loupes Trail . It’s a 5.9 mile out and back route from the visitor centre. Some other popular trails include Le Scotora , La Croisse , Les Coulees , or if you’re looking for a longer trail, the Le Draveur Nord .

You can actually go on a guided hike in this national park which lasts for around 4-6 hours.

Day 7: Montebello (Parc Omega), 4 hour 5 minute drive from National park

This is a big day of driving, (well, not really if you’re Canadian), but there will be plenty of beautiful sites to see along the way.

The best thing about long driving days is that you’re able to take the time to soak it all in. Having the whole day reserved for the drive means there are no time constraints and you can pull over for a pit stop at any time.

Although a small village with a population of only around 1000, Montebello is a lovely, cute little area surrounded by scenic landscapes. Its rustic charm, local shops and authentic cuisine mean this quaint little village really has something to offer everyone.

It’s the perfect place to spend the evening, grab a bite to eat, and stop for the night after a long day on the road.

Some great places to eat in Montebello include Restaurant Le Bistro Montebello , Napoleon , and Le Cafe Entris Amis . 

Depending on how much time you have in Montebello you could enjoy some of the sites.

‍ Some great things to do in Montebello include:

• Kenauk Park - a 25 minute drive from Montebello
• Chocomotive - a chocolate making Économusée
• Enjoy craft beer at Brasseurs de Montebello

If you fancy really treating yourself, Montebello is home to the world’s largest log cabin, so experience a luxurious retreat at Fairmont Le Château Montebello , and enjoy a good night's sleep, ready for day 8…

Day 8: Parc Omega

This is a self drive safari in your own vehicle, and it’s seriously a super cool experience. 

Driving along this 12 km car route, you’ll meet over 400 wild animals, throughout 2200 acres of wilderness . The drive takes around 90 minutes in total!

Within your day ticket, there are plenty of activities included for you to take advantage of during your visit. Activities include the First Nations Trail , the Land of the Pioneers , and the Park House , with extensive dining options.

There’s so much going on at Parc Omega throughout the whole year, and there’s also plenty of seasonal activities depending on which time of year you visit. 

Check out their website for more information, and to book your ticket in advance.

Another great thing about Parc Omega is their unique accommodation options . The most interesting has to be huts that allow you to ‘ sleep with the wolves ’. The huts have large glass windows so you can look out and see the wolves and immerse yourselves in their natural habitat.

If you're short of time in Canada then you can visit this park on a day trip from Montreal but I highly recommend allowing a whole day here and experiencing this place in your own vehicle.

From here, you can head straight on to Ottawa, less than an hour way, and enjoy an extra evening and night there.

Day 9: Ottawa (55 minutes from Parc Omega)

Ottawa is actually the capital of Canada , even though most people assume it’s Toronto or Vancouver , surprisingly, it’s not!

Ottawa is actually in Ontario , so we have stepped out of Quebec on this Quebec road trip itinerary! But seeing as the Canadian capital is so close to Parc Omega it would be rude not to pay it a visit.

Whilst there are lots of beautiful buildings to visit in the city, I don’t think you’ll need more than a day here.

Some of the best things to do in Ottawa include:

• Byward Market - one of the oldest markets in Canada , the Byward Market consists of main buildings, and open air stalls. It’s the number one tourist attraction in Ottawa. 
• Visit some of the museums - as the capital of Canada there are a whole host to choose from including the Canadian Museum of History , the National Gallery of Canada , the Canadian Museum of Nature , the Canada Agriculture Museum and the Canadian War Museum
• Rideau Canal Skateway - this UNESCO World Heritage Site becomes the longest outdoor skating rink in the world during the winter months. It’s 8 km long and is open 24 hours a day! Make sure you enjoy a Beaver Tail whilst skating here. These are deep fried dough sweets which you can buy at kiosks along the ice rink.
• Wander around Major's Hill Park
• Enjoy the nightlife - there’s a whole host of pubs, bars, lounges, nightclubs, and live jazz and blues music throughout the city. So there’s something for every kind of night owl!

If you've got a spare 1.5 hours then check out this hop-on hop-off guided city tour or this sightseeing river cruise !

A great luxury accommodation option is the 660,000 square-foot Fairmont Château Laurier , which is now a luxury hotel. The entire hotel boasts period features including stained glass windows, Roman columns, a copper roof, and Belgian marble floor.

If you don’t fancy staying here, just to see the castle is an impressive and beautiful sight!

Day 10: Montreal (2 hour 5 minute from Ottawa)

It’s time to make the drive back to Montreal to either drop your rental car back, or fly onto your next destination. If you’ve got a few days spare, then spend them checking out all the cool things Montreal has to offer! 

Likelihood is you won’t have been able to cram it all in at the start of the trip, so take some time to mop up the highlights you missed the first time round. 

Road tripping Quebec FAQ

Should i book campsites ahead of time.

Yes, especially if you’re travelling in peak season and wanting to stay within the national park campsites. You can reserve all your campsites in advance, and remember that boondocking (wild/free camping) is not legal within the national parks themselves.

You may be able to find places just outside the national park boundaries, but if you park within the national parks, you will be fined and asked to move on. 

We recommend Harvest Hosts as an alternative to campsites. With Harvest Hosts, you can stay on farms, wineries, distilleries and many more places for free in exchange for purchasing a product.

Whilst a lot of Harvest Host’s sites are in America, they do have some places in Canada so it’s worth having a look!

For hotels in cities such as Montreal and Quebec City, we recommend using booking.com  

Is a Quebec road trip expensive?

It can be especially expensive if you're paying entrance fees to the national parks and historic sites, but buying an annual Canada parks pass will alleviate some of those costs.

If you’re camping in a van/tent then make your own breakfast/lunch and dinner. Or if you’re using hotels/airbnb then try and get somewhere that has access to cooking facilities. 

Of course if you opt for some of the more luxury and unique accommodation options we’ve mentioned above, these will be considerably more expensive! 

Get yourself a parks canada pass , if you plan on visiting other national parks in Canada, it’s worth the money!

When budgeting for your trip, bear in mind that the RV rental fee alone will not be the only charge you incur for renting a vehicle. There are lots of additional costs when renting an RV , such as fuel, tax, and tolls.

Before you choose your vehicle rental, see how many miles / km are included in the rental. Rentals with unlimited mileage are the best way to keep costs down on your Quebec road trip.

What should I pack for a Quebec Road trip?

• Binoculars - especially if you’re planning on wildlife spotting in the parks. Parc Omega recommends you take binoculars to see certain animals such as rodents and birds.
• Sun cream - whether you’re visiting in the summer or the winter, you always need some SPF to keep your skin protected!
• Water - remember to always have water on board. Canada has some very isolated areas where you might not be able to access drinking water so it’s important to always have some to hand
• Reusable water bottle - to save you always having to buy water, make sure you have a refillable bottle. Buy one with a filter like Lifestraw , so you can drink water from anywhere
• Umbrella - regardless of the time of year the weather in Quebec can be merciful. A rain poncho might come in useful too!
• Snacks - road trip snacks are an essential on any road trip itinerary! Depending on the amenities in your vehicle, you might have a fridge to store fresh food / perishables, but the best road trip snacks are always non perishables with a longer use by / best before date. If you’re planning on doing sports and/or hiking, make sure you have some higher calorie energy snacks to keep yourself well fuelled.
• Offline maps - you might find yourself without signal times, and you might not be too sure where you are. Granted there aren’t too many roads to get lost down, but it’s always good to have an offline map to reassure you. We really love maps.me , just m ake sure you download the relevant maps when you have signal / wifi. 
• Hiking boots - we’ve got a few National Parks on this Quebec itinerary, with some lovely hiking trails. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got the right shoes for these hikes, as sore feet and muscles whilst living in a vehicle isn’t ideal!
• Hiking socks - can’t have the best pair of hiking boots without the best pair of hiking socks, We really love Darn Tough socks and they’re one of our favourite backpacking gifts we’ve ever been given.
• Jacket - no matter what time of year you’re travelling to Quebec you’ll want to have a jacket in tow. Something more lightweight and compact is ideal in the summer. A 3 in 1 jacket is perfect for all seasons and conditions.

Summer packing list for a Quebec road trip

• Insect repellent - during the warmer months you might encounter some unwelcome friends, especially in the forests and near lakes

Winter packing list for a Quebec road trip

• Thermals - you can never have too many layers when you’re driving through Quebec in the winter!
• Hat, scarf and gloves
• Ski gear - we’ve mentioned some great ski spots on this itinerary, especially Saguenay in the winter months. You’ll want to make sure you’re kitted out if you’re planning on hitting the slopes. But if you want to save some space, then gear will be available to hire once you’re there.

Where in Quebec will you visit?

So there’s our ultimate Quebec road trip itinerary!

We hope this has inspired you to embark on a Canada road trip, it really is a truly amazing place.

For the best experience, we'd recommend booking your activities and attractions in advance like this guided bus tour just to ensure you get a spot! 

If you have longer than 10 days in Quebec, there are plenty of other destinations you can include in your itinerary like Gaspésie National Park, the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre , and Forillon National Park.

Honestly, there are so many fantastic places to visit in Quebec Province so what are you waiting for?

If you head off on your own road trip we’d love to hear about it. 

Did you use our itinerary? 

Did you make any other stops we missed? 

We’d love to hear all about it so please drop us a comment below!

Or maybe this road trip through Quebec has inspired you to venture further afield in Canada.

If that's the case then check out some of our other Canada guides:  

• The Best Things To Do In Banff
• The Best Places To Visit In Alberta
• The Best Things To Do In Winnipeg

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Québec's ultimate road trip: into the wild on the Whale Route

Explore Québec's wild north shore on a winding drive along the St. Lawrence River and through First Nation coastal communities.

Discover rugged landscapes, Innu First Nation culture, and wild outdoor adventure with Nat Geo photographer and Québec native and expert Mathieu Dupuis on a 524-mile (one-way) drive along his home province’s remote North Shore ( Côte-Nord ). A favorite with long-distance road trippers, the tour follows Route 138—named the Whale Route since several different species can be spotted here—along the north shore of the St. Lawrence from Tadoussac to Kegaska. While this itinerary is five days, devoting at least a week to the trip will give you more time to explore—and less time on the road—each day.

TOP FIVE REASONS TO GO

• See several different species of whales from shore, by sea kayak, or on a zodiac cruise.
• Eat lobster, cod, and other wild-caught seafood from the St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence.
• Experience the dynamic culture of the Innu First Nation community.
• Explore Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve with its rock formations dating back nearly 500 million years.
• Enjoy the solitude, slow pace, and pristine wilderness of a less-traveled coastal route.

DAY 1: TADOUSSAC, CAP-BON-DÉSIR, AND LES ESCOUMINS

See whales up-close.

Reaching the road trip’s starting point is part of the adventure. From Québec City, drive three hours northeast on Route 138 to catch the free Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine Ferry . Watch for whales on the ten-minute ride across the stunning Saguenay fjord from Baie-Sainte-Catherine to Tadoussac . The charming village is the entry point to Côte-Nord and the hub for environmentally responsible Eco-Whale Alliance whale-watching boat and zodiac cruises . To capture water-level images of whales, take the exhilarating, two-hour Essipit zodiac tour . The personalized, small craft adventure excursion departs from Les Bergeronnes, about 15 miles northeast of Tadoussac. Following the tour, continue north another 10 miles on Route 138 to Les Escoumins for Atlantic halibut or another classic Gulf of St. Lawrence fresh-catch dinner at Pêcherie Manicouagan seafood market and restaurant.

INSIDE TIP : “ Even in summer, dress for ‘winter’ when you go out on the St. Lawrence River,” says Dupuis. “It could be very chilly, even if it’s a heat wave on the shore. So, if everyone on the dock thinks you are overdressed, keep it that way. They will be jealous later.”

Spot whales from shore

If time doesn’t permit a two-hour whale-watching tour, there are still plenty of opportunities to view the magnificent marine mammals from land. Whether you get out on the water or not, stop on the way to Les Escoumins at the Cap de Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre . Open mid-June to early October, the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park center offers guided activities, coastal picnic spots, and rocky perches for wildlife viewing and photography. Whales, dolphins, and other creatures are regularly seen close to shore, but bring binoculars for the best views.

INSIDE TIP: “For photography, Dupuis suggests visiting Cap de Bon-Désir at sunrise or at sunset when the park is less crowded. “The light will be better, and the waters of the St. Lawrence should be calmer, if not glassy,” he adds. “Also, the wildlife is more active at those times of day.”

Stop signs are in French and Innu-Aimum (an Algonquin language) in Les Escoumins, an Innu Essipit First Nation reserve near Tadoussac. The Innu Essipit people have called eastern Québec’s North Shore home for more 9,000 years.

DAY 2: POINTE-AUX-OUTARDES AND BAIE-COMEAU

Explore pointe-aux-outardes nature park.

While the 104-mile drive from Cap de Bon-Désir north to coastal Pointe-Aux-Outardes Nature Park only takes a couple of hours, allow extra time for the St. Lawrence River views and occasional whale sightings. At the Nature Park, take a hike and climb the observation towers to experience the biodiversity—including a bog, boreal forest, red pines, sand dunes, beaches, more than 200 bird species and 300 plant species, and the North Shore’s largest salt marsh.

INSIDE TIP: June to September at the Nature Park, an Innu Nation elder named Wabush periodically shares Innu traditions, culture, and spirituality with visitors. Dupuis suggests timing your visit to coincide with one of Wabush’s regularly scheduled tours (offered in French and Innu only) or calling ahead to schedule an English-speaking tour (available to groups of eight or more).

Stay and play in a Unesco World biosphere reserve

Continue 23 miles to Baie-Comeau, gateway to adventure in the Manicouagan-Uapishka UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve . Covering 21,200 square miles, the naturally and culturally diverse site is one of the largest world biospheres on Earth. In charming downtown Baie-Comeau, brow boutiques and sample a local St-Pancrace craft brew . East of Baie-Comeau on Route 138, watch for the sign marking the road to Pointe-des-Monts , the second-oldest lighthouse on the St. Lawrence. Built in 1830, the 98-foot-tall lighthouse is open to visitors mid-June to Labor Day and offers 360-degree views of the St. Lawrence River, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and passing boats and marine mammals.

INSIDE TIP: “ Visiting the lighthouse at sunrise is a unique experience,” says Dupuis, who suggests booking a room at the adjacent lightkeeper’s house since Pointe-des-Monts is in a remote area. “If you are lucky, the breath of whales will rock you to sleep.”

Climb the historic Pointe-des-Monts Lighthouse to explore seven floors of Québec maritime heritage from pre-history to 1964.

DAY 3: SEPT-ILES

Choose your adventure.

Get an early start to make the 97-mile drive to Sept-Iles in time for a full day of exploring. Strategically situated at the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Sept-Îles is a deep-water port and popular cruise ship stopover steeped in Innu heritage. The city also serves as the access point for water, forest, and beach activities in the seven-island Sept-Iles Archipelago . Go kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and hiking at the Lac des Rapides Outdoor Centre . Learn about past and present Innu culture at the Shaputuan Museum .

INSIDE TIP : “ Sept-Iles is also a big fishing harbor,” says Dupuis. “On the fishing wharf, you can eat inside a giant lobster trap at Le Casse-Croute du pêcheur lobster shack.”

Explore Grand Blasque Island

Mid-June to early September, zodiacs regularly ferry passengers from the Sept-Iles marina to nearby Grand Basque Island , the only island in the archipelago offering wilderness campsites and hiking trails. Whether you plan to spend a few hours, a full day, or are camping overnight on Grand Basque, hike the trail to the top of the hill for 360-degree views of Sept-Iles Bay. In addition to a basic shuttle, there are wider archipelago cruises, such as birdwatching tours of the Corossol Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary, considered one of eastern Canada’s most important protected areas for marine birds.

INSIDE TIP: “ Take a boat tour to the very end the bay to see Corossol Island,” says Dupuis. “In addition to being a bird sanctuary the island has an abandoned lighthouse standing on the top of a cliff.”

DAY 4: LONGUE-POINTE-DE-MINGAN AND HAVRE SAINT-PIERRE

Cruise the mingan archipelago national park reserve.

Today’s drive primarily hugs the coast for 136 scenic miles, passing such villages as Rivières-Aux-Tonnerres, Magpie, Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, and Mingan, and the Innu community of Maliotenam. Each August, Maliotenam hosts the Innu Nikamu (“The Singing Man”) Festival , featuring live music and other performing arts, as well as Innu cultural presentations. In Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, take a boat tour (May to September) in the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve with Loiselle Family Cruises . Look for puffins, whales, seals, and eerie limestone formations from the water and on stopovers on Perroquet Island and Nue de Mingan Island .

INSIDE TIP: “ Good or bad weather, visit Nue Island and Perroquet Island,” says Dupuis. “Foggy days are my favorite, because the fog layer makes the rock monoliths of Mingan look especially mysterious.”

Hike and camp on an Island

From Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, continue east 29 miles to Havre Saint-Pierre, entry point to the most-visited section of the Mingan Archipelago. From Havre Saint-Pierre, you can catch a boat out to popular islands, such as Niapiskau and Quarry . Spend a few hours picnicking and hiking among the island’s soaring limestone monoliths. Extend your stay by tent camping on Niapiskau Island or bunking in a ready-to-camp oTENTik on Quarry Island. If you’re returning to Havre Saint-Pierre for the evening, make dinner reservations at Chez Julie , a long-time local favorite for fresh lobster, cod, and other North Shore seafood specialties.

INSIDE TIP: “ The drive from Havre Saint-Pierre to Kegaska is the most remote part of the route—but, it is a pure wonder,” says Dupuis. “Before leaving Havre Saint-Pierre, be sure to fill the gas tank, stock up on provisions, and plan your accommodation in advance.”

DAY 5: NATASHQUAN AND KEGASKA

Seabirds, songs, and sea-faring history.

The final 125-mile stretch of the trip is separated into two distinct sections: 93 paved miles to the village of Natashquan and 32 mainly gravel miles to the remote fishing community of Kegaska . On the way to Natashquan, stop at the halfway point to stroll the rocky shoreline and look for nesting seabirds in the small (population 84) fishing village of Baie-Johan-Beetz. Continue to Natashquan, birthplace of French-speaking poet, singer, and Quebecois folk hero Gilles Vigneault. Experience Natashquan’s artistic side at cozy Café-Bistro L’échourie , which regularly hosts evening storytelling and live music performances.

INSIDE TIP: “ For photography and to learn about Natashquan’s cod fishing heritage, Dupuis suggests visiting the ‘Les Galets’ Québec heritage site, a rocky crag dotted with a dozen weathered fish drying-and-salting sheds dating back 150 years.”

Reach the end of the road

The pavement ends about five miles east of Natashquan in Pointe-Parent. From here, follow the graded, gravel length of Route 138 to the Instagram-famous “FIN 138” sign marking the end of the road in Kegaska, easternmost village on the North Shore. Snap the requisite selfie in front of the sign and then turn the car around. Before driving back to Natashquan for the night, stop in Kegaska to stroll the beach and hike the crushed-shell trails. Wind your way to the rusty remains of the cargo ship Brion, which wrecked on a reef here in 1976.

HOW TO TAKE THIS TRIP

Fly to Québec City and rent a car at the airport. Follow Route 138 (QC-138 E) 143 miles to the ferry landing in Baie-Saint-Catherine. Drive onto the ferry for the ten-minute crossing to Tadoussac. Continue on Route 138 for 524 miles to the end of the road in Kegaska. Retrace your route back to the airport, stopping over one or two nights to break up the long drive. Plan to spend at least a week (five days up and two days back) making the trip. If time isn’t an issue, consider taking a scenic, 135-mile (one-way) detour through the backcountry wilderness on DAY 2. To make the side trip, head north from Baie-Comeau on Route 389 (QC-389). Popular with motorcyclists, the winding and hilly drive leads north past lakes and rivers to the world’s largest multiple-arch-and-buttress dam, Manic-5 , in Rivière-aux-Outardes. After viewing the dam, retrace your route back to Route 138 in Baie-Comeau to resume the road trip.

WHERE TO STAY

Spend the first night in a fully-equipped cottage overlooking the St. Lawrence L at Les Chalets au Bord de la Mer in Les Escoumins. In Baie-Comeau, choose the historic Hotel le Manoir for the river views or the renovated Le Grand Hotel for the convenient downtown location. Close out day three by tent camping on Grand Basque Island or watching the boats in the Sept-Îles marina at the Chateau Arnaud hotel. In Havre Saint-Pierre, stay onshore at the homey Auberge Boreale or go island camping in Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve . After visiting Kegaska, head back to a bed and breakfast in Natashquan for the night.

TRAVEL TIP: Lodging, food, and fuel options are limited along the route. Book rooms and campsites well in advance, bring snacks and drinks, and fill the gas tank every chance you get. June to mid-September is the best time to make the trip, since many places are closed in the offseason. Find inspiration and itineraries to explore even more of Québec in Dupuis’ travel book, Québec: A Photographic Road Trip Through Canada’s Beautiful Province (National Geographic, 2018).

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7 scenic drives through Quebec

Things to do

Check the most up-to-date travel restrictions, including border closures, before planning your trip and be sure to contact businesses prior to travel to book reservations and confirm availability.

Quebec is the biggest province in Canada, meaning there’s a whole lot to see. We’ve gathered seven great Quebec road trip routes which will bring you to some of its most beautiful wonders and sought-after experiences. Some of these are short road trips from Montreal or Quebec City that will keep you very close to the city, while others will take you quite a bit longer, and really embrace that road trip spirit.

1. The Gaspesie Tour (Le Tour de la Gaspésie)

The Gaspesie Tour External Link Title  is a longer road trip that brings you from the province's biggest cities all the way to its easternmost tip. Starting off in either Montreal or Quebec City, you'll be heading east, following the St. Lawrence River through many of Quebec's beautiful tourist regions.  This Gaspesie road trip route will take you through the Eastern Townships and Quebec's wine regions. You'll then tour between small, historic waterfront villages and bigger rural districts like Rivi?re-du-Loup and Rimouski. Finally, you'll come face-to-face with the Atlantic Ocean as you explore the huge Gaspe Peninsula -- one of National Geographic Traveller's 50 Places of a Lifetime in Canada. There you can visit the awe-inspiring Perc? Rock, and immerse yourself in the beautiful outdoors, scuba diving, whale watching, sea kayaking, fishing, and more.

Starting point : Montreal or Quebec City Distance : 1,235 kilometres Time : Approx. 7 to 10 days Essential stops : Rimouski Wildlife Reserve, Reford Gardens, Exploramer, Bonaventure Island, and Gaspesie and Perc? Rock provincial parks, Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge.  Click here for more on these stops External Link Title .

2. The New France Route (Route de la Nouvelle-France)

The New France Route is all about experiencing the history of Quebec through the relics of some of its early settlers. This was once a supply road connecting the capital of New France, Quebec City, to the coast of the St. Lawrence at C?te-de-Beaupr?. On this short trip, you'll drive through communities dotted with old homes and churches, visit the farms that sustained them, and see history on display at multiple museums.

Starting point : Quebec City Length : 56 kilometres Time : < 1 day Essential stops : Domaine de Maizerets, Maison Girardin, Montmorency Falls Park, Auberge Baker, Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area.  Click here for more on these stops External Link Title

3. The Fjord Route (Route du Fjord)

No, fjords aren't only a European thing.  The Fjord Route External Link Title  takes you around the impressive 105 kilometres long Saguenay Fjord, one of the longest in the world and surrounded by cliffs 300 metres in height. Quirky and historic small towns line both sides of the fjord, including some considered to be the most beautiful villages in Quebec. You're going to want to go for a whale-watching excursion in Baie-Sainte-Catherine, and generally take advantage of the breathtaking landscape through biking, hiking, and camping. You can pick up an audio-guide to learn more about the towns and attractions along your drive. 

Starting point : Baie-Sainte-Catherine Distance : 235 kilometres Time : 1 to 2 days Essential stops : Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, Mus?e de la Nature, the Mus?e du Fjord, Saguenay Fjord National Park.  Click here for more on these stops External Link Title .

4. The King's Road (Chemin du Roy)

The King's Road External Link Title  is a route that connects the province's two biggest cities: Montreal and Quebec City. The road dates back to 1737, when officials decreed that a 'royal road' be built to connect the two biggest settlements in 'New France.' At the time it was the longest road north of the Rio Grande. Driving this Quebec road trip route, you'll be following the tracks of stagecoaches and ox-drawn carts, stopping at a multitude of historical landmarks along the way. You'll pass through old towns like Repentigny and Trois-Rivi?res, where you can visit beautiful churches and eat local Quebecois cuisine. Heritage sites mix with beautiful nature throughout the drive, until you finally arrive at the cobblestone streets of Old Quebec or Old Montreal (depending on  whether you choose to start this  road trip in Montreal or from Quebec City). And for cyclists, the King's Road is part of the Green Route, meaning you can bike it in safety.

Starting point : Montreal or Quebec City Distance : 280 kilometres Time : 1 to 2 days Essential stops : Sainte-Anne-de-la-P?rade church, the Quebec Folk Culture Museum, the Old Prison of Trois-Rivi?res, Lake Saint-Pierre.  Click here for more on these stops External Link Title .

5. The Wine Route (Route des vins)

You're going to want to bring a designated driver on this one.  The Wine Route External Link Title  is a path connecting 21 vineyards that you can tackle by car, bike or tour. Located in the Brome-Missisquoi region this drive will take you to two of the oldest vineyards in Quebec, as well as a slew of new players who are shaking up the local scene. Of course, the Wine Route has more than wine. Great restaurants, artisans, and outdoor fun can be found in the handful of small towns along the way.

Starting point : Farnham via Montreal (1 hour southeast) Distance : 138 kilometres Time : 1 to 2 days Essential stops : As many vineyards as you can visit, Brome Lake, Mont Sutton, Centre de Sant? Euro-Spa.  Click here for more on these stops External Link Title .

6. The Navigators' Route (Route des Navigateurs)

Explore historic towns and maritime ports as you trace  the Navigators' Route External Link Title , a 292-mile path along the southern half of the Saint Lawrence River. The route traces highway 132 starting in Baie-du-Febvre (though many people pick it up in Quebec City), and takes you through three different regions: Centre-du-Qu?bec, Chaudi?re-Appalaches, and Bas-Saint-Laurent. Along the way you'll have opportunities to explore historic lighthouses, paddle out on the water in a sea kayak, picnic along the scenic St. Lawrence, and enjoy the beauty of the Quebec countryside. Follow the white ship wheel signs which mark the route, and keep an eye out for sail-shaped symbols which indicate a viewpoint or landmark worth stopping for.

