3-Week Itinerary for First Trip to Québec
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Translated into English.

Original post
KU
Hello,

I’m looking for your help planning a 3-week road trip from mid-September to early October starting in Montréal.

We’d like to explore part of Québec and the Gaspésie, and we’re intentionally starting with the Gaspésie because if we leave it for the end (early October), the weather might be less favorable and a lot of places will already be closed. I’ve also read that the fall colors are more beautiful in the Mauricie and Laurentides regions toward the end of our trip (early October).

Here’s the itinerary we’ve come up with:

Montréal (arrival and departure airport) -> Québec City -> Charlevoix -> Crossing the St. Lawrence River from St-Siméon to Rivière-du-Loup -> Rimouski and Parc du Bic -> Gaspésie along the coast (Matapedia, Percé, Bonaventure Island, Gaspé, Forillon Park) -> Crossing the St. Lawrence River from Matane to Baie-Comeau -> Tadoussac to Lac Saint-Jean via the route along the Saguenay River -> Return to Montréal via La Tuque, crossing the Laurentides and Mauricie Park

This is our first time in Canada, so don’t hesitate to be critical (I won’t take it badly ;)), if the route seems too ambitious (we know there’ll be a lot of driving!) or if it’s better to skip some stops that aren’t must-sees.

Thanks so much for your help.
PU Puma2A Veteran ·
Hello,

Could you tell us a bit more about your interests? Are you only interested in "road" discovery with short stops? Do you plan to do day hikes or half-day hikes? Are you drawn to wildlife? Birds, marine mammals, or land mammals? Any other interests??

I think your program for three weeks is very ambitious? It seems too long and packed.

I did about two-thirds of your route (arriving in Quebec City without going to Montreal) in 2014, and it involved a lot of driving, but with hiking days in two parks: Gaspésie, Forillon, and around Tadoussac, though we stayed several days in each place. (Plus other small stops here and there.)

I recommend looking up and visiting the covered bridges of Quebec: We don’t have them where we live... a fun little curiosity.

Happy planning and preparation!

Puma2A
BA Bauhaus Veteran ·
Hello!

You’re in for a fantastic trip! Just so you know, Quebec will be buzzing since we’ll be in the middle of a provincial election. Nothing to worry about—just guaranteed excitement! 😄😃

Anyway, I agree with the previous reply. It’d be great to know your goals. We already know you want to see the fall colors—that varies a lot from year to year. There’s an interactive map to track progress by region. A quick search online should help you find it easily. 🍁🍂

I checked your itinerary, and honestly, it seems *very* ambitious for three weeks. You’ll see tons of places, but you might not have much time for meaningful experiences. As we say around here, you’ll be ‘eating asphalt’! 😄

It’d be helpful to look at past posts for route suggestions. For example, how many days in Montreal or Quebec City? Same for some Gaspésie towns. I’m not sure if the ‘fous de bassins’ (basin enthusiasts) will still be around at that time, but if they are, two days would be ideal.

Anyway, it’d be great if you could share more details—like whether you’d like to visit some Quebec museums, especially those on colonial history.

Looking forward to following your journey and maybe helping out! 👋

Happy planning! 😊👋
BAUHAUS 🙂
PU Puma2A Veteran ·
I’m asking for your help with a 3-week road trip from mid-September to early October starting in Montreal.

If I’d known, I wouldn’t have replied!!

It’s become a habit on forums, including this one, to see some people ask questions, get answers, and then ignore the follow-up requests for details or even fail to say thanks after receiving info...!!

You’re no exception to the rule. It’s enough to make you not want to help anymore.

We must not have had the same kind of upbringing! From now on, I think I’ll go for "passive indifference" when faced with this kind of question.

...
KO Kola Globetrotter ·
(...

If I had known, I wouldn’t have replied!!

You and a few others tend to have these knee-jerk reactions, taking a lack of thanks or a delayed response as a personal insult.

Here, it’s been 4 days. For a member who only has 6 posts under their belt—so likely not very familiar with the site yet.

Isn’t it unnecessary to take things so personally, to give it that much weight... and to give yourself that much importance?

Those who are experts on a destination and go out of their way to plan hour-by-hour, cent-by-cent itineraries often do so generously, with the detachment needed to feel that the reward is already in the satisfaction of being helpful—contributing to the shared effort that a travel forum represents. A tip given to a member who won’t come back to say thanks will still help dozens of people behind the scenes.

Don’t forget that not everyone is equally comfortable with the internet, how VoyageForum works, or even writing. Not everyone is glued to their computer morning, noon, and night. And replies aren’t sent by email anymore...

... And a thank-you shouldn’t have to be begged for or demanded—messages like that only drag down the conversation.

...)
PU Puma2A Veteran ·
...

Much of what you’re saying could just as well apply to you—you’ve probably noticed that yourself. And your message doesn’t move the topic forward; it just adds more "filler" to it!!

All the best, Cheers.

Puma2A
LE Lescaribous Globetrotter ·
Hi, First off, here’s the link to the fall foliage progress: Where to see fall colors in Quebec | Bonjour Québec As for the weather, recent autumns have been pretty pleasant—here’s hoping fall 2026 is just as nice for you! Between Quebec City and Gaspésie, both sides of the river are worth exploring (North Shore with Charlevoix and South Shore with Bas-Saint-Laurent). Since you’re also planning to visit Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean (probably to make it to the St-Félicien Zoo), here’s a suggested route (just a simple proposal): Montreal - Quebec City - La Malbaie (via Charlevoix - head up to Lac Saint-Jean along the "west" shore of the Saguenay, Route 170) - St-Félicien Zoo - return to the river via the "east" shore of the Saguenay (Route 172) to Tadoussac - cross the St. Lawrence from Les Escoumins to Trois-Pistoles - Gaspésie loop (first following the river to Percé - Matapédia Valley - Bas-Saint-Laurent (Kamouraska, Notre-Dame-du-Portage, Route 132) - Montreal

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LAnLBKQLVrA756hH6
"Homme libre, toujours tu chériras la mer" (Baudelaire)

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