Departure point : Baie-du-Febvre (or Quebec City to cut down on distance) Distance : 470 kilometres Time : Approx. 4 days Essential stops : Centre de la Biodiversit? du Qu?bec in B?cancour, ?les du Pot ? l'Eau-de-Vie archipelago and ?le aux Li?vres, the Mus?e maritime du Qu?bec, Bic provincial park, Pointe-au-P?re Maritime Historic Site.  Click here for more on these stops. External Link Title

7. The Whale Route (Route des Baleines)

Thirteen different species of whales can be found in the estuary and gulf of the St. Lawrence, and these animals are the inspiration for the  Whale Route External Link Title . Blue signs with a little white whale mark your way as you travel from town to town along Quebec's eastern coast. The drive has all the features you'd expect as you follow the ocean: beautiful vistas, lighthouses, shipwrecks, wildlife viewing, and great, great seafood. But really the entire point of this Quebec road trip  is to see the ocean giants that gave it its name. Stop off in towns along the way for whale-watching excursions by boat, Zodiac or sea kayak.

Starting point:  Tadoussac Distance : 1,250 kilometres Time : 4 to 6 days Essential stops : Cap-de-Bon-D?sir Interpretation and Observation Centre, Daniel Johnson Dam and Manic-5 Generating Station, Pointe-des-Monts Lighthouse, Vaur?al Canyon and falls.  Click here for more on these stops External Link Title .

To learn more about Quebec's tourist routes, visit the Bonjour Quebec website.

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There are numerous scenic drives originating from Quebec City that offer an opportunity to experience the diverse beauty of Québec beyond the city center of Quebec City.

Quebec is a remarkable Canadian province to explore, with its unique landscapes and rich cultural heritage. It offers a wide range of road trip options, from charming coastal drives to picturesque mountain routes. 

Québec City offers a variety of enjoyable activities for families with kids. However, there are occasions when one wants to escape the bustling city life and explore the numerous incredible attractions that await beyond Québec City.

So, gather your family, pack up the car, and embark on an exciting Québec road trip to discover the wonders of this remarkable eastern province.

If you are looking for fun and adventure, then check out these Quebec Road Trips that are perfect for a weekend. We also have included the distance and time it takes to reach that destination from Quebec City and Montreal, as depending how much time you have to explore will impact which road trip you choose.

Easy Quebec Road Trips To try

1. eastern townships.

• Distance from Quebec City ~  214 km via Route Transcanadienne O/A 20 O
• Distance from Montreal ~ 169 km via 10E

The Eastern townships of Quebec, known as “Les Cantons-de-l’Est,” offer natural landscapes, outdoor activities, and cultural attractions in the scenic countryside surrounded by vineyards and charming small towns. This region is known for having lots of summer festivals, farmers’ markets and local cuisine to enjoy Quebec’s agricultural produce and flavours. 

Bromont is a great stop in all seasons, as in the summer, you can explore hiking trails or visit the waterpark. In the winter, they are a popular choice for snowboarding, skiing and winter recreational activities.

If you are looking for relaxation, the Magog is the place to visit, as it has multiple lakeside parks that are perfect for picnics along the shoreline of Lake Memphremagog. The small town also has art galleries and boutiques to window shops. 

Knowlton is another charming small town with tree-lined streets and historic buildings that offer the perfect destination to get out of the car for a stroll. They are known for their antique shops and scenic views of Brome Lake .

Sherbrooke is the largest city in the Eastern townships and has a vibrant cultural scene. Stroll along Wellington Street, the main commercial street, and discover its boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants.  Check out some unique Canadian art pieces when you visit the Sherbrooke Museum of Fine Arts or attend a performance at the Granada Theatre , which is an architectural gem. 

If you enjoy wine sampling, then the Eastern Townships is the perfect location for you to enjoy a scenic drive to enjoy the countryside along Route 243, Route 141, or Route 212, stopping at local wineries for tours and tastings. Some must-visit vineyards include Domaine Les Brome , Clos Saragnat , and Domaine de Lavoie .

Mont-Mégantic National Park is a great spot to enjoy hiking, biking, water sports and golfing. If you visit the area, you will want to check out the Estriade bike path, which is a flat route on a converted railway track that connects Granby to Waterloo. On the route, you’ll encounter beautiful landscapes, including rolling hills, open fields, and tree-lined sections, as well as rest stops with picnic tables.

2. Ile d’Orleans

• Distance from Quebec City ~  293 km via QC-175N
• Distance from Montreal ~ 292 km via A20

Enjoy the French island of Île d’Orléans , which has a rich history dating back to the 17th century, as you enjoy the beauty of the island countryside. Île d’Orléans is an island located in the St. Lawrence River, which is an agricultural gem of Quebec.

The soil on the island is excellent for growing produce, so as you bike along the country roads, be sure to stop by the strawberry fields, apple orchards, and produce stands to taste the delicious produce. There are also many excellent vineyards, such as Vignoble Isle de Bacchus , Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau , or Domaine de la Source à Marguerite , that are great spots to spend an afternoon and enjoy a wine tour.

Sainte-Pétronille is a great spot to go for a stroll. The island has multiple lookouts, such as Parc Maritime de Saint-Laurent , and observation viewpoints like Chemin Royal to view the river, bridges and Quebec City across the river.

If you enjoy shopping at small local boutiques, for handmade crafts and speciality food products then be sure to stop by Les Fromages de l’Isle d’Orléans, Chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans, or La Confiturerie Tigidou for delicious treats and souvenirs.

3. Fjord Route: Saguenay Fjord National Park

• Distance from Montreal ~ 514 km via A20 and Qc-175

If you are departing from Quebec City, some places you may want to stop at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré to see the historic basilica. Baie-Saint-Paul has many art galleries and boutiques to visit, and lastly, Tadoussac has stunning views of the St.Lawrence River and is a popular location to stop and try and see whales or other marine life on a boat tour.

If you are departing from Montreal, you may want to stop in the charming old town of Trois-Rivières, which has quaint cafes, local shops and historic sites to explore. Saint-Félicien is another great stop if you want to check out Canadian wildlife like bears, wolves and caribou at the  Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien.

Saguenay Fjord National Park has a landscape of steep cliffs, deep blue waters, and lush forests, creating a natural paradise. It is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking a peaceful retreat in a natural setting. This national park is unique as it is located along the Saguenay Fjord, which has been carved over thousands of years by glaciers. The Saguenay Fjord extends 100 km (62 miles) inland from St. Lawrence and is quite the sight to see!  The fjord is one of the largest in the world, and the park helps protect a range of ecosystems: forests, cliffs and marine habitats while offering a great location for outdoor activities.

Visitors will enjoy the multiple vantage points throughout the park of the Fjords while they enjoy hiking. If you want to see marine wildlife up close then you can rent a canoe or kayak to explore the calm waters of this fjord. If you enjoy learning more about flora, fauna and geological history then stop by the interpretive center.

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4. Route des Navigateurs (Navigator’s Route)

• Distance from Quebec City ~  0km as Quebec City is in the middle of the route
• Distance from Montreal ~ 152 km via 40E

This scenic Navigator’s route is located along the shoreline of the St.Lawrence River. This route has been shaped by centuries of navigation in the river that has created unique coastal towns that are unique to visit. The entire route is 492 km. 

Starting from Montreal, you will want to head to Parc écomaritime de l’Anse-du-Port – Passerelles de Nicolet and explore the network of wooden boardwalks that are perfect for wildlife spotting. Nearby you will want to stop at the Sainte-Angele quay and check out the observation tower for breathtaking views of the St.Lawrence shoreline.

Kamouraska is a cute little village with charming architecture that offers a walking tour to visit historical sites such as the Miller Quay, Morel and Leblanc avenues and their historic buildings and the Paradis mill. During your visit, be sure to check out the riverfront promenade boutiques that offer unique souvenirs.

Get a different view of St. Lawrence from the water as you embark on a whale-watching tour starting from Rivière-du-Loup quay with Croisières AML. Also located nearby is Parc des Chutes which is home to a beautiful waterfall, hiking trails, a lookout and serene green space to enjoy!

If you want to continue exploring by water then check out a sea kayaking adventure in the Parc national du Bic with Aventures Archipel where you can view marine life up-close.

Learn more about the entire Navigator’s route with this virtual map that will help you plan out my entire route.

5. La Malbaie

• Distance from Quebec City ~ 175 km via QC-138E
• Distance from Montreal ~ 398 km via A20

La Malbaie is a hidden gem located in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, offering outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or culinary delights. La Malbaie is a luxury destination located along the St.Lawrence River, surrounded by mountains and rolling hills.

This scenic resort village is an icon of luxury as it is home to the chateau-style Casino de Charlevoix if you want to take a chance on your luck, and the luxury five-star Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu . The hotel also features a golf course, and a spa, providing visitors with a wide range of activities and luxury amenities.

Foodies will love the gastronomy scene in Malbaie as it serves regional cuisine such as Charlevoix cheese, game meats, and fresh seafood in fine dining restaurants. Nature lovers will enjoy visiting the  Parc National des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie , which has a landscape of steep cliffs and deep valleys perfect for hiking, camping and wildlife viewing.

Lastly, the area has a rich cultural history that you can learn more about at the Musée de Charlevoix, which teaches about the art and history of the area. Stroll through town to view the historic architectural treasures, such as the 19th-century church called Église Sainte-Agnès .

6. St.Gabriel de Valcartier 

• Distance from Quebec City ~ 34 km via A. Henri-IV/A. 573 N and QC-371 N
• Distance from Montreal ~ 271 km via A20

When starting out from Montreal, you will drive through the Laurentian Mountains and enjoy views of forests, lakes, and small towns like St.Jerome. This small town offers a great spot to enjoy outdoor activities at Parc régional de la Rivière-du-Nord or enjoy the art gallery of Musee d’art contemporain .

Your next stop is Mont-Tremblant , which is a popular ski hill in the winter, and in the summer, you can enjoy a variety of hiking trails, golfing, kayaking, biking, or take the gondola to the peak to enjoy the scenic views. Mont-Tremblant also has a small charming village that has unique shops and restaurants, so be sure to stop for a famous Quebec Dessert called the Beaver Tail (a fried pastry with toppings or cinnamon sugar) or find delicious poutine (another Canadian staple). 

Once you arrive at St.Gabriel de Valcartier, families will enjoy snow tubing and ice skating in the winter, and only a short drive away is the unique Hotel de Glace which is a hotel made of ice that you can either stay overnight or make a quick visit and enjoy a frosty drink and enjoy a Canadian favourite of frozen maple taffy.

7. Jacques Cartier National Park

• Distance from Quebec City ~ 80 km via QC-175N
• Distance from Montreal ~ 301 km via A20

Tourists will enjoy the scenic road trip through villages and countryside alongside the St.Lawrence River along the New France Route that links Old Quebec City and Cote de Beaupre . This historic route was used by inhabitants to move goods from Beaupre to Quebec City, so along the route you can visit many historic sites such as a windmill, Domaine de Maizerets , ancestral buildings in Bourg du Fargy.

Along the route, make sure you stop to visit Montmorency Falls which are a spectacular sight in summer and winter, towering at 83m tall. You can take a cable car to the top of the cliff or walk across the suspension bridge, and adventurers can even take a zipline across the plunge pool.

Once you reach Jacques Cartier National Park , which is known for its beautiful landscape and outdoor activities, the Gardins-Jardins area of the park offers hiking trails and a magnificent Lac des Cygnes or the pristine Jacques Cartier River, where you can canoe, kayak, paddleboard and fish.

The Valley area has steep cliffs and impressive fjord-like landscapes that are perfect for viewing Canadian wildlife like moose, beavers and even bears. In the winter, the park is popular for cross-country skiers, snowshoe trekkers and sledders.

Top Tips For Planning Road Trip Ideas from Quebec City

Remember to plan your road trip ahead of time and consider the time of year and weather conditions before leaving. It’s also a good idea to check for any road closures or construction updates before you embark on your journey.

• See our favorite magical winter vacation spots in Canada

Enjoy exploring the beauty of Québec!

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Ultimate Two Week Coastal Quebec Road Trip Itinerary

Thinking of visiting the coastal side of Québec and you only have two weeks to do it?

We have the perfect coastal Québec road trip itinerary for you, with an unbeatable mix of nature, history, culture and outdoor adventure.

Some of the most well known sites in the province are featured in this Québec road trip plus many more beyond the beaten path destinations you may have never heard of.

Easily adaptable and extendable, this Québec road trip averages around 180km of driving per day.

So there’s plenty of time for relaxation or fast paced adventure, no matter which you prefer! 

This Quebec Coastal road trip itinerary passes through the traditional territories of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi’gmaq, Innu, Wendake-Nionwentsïo and Wabanaki peoples.

Last updated March 2023

Planning a coastal Québec road trip

With thousands of kilometres of beautiful coastline, Québec has a lot to offer when it comes to scenic and adventurous road trips.

Indeed, you could easily travel and explore along Québec’s coastline for weeks (and we have).

For those on a more limited (or realistic) timeframe, however, I have put together this 2 week/14 day Québec road trip itinerary .

The route showcases the highlights of this region, including Québec City, Tadoussac, Saguenay, Kamouraska and the breathtaking Gaspé Peninsula. 

The following Québec road trip:

• Starts and ends in Montreal, completing a full loop
• Can be adapted to your own preferences and interests
• Is easily shortened if necessary on day 5 for a quicker coastal adventure
• Can be combined with other routes such as our East Coast Canada road trip itinerary

There are affiliate links in this post. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Coastal Québec Road Trip – 2 week / 14 day itinerary (2400km)

Read on for a day by day trip planning guide, including what to do in each location and accommodation suggestions.

The latter is based on our own experience as well as online research and personal recommendations. 

This coastal Quebec road trip itinerary is inspired by our independent travel experiences exploring the region and collaborations with Quebec Maritime .

Day 1 – Montreal to Québec City (255km)

Quite simply, Québec City is like nowhere else in Canada. This is likely because it is one of the oldest cities in Canada and is also the only walled city in North America.

The historical vibe and architecture of Vieux Québec (Old Québec) will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Europe.

Drive straight to Québec City from Montreal to make the most of your time in this historic place. 

Things to do in Québec City

Simply wandering around Quebec’s Old Town is the best part of any visit to Quebec. Here are my recommendations for places to visit and things to do in Québec City:

• Explore the lobby of the ever impressive Chateau Frontenac or take a one hour tour to see more
• Take the ferry to  Lévis across the water for the best views of Quebec City
• Walk along the 200 year old wooden Dufferin Terrasse next to the Chateau and take the steps up to the the Plains of Abraham
• Explore the  Citadelle de Québec , the largest British built fortress in North America
• Take a historical tour to learn more about the people and context of Vieux Québec
• Get the highest view of Quebec City at the Observatoire de la Capitale
• Take the stairs or funicular down to the  Petit Champlain area below the Chateau Frontenac
• Go on a free guided tour of Quebec’s regal Parliament Buildings
• View the stunning architectural and opulence of the 350+ year old Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral
• Taste and browse local produce at the  Old Port Market

Where to stay in  Québec City

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac – Quebec City’s iconic castle-like hotel is one of the most photographed in the world

Hotel Terrasse Dufferin  (we stayed here) – Just across the street from the Frontenac, this hotel has similar views and location for a more affordable price

Hotel Manoir Morgan – Highly rated hotel located in the historic old town. Some rooms have views of the Chateau Frontenac

Day 2 – Québec City

Take an extra day to explore more of beautiful Quebec City. For a beyond the beaten path experience, consider taking a trip to one of Quebec’s vibrant outer neighbourhoods.

A food tour is a great way to explore hip and culturally diverse Saint Roch district, not far from Old Quebec. My highlight was definitely the mouthwatering Fromagerie des Grondines cheese Shop. 

Day 3 – Québec City to Tadoussac (214km)

After a two night city break in Québec City, it is time to head out into the more wilder areas of Québec. First stop is Tadoussac, one of the best places in the world for whale watching.

Sitting at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Saguenay rivers, the waters surrounding this tiny town are visited by as many as 13 different whale species. One of the most common whales to see is the majestic beluga. 

On the way to Tadoussac, take the time to stop at the powerful Montmorency Falls, just fifteen kilometres north of Quebec City. 

Things to do in Tadoussac

• Go on a whale watching Zodiac tour with AML Cruises and potentially see belugas, minke whales and humpbacks
• Kayak with whales on a tour with Mer et Monde
• Walk the short Sentier Pointe-de-l’Islet viewpoint trail from Tadoussac’s marina. This is a great spot to sea whales
• Learn more about the local whales at the  Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre
• Visit  Petite Chapelle , one of North America’s oldest wooden churches (it dates from 1747!)
• Have a drink or a bite to eat at the impressive Hotel Tadoussac
• Learn about Tadoussac’s history at the  Chauvin Trading Post, a replica of Canada’s first fur trading post

Where to stay in Tadoussac

Hotel Motel le Beluga (we stayed here!) – Great value option in quiet yet convenient Tadoussac location. The comfortable rooms are just 10 minutes walk from Tadoussac Bay. Some have balconies with views towards the ocean

Hotel Tadoussac – Iconic historic hotel overlooking Tadoussac Bay. Just a few minutes walk to everywhere downtown, including the wharf. On-site restaurant, bar, wellness centre, swimming pool, games room, tennis court and more

Auberge La Merveilleuse – This inn has an amazing waterfront location, close to everything but set back enough to be quiet too. Multiple room configurations are available, with the five bedroom house being ideal for larger families.

Day 4 – Tadoussac to Saguenay (126km)

Flowing from Lac Saint Jean, the Saguenay river becomes a magnificent fjord reaching depths of 300m or more.

Carved by glaciers, the fjord cliffs are as high as the water below is deep. With such unique biodiversity, Saguenay is an essential stop on any Quebec road trip. 

Things to do in Saguenay

• Go hiking in Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay
• Take a boat or kayak tour of the Saguenay fjord and spot whales, seals and seabirds
• Climb the stairs in the 21m high Pyramid of Ha! Ha! for views of the bay
• Visit what was once the world’s largest pulp mill – La Pulperie
• Take a step back in time at the Village Historique Val Jalbert , an authentic 1920’s pulp mill town
• Bike part of the 256km  Véloroute des Bleuets circuit
• Walk the boardwalk at  Chicoutimi’s Port Area
• Try the aerial adventure course and Via Ferrata at Parc Adventures Cap Jaseux

Where to stay in Saguenay

Gîte du Haut des Arbres – Spectacular location overlooking the fjord with modern rooms and swimming pool

OTL Gouverneur Saguenay – Comfortable and spacious rooms in hotel located close to Chicoutimi centre

Hotel Chicoutimi – Good value option in central Chicoutimi location. The hotel has many different room configurations, making it a good option for families

Day 5 – Saguenay

Fill your day with activities from the Day 4 list or consider these additional ideas – 

• Go biking, hiking or paddling in Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin
• Check out the  Musée du Fjord and discover what lies beneath the ocean’s surface
• Go white water rafting  on the Shipshaw, Métabetchouane and Mistassibi rivers 
• Hike the peaks of Parc national des Monts Valin

Limited to a five day coastal Quebec road trip? This would be the time to head back to Montreal (5 hours, 460km).

Day 6 – Saguenay to Matane (390km)

Returning to the Saint Lawrence from Saguenay, make a quick stop at the scenic Cap de Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre . After (hopefully) spotting some whales, take the ferry from Les Escoumins to Trois-Pistoles.

After arrival, head north and consider these stops on the way to Matane:

• Admire the beautiful gardens at Les Jardins de Métis / Reford Gardens in Grand-Métis
• Choose from several day hiking options at coastal  Parc national du Bic . La Tour Cap-à-l’Orignal is one of the best short hikes on the Gaspé Peninsula
• Pointe-au-Père in Rimouski, home of one of Canada’s tallest lighthouses and the impressive HMCS Onondaga submarine (you can go inside!)

Looking for a longer adventure? Consider continuing further north along the Route des Baleines (Route 138) to Sept-Îles, Rivière-au-Tonnerre and the Mingan Archipelago

Things to do in Matane (and on the way)

• Try to spot whales from shore at the  Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre
• Experience the fascinating  Jardin des glaciers in Baie-Comeau where you can feel the 4km Laurentian ice sheet under your feet
• Walk on the wooden bridge over the powerfull falls at Parc de la Chûte de Sault-Au-Mouton
• Take a walk on the sandy beach at Matane, also the perfect place to watch the sunset
• Have a guided tour of Matane’s Lighthouse at  Musée maritime du Phare de Matane
• Search for moose at the Réserve faunique de Matane
• Admire the beauty of the gardens at Le jardin de Doris, a little horicultural oasis near Matane

Where to stay in Matane

Riotel Matane  (we stayed here) – Smart, waterfront hotel with restaurant. Fabulous views from most rooms of the St Lawrence. 

Auberge Bruine Océane – Quiet, comfortable and spacious B&B in Matane’s town centre. Some rooms have river views

Hotel Motel Belle Plage – Great value motel, close to ferry and overlooking the St Lawrence

Camping? Discover the best places to camp on the Gaspé Peninsula

Day 7 – Matane to Gaspésie National Park (125km)

Follow the coast to the pretty town of Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts before turning inland and gaining elevation to reach Parc national de la Gaspésie (Gaspésie National Park).

Offering a chance to explore the ‘spine’ of the Gaspé Peninsula, this park has fabulous alpine hiking opportunities.

Things to do in Gaspésie National Park

• Learn about the park at the  Interpretation and Visitors Centre
• Check and sign up for park warden led interpretive activities
• Rent a canoe, kayak, SUP or pedal boat at  Lake Cascapédia

Hiking is by far the most popular activity in Gaspésie National Park. Here are some trails to try:

• La Saillie (3.4km) – Steep but fairly easy trail to a lookout over the valley 
• La Chute-Saint-Anne and Belvédère de la Lucarne (3km loop) – Two easy trails featuring impressive waterfall and an observation tower
• Mont Albert trail (17km loop) – Difficult trail leading to to a huge summit plateau
• Mont Jacques Cartier (8.3km) – Rocky trail up tallest mountain in Southern Quebec (1268m) with chances to see rare caribou herd. Note that all hikers must take a bus to the trailhead

Where to stay in Gaspésie National Park area

Gîte du Mont-Albert – In the heart of Gaspésie National Park, this beautiful hotel is the perfect reward after a day of hiking. Heated swimming pool and on-site restaurant

Parc National de la Gaspésie has five vehicle accessible campgrounds. Camping spots can be reserved on the  Sépaq website . We stayed at Lac Cascapédia, a quiet campground on the shores of the lake.

The coastal town of Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts is a thirty minute drive to the core area of Gaspésie National Park. There are plenty of accommodation providers here. 

Hôtel & cie (we stayed here) – Centrally located renovated motel with surprisingly stylish interiors and on-site restaurant. Breakfast is included and delivered right to your room!

Day 8 – Gaspésie National Park 

A full day to explore the valleys, mountains and trails of Gaspésie National Park. For a change of scenery in the evening, consider staying in Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts overnight instead. 

Day 9 – Gaspésie National Park to Gaspé (210km)

The drive from Gaspésie National Park winds along the coast, passing dozens of small fishing villages, lighthouses and imposing Catholic churches.

Take the journey slowly, pausing to stop on windswept beaches, roadside waterfalls and to admire the breathtaking coastal views.

Breathe in the salty air and get on Gaspésie time. Consider making a detour to visit the 19th century Manoir Le Boutillier , now a National Historic Site of Canada.

Things to do in Gaspé

• Visit the granite Cross of Gaspé which commemorates the arrival of French explorers in Canada in 1534
• Learn a thing or two about the history of the local area at the modern Musée de la Gaspésie
• Explore nearby Forillon National Park (see Day 10 below for more details)
• Discover the culture of the local Mi’kmaq at the  Site d’Interpretation de la Culture Micmac de Gespeg
• Enjoy the golden sands of nearby  Plage Haldimand

Where to stay in Gaspé

Auberge Sous les Arbres (we stayed here) – Stunningly furnished rooms, some with balconies, walking distance from town’s main sights. Tasty breakfast with home baked treats

Hotel Plante – Great value option, especially as some rooms have kitchenette. Centrally located in Gaspé

Auberge La Petite École de Forillon  – Close to the entrance of Forillon National Park, this clean and spacious hostel is a good option if your budget is small

Day 10 – Gaspé

Forillon National Park is a 30 minute drive from Gaspé and is an ideal place to spend a full day.

This park has a real end-of-the-world feel about it and has a mix of majestic mountains, steep cliffs, pebbly beaches and meadows.

Highlights of Forillon National Park include:

• Cap-Gaspé Lighthouse trail (8km) – Easy and mostly flat coastal route passing ocean views, Cap-Gaspé lighthouse and ending at rugged Land’s End
• Mont-Saint-Alban trail (3.6km) – Short but sometimes steep trail to observation tower with panoramic views of Forillon from above
• Whale watching and scuba diving
• Heritage houses with costumed interpretive guides and exhibits
• Underground fortifications of Fort Peninsula
• Gorgeous picnic opportunities by the ocean 
• Beach fun and swimming at Penouille sand spit
• Wildlife watching – in one day, we saw one moose, six porcupines, eight black bears (including cubs) and a lynx

Day 11 – Gaspé to Percé (62km)

The distance between Gaspé and Percé is short but with both towns being distinctively different, it is worth spending significant time in each.

The short drive also means it is possible to fit more activities and adventure into your day! 

Percé is best known for Percé Rock, a huge formation jutting out from the St Lawrence River. It is a striking sight but not the only reason to spend time in this area. 

Things to do in Percé

• Walk the waterfront promenade and discover local studios, boutiques and cafes
• Hike the  Sentier des Belvédère trail to read a observation tower and suspended glass platform (fee required)
• Go sea kayaking and admire Percé Rock from a smaller boat
• Take a boat cruise around Percé Rock, Bonaventure Island and the Gaspé coastline
• Explore Bonaventure Island,  one of the world’s largest bird sanctuaries
• Visit the  Géoparc de Percé Tektonik interactive exhibit and learn more about the local geological wonders
• Hike to the Grotto and discover a cascading waterfall in a gorge 
• Go whale watching and hope to see fin whales, minke whales, humpback whales and more

Where to stay in Percé

Riotel Percé – This oceanside hotel is just a short walk from town. Some rooms offer spectacular uninterrupted views of Percé Rock. There is an on-site restaurant with patio

Hotel Motel Manoir de Percé – Modern motel property with beautifully and tastefully decorated rooms. Some rooms have views of Percé Rock

Camping de la Baie de Percé (we stayed here) – Located just behind the Percé Geoparc centre, this campground features traditional camping spots as well as comfortable ‘ready to camp’ glamping tents

Day 12 – Percé to Carleton-sur-mer (195km)

A long time vacation town, Carleton-sur-mer is a quiet and relaxing place to spend your final night on the Gaspé Peninsula.

There is plenty to do on the approach from Percé as well as around Carleton-sur-mer’s oceanfront location. 

Things to do around Carleton-sur-mer

• Explore the grounds and historic buildings of the Banc-de-Pêche-de-Paspébiac Historic Site and learn about the development of the fishing industry on Canada’s East coast
• Visit the  Musée Acadien in Bonaventure for an insight into the history and lives of Quebecois Acadians
• Go underground at the  Grotte Saint-Elzéar in Bonaventure, Quebec’s oldest caves
• View forty native animal species in five major ecosystems at the Bioparc in Bonaventure
• Hike or drive to the top of Mont Saint Joseph (555m) for beautiful views towards New Brunswick and the Bay of Chaleur
• Visit the Oratoire Notre-Dame-du-Mont-St-Joseph and admire the mosaics and stained glass windows
• Taste local beers at the Le Naufrageur microbrewery
• Walk Carleton-sur-mer’s promenade and take in the ocean panoramas

Where to stay in Carleton-Sur-Mer

Motel L’Abri – Good value motel rooms with small kitchens. Close to the water and highway

Hostellerie Baie Bleue (we stayed here) – Well appointed rooms with ocean views. On-site restaurant and heated pool

Manoir Belle Plage – Old style charm with modern facilities and furnishings. As with our other top picks, this hotel is very close to the ocean

Day 13 – Carleton-sur-mer to Kamouraska (415km)

The pretty village of Kamouraska in the Bas-Saint-Lawrence region is an ideal overnight stop to break up the long journey from the Gaspé Peninsula back to Montreal. 

There are two ways to reach Kamouraska from Carleton-sur-mer. The distance and time of both routes is approximately the same. 

If you do have extra time, I would suggest taking Highway 17 / Highway 2. Mount Carleton Provincial Park , home of the highest mountains in the Maritimes, is a relatively small detour.

Things to do in Kamouraska

• Explore the village of Kamourska on foot and visit some of the historical buildings including the courthouse, schoolhouse and church
• Take a self guided foodie tour through the village, stopping at the artisan bakers, chocolaterie, fish markets and cafes
• Browse local boutiques, artist workshops and the impressive Kamouraska Art Center
• Walk to the wharf and breathe in the salty air while admiring the views of the Saint Lawrence
• Discover the history and culture of the Bas-Saint-Lawrence region at the  Musée régional de Kamouraska
• Drive Highway 132 along the Saint Lawrence to discover more picture perfect historical villages
• Make a stop at Fromagerie Le Mouton blanc in La Pocatière and taste sheep cheeses made from the on-site farm

Where to stay in Kamouraska

Motel des Mariniers – Comfortable and quiet option, close to local restaurants. Rooms on the second floor have views of the St Lawrence river

Our our last visit to the area, we stayed in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. This super cute village provides a good alternative to Kamourska. It is, however, a little further from Carleton-sur-mer.

Motel Blanche d’Haberville (we stayed here) – Well kept motel units within easy walking distance of the river and town

Day 14 – Kamourska to Montreal (396km)

It’s time for your coastal Québec road trip to end. Drive carefully back to Montreal and enjoy the rest of your time in Québec! 

Need to know tips and advice for Québec road trips

• The official language in Quebec is French. When travelling outside of the tourist centres of Montreal, Québec City, Tadoussac and Saguenay, it is more likely you will meet Quebecois who have limited English (if not, none)
• Brushing up on some French before you go on your Québec road trip is a good idea. Getting comfortable with the basics can go a long way – hello (bonjour), thank you (merci), please (s’il vous plait), I would like (je voudrais)
• Road signs in Québec are in French . Look for ‘centre-ville’ for directions to downtown areas. ‘Sortie’ is exit, and ‘ouest’ west
• It is illegal to turn right on red in Montreal. In other areas of Québec, turning right on red is legal unless specifically prohibited by a sign at the junction
• Slow down – life in coastal Québec is, by nature, slow. Summer is the busiest time but this still doesn’t mean you need to rush around and drive at high speeds. 
• Provincial Parks are referred to as national parks within Québec. So be careful not to get confused between Quebec’s provincial park system (Sépaq) and the Canadian national park system (Parks Canada)

Read Next: Magdalen Islands Travel Guide: The Best Things to Do, See & Eat

Essential items for any coastal Québec road trip

• Be sure to bring a couple of warm layers on your coastal Québec road trip. Even in the summer, breezes from the Atlantic can be cool, especially in the evening. We love to wear long sleeved merino wool tops ( like this one ) as the material helps regulate temperature, is easy to hand wash and packs down small
• Alongside insect repellent , it is also a good idea to bring or buy some kind of after bite lotion . Mosquitos are prevalent. If camping, I’d suggest a Thermacell repellent applicance or at least some mosquito coils to burn
• Depending on your interests and preferred road trip stops, you may want to consider purchasing an annual Sépaq pass for Québec’s provincial parks. This waives all daily access fees, helpful if you’re visiting multiple parks
• Some of the more remote cafes and restaurants on the Gaspe Peninsula will only accept cash.  Visiting Québec from the USA? It is best to have Canadian dollars – the vast majority of places will not accept American and those that do will offer an unfavourable exchange rate

Other Quebec posts you may find helpful:

10 Fast and Fun Gaspé Peninsula Hiking Trails, Québec 5 of the Most Underrated Parks in Quebec Finding Outdoor Adventure in the Gatineau Valley, Quebec Four Fun Ways to Go Whale Watching in Tadoussac, Quebec

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One half of the Canadian/British couple behind Off Track Travel, Gemma is happiest when hiking on the trail or planning the next big travel adventure. JR and Gemma are currently based in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Tuesday 10th of September 2019

Good job with the itinerary. I actually lived in Quebec for a bit over 25 years and did almost exactly the same road trip about 10 years ago. Lots of beauty in Quebec (maybe not as much as BC but a different kind of beauty...)

Tuesday 24th of September 2019

Thanks Frank! You're absolutely right, Quebec has its own kind of beauty and is a wonderful place to explore. Glad to hear you've done this road trip before and can vouch for its awesomeness!

Road trip au Québec: les meilleurs itinéraires pour 7, 10, 15 et 21 jours

Visiter le québec en voiture: nos 4 itinéraires road trip.

Vous allez partir en road trip au Québec?

Excellent choix!

Visiter le Québec en voiture est le moyen le plus rapide de parcourir de grandes distances et de ne rien manquer des incontournables de la Belle Province .

Pour vous aider à organiser votre séjour, j’ai préparé un récapitulatif de 4 itinéraires de road trip en fonction de la durée de votre voyage au Québec : 7, 10, 15 et 21 jours.

Dans cet article, retrouvez également mes conseils pour louer une voiture au Québec ou savoir quelle est la meilleure période pour réaliser votre road trip.

Enfin, découvrez ma liste des meilleurs hôtels où dormir dans chaque ville-étape.

Quel aéroport choisir pour débuter un road trip au Québec?

Louer une voiture pour un road trip au québec, 1) montréal (3 jours), 2) québec (2 jours), 3) parc national de la maurice (2 jours), 1) montréal (2 jours), 2) parc national de la mauricie (2 jours), 3) fjord du saguenay (2 jours), 4) charlevoix (1 jour), 5) québec (2 jours), 6) retour à montréal (1 jour), 2) mont-tremblant (1 jour), 3) parc national de la mauricie (2 jours), 4) lac st-jean (1 jour), 5) fjord du saguenay (2 jours), 6) tadoussac (1 jour), 7) charlevoix (2 jours), 8) québec (2 jours), 9) retour à montréal (1 jour), 7) la gaspésie (8 jours), 8) québec (3 jours), où dormir au québec pendant votre road trip, quand partir en road trip au québec, road trip au québec avec une agence.

Le Québec compte 2 aéroports internationaux: Montréal et la ville de Québec .

Les 2 sont ok pour entamer un road trip dans la région.

Toutefois, comme point de départ pour votre circuit au Québec , je vous recommande plutôt d’atterrir à Montréal . Je trouve qu’il est plus pratique de parcourir le Québec en voiture à partir de là et de faire une boucle pour y revenir à la fin de vos vacances.

En plus, l’aéroport de Montréal est mieux desservi et les tarifs sont en général moins élevés.

C’est pour ça que tous les road trip que je vous propose ici se font au départ de Montréal.

Si vous souhaitez partir en road trip au Québec depuis Québec ville et que vous avez besoin d’aide pour organiser votre voyage, n’hésitez pas à me le demander dans les commentaires. Je pourrais vous conseiller.

Pour aller au Québec , vous devrez auparavant faire une demande d’Autorisation de Voyage Electronique (AVE). Ce formulaire, que vous pouvez compléter en ligne , doit obligatoirement être fait avant votre voyage au Canada.

L’AVE s’applique à tous les voyageurs n’ayant pas besoin d’un visa.

Vous trouverez toutes les informations sur ce site.

C’est l’élément indispensable de tout road trip pour visiter le Québec: la voiture!

Le plus simple est de la louer directement à l’aéroport. Le choix de loueurs (aussi bien internationaux que nationaux) est plus large qu’en ville et les prix sont en général moins élevés.

Pour votre location de voiture au Québec, je vous conseille d’utiliser le site Rentalcars.com . Que ce soit pour un voyage en Grèce , un road trip en Ecosse ou même pour parcourir la Thaïlande , cela fait maintenant quelques années que je passe uniquement par ce site pour réserver mes voitures. Leurs prestations sont de qualité et leur service client ultra efficace!

Voici les 5 raisons pour lesquelles j’utilise tout le temps Rentalcars:

• Comparer les tarifs des loueurs présents à l’aéroport de Montréal ou de Québec par exemple est super facile!
• Vous pouvez lire les avis des clients précédents et voir les notes qu’ils ont mis aux différentes agences de location
• Leur assurance protection complète vous assure d’être remboursés de tous les frais débités en cas d’accident ou de vol lors de votre voyage au Canada
• La modification ou l’annulation de votre réservation est gratuite. Vous pouvez donc réserver votre voiture en avance et bénéficier d’un tarif plus avantageux.
• Ils proposent la garantie du meilleur prix: vous trouvez la même voiture moins chère ailleurs? Ils vous remboursent la différence!

Cliquez sur le bouton ci-dessous pour comparer les prix des locations de voiture:

Pour louer une voiture pour votre road trip au Québec, vous n’êtes pas obligés de disposer d’un permis de conduire international.

Votre permis de conduire suffit à condition qu’il soit en alphabet latin et que vous l’ayez depuis plus de 12 mois. 

Si vous préférez quand même présenter un permis de conduire international , vous devrez quand même montrer votre permis de conduire national . Sans ça, vous ne pourrez pas retirer votre voiture.

Road trip au Québec: une semaine

Pour ce premier circuit en voiture, je vous ai préparé un exemple de road trip d’une semaine au départ de Montréal.

Au programme de ce road trip de 7 jours au Québec: Montréal , la ville de Québec et le parc national de la Mauricie.

Toutes les informations détaillées se trouvent dans cet article: Le meilleur itinéraire d’une semaine au Québec.

En voici un résumé!

Premier, deuxième et troisième jour – Découverte de la ville de Montréal:

• Le quartier du Vieux-Montréal
• Le Vieux-Port
• Le parc du Mont-Royal
• Le quartier du Mont-Royal
• Le stade olympique
• Le jardin botanique
• La rue Sainte-Catherine
• Le marché Atwater
• Le parc Jean-Drapeau

Je vous propose un itinéraire de visite de Montréal pendant 3 jours dans cet article: Visiter Montréal . Vous y retrouverez aussi ma sélection des meilleurs hébergements.

Pour le quatrième jour de votre road trip au Québec d’1 semaine, je vous conseille de visiter Québec, la capitale de la province.

Depuis Montréal, comptez environ 3 heures de route pour aller à Québec.

Comme le trajet vas vous prendre une bonne partie de la matinée, vous pourrez ensuite commencer à visiter la ville dans l’après-midi:

• Promenade le long de la terrasse Dufferin où se trouve l’emblème de la ville: le château Frontenac.
• Visite de la Basilique cathédrale Notre-Dame
• Balade dans le quartier du Petit-Champlain
• Passage par la Place royale et la fresque des Québecois
• Croisière sur le Saint-Laurent pour admirer le coucher du soleil

Passez la nuit à Québec.

Le lendemain (cinquième jour) , poursuivez votre road trip d’une semaine au Québec en finissant votre visite de la ville.

Commencez par visiter la citadelle de Québec avant d’aller vous promener sur les plaines d’Abraham . Vous pourrez ainsi profiter de la vue sur le fleuve.

Puis direction l’hôtel du Parlement, et finissez la matinée par l’observatoire de la capitale qui offre un panorama à 360° sur la région.

L’après-midi, je vous recommande de prendre votre voiture et de rejoindre la chute de Montmorency . Elle est facilement accessible, à seulement 15 minutes de la ville de Québec. Vous pourrez ainsi vous vanter d’avoir vu une chute plus haute que celles du Niagara!

Pour tout savoir des choses à faire à Québec, n’hésitez pas à lire notre article: Visiter Québec.

Pour poursuivre ce road trip au Québec de 7 jours, direction le parc national de la Mauricie . Après 5 jours consacrés à la visite des villes, il est temps d’aller p rofiter un peu de la nature québécoise!

Au programme de ces sixième et septième jour dans le parc:

• En été: randonnée aux chutes Waber, vélo, pêche et canot.
• En hiver: ski de fond, raquettes, chien de traineau, motoneige – La panoplie complète des activités hivernales d’un circuit au Québec!

A la fin de vos vacances, retournez à Montréal pour prendre votre vol retour (2h30 de route).

Si vous souhaitez une version plus détaillée de ce road trip d’une semaine au Québec, je vous invite à  lire notre article: Itinéraire de 6-7-8 jours au Québec.

Road trip au Québec: 10 jours

Pour cet autre exemple, je vous propose un road trip pour visiter le Québec en voiture en 10 jours.

Ce dernier part également de Montréal, mais si vous le souhaitez, vous pouvez l’adapter très facilement à un départ de Québec , en réalisant la même boucle à partir de là.

Au programme de ce road trip de 10 jours au Québec:

• Le parc national de la Mauricie
• Le Fjord du Saguenay

Vous trouverez toutes les étapes de ce circuit dans notre article: L’itinéraire ultime de 10 jours au Québec.

Je vous en fais tout de même un résumé juste ci-dessous.

On commence donc ce road trip au Québec de 10 jours par Montréal . Je vous conseille d’y rester 2 jours pour vous laisser le temps de découvrir la plupart des lieux d’intérêts, mais aussi pour vous remettre du décalage horaire.

Premier jour: Voici une idée de programme pour la première journée à Montréal:

• Visite du quartier du Vieux-Montréal : la basilique, le marché Bonsecours, la place Jacques-Cartier
• Promenade le long du  Vieux-Port
• Déjeuner au restaurant du musée Pointe à Callières
• Découverte du parc du Mont-Royal et montée au belvédère
• Balade dans le quartier du Mont-Royal aux maisons typiques
• Dîner dans l’un des restaurants les plus connus de Montréal: la Banquise! Vous y dégusterez une poutine, l’un des plats emblématiques du Québec.

Pour le deuxième jour, poursuivez votre visite par le stade olympique . Vous pourrez emprunter l’ascenseur panoramique qui mène en haut de la tour et profiter de la vue.

A la sortie du stade, dirigez vous vers le Biodome dont l’entrée se trouve juste à côté. Ici, vous pourrez vous balader à travers les différents écosystèmes du continent américain et faire la connaissance des animaux qui y vivent.

Dans les environs, n’hésitez pas également à aller voir le jardin botanique et ses différents jardins à thèmes: japonais, chinois, roseraies…

Finissez la journée en rejoignant le centre-ville de Montréal en métro, pour une session shopping . La principale artère commercial est la rue Sainte-Catherine . Vous y trouverez toutes les enseignes internationales, des boutiques de souvenirs et des restaurants.

Pour préparer au mieux votre visite de Montréal, n’hésitez pas à consulter notre article: Top 33 des choses à faire à Montréal.

Le troisième et le quatrième jour de ce road trip de 10 jours au Québec, je vous propose de les passer dans le parc national de la Mauricie .

Aussi bien en été qu’en hiver, vous y trouverez une foule d’activités à faire : randonnées, canot, chien de traîneau, motoneige et bien plus!

N’hésitez pas à consulter le site officiel du parc pour le détail des choses à faire selon la période de votre séjour au Québec .

Ensuite, direction le Fjord du Saguenay pour y passer les cinquième et sixième jours.

Il se trouve à environ 4h15 de route depuis le parc national. Je vous conseille d’emprunter la route 155 pour vous y rendre, ce sera l’occasion de profiter de beaux paysages.

Dans les environs du Fjord, partez visiter 2 des plus beaux villages du Québec : l’Anse St-Jean et Sainte-Rose-du-Nord.

Pendant ces 2 jours, vous pourrez également faire un peu de randonnée et une croisière sur le Fjord pour tenter d’observer des baleines et des bélugas.

Toutes ces activités sont recensées sur le site officiel du Fjord du Saguenay.

Au septième jour de votre road trip au Québec de 10 jours, rejoignez Charlevoix.

C’est une bonne idée de s’y arrêter pour la nuit car cela permet de couper le trajet en 2 avant d’arriver à Québec. Et il y a en plus pleins d’activités super sympas à y faire.

En 1 jour, il vous faudra choisir entre:

• De la randonnée: je vous conseille le parc des Hautes-Gorges de la rivière Malbaie
• Une croisière sur la rivière
• Une promenade dans la ville de Baie St-Paul, réputée pour ses galeries d’art
• Aller observer les ours noirs
• Un tour en voiture sur l’Isle-aux-Coudres

Pour le huitième jour , je vous propose d’aller à Québec où vous passerez les 2 prochains jours.

2 jours sont suffisants pour avoir un bon aperçu de la ville et des alentours.

Afin de ne rien manquer, le premier jour vous pouvez faire:

• Une promenade le long de la terrasse Dufferin
• Une photo de l’hôtel le plus photographié au monde: le château Frontenac
• Un passage par la basilique cathédrale Notre-Dame , classée « monument historique du Canada »
• Une balade dans le quartier du Petit-Champlain en passant par la Place Royale

En fin de journée, rejoignez le bord du fleuve St-Laurent pour une croisière . C’est la meilleure façon d’avoir une splendide vue sur toute la ville! Passez une nuit à Québec.

Au neuvième jour de ce road trip au Québec, poursuivez la visite de la ville:

• Visite de la citadelle de Québec
• Promenade dans les plaines d’Abraham
• Découverte de l’hôtel du parlement
• Montée à l’observatoire de la capitale

Et l’après-midi, je vous recommande d’aller voir les chutes de Montmorency.

Les incontournables de Québec sont dans notre article: Le guide complet pour visiter Québec.

Et voilà, c’est la fin de votre road trip au Québec de 10 jours, revenez au point de départ: Montréal!

Si vous souhaitez avoir plus de détails sur ce road trip de 10 jours , n’hésitez pas à consulter notre article détaillé: Itinéraire de 10 jours au Québec.

Vous y retrouverez en plus notre liste des meilleurs hébergements pour chaque étape. Vous verrez, planifier votre voyage de 9-10 jours au Québec va être très facile!

Road trip au Québec: deux semaines

Si vous disposez de 15 jours de vacances pour votre road trip , vous allez pouvoir faire un tour assez complet de la province.

Pour ce road trip de 2 semaines au Québec, j’ai choisi de vous faire partir de Montréal , mais il est tout à fait possible de l’adapter au départ de Québec . Il vous suffit de suivre les étapes en sens inverse.

Vous retrouverez tous les détails pour préparer ce road trip au Québec dans notre article: Itinéraire de 2 semaines au Québec.

Mais pour vous faire une idée, voici un petit résumé des différentes étapes!

Pour ce road trip au Québec de deux semaines , commencez par visiter Montréal pendant 2 jours.

Vous aurez ainsi le temps de voir les principaux lieux d’intérêts et quartiers dont je vous parle dans mon Top des endroits à visiter à Montréal.

Premier et deuxième jour – A ne pas manquer:

• Le Vieux-Montréal
• Le parc du Mont-Royal et son belvédère
• Le jardin Botanique

Pour la suite de votre road trip de 15 jours au Québec, je vous propose de découvrir Mont-Tremblant sur une journée.

Parmi les activités possibles lors de ce troisième jour, vous pourrez faire de la randonnée ou du canot sur le lac. En hiver, il sera temps de chausser vos skis pour profiter des pistes de cette station réputée du Québec ou d’embarquer pour une excursion en motoneige!

Et si vous avez la chance de vous y trouver en Automne , il est certain que vous aurez de quoi réaliser plein de belles photos d’arbres colorés!

Consacrez ensuite les quatrième et cinquième jours de votre voyage au Québec à explorer le parc national de la Mauricie.

En été , il y a plein de belles randonnées à faire et plusieurs lacs permettent également de faire du canoë. Et pour combiner ces 2 activités , le mieux est d’opter pour une excursion aux chutes Waber. Pour les rejoindre, ce sera 8 km de canot aller retour + 8 km de marche!

L’hiver, vous pourrez opter pour une balade en chien de traîneau ou motoneige. 

Le site officiel du parc récapitule toutes les activités à faire.

Sixième jour de ce road trip au Québec de 2 semaines, dirigez-vous vers le Lac St-Jean.

Comme une bonne matinée sera nécessaire pour faire le trajet, l’après-midi je vous propose 3 options de visites:

• Le zoo de St-Félicien: un zoo tout sauf classique puisque les animaux sont en liberté et c’est vous qui serait « enfermé » dans un petit train grillagé. Toute la panoplie typique des animaux du Québec et du Canada en général y sont représentés: ours, orignaux, caribous… Si vous faites ce circuit au Québec en famille, vos enfants seront ravis du programme!
• Le musée amérindien de Mashteuiatsh consacré aux nations autochtones du Québec. Vraiment très bien fait et intéressant.
• Le village historique de Val-Jalbert, un ancien village des années 20 reconstitué avec sa poste, son école et ses commerces. Des personnages en costume complètent le tout pour une immersion totale.

Pour des activités un peu plus originales, vous pouvez aussi tenter:

• Une sortie pêche sur glace
• Une croisière sur le lac Saint Jean
• Observation de l’ours noir à Lac Saint Jean  (en toute sécurité!).

Pour les 2 jours suivants (septième et huitième jour) , posez-vous dans les environs du Fjord du Saguenay.

Vous pourrez y découvrir de très beaux villages ( l’Anse St-Jean et Sainte-Rose du Nord) et faire la randonnée du sentier de la Statue. Arrivés au sommet, le point de vue sur le Fjord est vraiment superbe!

Je vous recommande aussi de faire la croisière sur le Fjord ou de faire une sortie en kayak , pour contempler le Fjord sous un autre angle. L’occasion peut-être d’observer des bélugas dans leur milieu naturel.

Il serait dommage de visiter le Québec en voiture en 15 jours, sans pousser jusqu’à Tadoussac. C’est là que vous aurez le plus de chances d’apercevoir des baleines!

Et c’est donc ce que je vous propose comme programme de ce neuvième jour : une croisière pour aller les observer.

Il vaut mieux penser à réserver cette excursion en mer en avance:

• Pour une sortie en gros bateau de 3 heures, réserver vos billets juste ici!
• Pour une sortie en zodiac de 2h30 et vous approcher au plus près, c’est à réserver directement ici!

C’est vraiment un incontournable de ce road trip au Québec de 2 semaines!

Pour ces dixième et onzième jours de votre road trip au Québec de 15 jours, rejoignez la région de Charlevoix.

Et si je peux vous donner un conseil, c’est d’abord de passer par la route 138 jusqu’à La Malbaie, puis de bifurquer sur la 362 jusqu’à Baie St-Paul. Ainsi vous pourrez rouler sur l’une des plus belles routes du Canada.

A voir et à faire à Charlevoix:

• Une croisière sur la rivière Malbaie
• Une randonnée dans le parc des hautes-gorges de la rivière Malbaie
• Le tour de l’Isle-aux-coudres pour son côté rurale et authentique
• Aller observer les ours noirs (avec un guide)

Nous voilà déjà au douzième jour de votre road trip de deux semaines au Québec.

Aujourd’hui, place à la d écouverte de la ville de Québec avec une promenade sur la Terrasse Dufferin, où vous ne manquerez pas de photographier le château Frontenac . La balade permet aussi d’admirer de nombreux points de vue sur le fleuve en contrebas.

Après un passage par la basilique cathédrale Notre-Dame , descendez dans le quartier du Petit-Champlain. Les ruelles pavées bordées de boutiques en tout genre sont vraiment agréables à parcourir. Dans le quartier, il ne faut pas manquer non plus d’aller voir la Place Royale et la fresque des Québécois.

Un peu avant le coucher de soleil , rendez-vous sur les quais pour faire une petite croisière . Vous pourrez profiter de la vue sur toute la ville.

Treizième jour: poursuite de la visite à pied dans Québec le matin:

• La citadelle
• Les plaines d’Abraham
• L’hôtel du Parlement
• L’observatoire de la capitale

Et l’après-midi, remontez en voiture jusqu’aux chutes de Montmorency connue pour être plus hautes que celle du Niagara.

Toutes les informations sur comment visiter Québec, c’est juste ici: Que faire à Québec? Le guide ultime!

Le quatorzième jour , direction Montréal pour finir de visiter la ville avant votre départ du lendemain.

Vous pouvez par exemple vous rendre au parc Jean-Drapeau. Vous aurez ainsi une vue inédite sur Montréal depuis l’autre côté du fleuve.

Le quartier chinois est également assez sympa à parcourir surtout s’il vous manque quelques souvenirs: c’est là où ils sont les moins chers. Je vous recommande également de tester l’un des très bons restaurants qui s’y trouvent.

Quinzième jour: Dites au revoir au Québec et direction l’aéroport pour votre vol retour.

Road trip au Québec: 3 semaines

Pour un road trip de 3 semaines au Québec , vous allez en plus pouvoir explorer une des plus belles parties du Québec, la Gaspésie.

Pour organiser au mieux ce road trip au Québec de trois semaines, rien de plus simple, je vous ai tout détaillé, pour chaque jour, dans mon article: Le meilleur itinéraire de 3 semaines au Québec.

Cliquez sur le lien et vous aurez toutes les réponses à vos questions: quels sont les lieux à voir, les choses à faire, les temps de trajet et les meilleurs hôtels où dormir pendant votre séjour.

Ci-dessous, je vous fais tout de même un bref résumé des étapes prévues pendant ces 3 semaines.

Lors de ce road trip au Québec de 21 jours, je vous propose de commencer par Montréal. 

Jour 1 et 2: Pour visiter Montréal en 2 jours, c’est très facile, je vous ai préparé un itinéraire dans cet article: Le guide complet de Montréal.

En plus des lieux à voir et des activités à faire , vous retrouverez ma sélection des endroits où manger et une liste des meilleurs hôtels.

Jour 3: Journée à Mont-Tremblant.

Selon la période, vous pourrez faire de la randonnée et des activités nautiques , ou profiter des pistes de skis de cette station très réputée du Québec.

En Automne , la région ravira les amateurs de photos: les arbres revêtent toute une palette de couleurs chaudes.

Jour 4 et 5: Poursuivez votre road trip au Québec de 3 semaines en profitant des nombreuses activités du parc national de la Mauricie.

La randonnée des chutes Waber qui nécessite de faire 8 km de canot aller-retour + 8 km de marche est la plus connue mais il y en a pleins d’autres un peu plus courtes et faciles.

Et si vous allez dans le parc en hiver , c’est l’endroit rêvé où faire un tour en chien de traîneau ou en motoneige.

Jour 6: Quittez le parc national pour rejoindre le Lac St-Jean.

En fonction de vos envies pour l’après-midi, je vous recommande de choisir entre l’une des 3 visites suivantes:

• Le zoo de St-Félicien , la sortie idéale à faire en famille. Ce n’est pas un zoo traditionnel puisque les animaux sont en liberté et que vous les observerez depuis un petit train grillagé.
• Le musée amérindien de Mashteuiatsh si vous vous intéressez à la culture des nations autochtones du Québec
• Le village historique de Val-Jalbert pour un voyage dans le temps et une promenade dans un authentique village des années 20 restauré.

Jour 7 et 8 : Poursuite de votre road trip de trois semaines au Québec par la découverte du Fjord du Saguenay.

Je vous conseille particulièrement de ne pas louper l es villages de l’Anse St-Jean et de Sainte-Rose du Nord , pour les panoramas splendides qu’ils offrent.

Les plus courageux pourront également faire la randonné du sentier de la Statue . Là aussi vous serez récompensés de vos efforts par les points de vue sublimes.

Et pour une sortie plus calme, je vous recommande une croisière sur le Fjord.

Jour 9: Journée en mer dédiée à l’observation des baleines.

Tadoussac est le lieu rêvé pour cela. C’est de là que partent les croisières chaque jour. Mais je préfère vous prévenir, cette activité est très prisée et il vaut mieux réserver vos places sur le bateau en avance:

• Réservez une croisière sur un gros bateau de 3 heures
• Réservez une sortie en zodiac de 2h30

La deuxième partie de ce road trip de 20-21 jours au Québec sera consacrée à parcourir la Gaspésie .

En 8 jours, vous aurez le temps de voir les incontournables de cette partie du Québec et de bien profiter des paysages naturels.

Bonus: si vous suivez mon itinéraire, vous aurez la chance d’emprunter la fameuse route 132 qui fait tout le tour de la Gaspésie. C’est sans conteste l’une des plus belles routes panoramiques de tout le Canada.

Jour 10, 11, 12 – Parc national de la Gaspésie

Activités au programme: majoritairement de la randonnée avec des moments détente à la pêche ou en faisant du canot. En hiver, ce sera plutôt ski de fond ou escalade sur glace si vous n’avez pas le vertige.

Jour 13: Promenade dans le parc national Forillon réputé pour ses falaises creusées par l’érosion.

Jour 14: Croisière et promenade sur l’île Bonaventure qui abrite la plus importante colonie de fous de Bassan en Amérique du Nord.

Jour 15: Découverte de la Baie-des-chaleurs et des petites stations balnéaires du coin comme celle de Carleton-sur-mer.

Jour 16 et 17 – Parc national du Bic

En plus des classiques randonnées, le parc propose aussi 15 km de pistes cyclables bien aménagées. Enfourchez votre vélo et partez à l’aventure. Le parc est également connu pour abriter des phoques qui ont pris l’habitude de se prélasser sur les rochers au bord de l’eau.

On termine maintenant ce road trip de 3 semaines au Québec, par la ville même de Québec.

Jour 18, 19 et 20: Quels sont les principaux lieux à voir en 3 jours?

• La promenade de la Terrasse Dufferin
• Le château Frontenac
• La basilique cathédrale Notre-Dame
• Le quartier du Petit-Champlain
• La place Royale

Dans les environs de Québec, je vous recommande également de visiter (au choix):

• Les chutes Montmorency
• Le Village Vacances Valcartier – Réservez votre journée en cliquant ici!
• L’île d’Orléans

Pour votre séjour à Québec, n’hésitez pas à lire cet article: Visiter la ville de Québec.

Jour 21 – Vous l’aurez compris, on arrive à la fin de vos 3 semaines au Québec et vous allez devoir rejoindre Montréal.

N’oubliez pas d’aller lire notre article pour connaître tous les détails de ce road trip: Itinéraire détaillé de trois semaines au Québec.

Après toutes ces informations pratiques et ces itinéraires conseillés, vous savez dorénavant où aller et quoi voir pendant votre road trip au Québec.

Mais il reste une chose essentielle à aborder: où dormir à chaque étape?

Et bien là aussi, on a pensé à tout et on a vous sélectionné les meilleurs hébergements où se loger au Québec . Classés par villes et étapes, et surtout pour tous les budgets , ils se trouvent dans les articles dont je vous ai parlé précédemment et qui retrace les itinéraires à suivre en fonction de la durée de vos vacances.

Pour les réserver, vous pouvez aussi directement cliquer ici:

• Où dormir à Montréal?
• Les meilleurs hôtels de Québec
• Liste des hébergements de Mont Tremblant
• Les hôtels du parc national de la Mauricie
• Où dormir au Lac-St-Jean
• Se loger vers le Fjord du Saguenay
• Dormir à Tadoussac
• Les hôtels du parc national de la Gaspésie
• Les meilleurs hébergements à Percé
• Où dormir dans la Baie des Chaleurs
• Se loger dans le parc national du Bic

Pour faire un road trip au Québec, il n’y a pas vraiment de mauvaise période.

Tout dépend des activités que vous souhaitez faire.

L’hiver est la meilleure période pour visiter le Québec en voiture si vous aimez faire du ski ou des raquettes en pleine nature. Vous pourrez également vous adonner à bon nombres d’activités typiques d’un voyage au Québec dans les parcs nationaux, comme une sortie en chien de traineau ou motoneige .

Et si vous faites ce road trip au Québec en famille, la luge, le patin à glaces et le rafting sur neige plairont à coup sur à vos enfants! Et aucun problème pour conduire, les voitures sont bien équipées, automatiques et les routes québécoises sont dégagées.

Le printemps est quant à lui idéal si vous venez au Québec pour faire de la randonnée et profiter de la nature . Il fait très bon et il n’y a pas encore trop de monde. Vous pourrez tranquillement vous promener dans les villes et visiter les incontournables de Montréal et Québec .

Pour les parcs nationaux, vous aurez le choix entre la marche, le canot ou le vélo pour découvrir les splendides paysages québécois.

Je ne vous apprends rien si je vous dis qu’en Automne , vous aurez la chance de contempler de magnifiques panoramas colorées. C’est la période où les arbres revêtent leurs plus belles couleurs. Un régal pour les amateurs de photos!

L’été est également une bonne période niveau température et ensoleillement mais comme pas mal de destinations, c’est aussi la haute saison touristique. Ce qui signifie plus de monde sur les routes mais aussi des températures assez élevées. Pour avoir passé quelques étés à Montréal, je peux vous assurer qu’il peut y faire très chaud et humide!

Il faut également penser à réserver vos hébergements encore plus en avance , surtout dans les parcs nationaux et pour la Gaspésie où les offres sont plus limitées que dans les grandes villes. Noter également qu’au Québec, la plupart des entreprises ferment fin Juillet-début Août lors des « vacances de la construction » et que tout ce petit monde là part donc en vacances en même temps!

Maintenant que vous avez une idée de votre road trip pour visiter le Québec, je vous recommande également de faire une demande de devis gratuit à une agence de voyage locale.

Grâce à notre partenaire Evaneos, cela peut se faire en moins de 5 minutes ! C’est gratuit, sans engagement et un professionnel du tourisme vous concoctera un séjour inoubliable!

De plus, les prix pour un circuit au Québec commencent à partir de 760 euros seulement pour 10 jours! Alors, qu’est-ce que vous attendez? 😊

Vous pouvez également passer par Authentik Canada , une agence basée à Montréal qui propose de nombreux itinéraires au Québec.

Vous pourrez  choisir votre road trip en ligne  et le planifier de A à Z en cochant:

• La durée  de votre itinéraire: de 1 à 4 semaines
• La région: Est pour visiter le Québec
• Votre type de road trip préféré:  en voiture, en camping-car, famille, luxe…

Le fonctionnement est  super simple  et le site très pratique:  à vous de choisir en fonction de votre budget  ce que vous souhaitez faire et votre catégorie d’hôtels! Tout peut se modifier directement en ligne!

Par exemple, si vous voulez  rajouter un tour guidé de Montréal , vous savez que ça vous coûtera 46€ par personne; si vous voulez  une catégorie d’hôtel supérieure,  ce sera +25€ par nuit et ainsi de suite.

Pour  accéder à la liste complète des itinéraires  proposés par Authentik Canada, vous avez juste à  cliquer sur le bouton ci-dessous:

Et vous, qu’avez-vous prévu de voir et faire lors de votre road trip au Québec?

Vous partez en voyage au Canada? A lire également

Découvrez tous nos articles sur le Canada: Tous les articles de Voyage Tips sur le Canada sont répertoriés ici!

5 étapes pour préparer votre voyage au Canada :   Le guide complet pour tout préparer de A à Z!

Les meilleurs circuits au Canada : Notre sélection des meilleurs circuits au Canada, pour un voyage de rêve sans se ruiner!

Les meilleurs circuits au Québec: Notre sélection des meilleurs circuits au Québec, pour un séjour de rêve sans se ruiner!

• Assurance voyage Canada: Quelle est la meilleure? 50% d’économies grâce à notre comparatif des différentes offres pour le Canada
• Que faire au Canada? Les 20 choses à découvrir absolument lors de votre voyage!
• Que faire au Québec?   Mes 20 choses favorites à découvrir dans la province francophone!
• Itinéraire: Une semaine au Canada: Toutes les étapes pour visiter le Canada en 1 semaine!
• Itinéraire: 10 jours au Canada: Tous nos conseils pour organiser votre voyage de 10 jours au Canada !
• Itinéraire: 2 semaines au Canada: Visiter l’Ouest du Canada en 15 jours.
• Itinéraire: 3 semaines au Canada: Les étapes pour visiter l’Ouest et l’Est du Canada en 21 jours
• Itinéraire: 1 mois au Canada: Visiter l’Est du Canada en un mois!
• Itinéraire: Une semaine au Québec : Comment visiter le Québec en 1 semaine, avec tous nos conseils!
• Itinéraire: 10 jours au Québec: Toutes les étapes pour organiser votre séjour de 10 jours au Québec!
• Itinéraire: 2 semaines au Québec: Visiter le Québec en 2 semaines avec toutes les étapes et nos conseils !
• Itinéraire: 3 semaines au Québec: Toutes les étapes pour faire un road trip de 3 semaines au Québec!
• Road trip au Canada: Les meilleurs itinéraires pour 7, 10, 15, 21 jours et 1 mois!
• Calgary: Le Top 10 des choses à faire lors de votre visite
• Montréal: Les 45 choses à faire et à voir
• Ottawa: Les 10 choses à ne pas manquer lors de votre voyage
• Québec : Top 15 des choses à faire et à voir absolument
• Toronto: Les 15 choses à faire lors de votre séjour
• Vancouver : Les 25 choses à découvrir absolument

Créateur du blog Voyage Tips, amoureux de voyages et de photographie. Je vous donne tous mes meilleurs conseils pour planifier votre prochain séjour.

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Top 15 most scenic road trips and fun drives in Quebec

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Road trips are one of our favorite activities. We love packing up our car and heading on adventures, either when we go camping or out to explore some cabins . Luckily, we live in a beautiful province that has so much to offer in terms of epic road trips. With some beautiful mountain ranges and the majestic St-Lawrence river, the scenery here will take your breath away! We had to create our list of the best and most scenic drives in Quebec.

When we think of road trips, we don’t always mean hopping on the main highway and getting to the destination as quickly as possible. As the saying goes, it’s often more about the journey than the destination. This is why we encourage you to take the back roads. Get off the beaten path. Stop in the cute towns you see along the way – some will surprise and delight you beyond your wildest road trip dreams.

Of course, you can explore some of these scenic drives on a day trip from Montreal , but ideally, you’re making the time to go on a weekend getaway , or even better, on a more extended holiday around Quebec. Either way, we’ve got you covered!

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For more information, please see our disclaimer here . We take all the efforts necessary to ensure the information included in this post is accurate, correct and current, sometimes, things just change! Travel information like opening hours, business operations and prices may change. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers. Cheers!

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15 scenic road trips in Quebec you have to drive

Because we’re based in Montreal, we’ll be using it as the starting point for all the road trips we’ll be going through. You can use our guide as a rough draft for your own epic drive. And as always, don’t be afraid to make this guide your own. Seek out places that are calling to you and compel you to stop for a moment and enjoy the journey.

Also, you’ll notice that we’ve grouped the road trips by region. This will help you plan out your journey a little better as well. This way, you can decide on the general direction you’ll be heading in, what Quebec road trips are most in reach and how to best plan your route.

And finally, as eco-friendly travelers , we know that road trips aren’t necessarily the most eco-friendly thing you can do. This is why we encourage you to explore responsibly. Make sure you don’t leave any traces behind. Be kind and respectful with the people you meet and the places you go. We’ve included some eco-friendly tips at the end to help you with this journey.

2 scenic drives in the Eastern Townships

We’ve said it a ton of times, but the Eastern townships of Quebec are one of our favorite regions to explore. It’s close to Montreal, between one to three hours away, depending on where you’re going. Not only is the drive there beautiful, but you also have the Route des Cantons which makes it even more enjoyable.

The Eastern Townships, or Les Cantons de l’Est or Estrie, are one of Quebec’s most popular regions. It’s no surprise why. This group of little and big towns are nestled in the valleys of the mountain range. This makes for some pretty epic drives.

1. Driving to the Eastern Townships, a beautiful road trip in Quebec

From Montreal, a drive to the heart of the Easter Townships, like Magog or Orford, will take you about 1.5 hours. Usually, Google will take you down highway 10 as it’s the fastest way to get to your destination.

Let’s be honest, the drive on Autoroute 10 is nothing to write home about. Most of it is done through the plains surrounding the island of Montreal. Sure, you’ll see Mont-Saint-Hilaire pop up on your road trip to the Eastern Townships, but the first half of the drive is pretty lackluster. Once you get to the second leg of the drive, you’ll start feeling like you’re in the mountains, and certain views there are quite epic… But that’s not what this blog is about.

Instead, we invite you to take the alternate route. Take route 112 through Chambly, Granby and Eastman. This Quebec road trip itinerary will take you through some of the province’s historic towns and cute villages.

For example, Chambly is home to a historic fort, and the boardwalk there is absolutely gorgeous! Rougemont is where you want to go apple-picking in the fall. Granby has a ton of parks to explore. You can also stop by the Yamaska national park if you want to go on a quick hike. And Eastman, a town in the Eastern Townships, is where you can relax, at one of their many renowned spas.

2. Explore the Eastern Townships on the Chemin des Cantons

We mentioned that the Eastern Townships are made up of delightful little (and big) towns. The best way to explore them is to head out on the Chemin the Cantons . You can either choose to drive down this epic route, or you can even bike it.

The Chemin des Cantons road trip will take you through about 30 different towns. Obviously, you don’t need to stop at each one, but there are quite a few lovely stops along the way like North Hately, Stanstead, Magog, Orford and so many others.

What’s even more fun about the Chemin des Cantons is that they also have specialized themed routes you can follow to explore the eight different regions of the Eastern Townships. For example, you have the Color Route , which is perfect for exploring fall colors. The Historic Homes route and The English Tea Route are perfect for history buffs. And the Round Barn and Covered Bridges Route is great for those looking for quirky landmarks.

For our foodies and wine connoisseurs, the Wine Route and the Microbrewery Route are also great ones to explore. Just make sure you have a designated driver! Because you don’t want to miss out on these other epic Quebec road trips.

Some of our favorite stops along the route include Coaticook, with its majestic gorge and hanging bridge. There are also some amazing hikes to explore there. Same for Sutton, which is a great town, and where you can find a natural environment park with a small waterfall, beautiful views and natural pools to soak in.

North Hately, which we mentioned before, has some beautiful places to explore and bike paths along the lake. Magog is pretty epic with its little beaches and Orford has a ski hill and so many other things to do.

Looking to explore more of the Eastern Townships? Check out our many articles about them: – The best things to do in the Eastern Townships – The best hikes in the Eastern Townships – The best national parks around Montreal (many in the Eastern Townships) – Where to stay in the Eastern Townships

Of course, there are many other epic drives to take in the Eastern Townships. As we explore this area more, we’ll be updating this article, so make sure to check us out again.

3 fun Quebec drives to explore the Outaouais region, the province’s hidden gem

We had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful region of Outaouais at the beginning of the summer. This region is quite close to Montreal, perfect for day trips or weekend getaways . It’s even closer to Ottawa, which is great for our Ontario neighbors too!

3. The Pontiac’s Route 148, the Vanlifer’s dream road trip

The great thing about the Outaouais, beyond the fact that it’s stunning and vastly underrated, is that they now have an official vanlife route traced out. Many businesses now allow vanlifers to sleep on their properties and even offer deals and certain amenities.

Until we get started on our own vanlife journey (because, of course, that’s a dream we have), you can find all the information you need about this route here .

Route 138 has so many amazing places to stop and explore. From local businesses to scenic viewpoints, there’s something for everyone here. The Pontiac is a regional county municipality, that is located in the western Outaouais region along the Ottawa River. You can already expect epic views here. This region is rich in heritage and cultural diversity. It’s a bilingual area in Quebec, considering how close it is to Ontario.

4. The route 105 up to the 31-Mile Lake Regional Park

One of the great things about driving through Outaouais is that you can go through such different scenery. And the next destination does not disappoint – it’s the 31-Mile Lake.

This massive lake has so much to offer, from waterfalls, to a natural stone bridge and whirlpool and a bunch of hiking trails. But the route there is what makes it one of the most scenic road trips in Quebec.

The initial part of the trek will take you through iconic towns like Montebello and Wakefield. You owe it to yourself to stop here and enjoy the quaint buildings that look like they haven’t changed for decades. Montebello is home to the landmark Chateau Montebello , the Manoir Papineau and so much more.

As for Wakefield, the main road is sprinkled with historic storefronts, but the one that takes the cake is the Wakefield Mill . It’s a great place to stop and have a meal and walk around the grounds. The Wakefield Mill is an  enchanting hotel , luxurious spa and a fine dining experience all rolled into one. Plus, it’s on the edge of Gatineau Park , which is well worth exploring as well!

The route around the 31-Mile Lake is also gorgeous. Nestled in the mountains, with plenty of lakes and rivers to explore. There are also a few lovely parks and adventure activities to do in the area. We highly recommend taking some time to stop, stretch your legs and get the adrenaline pumping.

Another great thing about this road trip is that you can easily include Ottawa in your itinerary. You can check out the different government landmarks, the Rideau Canal and so much more. If you have time to spare, it’s definitely worth the detour! And better yet, if you can spend the night here , you can enjoy even more of Canada’s capital city.

5. Drive around the heart of Outaouais and check the highlights

Outaouais is full of amazing places to check out. That’s why we recommend driving around the heart of it. We covered two main areas above, but here are some of the other great places to visit in Outaouais to add to your Quebec road trip itinerary.

A must-see in Outaouais is the Nordik Spa-Nature Chelsea . This is the largest spa in North America and it’s located on the outskirts of Gatineau Park . The focus of the spa is relaxation and wellness. They do this through different thermotherapy and relaxation techniques where they offer multisensory experience in a picturesque natural setting. For example, you can attend an Aufguss ritual, which is a bewitching choreographed experience in a hot sauna. Another cool feature is the Kalla experience – one of the only two places in America where you can float in a saltwater pool. They also feature 10 outdoor baths, 9 saunas, indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, a restaurant, a lounge and a Biërgarden with patios.

If you’re not too much into relaxation, you can visit Eco-Odyssée Park in Wakefield. This is the ultimate place for nature conservation, observation and appreciation. It is the best place to learn about the Canadian Beaver, as the whole place was created in an effort to conserve this iconic Canadian animal. Here, you can pedal on the vast water labyrinth which is made up of 64 intersections that spread out over more than 6.4 km. You can watch Eco-Nocturna, a multimedia show projected on a huge mountain rockface that takes place on Fridays & Saturdays. They also have a maze you can walk around in.

You can also check out some of the many waterfalls in the area. Some have nice short hikes that allow you to visit them quite easily. There are the Denholm falls, the Plaisance waterfalls, the Coulogne Falls and many others. Actually, Gatineau Park is home to many waterfalls, so you can combine them during your visit there. If you love waterfalls, make sure you check out our article about the best waterfalls in Quebec here .

If you’re looking to explore the Outaouais region, we have a full blog you can read here . Find out all the best things to do there, from more outdoorsy activities like camping, hikes and waterfalls to spa relaxation.

2 epic Quebec road trips in the Laurentians

The region known as the Laurentians is located to the northwest of Montreal. The Laurentians are one of the most popular regions to visit in Quebec, so it’s no surprise that we had to include them in our article. Truth is, the Laurentians are a great destination to visit on a day trip from Montreal , a weekend getaway , or even as a place to stay for longer. There’s so much to do here!

6. A scenic drive to the Laurentians

The drive to the Laurentians is quite a scenic one… even if you are just sticking to the main highway. Although we suggest getting off the main road and going on provincial routes, the drive from Montreal to the Laurentians is lovely year-round. Although we do have a small preference for driving there in the fall, when the leaves have changed colors!

Truth be told, the drive from Montreal to Sain-Jerome is pretty boring, but once you’re about 30-40 minutes out of the city, you start seeing the Laurentian mountains popping up. The route takes you through the mountains on sinuating roads that are a pleasure to drive on. Just be weary in the winter as there is a lot of black ice and conditions can get tricky.

Some great towns to stop in are Saint-Sauveur , which is not only a ski destination in the winter but also a great place to explore in the summer with its aquatic park, cute town and shops to explore. In the winter, you can also skate in the forest, at John-H Molson Park. Esterel is also a lovely town to discover, especially if you want some R&R – the Esterel resort is one of a kind and will provide the rest you’re looking for. Smaller stops along the way are Saint-Adèle, Morin-Heights and Saint-Adolphe-d’Howard – each offering something unique.

A must when visiting the Laurentians is Mont-Tremblant. This resort town has become a landmark in the area. Here, you can ski in the winter, or walk around the cute town in the summer and fall. The free gondola ride gives you a great view of the area. You can also pay to go up the hill in the panoramic gondola. The Mont-Tremblant village is full of fun shops and restaurants to try out. There are also a ton of activities like the mountain luge, trampoline, rock climbing and more. You can easily spend a full day here and have a blast!

For those who would rather be a little more active, you can check out the P’tit Train du Nord . It’s a 234 km bike trail and multi-use path that starts in Saint-Jerome and goes all the way up to Mont-Blanc. The path was made for biking, but you can also walk or rollerblade on certain parts as well.

You can also choose to visit some of the national parks that are located in the Laurentians, like the Mont-Tremblant or Oka . Mont-Tremblant has a ton of epic hikes to go on , waterfalls and beaches to hang out on in the summer. Oka is also home to an epic beach that’s very popular for Montrealers in the summer, as well as many hiking trails, and historic buildings.

If you’re looking for some epic hikes to go on in the Laurentians, make sure you check out our full article here. We cover everything from the hikes in the national parks to other epic trails to discover, plus all the info you need to plan your route.

7. Explore the Laurentians with these 2 discovery routes

The Laurentians are also home to 2 historic routes – The Chemin du Terroir and the Chemin des belles histoires. They are both long routes that feature different aspects of the area.

The Chemin du Terroir was inaugurated in 2010 and takes you through more than 226 kilometers of country backroads and byways. Since the Laurentians are home to a ton of agricultural enterprises, this route highlights the best producers in the region. It showcases small businesses that are part of the heritage, culture and history of the place, all while going through the small country roads. Best of all, you can stop for tastings in many of the businesses here, from orchards to wineries, microbreweries, cheese producers and many others.

The second route is the Chemin des Belles Histoires . This route is actually part of the official tourist routes of Quebec and showcases the history of the area. Through this route, you’ll discover how different industries were developed in the area, like forestry, agricultural and touristic sectors. This route spans over 284 km, from Saint-Jérôme to Mont-Laurier. It follows the P’tit Train du Nord trail to highlight the route used by early settlers. You can discover different museums, walking paths, and old train stations while learning about the history of each place and town.

3 epic drives in and around Quebec City

The capital of Quebec, Quebec City, is a quick 2.5-3 hour drive from Montreal. It’s another great weekend getaway from the city. There is a ton to do here, but also, so much to see on the way here and around the city as well.

Here are a few road trips to enjoy in and around Quebec City.

8. The road trip from Montreal to Quebec City, the King’s Road

The drive from Montreal to Quebec City is one of the most iconic ones to do in Quebec. The friendly rivalry between the two cities is still alive and well, despite Quebec City no longer having a hockey team. We still all poke some fun at who the real ‘Grande Ville’ is. The route is so important that movies have even been written about it!

The road is called the King’s Road (Le Chemin du Roy) and it dates back to 1737 when officials decreed a royal route to be built between Montreal and Quebec City, the two biggest settlements in the new French colony. Quebec and Montreal are still the two largest cities in the province. Back then, this road was the longest road north of the Rio Grande!

There are 2 main highways that will take you to Quebec City. The 40 east, which follows the St-Lawrence River on the north shore is one of the most popular ways to get there. The drive is fairly straightforward – not many notable things are along the way. However, you can always hop on route 138, which is the historic and rural Chemin du Roy. It’s a lot more scenic but less fast than taking the 40. On your journey, you’ll see plenty of churches with double spires which date back to the 18th & 19th centuries. You’ll also spot buildings with bright red roofs. They were painted this way to help guide the men at sea safely to shore.

Another is by taking the 20 east which goes on the southern shore below the island. The exciting thing about this route is that you’ll pass by the Chutes de la Chaudière – these impressive waterfalls on the side of the highway. There is an exit for them, so if you have the time, we highly recommend stopping to go for a walk here. If the tide is low, you can walk surprisingly close to them. If not, there are hiking trails and a suspended bridge that will give you a good look at them.

Quebec City is a great place to discover. Walking around the old city, you’ll be transported to a different place and time. Plus, the impressive Chateau Frontenac , one of the most photographed hotels in the world, is a gem in itself! You can also walk around the lower part of the city that has a charm of its own. The cobblestone streets, the historic architecture, everything about this city will pull you under its charm.

We know this article is about road trips, but if you have the chance, absolutely walk around as much as possible here. It’s such a great walkable city, in the summer like the in the winter!

And in terms of fun places to visit nearby (yes, with a car), you have the Jacques Cartier National park which is about 30 minutes from the city. A must-see includes the Montmorency Falls (taller than the Niagara Falls) which are just outside the city and visible from the street as well. But we recommend stopping and taking a good look at these falls. The whole park around it has everything to keep you busy for an afternoon. Our favorite things about these falls are that in the winter, you can walk on the frozen river and get super close to them… Warning – you will be soaking wet after!

And while you’re at the Montmorency waterfalls , you can head on down to the next amazing road trip destination below!

9. Cruise around Île d’Orléans, a beautiful Quebec drive

Île d’Orléans is a beautiful little island located across Quebec City, in the middle of the St-Lawrence River. It’s the perfect place to visit while you’re in Quebec City, or you can make it a destination on its own, especially if you’re into local food and produce. Fun fact: The best Quebec strawberries are grown on Île d’Orléans. With its ancestral homes dating back to the 17th century, the island is full of French heritage.

There are a few ways to explore Île d’Orléans! The most-eco friendly thing you can do is to bike around the island. It’s also great to stop and take the view in. And of course, you can always drive around it as well.

Along the route, you’ll see a ton of places where you can stop and pick produce (strawberries, raspberries, you name it, they grow it). We found this great little business called Tigidou jams , where they make a ton of delicious treats like jams, spreads, sorbets and more from the fresh produce of the island.

You’ll also notice an abundance of wineries. We highly recommend stopping to try a few local drinks (responsibly, of course). We really enjoyed our tasting at the Isle de Bacchus vineyards. You can easily drive around and find other wineries too, depending on what you’re looking for. There are a few vineyards that produce organic or natural wines.

Other fun stops on Île d’Orléans include the Observation Tower, which gives you great views of the island and the shores across the St Lawrence River. On clear days, you can see pretty far with a stunning 360 view. Another must is Cassis Monna et Filles . It’s an economuseum where you can discover the island’s famous blackcurrant liqueur, try their ice cream or other blackcurrant delicacies.

There is plenty to do on Île d’Orléans. You can choose to stay on the island as there are a few little hotels and inns around . You can also stay in Quebec City and head there on a day trip. Or, you can choose to reconnect with nature by staying at the lovely Nöge Hébergement .

10. Drive the historic routes around Quebec City

Quebec City is a historic city itself, which is why it’s no surprise that there are many historic routes around it. Each one highlights something different and unique. They take you to different parts of the city and region, and vary in length.

The first one is called the New France Route ( Route de la Nouvelle France ), which is what Quebec was called back when it was colonized. On this route, you will discover many relics from early settlers when this route was a supply road that connected Quebec City to the coast of the St. Lawrence at Côte-de-Beaupré. Expect to see many old homes and churches on this 55-km route. You can also see museums and old farms on this route. Noteworthy stops include Domaine de Maizerets , Maison Girardin , Auberge Baker , and Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area .

Another route to drive around is actually one that connects Montreal to Quebec, the King’s Road ( Le Chemin du Roy ). Of course, you took this route to get to Quebec City, but there are quite a few stops along the way like the Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade church and the Quebec Folk Culture Museum . Another way to explore this route is by biking the Green Route (la Route verte).

The Route des Navigateurs ( The Navigators’ Route ) is another great road trip around Quebec City. This 470-km drive will take you through historic towns and martime ports that are located along the southern half of the St-Lawrence River. Basically, this route follows Highway 132 and goes through different regions in Quebec like Centre-du-Quebec, Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent. This is the perfect route for anyone who loves to check out lighthouses, or to stop along the river for cute picnics.

There are no shortage of routes and epic road trips around Quebec City. Depending on how long you have, what you’re into and what the weather is, there is something for everyone!

3 epic drives in Quebec, north of the Saint-Lawrence River

As you’ve already seen, there is no shortage of epic road trip ideas all over Quebec. In the next part, we’ll focus on the ones that are located on the north shore of the Saint-Lawrence river. Although some parts of this shore are quite known, there are still so many hidden gems to discover. And as always, use whatever we have here as a base to build the best Quebec road trip for you.

11. Road trip in Quebec’s beautiful region of Charlevoix

Just past Quebec City, you’ll hit La Malbaie, the entrance to one of Quebec’s most beautiful regions (and one of our personal favorites), Charlevoix! This epic Quebec road trip will take you from La Malbaie to Baie-Sainte-Catherine, which is the last town before getting on a ferry to hit Tadoussac, the entry to the Côte-Nord .

Charlevoix is full of amazing stops on the road and beautiful places to discover. The main reason we love it so much is that it’s home to some of Quebec’s best national parks – Grands Jardins and Hautes-Gorges-de-la-rivière-Malbaie . It’s also home to the ZEC des Martres , which has a bunch of amazing hikes as well. For nature lovers, Charlevoix is a dream come true. Even if you’re not big on hiking, seeing the beautiful mountainous landscape here makes for breathtaking views!

Another reason we love Charlevoix is because of the beaches all around. Our favorite still remains Plage Sainte-Irénée – it’s also a local favorite! You can easily spend a full day here and enjoy lounging around the water. Bring chairs and a towel. The water can be quite cold, but it’s a welcome relief from the sweltering summer heat. Plus, there are plenty of restaurants around where you can get your fill. If you’re around later in the afternoon, you may also see the famous Charlevoix train that toots while it drives past the beach. Expect cheering and applause from the crowds on the beach!

Finally, for those who can’t make it to the Côte-Nord or Tadoussac, Charlevoix is one of the best places in Quebec to go whale-watching. There are plenty of places you can stop and look out for these majestic mammals. You can even kayak or paddleboard amongst them. However, we highly recommend you keep a safe distance and not approach them aggressively. We also don’t recommend hopping on whale-watching boat tours. These boats rarely respect the accepted distance to keep and create a ton of noise pollution for the sealife.

Some musts in Charlevoix include Baie-des-Rochers, Saint-Siméon with the Port-au-Saumon Ecological Center where you can hit the trails, explore the forest and marine ecosystems to learn more about them, Port-au-Persil and Baie-Sainte-Catherine, the last stop before getting to the ferry to the Côte-Nord.

Charlevoix is a great region to explore and a fun road trip to go on. Getting to the area will take you about 4 hours from Montreal (and about 1 from Quebec City). Exploring the region will take you even longer. Sure, you can spend a long weekend here, but the best is to spend at least a week to be able to enjoy all the hikes and amazing things to do. .

12. Explore the route around Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Saguenay is a beautiful region. It’s mainly located around the Saint-Jean Lake ( Lac Saint-Jean ). It’s home to some epic waterfalls, lovely beaches, blueberries galore and tons of hikes as well. We have a whole article about the Saguenay region you can check out here to help you plan your trip. Here are the highlights for you.

As we mentioned, Lac-Saint-Jean is at the heart of the Saguenay region. And no visit to the area is complete without checking out this big mass of water. And the best way to explore it is by walking or biking the Véloroute des Bleuets bicycle circuit, or the Blueberry Route. It’s a 256-kilometer pathway or bike path that circles Lac-Saint-Jean and crosses 15 municipalities. It stretches from the estuary all the way up and around the lake. It’s a great place to scavenge for blueberries as well (as the name says)!

In the Saguenay region, you have a few national parks and reserves you can visit. Our favorite one here is the Fjord-Du-Saguenay national park . It’s split into different sectors, each one offering great views. A great hike in the Baie-Éternité sector is the Sentier de la Statue which will take you about 3-4 hours. It has amazing panoramic views of the Fjord from pretty high up in the mountains. In the L’Anse-Saint-Jean sector, the Sentier des Chutes will take you to an impressive waterfall. While the Sentier de l’Anse-de-Tabatière in the same sector will get you a stunning view of the fjord, but with little effort.

The Fjord is a great place to kayak, or you can even drive around on the Fjord Route that goes from the coast all the way to the lake. It’s a must for Quebec road trip lovers, especially considering all the small shops, restaurants and artisans you can check out in the area.

Other musts in the area include the Val Jalbert Historic Ghost Town , the Ouiatchouan waterfall , and the beaches along the Saint-Jean Lake. Saguenay is home to a few big towns that you can check out like Chicoutimi, Jonquière and Saguenay.

You can easily spend a long weekend , or a whole week doing this road trip. Although the drive to the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean area is too far (about 4-5 hours from Montreal), there’s so much to do there, that you do want to take the time and properly explore it all.

If you’re heading to the Saguenay, we recommend checking out our full blog article with many more details about this amazing region in Quebec. There, you can read about all the best things to do here.

13. Drive along the Côte-Nord’s Route 138

Route 138 is the longest route in Quebec… is this true? Maybe not, but in our eyes, it is! It’s actually an iconic route you can drive that you can even get to the end of, and that makes it really fun to explore. Plus, some of Quebec’s most iconic stops and landmarks are on this route. The Côte-Nord extends from Tadoussac all the way to Kegaska (by road) or well beyond that, if you take a boat or a flight.

From whale-watching to puffins, from monoliths to waterfalls and epic beaches, this road trip will surely take your breath away. If you’re heading this way, make sure you check out our full blog article here .

The Côte-Nord is full of amazing gems to discover. We’ll start with our absolute favorite – the monoliths of the Mingan Archipelago. It’s quite a road trip to get here, but it’s well worth the journey. These monoliths are located in Parks Canada reserves to protect them and the fragile environment they’re in. There are day trips to the different islands of the Archipelago, but if you have the time, we recommend camping at one of them. But make sure you check out what islands your tour will visit as not all have them!

Tadoussac is a great town to check out if you can’t make it further into the Côte-Nord. It’s home to amazing beaches, microbreweries, a whale interpretation center and plenty of places to watch for whales from the shore. And if you want to get more whale-watching in, you can head a little further down the road to Cap-de-Bon-Désir . But the great news is that since the Côte-Nord’s Route 138 goes all the way along the shore of the Saint-Lawrence river, you can see and hear whales all the way to Kegaska.

As for the beaches, the most iconic one is located quite a ways down the 138, in Forestville. This is where they filmed The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair starring Patrick Dempsey. It’s now made this beach quite famous! But again, there are plenty of beaches all down the coast – Port-Cartier, Tadoussac, Sept-Îles, Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, and so many others. Be ready for a bit of a shock, because the waters are cold, but refreshing on hot summer days.

Waterfalls are also abundant on this route. Our favorites included the epic Chutes Manitou, as well as the Grand Sault waterfall. There are many more along the way. There are also plenty of other natural wonders to explore, from national parks to islands, bays and so much more. For nature lovers, the Côte-Nord has so much to offer, especially in terms of untapped beauty.

There is also a great opportunity to learn more about Innu culture during your road trip to the Côte-Nord. You can visit the  Maison de la culture innue  in Ekuanitshit to learn about the history of these people who were hunters, fishers and artisans. There’s also the  Maison de transmission de la culture innue Shaputuan  in Sept-Îles, and Wabush au pays des Innus at the Parc Nature Pointe-aux-Outardes. We highly recommend stopping by there.

The Côte-Nord’s Route 138 is one of the best Quebec road trips we’ve been on. We can’t say enough amazing things about it! We really hope you can drive this route because it’s full of beautiful surprises!

Driving down this iconic Quebec route, you can take a few days going to Tadoussac and back. But if you really want to make the best of this road trip and head to the end of the road, we recommend taking at least 10 days or 2 weeks. There’s really plenty to explore, and depending on your rhythm, you may want to stay a little while longer!

Looking for more inspiration for your Côte-Nord trip, make sure you check out our full article here . We get into all the details of the best things to do, where to stay, and all the top attractions there.

2 amazing drives in Quebec, on the south shore of the Saint-Lawrence

These are the final two road trips we recommend in Quebec. They are somewhat iconic Quebec drives as it seems they are a right of passage for those living in Quebec. They are long, multi-day trips where the journey is spectacular and the destinations are well worth spending more than a few days in. So here we go!

14. A road trip through Gaspésie, a scenic Quebec drive

The region of Gaspésie is absolutely lovely, in the summer and in the winter. It’s well worth the 10+ hour drive to get there. Heading to Gaspésie is one of those epic road trips that you can do over and over again while continuously discovering new places and hidden spots.

Obviously, you’re going to need to break the drive up. We highly recommend stopping overnight (or for 2-3 nights, if you can swing it) in the Rimouski area. This is the half-way point between Montreal and Gaspésie. Camping fans should try and book their nights at the Bic national park . It’s by far one of our favorite parks in Quebec. Book way ahead of time if you can, because it gets booked up very quickly. The sunset and sunrises there are just breathtaking. And the hike that takes you around the peninsula at low tide is a must.

From there, you keep heading east to the tip of the Quebec peninsula. And eventually, you arrive in Gaspésie. The landscape is stunning. Coastal drives surrounded by impressive mountains. Cute homes, delicious casse-croutes (french for diner or little food shack), and wildlife. Driving around here is just a trip!

While you’re in Gaspésie, you have a few landmarks to check off your bucketlist. First is the hike to Land’s End in Parks Canada’s Forillon national park . This is an epic hike to do. There’s also the Gaspésie national park that’s an absolute must when it comes to hikes. You can hike up the second tallest peak in Quebec, Mont-Jacques-Cartier. Another must is Mont Saint-Albert, a tough 7-8 hour hike. The best thing about these hikes is that you’re likely to see moose or caribou on the trails.

The town of Gaspé is also a must, as it has so many cute places to check out. Plus, it’s a great place to go whale-watching. The town of Percé and its Rocher Percé are other must-sees in the region. While you’re around Percé, you should check out the clear waters of the rivière aux emeraudes and the waterfall there. You should also head to the island called Île Bonaventure , which is also a national park. There, you’ll see huge flocks of Northern Gannets who call the island home. You’ll likely see plenty of seals in the waters as well.

Gaspésie is really a magical region to discover. It has so much to offer to nature lovers. There is no shortage of fun adventures to experience on this epic Quebec road trip. For a full experience, we recommend spending at least 10 to 14 days doing this road trip.

15. The most epic Quebec road trip to Îles-de-la-Madeleine (the Magdalen Islands)

The final Quebec road trip on our list is the most epic one! It’s the one that will require the most effort, crossing over many provinces and taking a ferry to the remote Magdalen islands. But the journey and the destination are quite worth it. We have a full guide to visiting the Magdalen Islands that you can check out.

The archipelago of the Magdalen Islands is located in the heart of the St-Lawrence Gulf, about 105 km from Prince Edward Island and 95 km from Nova Scotia. They’re made of rolling green hills, dunes, and beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see. They often say that the Îles de la Madeleine are like the Ireland of Quebec. To get there, you have to drive to the far east of Quebec, cut through New Brunswick, take the bridge to Prince Edward Island and from there, catch a ferry to the Islands.

The drive there is quite a trek. We recommend staying the night in New Brunswick ( Moncton has a variety of accommodations ) and heading out as early as you can to catch the ferry from Souris, in Prince Edward Island. The ferry leaves once a day to go to and from the Magdalen Islands, and the journey on the boat is about 5 hours long.

Once you arrive here, there is so much to do. Weather permitting, the beaches on the Îles de la Madeleine are some of the best ones in Quebec. For fans of wind sports like kite surfing, this is what dreams are made of! In fact, all the outdoor activities on the Magdalen Islands are a treat! Hiking up the dunes or buttes , biking around on e-bikes (it gets really windy, so the battery power is so helpful), hiking the trails – there is so much to do here.

There are also some great boating excursions you can do while on the islands. Our favorites were going to visit Entry Island, which is inhabited by about 50 people and where you can hike the tallest peak of the Archipelago. And we loved going around with Le Pluvier , a boat ride that takes you along the coast and into the cliffs.

But the best thing to do on the islands is to drive around the islands. Another epic Quebec Road trip! There are about a dozen islands that make up the Îles de la Madeleine archipelago, with six that are connected by long sand dunes that you can explore while you’re here. They cover about 88 km. The six main islands are l’Île de la Grande Entrée (only acessible by boat), la Grosse Île, l’Île de la Pointe aux Loups, l’Île du Havre aux Maisons, l’Île au Cap aux Meules and l’Île du Havre Aubert. Each island has something a little different and unique to offer.

During our stay on the islands, we would drive around all day, from sunrise to sunset, and check out what each island had to offer. From historic spots to cute shops, art galleries, cafés, and artisan boutiques, there is something for everyone here. The roads are smooth and well-maintained, so you can really take the time to enjoy this road trip.

We recommend spending about 5 days on the Magdalen islands if you’re crunched for time. This means the full road trip will take 7 days total, including the stops between here and Montreal. But if you have the time to spend a good 10 days here, you will not get bored. In the summer months, peak season, the Islands are quite busy with tourists and that’s when all the shops are open. However, in the low shoulder season, shops and galleries tend to have off hours. You’ll need to plan accordingly.

If you want to know all the best things to do on the Magdalen Islands, including the best activities, where to stay, where to eat and everything else you need to know, make sure you check out our full Îles de la Madeleine guide here .

5 quick tips to have a more eco-friendly road trip

As eco-friendly travelers , we wanted to share some of our little tips to help make your road trip a little more eco-friendly. Here are some quick ideas to make sure you’re helping keep the planet beautiful for others to enjoy as well.

• Check your car is running smoothly before you leave . Since driving around isn’t the most eco-friendly thing you can do, here are some ways to make sure your impact is minimized while you’re driving around. Make sure your car is well-maintained. Check the tire pressure to ensure they are optimal. Check your oil as well. A properly running car is more fuel-efficient.
• Before you leave home, unplug what you can . Leaving things plugged in will use up useless energy. Make sure you unplug floor lamps, small appliances and anything else that will go unused during your road trip. Not only is this more eco-friendly, but it’s also a money-saving trick.
• Bring reusables with you to minimize your trash. We mean bring all the reusables you can. We have our reusable water bottle and water filtering bottle that we always bring, so we don’t need to buy plastic water bottles. A reusable coffee mug is a must for coffee-drinking road trippers. And a reusable grocery bag for when you need to stock up on food along the way. Bring those good habits you have at home with you on the road.
• Pack your own snacks and meals, as well as your packaging and cutlery. Since Carine is a vegan , finding plant-based food on the road is sometimes a challenge. That’s why we always make our own snacks and meals at home before hitting the road. We will also make sure to bring our cutlery (camping utensils, plates and containers) with us so we don’t pick up unnecessary trash along the way.
• Compost on the road. Since we try to minimize the amount of trash we have on the road by making our own meals or bringing our own containers, the main source of trash we end up collecting is food scraps. Depending on the length of our road trip, we will bring our compost bin with us. We collect our food scraps during our road trip and discard of the compost when we get back home, or if we find places along the way.

The 15 best Quebec road trips

There you have it! The 15 best scenic Quebec drives you can take in the province. Of course, there are a ton more epic road trips to take here, but these are the ones that have been tried and tested. So if you’re looking to escape from Montreal, these are some of the beautiful places you can head out to on your next adventure.

• The Eastern townships
• Chemin des Cantons and other small Eastern Township drives
• The Pontiac’s Route 148
• Outaouais’ Route 105
• Landmarks in Outaouais
• Laurentians
• Historic routes in the Laurentians
• Quebec City
• Île d’Orléans
• Routes around Quebec City
• Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
• Côte Nord’s route 138
• Îles de la Madeleine

Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever been on any of these road trips. Which ones are your favorites? If not, which one are you most looking forward to going on for your next adventure? And more importantly, are there any road trips that we missed out on? Which ones should we be adding to our list?

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The 23 best things to do in the Eastern Townships of Quebec – Your full guide

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We’re Carine and Derek, two Canadians in love with each other, the environment and this world. We left our old routines behind to discover all the wonders our planet has to offer. We want to inspire everyone to chase their dreams and leave a positive impact on Earth.

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The Most Stunning Coastal Road Trips in Quebec, Canada

Quebec is well known for its breathtaking natural beauty, particularly the landscapes seen along its craggy coastline. Jump in the car or hire a modern mobile home and explore them for yourself.

1. st lawrence river.

Natural Feature

The St Lawrence is the main artery that leads from the Atlantic Ocean deep into eastern North America. Many of Quebec’s major communities lie along its shores, including the major urban centers of Montreal and Quebec City . Its shores range from rocky beaches to towering cliffs, surrounded by the striking geography that gives Quebec its provincial motto: la belle province. Visitors can make use of the four ferries that link the north and south shores of the St Lawrence in Eastern Quebec, offering extensions of the road network. The St Lawrence can be taken as a long road trip in its entirety, or explored through a series of shorter excursions – as highlighted below.

2. Gaspé Peninsula

3. Îles-de-la-Madeleine

The Îles-de-la-Madeleine archipelago covers a series of islands located at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, around 105 kilometers (65 meters) north of the province of Prince Edward Island . The islands are a destination for cycling, kayaking, camping, as well as windsurfing and kitesurfing. The largest island, Île-du-Havre-Aubert, is home to indigenous archaeological sites and the historic La Grave quarter, which includes historical fishing buildings, an aquarium, and a museum, along with cafés and boutiques. You can drive along the coastlines and take a ferry across from the mainland to the islands.

5. Highway 289

Heading into eastern Quebec , the scenic Route 289 follows a series of borders between Quebec, Maine, and New Brunswick. The landscapes of the Bas-Saint-Laurent include everything from picturesque coastal farmland to woodsy plateaus, with breathtaking views of lakes and rivers. Looping from the Saint Lawrence and back, you can explore local attractions from Saint-André-de-Kamouraska to Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande via Pohénégamook and Rivière-Bleue, learning about the fascinating cultural histories of these borderlands – which include tales of bootlegging, smuggling, and cultural exchange through the centuries. Do it all in a state-of-the-art RV and save yourself the headache of finding somewhere to stay.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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13 of the Best Canada Road Trips That Will Blow Your Mind

April 30, 2019 By Matthew G. Bailey 12 Comments

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Canada Road Trip Last updated: April 1st, 2022

If the thought of being behind the wheel while driving amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the world excites you, then this Canada road trip article is for you.

As world travellers that specialize in Canada travel, we’ve done some epic road trips in our lifetime, including the Australian East Coast, the Oregon Coast, California, and parts of Mexico, Malaysia, Peru, and New Zealand. Still, nothing compares to the 150-day road trip across Canada we did back in 2017. Comprising over 27,000 kilometres of asphalt (and some dirt roads as well), we got to explore Canada from coast to coast to coast. However, not everyone has 150 days to dedicate to driving across Canada.

While there are many other road trips not listed here, as well as a variety of incredible destinations that may not include an iconic road trip, we believe these 13 itineraries below are some of the best road trips in Canada and we hope they are helpful suggestions when you’re ready to take your next Canada road trip.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Icefields Parkway, Alberta

How could I not start an article about Canada’s best road trips without first mentioning the Icefields Parkway, which has often been ranked as one of the best road trips in the entire world? Stretching 232 kilometres through both Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, this highway invites you into a journey of mind-blowing scenery, including mighty mountains, waterfalls, turquoise-coloured lakes and rivers, and glaciers too. While the drive from Banff to Jasper really only takes upwards of three-four hours, you’ll probably want to budget an entire day for all the stops you’ll be making to take photos, short hikes, or even full-on tours at the Columbia Glacier. Popular stops include Lake Louise, Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefield, Sunwapta Falls, and Athabasca Falls, just to name a few. For those coming from Calgary to Banff , you just continue towards Lake Louise and then head North on highway 93.

Best time to go: This Alberta road trip is best from June to September, although May works as well. October is also good if you don’t mind a higher chance of rain in exchange for much fewer tourists. From November until April, you should expect snow and ice. This is also a beautiful time to do the road trip, but you’ll need to be much better skilled at driving and expect delays. In addition, many things such as the Columbia Icefield tour are closed.

Bonus: Due to the popularity of this area, it’s also a great place for delicious food. There are so many restaurants in the area and we’ve made some extensive guides, such as our guide to the best Banff restaurants and the best Canmore restaurants .

Cowboy Trail, Alberta

If you’re looking for some prairie and mountainous “wild west” scenery, Alberta’s Cowboy Trail is the road trip for you. Primarily located just south of Calgary, you could start your experience in the province’s biggest city, taking time to explore the many things to do in Calgary such as the Glenbow Museum, Heritage Park, Studio Bell, or the new central library. If you’re up for a party, time your visit with the Calgary Stampede, which is known as the greatest outdoor show on Earth. You could even stop by the Alberta Boot Company and grab yourself some authentic Cowboy boots or other Western-style clothing.

While the actual “Cowboy Trail” refers to Highway 22, which travels all the way from the Edmonton area down into the USA, our favourite part starts around Bragg Creek and takes you down past Turner Valley, Black Diamond, Okotoks, High River, Longview, and down towards Pincher Creek. You’ll pass a lot of stunning scenery and historical sites such as the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site as well as a number of Western-style towns before winding up in the Rocky Mountains such as the Crowsnest Pass and Waterton Lakes. If you’re not wanting to continue into the USA, you could return to Calgary via Highway 2, stopping to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump .

Best time to go: This is one of the best road trips from Calgary and is best done between May and October.

Banff to Vancouver via the Trans-Canada Highway

While the Trans-Canada Highway can take you across the entire country, the most beautiful part, in our opinion, is from Calgary to Vancouver . After just an hour or so, you’ll arrive in Banff with nothing but gorgeous scenery for the remainder of the drive. This 900-kilometre slice of the Trans-Canada takes you through Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park, Glacier National Park of Canada, and finally into Vancouver, which is nestled next to the Pacific Ocean. While this drive can be done in one very long 12-hour day, you’ll obviously want to take as long as possible to make use of the incredible national parks you’ll be driving through. There are also a number of side trips you could take, such as highway 93 down into Radium Hot Springs, and Highway 97, which will take you down to Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley.

Tour Idea: Click here for a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour Offer .

Best time to go: This largely depends on what you aim to do. The safest time to go is during the warmer months when the highways are clear. However, if you’re into skiing, this is one of the best places in the world to shred powder, which is typically best between January and March.

For more tips on what to bring on a road trip, check out our Road Trip Essentials article.

Road Trip around the Okanagan Valley, BC

While the Okanagan Valley isn’t really known as a specific “road trip”, it is home to one of Canada’s most famous wine regions, a gastronomic hot spot, and beautiful Lake Okanagan. There are all sorts of beautiful towns to visit, such as Kelowna , Penticton, and Vernon. There are all sorts of award-winning wineries, farm-to-table restaurants, and sandy beaches as well. This also happens to be one of Canada’s warmest regions, which can hit 40 degrees Celcius in the summer months.

Best time to go:  June to September for the warmest temperatures. April, May, and October are also great and a bit cooler.

Sea to Sky Highway, BC

This is the shortest road trip mentioned in this article but a great one to take if you’re in the Vancouver area. The Sea to Sky Highway links Vancouver to Whistler, which are less than two hours apart, making this one of the most popular road trips from Vancouver. Driving along the coast, this is a great place to see the beautiful west coast. Popular stops include Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, Shannon Falls, and the Britannia Mine Museum. There’s also the Sea-to-Sky Gondola, which provides unforgettable views and a suspension bridge and of course, Squamish and Whistler, which provide all sorts of adventurous activities. In addition, don’t forget to experience Vancouver whale watching while in the city as well as all the other fun things to do in Vancouver .

Tour Idea: Sea-to-Sky Gondola and Whistler Day Trip Tour .

Best time to go:  July to September is Vancouver’s dry season, but if the rain doesn’t bother you, almost any time of year is good. If you’re into skiing or snowboarding, January to March is best.

Vancouver Island, BC

Vancouver Island is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Canada and is home to some of the best things to do in British Columbia . Not only does it have one of the mildest climates in the country, but it’s also home to a variety of landscapes, including rainforests, mountains, rugged coastlines, and scenic towns and cities, making it a great place for a BC road trip. It’s also home to beautiful gardens, epic hikes, surfing, scuba diving, and whale-watching tours. Two of the most popular places to visit include Victoria and Tofino, which are on opposite sides of the island. While driving between the two, don’t forget to stop at Cathedral Grove to marvel at the massive trees as well as the many other parks and towns along the way. Finish the trip with one of Tofino’s stunning sunsets.

Best time to go: a West Coast road trip is best between March to May and September to November. Summer is great too but is very busy and expensive.

Before you go, check out our article about things to do in Victoria BC .

Dempster Highway, Yukon

As Canada’s only all-weather road that goes past the Arctic Circle, the Dempster Highway has become one of the most unique road trips in Canada. However, this is not your average highway. The Dempster Highway is a 700-kilometre extremely isolated dirt road with only one service station (they also offer accommodation and a restaurant) option along the way in Eagle Plains. This road trip takes a little more preparation than the others and will be much harder on your vehicle than any other road trip mentioned in this article. However, for those who choose this adventure, you’ll be rewarded with incredible arctic scenery and the chance to drive all the way to Tuktoyaktuk and the Arctic Ocean!

Best time to go: The best time to go would be in the warmer months between May and early October. The road is open year-round but the driving becomes much more dangerous in the winter. Spring will bring a lot of bugs, summer will bring a lot of tourists, and the fall has no bugs and beautiful fall foliage (hint: our favourite time is the fall). However, if you time your arrival in Inuvik for mid-July, you might be able to experience the Great Northern Arts Festival.

Georgian Bay Coastal Route, Ontario

Looking for one of the best road trips from Toronto? With more than 30,000 islands and over 2,000 kilometres (1,243 miles) of shoreline, the Georgian Bay Coastal Route loops around the Bay from Toronto and features some of Ontario’s most stunning scenery. Some of the most popular stops include the Bruce Peninsula, Parry Sound, and Killarney Provincial Park. There’s also beautiful Manitoulin Island, which is the world’s largest freshwater island, as well as Wasaga Beach, which is the world’s largest freshwater beach.

In addition, you could also extend the road trip and add in the Chatham-Kent Corridor, which is comprised of 23 small communities overlooking Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and the Thames River. Basically, it goes from Toronto to Amherstburg, which makes this one of the most popular road trips from Toronto. This route is popular with motorcyclists but is equally impressive on four wheels. Without a doubt, the most famous stop along the way is Niagara Falls Canada .

Best time to go: Summer is great but also busy. Shoulder season in late August to mid-September or in the spring from May to June is also great. Either way, this is one of the best things to do in Ontario .

Lake Superior Circle Tour, Ontario

While the entire Lake Superior Circle Tour takes you to both Canada and the USA, you could opt to do a half-circle tour and just stay on the Canadian side. Either way, it’s a beautiful drive and a really cool place to get out in nature. Lake Superior is absolutely massive and will make you feel as if you’re driving alongside the ocean. It’s home to some incredible scenery as well as some interesting history from the war between Canada and the USA. In fact, you can even go scuba diving to see shipwrecks. Popular stops include Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ruby Lake Provincial Park, Pukaskwa National Park, and Thunder Bay. This is one of those places where you should plan to spend at least a few days and perhaps go camping, hiking, or enjoy some time on the lake. It’s a great road trip in Ontario for those who love the outdoors.

Best time to go: The warmer months from May to October. July and August will be the busiest. Before going, don’t forget to enjoy one of the many awesome things to do in Toronto !

Montreal to Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec

For those wanting to experience a world-class city like Montreal, followed by a scenic road trip, the Gaspe Peninsula is the one for you. This 9-hour trip takes you along the St. Lawrence River, from Montreal to Quebec City, and up to the Gaspé Peninsula. Known for its pine forests and looming cliffs, the Gaspé Peninsula is a stunning place to visit. Some of the highlights include visiting the pierced rock in Percé, spending some time at the Parc de la Gaspésie, and taking a boat tour to Bonaventure Island. Obviously, the cities of Quebec and Montreal aren’t so shabby either. This is a great road trip for those wanting to mix urban and rural fun.

Best time to go:  June to mid-September. Want more? Here are other things to do in Quebec as well as the top things to do in Montreal .

Prince Edward Island Coastal Drives

With so many beautiful coastal drives, the hardest thing might be picking the right one. Then again, you could always do all three. The tourism board has three road trips they recommend, which include the North Coast Coastal Drive, Central Coastal Drive, and Points East Coastal Drive. The North Coast will introduce you to its Mi’kmaq culture as well as some unique stops, including a potato museum and a college for the Highland arts. The Central Coastal Drive includes the Red Sands Shore and the Green Gables Shore region. This area is great to experience the beautiful red sand that PEI is famous for as well as the historical landmark of Anne of Green Gables. Lastly, there’s the Points East Coastal Drive, which is characterized by its parks, trails, and lighthouses. Either way, you’ll be treated to an array of stunning coastal views and delicious seafood along the way.

Best time to go:  The Eastern Canada road trip is best in the warmer months, as many attractions close in the winter. Want more ideas? Here are other things to do in Prince Edward Island .

Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

For those visiting the East Coast, don’t miss a scenic drive on Cabot Trail, which is easily one of the best things to do in Nova Scotia . Cradling the coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the Cabot Trail has become one of the most famous road trips in Canada and the most famous East Coast Canada road trip. At 300 kilometres in length, most of which hug the coastline, this road trip is perfect for those who love the ocean and incredible views. Traversing through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, there are all sorts of places to stop off and go for a hike as well. One of the most popular hikes is the Skyline Trail, which takes you up to the peak of the highlands for jaw-dropping views of the Atlantic Ocean. There are also some small communities of Celtic and Acadian descent, which are also home to many artisans. This is another road trip that only takes 3-4 hours to complete but is better done over one day or more.

Tour Idea: Click here to learn about a low-cost Smartphone Audio Driving Tour .

Best time to go: June to September is best for good weather but October is great to see the fall foliage.

Spending more time in Nova Scotia? Don’t forget to enjoy some of the best things to do in Halifax !

The Viking Trail and Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

Known to locals as “The Rock”, Newfoundland is one of the most unique and beautiful provinces in Canada. It has its lively music, food, culture, and a really friendly laid-back charm. It’s also a great place for a Canada road trip thanks to Gros Morne National Park and the Viking Trail. In fact, there are many great road trips in Newfoundland but this one stands out as the best. If you’re looking for incredible scenery, wildlife, adventure, and ancient history, there’s no better place to go. It all starts with Gros Morne National Park, which is home to landlocked fjords, mountains, forests, barren cliffs, and the sea. It’s also home to the only place in the world where you can walk on the Earth’s mantle. There’s also loads of wildlife, including moose and caribou. Then there’s the Viking Trail , which takes you from Gros Morne National Park up to St. Anthony’s. This is the tip of Newfoundland and home to the thousand-year-old Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site. Both Gros Morne and L’Anse aux Meadows are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Best time to go: June to early October is the best time for good weather. It’s also the only time L’Anse aux Meadows is open. For more, check out our article on the best things to do in Newfoundland

Road Trip Canada – Canada’s Trans-Canada Highway

The Trans-Canada Highway is the most epic and incredibly long road trip you can take in Canada. It stretches across the country through all 10 provinces. Starting in Victoria, it ends in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Some of the (many) highlights awaiting road-trippers include Vancouver, Banff National Park , the Alberta Badlands, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal, Fundy National Park, and Gros Morne National Park, just to name a few. In fact, there are far too many highlights to include here. Just make sure you have a lot of time. Stopping only to sleep, this trip will take approximately 7 days. Personally, I’d want at least one month to do the whole journey from coast to coast. Add in an additional 2-4 weeks if you plan on going North to the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

Best time to go:  April to October for optimal weather coast to coast. However, some parts of Canada still get snowstorms up until May.

We hope this list has inspired you to take a Canada road trip somewhere in this country, if not all the way across.

If you’re exploring Canada, we have many other articles you might enjoy as well, including:

• Things to Do in Drumheller
• Things to Do in Jasper
• Whale Watching Canada
• Things to Do in Calgary
• Camping in Alberta

Happy Travels!

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About Matthew G. Bailey

Matthew G. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Must Do Canada. Growing up in Alberta to a mother from Quebec and a father from Newfoundland, Matt spent his childhood playing hockey under the Northern Lights and hanging out in the forest before moving to Calgary and travelling to more than 250 cities spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. He loves travel, learning new things, playing sports, writing, making videos, photography, and scuba diving. You can also find him at LiveLimitless.net .

Reader Interactions

March 18, 2020 at 5:18 am

Traveling by car can get you places which can be very difficult to reach by public transport or tour. It gives you the convenience of going your own way, in your own time, and it can often be cheaper than public transport alternatives, especially if traveling as a couple or a group. Many car rental services are giving comfortable rides at affordable rates Here, some top road trip ideas to inspire you : 1) The Trans-Canada Highway 2) Sea to Sky Country, British Columbia 3) Icefields Parkway, Alberta 4) Country Routes, Quebec 5) The Dempster Highway, Yukon and Northwest Territories 6) Coastal Drives, Prince Edward Island

I mentioned above places are when I visited last time in Canada by ReRyde ride share service. It is easy for me to travel all the places at affordable rates within the scheduled hours. I enjoyed my trip happily by seamless ride To get more information: https://www.reryde.com/

June 9, 2020 at 7:33 pm

I am especially interested in the Dempster Highway drive. Could you send me a guide please?

Mike Richins 325-660-8904

5058 Oaklawn Drive Abilene, Texas 79606

June 10, 2020 at 3:23 pm

We don’t have any guides to sell. We might create a digital one, but it wouldn’t be ready anytime soon.

June 24, 2020 at 8:56 pm

I’m looking for some good road trips as I’m RVing from Kingston, Ontario to Vancouver Island in September and taking a month to do it.

June 25, 2020 at 1:23 am

Oh awesome, that sounds like a great trip. So much to see along the way. Riding Mountain NP, Grasslands NP in Sask, Calgary, the Rocky Mountains, etc 🙂

September 9, 2020 at 6:37 pm

My wife and I are planning to drive from Surrey BC to London Ontario. Leaving October 9th, or 10th 2020. wish me luck. we are hoping for good weather.

September 9, 2020 at 7:16 pm

Very cool! That’s a big drive! Just going for fun?

January 30, 2021 at 8:32 pm

There is the Northern Woods and Water Highway road trip that is the furthest North people can travel east west in Canada. See the website http://www.NWWR.ca As an Association we promote a different view of the prairies. It can be connected with the TransCanada or Yellowhead for a circle tour of Western Canada from Winnipeg to Vancouver and return. Get on anywhere and experience woods, water and wildlife.

February 1, 2021 at 3:56 pm

Very cool! Thanks for sharing! Are you like a Tourism Board for the area? We’d love to feature this one day on the channel

April 28, 2021 at 5:12 pm

just got some new wheels so anxious to hit the road….when we can once again do that! thanks for the great ideas!

April 3, 2023 at 9:01 pm

Do you have suggestions for renting a car that would allow you to rent the car on the west coast and leave it on the east coast?

April 4, 2023 at 1:51 pm

Not really. Some do allow that though for a fee. Sometimes you can book it this way through a site like Rentalcars.com, Expedia, etc.

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Road trip in Quebec

One-week itinerary for your Quebec road trip

Canada , and more specifically Quebec, is a destination that many dream of. The wide open spaces, the tranquillity and the exceptional nature that can be found there, call for a road trip to Quebec . In this article, I share with you a one-week itinerary for a trip to Quebec.

• Days 1 and 2: Quebec City
• Days 3 and 4: Jacques Cartier National Park
• Days 5 to 7: Saguenay Lake Saint-Jean

A week’s road trip in Quebec

During this week-long trip to Quebec , I focused on the city of the same name and the Saguenay Lake Saint-Jean region. As distances are long in Canada, I advise you not to spread yourself too thin so as not to spend too much time in the car.

Practical information for your road trip in Quebec

↠ how to get to quebec.

I was lucky enough to inaugurate the Paris – Quebec route with Air France. You can now find flights 3 times a week.

Find the best airline ticket prices here thanks to Ulysse . Benefit from -10€ on your first booking by registering via our link with our promotional code : PVWYP4ESA .

↠ Rent a car for your road trip in Quebec City

I advise you to use Skyscanner’s comparison tool . To find the best prices for your car rental.

↠ What to budget for a week’s road trip in Quebec?

Quebec is a fairly expensive destination. Prices are in line with Canadian wages, which are higher than in your country. The local currency is the Canadian dollar, the current exchange rate is 1€ = 1.34$ can. Here are the details of the budget for my trip to Quebec :

• Flights Paris – Quebec: 550€ per person.
• Car rental: 300€ for the week
• Gas expenses: 150€ for the week
• Hotels: 120€ per night on average
• Restaurants: 50 euros per day per person for 2 meals

Total = 1 850€ for a 7-night stay, i.e. 925€ per person, not including activities.

Note : this budget can obviously vary depending on the price of rental cars and planes, but also on the standard of the hotels/restaurants you choose. I am only speaking from my experience.

↠ Do I have to change/withdraw money on the spot?

You can change your euros directly in Quebec City, avoiding the exchange offices near the airports, which tend to charge more commission.

For my part, I paid for everything with a Boursorama Banque bank card, which means no commissions abroad. I leave it to you to check with your own bank to see what is more advantageous between withdrawal and payment by card.

↠ When to go to Quebec?

In practical terms, it is possible to travel all year round in Canada. It really depends on your expectations. However, in my opinion, you should avoid the months of April and May, which correspond to the end of winter and therefore the thawing period.

To enjoy the pleasures of snow, winter is ideal (November to March). The period from mid-September to mid-October is ideal for admiring the flamboyant autumn colours: this is the so-called Indian summer. Finally, the summer months, between June and August, are very pleasant in Quebec, with high temperatures.

↠ Which typical Quebec dishes are a must-try ?

Update 2023: We absolutely recommend you try poutine, a comforting and tasty🤤 dish. Tourtière is another traditional Quebec dish, particularly popular during the festive season. There’s also pea soup or maple taffy, which is a typically Québécois sweet treat. It’s a kind of maple candy, made by boiling maple syrup until it thickens, then pouring it hot over clean snow.

Whether you’re looking for comfort food, sweets or regional specialities, Quebec cuisine is sure to please.

Road Trip to Quebec: a one-week itinerary

Days 1 to 2 : québec city.

To start your road trip to Quebec , we recommend you to book your first two nights in Quebec. In fact, apart from the city centre, there are some great places to visit in the outskirts. ?

Where to sleep in Quebec?

I recommend the Saint-Paul hotel , ideally located in the Old Quebec district. Very good value for money due to the ideal location!

What to do in Quebec and its surroundings ?

I’ve put together this programme over 2 days so that you can adapt according to the arrival time of your flights.

Visiting Québec City Centre

The city of Quebec has many attractions, especially the old town which is an authentic and unforgettable quarter.

To discover and learn more about the history of the city, you can book a guided tour by clicking here.

If you want to visit it on your own, here are the points of interest to see:

• Castle Frontenac
• Dufferin Terrace
• Park du Bastion de la Reine
• Doors Saint-Louis et Saint-Jean
• Saint-Louis Street
• You can stroll through the streets (the best way to discover a city !)

Take the cable car to the Petit Champlain district

Petit Champlain is a cute little neighbourhood, not to be missed either. You will find small artisanal shops. To get there, take the cable car that leaves in front of the Castle Frontenac.

Cruise on the St. Lawrence River

To continue your visit of Quebec City , it is essential to embark on a cruise on the St. Lawrence River. This river is one of the emblems of Quebec as it crosses it, over 1000 km long. In winter, it is completely frozen, it must be impressive!

Relaxation at Strøm spa

During your road trip in Quebec , you are bound to go to Strøm spa for a relaxing moment. This Nordic spa is absolutely beautiful. There are many relaxation areas and heated pools. The facilities are super clean. I would 100% recommend.

Info & online booking

Montmorency Falls

Located 15 minutes by car from Quebec City, the Montmorency Falls is an impressive sight. At 87 metres, it is higher than the famous Niagara Falls.

To observe it, park on this car park.

Also, you can take the cable car that runs alongside it, which is quite unusual. Get your tickets from this site.

The island of Orleans

The island of Orleans is also close to Quebec City, and is bordered by the St. Lawrence River. Climb aboard a sea kayak to discover the beauty of this river.

This place is home to a preserved nature with a rich agriculture. You can drive around by road to admire the landscapes. Also, find a map of things to see at the tourist office.

☞ Another gourmet alternative: a food tour to taste specialities and discover local producers. Reservation

Days 3 and 4: Jacques Cartier National Park and Wendaké

For the second leg of this Quebec road trip , we will head to Jacques Cartier National Park .

With more than 100 km of hiking trails and water activities (in summer), there is a lot to do in the Jacques Cartier river valley. It’s possible to visit in winter too, which can be fun with snowshoeing or skating, among other activities.

Between the surrounding massifs and the waterholes, you will be amazed by the immensity of the landscape.

Access to Jacques Cartier National Park

Price: $9 per day per adult, free for children under 17. Go to the discovery centre to pick up a hiking map and organise your activities.

Where to sleep in the heart of the National Park?

Unusual accommodation is available for overnight stays in the Jacques Cartier Park . It is an incredible experience to sleep in the middle of nature!

I chose one of the EXP chalets which are right on the river. The chalets are very well equipped, with a kitchen, a barbecue, the possibility to make a campfire and a private bathroom with hot water. Reservation here

Stoneham Nordic Spa

On your way out of the park, stop for a moment of relaxation at the Spa Nordique Stoneham . It’s much smaller than the one in Old Quebec but beautiful for its forest setting. There are hot water pools, saunas, hammam, then access to the river for a refreshing bath after the sauna!

Online booking

Lunch at La Souche Stoneham

Ready for a good poutine? It’s the most famous Canadian specialty, made with fries, melted cheese and other condiments to choose from according to your taste. It’s delicious and greasy, just what I like!

Head to La Souche Stoneham Brewery for a reasonably priced lunch with a good local beer.

Wendake, discovering an indigenous culture

In Canada, there are 11 Aboriginal nations that cultivate their millennial culture and exceptional know-how. I had the chance to discover one of them in Wendaké, the Huron-Wendat First Nation.

To get the most out of the experience, I recommend staying at the First Nations Hotel-Museum . The decoration is both traditional and modern. Within the hotel, there is a museum to learn all about the Huron-Wendat and their history. Also, don’t miss the Myths and Legends evening event held in a traditional longhouse (ask at the hotel reception).

Days 5 to 7: Saguenay Lake-Saint-Jean, continuation and end of the road trip in Quebec

It’s time to hit the road to other lands, to Saguenay Lake Saint-Jean . From Wendaké, you will pass through national parks and fabulous landscapes with stretches of trees that seem to go on forever.

Saguenay Lake St. Jean is a large region of Quebec with beautiful natural areas. You will find a lot of water (river, lake, fjord…) and therefore many possible activities, in summer as well as in winter!

What to do in Saguenay Lake Saint-Jean?

Zoo sauvage of saint-félicien.

I loved the visit of this animal park! The animals are well treated and the zoo is configured in such a way that their original natural environment is respected. The 75 species that have found refuge here are only animals that originally lived in cold regions of the world, so that they remain in conformity.

Allow half a day on site because there are many areas to see between the pedestrian part and the train ride through the park. You will see many animals ?.

Online ticketing

Michel’s waterfall

Very nice for the sunset, the fall to Michel is a calm and majestic place, also located in Saint-Félicien! The power of the river is impressive. Picnic tables have been installed if you wish.

🏨 Where to sleep?

On the edge of Lake Saint-Jean, I recommend staying at this establishment (click) .

The Spa is splendid and the accommodation warm.

Continuation of the road trip in Quebec, in Saguenay Lake Saint-Jean

After a good night’s rest, we’ll head for the Saguenay Fjord . So to begin with, what is a fjord? It’s not just a yogurt, as many of you have told me on Instagram ?.

A fjord, according to the Larousse, is “a deep indentation in the shoreline, often branched, narrow and bordered by high cliffs, resulting from the recent invasion of a glacial trough and frequent.” A definition that promises an incredible landscape!

Stay at Park Aventures Cap Jaseux

For nature lovers, Park Aventures Cap Jaseux is the place to be! Established on the edge of the fjord, many activities are available: via ferrata, kayaking, massage, hiking, fishing…

Also, unusual accommodation options are available. So I chose to spend the night in a dome, a first for me! No regrets, I loved it. A must try to feel alone in the world in the heart of the forest, with a view on the fjord and the stars at night. ?

Prices and booking

🍽️ Good address for dinner 20 minutes drive from the park: the Restaurant Le Mukushan at the Cap au Leste outfitter. Good food and nice view!

Whale watching in Tadoussac

The Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park is the ideal place for whale watching. Many tourists come from elsewhere just for that !

Kayaking on the Saguenay Fjord

Now that you know the definition of a fjord, it’s time to reinforce your knowledge by navigating it in a kayak! During the summer months, you can even swim in the fjord. However, I did this activity at the beginning of May and the water was FREEZING, so be sure to bundle up.

Boat cruise on Lake Saint-Jean

Another water activity to enjoy the sublime Lac Saint-Jean, discover this boat cruise with a nature guide who will explain all about the flora and fauna!

Black bear watching

I haven’t had the chance to do this unusual activity, but it’s clearly on my list of 100 things to do before I die… I suggest you head into the Canadian forest, accompanied of course by a specialist guide, to observe black bears in their natural habitat. It’s a dream!

☞ Book this excursion by clicking here.

Sunset at The Anse à la Tabatière

For your last evening of this Quebec trip , drive to The Anse à la Tabatière to watch the sun set.

Overnight at Auberge La Fjordelaise

Before heading back to the airport the next day, I had dinner and spent the night at Auberge la Fjordelaise . The couple who run it are lovely, the food is delicious. A great welcome!

I hope I helped you with this one week road trip itinerary in Quebec ! Feel free to ask me any questions in comments and share the article if you enjoyed it.

For more road trip ideas, check out the travel guide to the Azores or even Iceland.

This article contains affiliate links. If we’ve helped you organise your trip or you’d just like to support us, please consider booking your activities and hotels in Quebec by clicking on our links. We’ll earn a small commission and the price stays the same for you, of course. 🤍

Further Reading...

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22 Unmissable Stops On A Québec Road Trip To Gaspé Peninsula

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When visiting Québec, most people head straight to Montreal and Québec City . But this magnificent province is so diverse and there’s so much to see on a Québec vacation than the big cities!

This fall we embarked on a 5-day Québec road trip to the Gaspé Peninsula and we had the time of our life! The fall foliage, the regional cuisine (cue lobster and seal meat), the majestic whales and fascinating seabirds had us head over heels. It is the best East Coast road trip one could have ever imagined!

This Québec travel guide showcases the various Québec road trip destinations on the south shore of Saint Lawrence River that should be on your radar. As you follow along, it’s easy to see why you should extend your trip to Québec City to explore the beautiful Maritimes regions!

Plan your Québec road trip with these tools!

Below is a road map of Québec highlighting all the must-see stops in Chaudière Appalaches, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Gaspé. We will be showing you sights from the West to East so you can easily transform this to a Québec road trip itinerary:

1| Parc des Chutes de la Chaudière

Across the Saint Lawrence River from Québec City is Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière featuring breathtaking waterfalls . Only 30 mins away from Old Québec, this attraction tops the list of popular Québec City day trips for the locals!

Unlike most waterfalls, you can actually walk on the rocks at the bottom of the falls to feel the true power and volume of water spilling off the cliff up close. It is truly sensational!

That’s not it! The park also has a 113-m long suspension bridge that sways up to 23m above the river, offering a unique viewpoint of the thundering falls and the rugged landscape. If time permits and weather is nice, we encourage you to take advantage of the hiking trails and picnic areas to get a good dose of nature.

It’s a marvelous sight to explore on your way to the Gaspé Peninsula and will for sure make your driving in Québec unique! (even if you only have a weekend in Québec City , it is an easily manageable addition to your itinerary!)

2| Old Lévis

Old Lévis sits directly across from Québec City and is only a ferry ride away!

This hidden gem is the go-to spot for photographers to get the Québec City skyline . No need to go far, you can capture that view right by the Québec City-Lévis ferry terminal.

It also makes for one of the best day trips from Quebec City for foodies. Stop by at Chocolats Favoris for some high-quality artisanal chocolate or chocolate-dipped ice cream  (available in 12 different flavours!). Or, attend a cooking class with Madame Germaine , learning how to make authentic Quebec foods !

3| Musée Maritime du Québec

Come aboard the three historic ships on your Québec trip and dive deep into Canada’s maritime history at the Musée Maritime du Québec !

The museum possesses a rich collection of artifacts and documents related to all kinds of maritime events. Smaller wooden ships like rowboats and canoes are also on display in a hangar-workshop! A must-see stop for history buffs.

The highlights, though, are the two gigantic ship museums outdoors – the icebreaker Ernest Lapointe and the hydrofoil Bras d’Or 400, as evidence of the rich maritime heritage in Québec.

4| La Coureuse des Grèves

Looking for a satisfying sit-down meal on your Gaspé peninsula road trip? We highly recommend eating at La Coureuse des Grèves .

This casual fine-dining restaurant serves incredible foods. Their ever-changing menu is a mix of French cuisine and Asian gastronomic flair , utilizing local seasonal products.

To get the authentic Québécois experience, we suggest starting your meal with cheeses produced by the nearby cheese factory Île-aux-Grues (the BEST you can have in Canada!). Remember to leave room for pouding chômeur (“unemployed men pudding”). The irresistible dessert, soaked in maple syrup, was created by female factory workers early during the Great Depression in Québec.

5| Le Moule à Sucre

Want to bring a piece of Québec home with you? Le Moule à Sucre has got you covered!

This charming store in Saint-Jean-Port Joli sells a wide variety of local products and confectionery . Everything is made in Québec – from maple syrup, jam, foie gras, terrine to wine, to keep the memory of your Québec holiday alive.

It is almost impossible to leave the store empty-handed so make sure to bring an extra suitcase – just in case!

6| Parc National du Bic

Follow the scenic Québec Route 132 towards Rimouski, you will enter the territory of Parc National du Bic (Bic National Park).

The park, covering an area of 33.2 square km, boasting rocky capes, bays, coves, islands and mountains , which all come together to create dramatic landscapes.

The sheltered coastline attracts thousands of seabirds each summer to build nests. It is one of the prime spots to see common eiders , the largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere!

If you walk along the shore, don’t be surprised to encounter harbour seals up close as they like to rest on the rocks in the coves and bays!

Needless to say, there are numerous hiking trails you can take advantage of. One of the best lookout points is Pic Champlain, the highest peak of the Murailles massif. You can hike up or get a lift on the shuttle to the top to admire the sweeping views of the estuary and the entire park!

7| Auberge du Mange Grenouille

Fancy a romantic dinner on your road trip to Québec Gaspésie? In Rimouski, Auberge du Mange Grenouille will transport you into a dream world of charms with a gastronomic experience that promises to satisfy all senses!

The gourmet restaurant nestled inside a beautiful inn overlooks the islands of Parc National du Bic, especially remarkable at sunset. The whimsical space decorated in a theatrical and operatic fashion exudes sophistication and style.

As for the food, the dishes are designed to showcase the region’s distinct cuisine and take you on a taste adventure. Have not ever tried blood pudding, seal meat, or duck heart in your life? This is your perfect chance! (BTW, they were yummy!)

8| Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site

We get it, museums can be boring. But Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Sit e is such an interesting place that makes non-museum goers like us feel fascinated.

The landmark brings 3 attractions together under one roof. You will have an opportunity to:

⇢ go into the 90m-long Onondaga submarine and discover how 70 crew members would live for months at a time

⇢ tour the Empress of Ireland Museum and learn about what makes this shipwreck one of Canada’s worst marine disasters

⇢ climb to the top of the second tallest lighthouse in Canada, Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse (33m) and enjoy a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River

9| Reford Gardens

You can easily spend a whole day wandering through the endless fields of flowers at Reford Gardens (aka Jardine de Métis).

The 45-acre National Historic Site is home to a historic house, 8 magnificent gardens and a collection of 3500 plant varieties . If that doesn’t impress you, head over to the International Garden Festival section and have some fun at the interactive contemporary gardens designed by landscape architects from around the world.

Mitis River Park is worth a visit when the weather is nice. The nature park showcases forest and marine ecosystems unique to the region. Walk along the 3km-long landscaped trails to the mouth of the Mitis River and climb up the observation tower for stunning views of the surrounding area!

10| La Martre Lighthouse

The all-red lighthouse might not be the tallest in the area, but has been in operation since 1906 and is made with wood. Unlike modern lighthouses which use electric motors, La Martre Lighthouse is still operated by the original clockwork system!

11| Cap de la Madeleine Lighthouse

The cylindrical concrete lighthouse, built in 1908, sits at the top of Cap de la Madeleine. It is an important landmark that helps guide commercial shipping traffic on the St. Lawrence River.

12| Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse

Of all the lighthouses we’ve visited on the Gaspé Peninsula, this one is our favourite.

To reach Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse (aka Fame Point), you must first travel on a dirt road (unmarked on Google Maps). The drive seems endless but when you finally reach the destination, it is not hard to understand why Pointe-à-la-Renommée has been called “the world’s most traveled lighthouse.”

This is also home to the first marine wireless telegraphy radio station in North America!

Perched serenely atop the cliff, the lighthouse looks out to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. On a clear day, you might even see whales and seals popping their head out of the water.

A small fee is required to tour the historic site ($6 for one exhibit or $10 for a complete visit), but it is worthwhile to hear the fascinating story of the lighthouse keepers, the wireless radio operators, and the fishermen who lived on the isolated shores of Fame Point. 

Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the many hiking trails nearby to find the best vantage point to enjoy the ocean backdrop!

13| Atkins & Freres

Gaspésie is known for seafood. The best place to buy smoked fish and seafood products is Atkins & Freres at Mont-Louis.

From maple salmon bites to smoked lobster rillettes, the store has a wide array of high-quality culinary delights to satisfy every seafood lover’s palate!

14| Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse

A visit to Canada’s tallest lighthouse, Cap-des-Rosiers, is mandatory on your Gaspé road trip.

The soaring stone tower stands 34m atop the rugged cliffs and has been guiding ships through the treacherous waters since 1858! Because of its heritage value, the lighthouse has been designated a National Historic Site in 1973.

You are welcomed to visit the landmark in the summer from late June to the beginning of September (entrance fee required). Guided lighthouse tour is provided (with an additional cost) as well, but please beware that the tower is in desperate need of repair. We urge you to stay safe!

15| Cap-Bon-Ami

At the easternmost tip of the Gaspé peninsula lies Cap-Bon-Ami. This stunning site in the north sector of Forillon National Park is a geological wonder, featuring towering limestone cliffs and rugged layers of rock.

Standing at the top of the cliff, you can feel the wind brushing through your hair and hear the waves crashing onto the shore. Often seen here are various seabirds, including double-crested cormorants, black-legged kittiwakes, razorbills, common murres, and black guillemots, drawn by the fish-rich waters and refuge they need to reproduce.

Don’t leave without walking down to the pebble beach. Colonies of seals live at the foot of the cliffs. You might be lucky even to view them up close!

16| Cap-Gaspé Lighthouse

Cap-Gaspé (“end of land”) is where the Appalachian Mountains meet the Atlantic Ocean. To reach the lighthouse, you will need to hike along the Les Graves trail.

Keep an eye out for wildlife. Porcupines and bears are often spotted along the way.

After going up on a steep incline, you will finally reach the lighthouse. Small and mighty, the 13m-tall tower sits on a high cliff, rewarding you with jaw-dropping views of the Gulf. It also offers good whale and seal sightings!

17| L’Anse Blanchette

Costumed interpreters welcome you at L’Anse-Blanchette to travel back in time to the 1920s.

Most noticeable is the little yellow house standing on the steep slope on the shore of the Gaspé Bay. The restored structure tells the story of the old fishing village that used to be here in Grande-Grave and the everyday life of the cod fishermen.

Besides the family home, you’ll also get a chance to visit the large barn, fish shed, woodshed, and facilities related to the production of dried fish.

Note: the site is opened seasonally from mid-July to early September.

18| Hyman & Sons General Store

To understand the importance of the cod fishery to the local communities, head over to the Hyman & Sons General Store.

The historic general store is stocked with necessities like medicines, tools, clothes and canned goods, giving you a glimpse of the fishing companies’ shops operate. On the upper floor, the exhibition illustrates the challenges faced by cod-fishing families in different seasons and how they adapt to nature. Finally, the warehouse exhibitions take you through the process of drying cod and recount on the importance of international cod trade.

19| Whale Watching at Grande Grevè

Do you know it is possible to find as many as 7 different species of whales in Gaspé?

The nutrient-rich waters of Gaspé Bay is an important feeding ground for these majestic creatures. That is why every year, from May to October, blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, minke whale, pilot whale, white-sided dolphin, and harbor porpoise would religiously travel here prey on plankton and fish.

To go whale watching in Gaspé, you either depart from Grande Grevè (Forillon National Park) or from Percé. We recommend Grande Grevè for a more intimate experience.

In Grande Greve, tours are operated by Croisières Baie de Gaspé and led by knowledgeable naturalists to ensure make your whale watching experience the best it can be! During the excursion, you will learn how to identify different species of whales and understand their behaviour.

Pro tip: bundle up, even in the summer months!! Cover yourself from head to toe with a beanie, ear muffs, a scarf, gloves, fleece jacket, and wool socks.

20| Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé

Discover the beauty of Bonaventure in Gaspésie. The island is where over 110,000 northern gannets call home in the summer, making it the second largest breeding colony in the world.

Along with the Percé Rock (a 375 million-year-old sea stack), the park draws enthusiasts crowds from near and far each year to observe a wonderful exhibition of untouched nature and fascinating wildlife.

To get there, book a boat excursion in Percé (available from May to October). Our tour with Les Bateliers de Percé included:

⇢ a 1.5-hour boat ride on the way out to the island, taking you super close to Percé Rock and around the entire Bonaventure Island for photos. English and French interpretation provided.

⇢ a 15-min return boat ride to Percé.

To access the island, a small admission fee is required. During your time on Bonaventure Island, we encourage you to go on one of the four hiking trails to discover the island’s rich biodiversity. Maybe you will see puffins, razorbills, black-legged kittiwake, and even whales (with binoculars)!!

Want to observe northern gannets? Take Les Colonie trail, the shortest and most direct route to the gannet colony (2.3 km one way) . It is simply marvelous to see these beautiful creatures up close and personal. They return here in late March every year – to the same exact spot, to the same partner. They stay until October to breed and raise their chick. Then, off to the south, separately, to escape the winter.

21| Percé UNESCO Global Geopark

Another must-see attraction in Percé is the UNESCO Global Geopark . The park, covering a territory of 555 square km, provides a rich number of sites and activities for adventurous travelers.

Tektonik takes you on a multimedia adventure, showcasing the unique geology and history of Percé. You will learn how the famous Percé Rock was formed.

Extending over the Mont Ste-Anne cliff, the suspended glass platform is the best place to get a bird’s eye view of the Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island, but will definitely put your courage to the test.

To up the thrill level, we dare you to try the zipline ! The adrenaline-pumping activity offers a unique way to view the area and promises you an unforgettable memory.

Pro tip: Allow at least 2 hours to fully experience the Geopark. We recommend combining this attraction with an overnight at Riôtel Percé , one of the best Percé, Québec hotels that directly looks out to the Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island!

22| La Maison du Pêcheur

We’ve mentioned earlier about how fresh and delicious Gaspésie seafood is. The best seafood in Percé can be found at La Maison du Pêcheur .

The seaside restaurant has a diverse menu of delectable seafood options made with locally sourced items. From sea urchin cream soup to Gaspésie lobster to salt-cured cod pizza , the mouthwatering dishes give you an authentic taste of the region!

Reservation is highly recommended.

Québec Maritimes is out-of-this-world beautiful. We wish the next time you visit Québec, take the path less traveled and see the Gaspé Peninsula yourself!

Disclaimer: We are hosted by Tourisme Chaudière Appalaches and Qu é bec Maritimes. As always, all opinions on For Two, Please are our own and we only recommend brands that we 100% stand behind.

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14 comments leave a comment ».

Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse looks classy & old school. Some fascinating stops on the route

I must sheepishly admit that even as a Canadian I have never been to the Gaspe peninsula.  Parc National du Bic looks like a great stop with its dramatic scenery.  Sea birds and harbour seals must have been fun to see.  I love the variety of the lighthouses you saw.  The view from the top must have provided the best views.  But the whale watching would be the big draw for me.  I did not know there were 7 different species of whales in Gaspe.  Seafood is always a big draw for us when we travel.  So glad you found lots on your travels in Gaspe.  Now we just need to get this booked.

Ive never been to Québec but it looks so great! I love road trips so I would definitely enjoyed it ! Love that red La Martre lighthouse! And that waterfalls and whale watching! So many wonderful places and things to see! I cant wait to travel back to Canada one day! 

113m long suspension bridge? I have to visit Parc des Chutes de la Chaudière preferably on a nice summer day! Maritime Museum would be a must for us, coz our little daughter would be too fascinated with the ships! I would practically stock half my flight luggage allowance with pure maple syrup, hahaha! Ever since, I showed a lighthouse to my daughter she’s been smitten by it. The sheer number of lighthouses here are so many. My daughter is gonna love this road-trip!

We have not visited Canada as yet. We get close then something crops up. The Gaspe Peninsula does look like somewhere that we would visit. Levis looks fun for a chocolate lover such as I am and I would definitely head to Chocolats Favoris. Next would be to visit the seals at Cap Bon Am. After reading this I would need to plan a whole week.

What a beautiful road trip! I hadn’t heard from Gaspé Peninsula before, but now I am eager to go there! The Cap-Gaspé Lighthouse looks really pretty, and I’d love to try to spot wildlife there.

This is the first time I am reading about a Quebec road trip and honestly, this looks gorgeous. We have been planning for Canada for quite some time and we would love to do this itinerary. I love all those pretty lighthouses. My son will jump with joy when he sees them. And all that incredible food, wildlife, and natural beauty enroute. I am surely adding this to my list.

Wow – so many reasons to go road tripping from Quebec. Those waterfalls looks breathtaking. The foodie in me would definitely love to stop at Le Moule a Sucre to bring home some pure Canadian culinary delights. Thanks for a great itinerary to follow when I visit Quebec!

I’ve only ever been to Quebec once and it was when I was a child with my family. All I remember was being like “what they speak French here?” After reading this post, I know I need to return to check out the amazing countryside … so many lighthouses!

I never made it as far as quebec when I visited the east coast of canada, but I wish that I had time. It looks like such a stunning place to visit. I definitely want to go to the Parc des Chutes de la Chaudière, I love waterfalls. I also want to visit the geoparc and see perce rock and I love lighthouses so I have to go and see a few of those too. Hopefully I can get back to canada soon.

Such a nice place to visit with wonderful sea view and sightseeing’s.

Awesome escape for soul and gastronomy treat, along with Saguenay in west and Cape Breton in East. Been here at least one a year for past 20 yrs from London, ON. It’s breathtaking and a new discovery every time. 1 week is not enough. Really wonderful stops articulated nicely in 1 (web) page. Thank you

You have  made a mistake The place is Cap Madeleine ans not Cap de la Madeleine which is in another part of thé province of Québec No 11 on tour list

Hi Lucie, thank you for your note! I do see that Cap de la Madeleine is also a town in Quebec. I did a bit of researched and double-checked the name. Parks Canada calls this lighthouse Cap de la Madeleine Lighthouse. You can see it here: https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_hl_eng.aspx?id=15073 I agreed that it is a bit confusing :/

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Eastern Canada Quebec Heart & Soul Road Trip

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INTRODUCTION

This 7-day Eastern Canada Quebec road trip combines Montreal and the eastern townships of Quebec with two of its most spectacular outdoor destinations.

In quebec city, discover urban highlights as your explore chic streets, historic sites and architectural wonders, then take a helicopter tour before moving on to st., alexis des monts and auberge du lac-à-l'eau-claire. , on your return journey to montreal you'll explore some of the most picturesque countryside that french canada has to offer, complete with pretty lakes and walking trails. .

Itinerary at a Glance

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Montreal to Eastern Townships | 138 km/86 mi Today travel east to North Hatley in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec. Stops can be made along the way at the small chocolate museum in Bromont, and L’Orpailleur Winery in Dumham, approximatey 30 km south of Bromont. Be sure to stop at Sherbrooke - the principal city of the townships. The Musee des Beaux Arts (admission not included) exhibits a fine collection of Quebec Art, focusing on the Eastern Townships. If time permits, stop in the town of Magog and enjoy one of the scenic cruises which afford splendid views of the snow-capped peaks around the lake. (dinner is included today)

Day 2 Eastern Townships | Exploring While visiting the Eastern Townships region, don’t miss a visit to the Abbey of St. Benoît du Lac, Magog, North Hatley, Coaticook with its canyon, park & suspension bridge and the Beaulne Museum where you can admire costumes and textiles, fine arts and decorative arts, as well as local heritage. (Breakfast & dinner is included today)

Day 3 Eastern Townships to Quebec City | 251 km/156 mi Today drive north through the Eastern Townships to Quebec City - the historical and political capital of la Belle Province. Experience the old world charm of Vieux Quebec with its cobblestone streets, fortified city wall (one of a kind in North America), and seventeenth century architecture. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is complimented by artisan shops, Parisian cafes, landscaped parks, and numerous monuments. Take a stroll on the Plains of Abraham and visit the historic Fairmont Chateau Frontenac. (breakfast is included today)

Day 4 Quebec City | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions Today you can personalize your day by choosing one of these excursions Option 1. Rendezvous with History Quebec City Tour This is your chance to visit history firsthand. The Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, Ramparts, world famous Château Frontenac, National Assembly, Basilica, City Hall, Place-Royale, Citadelle and a glimpse of modern Quebec City are the perfect introduction to the city. Option 2. A Fabulous Country Tour Travel back in time to rural Quebec along the Chemin du Roy to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Here you will be given time to see the world-famous Shrine and Montmorency Falls before visiting the Island of Orléans. Discovered by Jacques Cartier in 1535, the picturesque village of Sainte-Pétronille has a 19th century rural atmosphere waiting to be rediscovered. Option 3. Foodie Walking Tour of Quebec City Throughout the years, the food of Quebec has been influenced by Amerindian, British and French cuisines. Treat yourself to a behind-the-scenes experience of Quebec City, discovering its gastronomy and culinary history by taking part in five exclusive tasting presentations.

Day 5 Quebec City to St. Alexis des Monts | 191 km/119 mi Following the St. Lawrence River, pass from city suburbs to the rural landscapes of forests and rich pastures, dotted with tiny villages that extend to Montreal. In Drummondville you may wish to visit the village Quebecois d Antan (a faithful reconstruction of a French colonial village). Saint-Alexis-des-Monts is located in the heart of Quebec, and bordering Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve. The rest of your day is at leisure to relax or enjoy a range of outdoor activities in this scenic region. (dinner is included today)

Day 6 Auberge Lac a l’eau Claire | Exploring Spend the day relaxing by the lake, walk the many trails whilst observing the flora and fauna, or relax and enjoy the fine gourmet menu, featuring regional specialties. (breakfast & dinner is included today)

Day 7 St. Alexis des Monts to Montreal | 139 km/87 mi Leaving St. Alexis des Monts, you will return south to the cosmopolitan city of Montreal. Your tour ends today upon returning your rental car. (breakfast is included today)

Package Includes:

• 2 nights accommodation in Eastern Townships
• 2 nights accommodation in Quebec City
• 2 nights accommodation in St. Alexis des Monts
• Rendezvous with History Quebec City Tour
• A Fabulous Country Tour
• Foodie Walking Tour of Quebec City

Hotel Information | Boutique Grade

• Eastern Townships – Manoir Hovey | Standard Room with 2 breakfasts & 2 dinners
• Quebec City - Auberge St-Antoine | Lux King Room
• St. Alexis des Monts - Auberge Lac a l’Eau Claire | Standard Room Lakeview Balcony Room with 2 breakfasts & 2 dinners

Hotel Information | Deluxe Grade

• Eastern Townships – Manoir Hovey | Superior Room with 2 breakfasts & 2 dinners
• Quebec City – Fairmont le Chateau Frontenac | Deluxe City View Room
• St. Alexis des Monts - Auberge Lac a l’Eau Claire | Luxury Room Lakeview Balcony Room with 2 breakfasts & 2 dinners

Not included:

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DATES & PRICING

Departs from Montreal: Daily (Tour Code: SD158)

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Quebec’s Stunning Gaspé Peninsula Road Trip: Welcome to One of Canada’s Most Scenic Drives

To put in perspective, the Gaspé Peninsula is slightly larger than Belgium, meaning there is a remarkable amount to do and appreciate. Robin and Arlene Karpan are intimately familiar with this region, and they’re here to let you know how to make the most of a road trip there.

Driving the coastline of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula ranks among Canada’s greatest road trips. This stunning region of southeastern Quebec is among the most unbelievably beautiful destinations in Quebec . The 1,000 kilometres or so from Quebec City to the border with New Brunswick is packed with outstanding landscapes, history, parks, wildlife preserves, and adventure possibilities.

Your Gaspé Road Trip Options

It’s part of Quebec’s Lighthouse Trail , where we find Canada’s highest and second-highest lighthouse, plus a string of others in scenic settings. 

On the 200-kilometre stretch from Levis, just across the river from Quebec City to Rivière-du-Loup, we have the choice of two parallel highways.

The faster Trans Canada Highway (A20) runs slightly inland , while t he slower and more scenic Highway 132 runs mostly along the St. Lawrence shoreline, passing through small communities such as Rimouski and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts where you can find the fabulous Exploramer marine museum . This route also passes by scenic farmland backed by hills. 

Among the many cool stops is Saint-André-de-Kamouraska, where Parc de l’Ancien-Quai is home to the smallest and cutest lighthouse along the route.

Nature buffs, especially birders, should stop at Parc côtier Kiskotuk just outside Rivière-du-Loup, which preserves several fragile coastal ecosystems. Hiking and biking trails lead to a large salt marsh, salt-grass meadows, and forests, while viewing towers offer a chance to see the area from a different perspective.  

Nature and History at Parc National du Bic and Rimouski

At Rivière-du-Loup, the Trans Canada Highway heads inland towards New Brunswick, while Highway 132 becomes the main coastal road around the peninsula. 

Along this next stretch, it is an absolute gem not to be missed. Parc National du Bic preserves a stunning landscape of bays, coves, islands, and mountains and is known as a top spot for seabirds, basking seals, and other wildlife. The vast network of hiking trails brings many to the park. One that we especially enjoyed was the Chemin-du-Nord Trail along the coastline to some of the park’s signature rock formations.

From Bic, it’s a short drive to Rimouski, the largest centre along the Gaspé coast. It combines urban attractions with easy access to surrounding natural areas. A must-visit here is Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site. The 33-metre-tall lighthouse is the second-highest in Canada, with eight buttresses supporting the tower. You can climb it during summer openings. 

Next door is the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site. It tells the story of the Empress of Ireland , considered Canada’s greatest maritime tragedy. The ship belonging to the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company sank off the shore of Pointe-au-Père in 1914 after colliding with another ship in thick fog. Over 1,000 lives were lost. 

Also on the same site is the Onondaga submarine , Canada’s first publicly accessible submarine. This 90-metre craft crisscrossed the North Atlantic between 1967 and 2000 and is now preserved as a historic site.  

Please note: This post may contain some affiliate links. That means we may get a small commission for some of our recommendations at no extra cost to you.

Lighthouses Galore Along Gaspé’s North Shore

We really enjoyed the long stretch of highway from Rimouski along the north shore of the Gaspé Peninsula. In many places, the highway is sandwiched in a narrow strip between the water’s edge of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the mountain cliffs. We pass through a series of picturesque villages, likewise spread along the shore and backed by mountains. 

Charming lighthouses dot the route, such as at Matane and Cap Madeleine . The lighthouse at La Martre stands out because of its brilliant red colour. The one at Cap-Chat is named for the cape where it is located, said to resemble the shape of a cat. 

The Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse , also called “the travelling lighthouse,” has an important historical connection. In 1904, this site was chosen by wireless telegraph pioneer Guglielmo Marconi as the first maritime radio station in North America. Decommissioned in the 1970s, it was dismantled and transported to Quebec City , where it was reassembled to serve as a tourist attraction. In 1997, it was returned to its original location and designated as a historic site. It sits high on a remote precipice, keeping watch over seemingly endless sea and sky. 

The big daddy of the lighthouse route is Cap-des-Rosiers , Canada’s tallest at 34 metres, standing near the entrance to Forillon National Park. It was built between 1853 and 1858, then rebuilt in 1984 and covered with white marble. It is now a national historic site which you can visit in summer and climb to the top for outstanding views. 

Exploring Forillon National Park

This park alone is worth the trip. Jutting out from the northeast point on the Gaspé Peninsula, Forillon National Park is packed with forested mountains, breathtaking cliffs, wildlife galore, and amazing vistas at every turn. Topping the list of scenic views is the sunrise at Cap-Bon-Ami. While striking anytime, at daybreak, the rising sun bathes the imposing east-facing cliffs in a brilliant golden glow.   

Hiking & Walking

The park’s outstanding hikes vary from half-hour short walks, such as to an impressive waterfall on La Chute Trail , to challenging treks deep into the backcountry. A couple of day hikes are absolute must-dos. The park’s signature hike is the Mont-Saint-Alban Trai l, with an elevation gain of 280 metres. We end at a tower with sweeping vistas in every direction, including the park’s iconic lookout over the cliffs at the tip of the peninsula known as Land’s End. 

Les Graves Trail extends along those cliffs to Land’s End, so-named for being the northern end of the International Appalachian Trail, which runs along the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia in the USA. A highlight is Cap-Gaspé Lighthouse, standing near the end of the trail atop a 95-metre-high cliff.

Hikers frequently see wildlife, such as black bears or moose, along this trail. But we did one better and saw whales! For much of our walk along the cliffs, we could see and hear Minke whales just offshore.  

On the Water

Since this is known as a whale-watching hotspot, we took a trip with Croisières Baie de Gaspé , based in the park.

Soon after we left the dock, we spotted several more Minke whales, along with porpoises, seals, and a variety of seabirds. Other species that sometimes visit these waters include the Fin whale, Humpback whale, and Blue whale. At the end of the peninsula, we cruised by the spectacular cliffs of Land’s End , providing a distinctly different vantage point than from the hiking trail. 

Kayaking is another great way to get out on the water. We jump at the chance to go paddling anytime, but when we can combine it with scenery and wildlife, all the better. An early morning paddle with Cap Aventure , whose specialty excursion goes past a seal colony, was just what we were looking for.

We passed several harbour seals lounging on the rocks and swimming near shore. Our experienced guide, Vincent, was adept at getting us close enough for photos but not too close as to disturb them. 

History & Culture

The most unusual aspect of Forillon is its role in World War II. German submarines sank 23 Allied ships near these shores, so the Canadian Navy built a base in Gaspé Bay and set up coastal batteries. Parks Canada has preserved the Fort Peninsula Battery , so we can wander through the trenches, see two of the massive guns, and learn how this war came close to home.

On the other side of Gaspé Bay from Forillon, we come to the small city of Gaspé , where history looms large. It was here in 1534 that explorer Jacques Cartier set up a cross, claiming the land for the king of France. A historic site and monument in Gaspé is even called the Birthplace of Canada. This is also home to the Gaspésie Museum, which celebrates the history, identity, and culture of the Gaspé region.   

Percé: Dynamite Scenery and a Wildlife Extravaganza

Percé is the most famous Gaspé destination. The town’s main claim to fame is Percé Rock , an imposing limestone island reaching 85 metres high, close to a half-kilometre long, and pierced with a 30-metre-wide hole.

Though we’ve seen the rock in countless pictures, it still came as a surprise when we drove down the last hill into town and saw the great monolith looming just offshore. 

Like so many coastal Gaspé towns, Percé is long and narrow, spread between the sea and nearby mountains. A boardwalk with benches and parks lines the beach, where visitors relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Along the way, we pass historic houses of sea captains from the golden age of the cod fishery. 

Percé was recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2018 because of its geological significance and rich wildlife. The visitor centre brings to life the ancient tectonic events that shaped the land and how it relates to Percé Rock and other features.

Much of the Geopark lies up the mountain slopes from town. Trails wind through the hills, where you can either wander on your own or take a Geopark guided tour. The highlight is the suspended glass platform that juts out from the cliff face 200 metres above the town, offering magnificent views.

Percé not only has one of eastern Canada’s most iconic landmarks but also one of the top wildlife spectacles in North America. Only four kilometres from Percé, Bonaventure Island is an important park and seabird sanctuary protecting a variety of species, most notably the largest and most accessible northern gannet colony in North America. 

We visit the island on a boat trip with Les Bateliers de Percé , which begins by slowly cruising near Percé Rock and then circling Bonaventure Island. It’s a mesmerizing sight as we pass the 75-metre-high cliffs where it seems that perching birds occupy every available ledge and niche – mostly brilliant white northern gannets but also common murres, razorbills, black guillemots, among others. Thousands more birds fill the air all around us, like something out of a Hitchcock movie. But the best was yet to come.

After the boat docks, we’re free to wander the island’s network of trails and can stay as long as we want – we just need to be back in time to catch the last boat to Percé. A 3-kilometre walk takes us to the main cliff-top gannet colony, the same one that we passed by boat less than an hour earlier.  

The first sight of the nesting colony is enough to take your breath away as thousands of tightly packed white gannets sprawl across the craggy plateau. Park staff tell us that around 125,000 gannets are here , along with numerous other species. We spend a few hours watching and photographing the constant activity at remarkably close quarters as the gannets fly around, bring back nesting material, engage in greeting rituals, and occasionally squabble.

This trip has been filled with memorable experiences, but we would put this at the head of the list. 

Chaleur Bay : One of Canada’s Most Beautiful Bays

Heading south and west from Percé, we soon come to the south coast of the Gaspé Peninsula and Chaleur Bay, the inlet between Gaspé and New Brunswick.

The bay has some of the warmest water along the Atlantic coast . Its many beaches, such as those at Carleton-sur-Mer , are popular seaside resorts. The route offers even more pleasant villages, lighthouses, wildlife preserves, hiking in the hills at Mont-Saint-Joseph, and historic sites. Near the end of the bay at Pointe-à-la-Croix, the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site commemorates the last battle between France and Britain for possession of North America in 1760. 

To top it off, Chaleur Bay often makes the list of the world’s most beautiful bays . A fitting end to a drive filled with almost non-stop remarkable places. 

Where to Stay on Your Road Trip on the Gaspé Peninsula

This route abounds with numerous hotels, inns, resorts, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds. Here are a few places that we enjoyed.

Motel Bienvenue (Rimouski). Comfortable and recently refurbished, with several units having full kitchen facilities. Best of all, it’s right beside the Pointe-au-Père historic site, ideal for sunrise or sunset photography over the lighthouse and coastline.

Hotel-Motel Fleur de Lys (Percé). Talk about a room with a view. It’s right on the beach where we can see Percé Rock from our front window and a short walk to the boat dock, a variety of restaurants, and other services. 

Parc National du Bic – Stay right in the park to be close to trails and other services. In addition to regular campsites, the park has cabins and yurts, and even “ready-to-camp” tents already set up so you don’t need camping gear. 

Forillon National Park – Three campgrounds have fully serviced and non-electric sites, as well as oTENTiks. We stayed in Des-Rosiers Campground next to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. From here, it’s only a few minute’s drive to Cap-Bon-Ami, with its amazing sunrises.

The Gaspé Peninsula Awaits

We hope this helps you plan the ultimate Gaspé Peninsula road trip and truly discover one of the most beautiful parts of this country because, as you can see, there’s so much to explore.

You May Also Like To Read:

Robin and Arlene  Karpan are award-winning writers, photographers, bloggers, and authors of several travel books, including Canadian Bestsellers. Their work has appeared in over 100 publications around the world. While their travels have taken them to all seven continents, they find that some of the most compelling destinations are close to home in Canada. They have a special interest in the natural world and outdoor photography. Robin and Arlene publish the travel blog Photo Journeys which looks at travel through a photographer’s lens, and is rated by Feedspot as among the Top 100 Travel Photography Sites.

2 thoughts on “ Quebec’s Stunning Gaspé Peninsula Road Trip: Welcome to One of Canada’s Most Scenic Drives ”

We are planning a trip in September and wondering if we should come by car or travel with our 5th Wheel Trailer? Our concern is the hills and rugged terrain we have read about. Would appreciate any info you might have. Thanks so much.

Hi Sandra, great question! The roadtrip to Gaspesie is very trailer-friendly, although it is hilly. If your vehicle can handle the ups and downs, it’s a great destination for a fifth-wheel.

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Road Trip from Montreal to Quebec City

If you're up for a short but stunning trip, crossing between Quebec's two largest cities and passing wildlife parks and stunning nature reserves, then a road trip from Montreal to Quebec City is the perfect journey for you.

The 330km trip from Montreal to Quebec City takes 4 hours to drive. The routes passes Saint Gregoire, Sorel-Tracy, Shawinigan City and Saint-Narcisse, as well as St Lawrence River, Batiscan River Park, Parc De La Peninsule and Batiscan River Park.

While not a huge journey in terms of distance, this trip is full of great scenery and places to visit. Please keep reading until the end to discover our favorite route, places to stay along the way, plus the best times of year to travel.

How far is Quebec City from Montreal and how long will the road trip take?

While you could easily manage this trip in a day, our recommended route takes you along a couple of extra detours on the way, making the actual distance 326km and just over 4 hours of non-stop driving to complete.

Despite the distance being short enough to complete in a day, this epic road trip has plenty of attractions to see on the way that a better move would be to spread it over two to three days, allowing for at least one overnight stop.

Best road trip route from Montreal to Quebec City

The most direct route from Montreal to Quebec City falls in a straight line, as you follow A-20 through a couple of towns. While being a straight forward journey, there aren't as many interesting places to visit en route.

The alternative and slightly longer route only adds an extra 71km to your journey but takes you through the most enjoyable and interesting locations between Montreal and Quebec City.

If you choose to follow the route from the west side of St Lawrence River, you will be able to stop and see a few nature reserves. The east side of the river offers attractions such as beautiful small cities.

Our recommended route covers a bit of both and the added detours allow you to see stunning nature reserves, pretty towns and fascinating cities along the way.

Road trip route from Montreal to Quebec City

Begin by taking Quebec Autoroute 10 across the St Lawrence River to Brossard, where you will take Quebec Autoroute 30 north-east, passing right by Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park.

Continue on A-30 to its completion is Sorel-Tracy, where you'll switch to Quebec Route 132, the longest highway in the province.

Follow this for 65km to Saint Gregoire, passing Nicolet Bird Sanctuary, where you will then change to Quebec Autoroute 55 going north.

Take this road back across the St Lawrence River and just as the road ends and Route 155 begins, exit onto Quebec Autoroute 40 going east and arrive at Trois-Rivieres, a great city for museums and galleries.

Next exit onto Route 359 just north of Champlain to Saint-Narcisse Take this until the exit for Route 352, which takes you to Saint Narcisse. From here, Route 361 will take you back to Quebec Autoroute 40.

Continue on Quebec Autoroute 40 past The Devil's Hole Cave and through delightful towns, following St Lawrence River all the way to Quebec City.

Best places to stop between Montreal and Quebec City

While you could complete the road trip from Montreal to Quebec City in a single day, a much better option would be to include one or two overnight stops en route.

There are some lovely places to stay on this short but scenic journey. Here are some of the best ones you'll pass:

Stay on the banks of three rivers - Trois-Rivieres

At 159km and halfway through your road trip, an ideal overnight stop is the beautiful city of Trois-Rivieres. The second oldest settlement in Quebec, Trois-Rivieres was founded in 1634 and is considered to be the cultural and economic hub of the Mauricie region.

Trois-Rivieres, French for "Three Rivers", is located alongside the Saint Maurice and St Lawrence River. Due to its age, city is full of history, with many of its buildings over 100 years old and features an 18th century monastery, basilica and foundry.

Beyond its history it also has numerous attractions to draw in visitors, including its wonderful collection of islands, rivers, parks and, throughout the summer months, its fabulous selection of festivals.

After a day of sightseeing, an excellent place to stay would be at Kinipi Spa Nordique & Hebergement . This incredible spa hotel will leave you wanting to book a second trip, with 'thermal experience' relaxing treatments surrounded by soft lighting and waterfalls.

Once you've had your treatments head to the superb hotel restaurant Kinipi à la bouche on-site, serving up options including high tea and dinner - and make sure to catch cocktail hour. You are also close to many local sites including Parc Masse and Parc du Cardinal-Roy, and popular Parc Pie-XII.

It's the ideal setting to recharge before the final stretch of the road trip.

The heart of the city - Quebec City

After driving the final stretch to Quebec City, it is worth staying an extra night if you can to to explore different areas of the city and more of the surrounding attractions.

As a popular tourist destination, Quebec City has a wide range of things to see and do. Sitting on the St Lawrence River in Canada's mostly French-speaking Quebec province, this city dates back to 1608 and has a fortified colonial core.

Discover Vieux-Québec and Place Royale, with stone buildings and narrow streets and the imposing Citadelle of Québec. You can also explore the Petit Champlain district's cobblestone streets which are lined with bistros and boutiques.

Quebec City unsparingly offers a wide range of hotels to choose from. But for a really luxurious stop at the heart of the city, a stay at Le Capitole Hotel is difficult to beat .

This 4-star hotel is in the walled city of Old Quebec and is within a 6 minute walk of the Fontaine de Tourny. Attached to a restaurant and theater, Le Capitole Hotel features beautifully modern designed rooms and a stunning bar and lounge area.

The luxurious rooms have wonderful views of the old city, and being so close to the all the amenities, you are only ever a short walk to the shopping and dining establishments. You will truly feel within the heart of the city at Le Capitole Hotel.

Things to see on a road trip from Montreal to Quebec City

Despite the fact that the road trip from Montreal to Quebec City is a short journey, there is still plenty of incredible places to see along the way.

If you are pressed for time, here are our top suggestions of places to visit:

• Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park - This large park has a great number of trails for hiking as well as five lakes and a chance to spot local wildlife.
• St Lawrence River - At a length of 500km, the St Lawrence River connects Lake Ontario to the Atlantic Ocean and separates Canada from America, along the New York-Quebec Border.
• Sorel-Tracy - One of the youngest cities in Canada, founded as recently as 2001, this place is best known for its links to the metal industry, particularly steel, and for being the launching point of the ferry to the Saint Ignace De Loyola islands.
• Parc récréoforestier Saint-Mathieu – This park is located south of La Mauricie National Park of Canada, in the heart of the Laurentian Forest. There are 48 lakes as well as waterfalls and cascades to discover plus mountain range, lakes and valleys to admire.
• Shawinigan City – Located on the St Maurice River, this small city offers stunning views, wildlife, as well as museums, and beautiful architecture. Make sure you see the beautiful Shawinigan Waterfalls - it's definitely worth a visit.
• The Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap - With its immense, modern basilica, old sanctuary and magnificent gardens, offers religious, spiritual, cultural and even tourist activities, this beautiful sanctuary is a host to plenty of cultural and art events too.
• Nicolet Bird Sanctuary - Located on the shores of Lake Saint Pierre, the Nicolet Bird Sanctuary is one of 28 migratory bird sanctuaries located within Quebec. Stop here to spot Canada Goose, ducks, sparrows and tern.
• The Devil's Hole Cave - Explore one of Quebec's best cave systems. The second longest cave in Quebec, take a guided tour and learn about its formation of the cave as well as the origins of its name.
• Trois-Rivieres - The second oldest city in the province of Quebec, first settled by French Colonists in 1634. Located where the St Lawrence and Saint Maurice rivers meet, it is considered to be the cultural and economic hub of the Mauricie region.
• Batiscan River Park - Located on the banks of the stunning Batiscan River, this park features towering forests, alive with wildlife from a wide range of species. It is a popular destination for campers, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts, as well as fans of a variety of water sports.
• Parc De La Peninsule - Parc De La Peninsule features camping spots and beaches for those who want to kick back and relax, while offering a selection of pools and the highest water slides in the region, for those looking for a more exhilarating experience.
• Village Vacances Valcartier – located on the East of Quebec City, this leisure complex has a wide range of waterslides, spa centre, and sports activities. If you wish to relax and extend your trip to two days, we recommend visiting this resort.
• Reserve Naturelle Du Marais-Leon-Provancher - A beautiful nature reserve, located just west of Quebec City, that features rivers, marshes and campsites, full of wildlife, including deer, fish and a wide variety of different species of birds.
• Parc de la Plage-Jacques-Cartier – This park, located on the outskirts of Quebec City, has plenty of outdoor activities and is ideal for those looking to hike or just enjoy a picnic. The park also hosts various events throughout the year.

Best time to go on a road trip from Montreal to Quebec City

With the road trip from Montreal to Quebec City taking you to a more northern part of an already notoriously cold country, selecting the right time to make your journey is important, to ensure you can make the most of it.

The temperature in this part of Canada in winter can reach as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit during December and January, unless you are looking to enjoy some winter sports, the cold will make it difficult to get the most of all of the outdoor attractions.

The best time to visit Quebec City is between June and September, when you will be able to enjoy the warm weather and temperatures a comfortable average of around 55 degrees.

That being said, if you'd rather avoid the tourist season, a visit in April or May would be better. The weather is still a pleasant 30-41 degrees and you can enjoy the stunning spring foliage.

Similarly fall is an equally wonderful time to visit, where you will be swapping spring flowers for autumn leaves. It's a great time for those who love nature to make the most of the fantastic parks and nature reserves along the way.

If you'd rather time your visit with an event or two, the summertime is full of festivals such as KWE!, an indigenous people festival and Festival d'été de Quebec, an 11-day music festival.

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Easy Canada Road Trip: From Niagara Falls to Quebec in 6 Days

Discover the best things to do and see on a Canada road trip from Niagara Falls to Quebec City.

If you love road trips and traveling abroad, but are too scared to drive around other countries (have you seen how they drive in Rome?!) going on a Canada road trip is ideal. When you cross the border, you’ll barely notice a difference – the highways and streets look pretty similar to the U.S. and the signage is easy to understand – but you’ll get to see another country, experience French-Canadian culture and take in some of Canada’s most gorgeous sights.

What You Need for a Canada Road Trip

Driving through Canada is super easy and a great way to experience another country with zero stress, especially if you go in summer and don’t have to worry about snow and icy roads.

Here are some essentials to make sure you pack for the trip:

• Passports, even for kids
• Warm layers for when it gets chilly, even in the summer
• Comfy walking shoes because you can park the car and just walk at these stops
• Swimsuit (for visiting a Lake Ontario beach)
• Umbrella or poncho in case it rains
• Snacks for the car ride
• Language translation app for speaking French in Quebec (optional)
• Itinerary of where to go and what to see

Road Trip Starting Points

Our starting point was from our home in the Detroit metro area. This road trip is perfect for those who live within a few hours of the Canadian border like us, such as northern areas of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

But you can also fly into Toronto or Quebec and pick up this road trip route from there. Note: It takes about two hours to drive from Toronto to Niagara Falls.

Stop #1: Niagara Falls

Like the most massive white noise machine ever, you’ll hear the constant roar of Niagara Falls long before you see it. Prepare for some “goshwows” when you see this natural wonder that straddles the U.S.-Canada border. It’s actually three mighty waterfalls that dump 6 million cubic feet of water per minute into the gorge below, making Niagara Falls the most powerful waterfall on the North American continent.  

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Niagara Falls Canada (@niagarafallstourismcanada)

Here are the different ways you can experience the falls:

• Go over the edge , on a glass overhang on the U.S. side of the falls at Niagara Falls State Park
• Face the waterfall head-on , the classic “Maid of the Mist” boat ride takes you as close as possible
• Walk near whitewater rapids , on the boardwalk along the thunderous Niagara River (called the White Water Walk ).
• Fly over the waterfalls, on a zipline or in an aerial car
• Go behind the falls, on a tunnel tour

Once you’ve had your fill of the falls, there are a lot of cheesy fun activities to do on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The area known as Clifton Hill has everything from wax museums to go-karts to a butterfly exhibit. But don’t miss checking out Niagara Falls at night when lights turn the waterfall into a liquid rainbow.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

You can’t go all the way to Niagara Falls and not visit what’s often referred to as “Canada’s prettiest town.” Head north on Niagara Parkway along the river and past wineries for just 12 miles until you get to Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), a postcard-perfect, waterside village perched where the Niagara River and Lake Ontario meet.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pure Ontario (@pureontario)

Most people come here to walk the 19 th -century streets and pop into shops for lavender scones, or to take in a play during the seven-month-long Shaw Festival (highlighting playwright George Bernard Shaw). The secret they’re missing out on? Going to the castle-like Konzelmann Estate Winery for a junk food wine pairing .

You get to sample sweet, salty, sour and chocolatey bites with complimentary wine. Or, you can opt to taste their selection of ice wines and soak up the stunning views of Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline from Niagara’s only waterfront winery.

Stop #2: Picton, Lake Ontario

A Victorian town in the winery-studded countryside, Picton is full of beautiful old homes, B&Bs, little shops and eateries, and a gorgeous, Lake Ontario beach. It’s on the way to Quebec and the perfect place to stayover and break up the drive.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prince Edward County 🍂🌾🍇🍻 (@visitthecounty)

If the weather is warm, definitely head to Sandbanks Provincial Park . There you’ll find clear water, pristine beaches and sand dunes. It’s a super popular spot in the summer! If temps are chilly, you can see what’s playing at Regent Theatre (an old-timey theater that plays new releases) or pop into quirky stores like Frugal & Company for retro finds and The Local Store for goods made by local artists.

But definitely don’t miss stopping by Kinsip H o use of Fine Spirits for a taste of their outstanding pine gin, maple whiskey and whiskey barrel-aged maple syrup (imagine this on a stack of fluffy pancakes!). Their small-batch spirits are distilled on the historic farm (complete with silky chickens running around everywhere), which you can tour if you like. Or just kick back on the patio with a gin fizz or other drink from the cocktail bar and some BBQ from the food truck.  

Stop #3: Quebec City

With its French culture and 17th-century cobblestone streets, Quebec has enough European charm and café au laits to make you feel like you’ve gone much further abroad. But don’t worry, everyone in the tourist areas speaks English (although you’ll be greeted in French).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kristi Valentini (@kvalentini)

Quebec covers the top and side of a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River, so walking around the upper old town area – still surrounded by 400-year-old walls – is incredibly scenic. Take your time walking along Rue St. Jean, a street lined with souvenir shops and cafes, where you’ll probably stumble upon a street performer or two – we watched a mime and then a guy who juggled fiery torches. For the best view, head up the hill to Dufferin Terrace, a boardwalk in front of the stunning Chateau Frontenac Hotel. From there, you can ride the funicular (a glass cable car) down the hill or take the stairs to reach the lower old town area along the riverfront.

Exploring lower Old Town was our favorite experience in Quebec. Here flowers cover every window sill, street vendors make maple syrup taffy and there’s a cute little square with a church dating back to the 1600’s.

The shops are better in this area, too. Definitely pop into these three boutiques:

• Animoc , for buttery soft leather moccasins and boots (35 1/2 rue du Petit-Champlain)
• Boutique Red Canoe , for jackets, hats and gear from the Royal Canadian Air Force (88 rue du Petit-Champlain)
• Boutique Metiers d’Art du Quebec, for handmade jewelry and decor by local artists (29 Notre-Dame Street)

Free summer fun in Quebec

There are a lot of fun things you can do in Quebec for free in the summer. For example:

Festival d’été de Québec

We timed our visit with Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) , which is Canada’s biggest music festival. It includes 250 performances over the span of 11 days in July. There are five stages (two are free!) and an eclectic lineup – from Imagine Dragons to little-known ska bands to Mariah Carey when we went. Concerts run from 6-11 p.m. so if you’re out walking at night, you’ll hear bands playing all over Quebec.

During FEQ, there’s a festival-like atmosphere around the DeTourney Fountain and along Grande Allee (the main boulevard) with food trucks, free performances and booths where you can play games or get free food samples. 

I highly recommend timing your road trip with this festival because it’s so much fun. Passes are an incredible deal – about $80 U.S. and that includes access to ALL OF THE PERFORMANCES! – and while there were definitely lots of people roaming the streets and at the concerts, it wasn’t as crowded as you might imagine (perhaps because it’s spread out over so many days?).

Acrobatic Performance

During the summer, you can catch a free circus show in downtown Quebec. The FLIP Fabrique Acrobats put on an hour-long acrobatic-stunt show (think: a lite version of Cirque du Soleil) nearly every night of the week. Check the link above to see the exact location, dates and times.

Six different nights during the summer, you can catch a free fireworks show over the river. The Grand Feux Loto-Quebec blasts fireworks from a platform in the middle of the river. Nab a front-row seat along the riverfront at Port de Quebec or up on the hill in front of Chateau Frontenac Hotel.

Changing of the guard

La Citadelle ( The Citadel ) is an old fort dating back to 1820, when the English built it to ward off the Americans. But the cool thing about it is that it still houses a working regiment there (the only French speaking unit in the Canadian Forces’ infantry).

In addition to touring the fort and the attached museum, you can also catch the changing of the guards at 10 a.m. on summer days. Besides the pomp and circumstance, there’s a goat involved! If you miss the ceremony, you can still go to see the very serious guard stationed in front of the garrison.

Stop #4: Toronto

Toronto is a mega-city. It’s big, sprawling and completely overwhelming. The best plan? Pick one or two neighborhoods to explore. For our trip, we chose to check out the hippie village of Kensington Market as well as Chinatown. The two neighborhoods are close together and both looked fun.

Kensington Market neighborhood

The Kensington Market neighborhood is jam-packed with ethnic eateries and vintage clothing shops. If I hadn’t been with my kids and husband, I could have spent HOURS on Kensington Avenue sifting through all the one-of-a-kind finds (my favorite store was Courage My Love ) and eating so many exotic snacks! But alas, my family wanted to eat in Chinatown.

Chinatown neighborhood

We wandered the busy streets of Chinatown trying to figure out which of the numerous Chinese restaurants would be best. It was a tough call, but we ended up at a tiny eatery where we could see the chef pulling dumplings out of a huge, steaming pot near the front window. I forgot to write down the name of the place (bad travel writer, bad!) but to be honest I wasn’t thrilled with the food, although it came out like 60 seconds after we ordered it. If I got a do-over, I’d pick one of the restaurants in this guide on how to spend a day in Kensington Market and Chinatown .

Toronto tourist spots

We also ended up walking over to the CN Tower, which every other blog post will tell you to visit in Toronto. Why? I’m not sure unless you like doing fear-of-heights stuff like going up 114 stories and then walking around on a glass platform or hanging off the edge of the building while wearing safety ropes. But, no thanks for me!

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is right next to the tower and might be worth doing if you want to entertain kids, but it was too pricy for us given the time we had left in the day.

If you do this road trip between October and June, it would be fun to go to a Maple Leafs hockey game at downtown’s Scotiabank Arena. Hockey is a way of life in Canada!

Go on this Canada Road Trip

This road trip looks like a blast, eh? You should totally do it! Want the full-blown travel plan with where to eat and stay and the activities you can fit in each day (plus kid-friendly stuff to do)? It’s in the works! Sign up to be notified as soon as it’s available.

ADVENTURES MADE EASY

Because why make things harder on yourself?

Happy travels,

P.S.  If you’re like me and love a good road trip, be sure to check out my Epic Las Vegas to Zion National Park Road Trip . Or, learn about 10 Awesome Things to Do in Kentucky on a Road Trip . 

DO YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE EASY CANADA ROAD TRIP TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!

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