Recommended itinerary for an 11-day road trip from Quebec City?
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Original post
TH
hi everyone, my flight’s all booked (Sept 19–Oct 4), with 1.5 days in Montreal + 1.5 days in Quebec City... then I’ve got 11 days starting from Quebec City for a road trip—what route do you recommend? (I’ve seen these stops come up a lot: Parc Omega, Charlevoix, Tadoussac, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay, Parc de la Gaspésie, Parc Forillon, Mauricie...) The idea is no more than 2–3 hours of driving per day on average. I’m traveling solo :-( (if you’re in the area around the same dates, hit me up!) 45 years old, I love sports (so I’m hoping to do hikes, kayaking, and other activities, see whales...discover beautiful landscapes). I’m not sure if there are any events in the area during those dates, but I’d also like to meet some people... Thanks in advance for your tips!
ST Stratele52 Globetrotter ·
Hello,

Your itinerary is very ambitious.

What you're asking for is a lot of work to do well.

And you're heading in many different directions. It’s like if I wanted to cross all of France diagonally, visiting places, and then backtrack to catch my flight—all in 11 days.

I’ve been traveling a lot for 20 years—Canada, Europe, and the United States. I plan everything myself using Google Maps for distances. I create a day-by-day itinerary, as realistic as possible, including places to visit and schedules. I check their websites.

Even accommodation needs to be checked and possibly booked. It’d be a shame to drive 2 hours only to find closed doors. That can happen as early as mid-September outside Montreal and Quebec City.

Yes, it’s a lot of research, but once you’re there, it’s pure joy.

Suggesting visits that wouldn’t be possible on your dates wouldn’t be helpful.

As mentioned in your other post, a car is essential in Quebec and Canada. Traveling by bus or train is impossible with your itinerary. And for most trips, that’s just how Canada is—a country of cars.
EX Explora30fer ·
In your list, you mention Parc Oméga (near Montreal/Ottawa) and Gaspésie (Parc de la Gaspésie and Forillon).

Watch out—Parc Oméga is west of Montreal, while Gaspésie is east of Quebec City. Trying to do both in 11 days with a limit of 2 to 3 hours of driving per day is impossible, since that would mean thousands of kilometers of travel (Gaspésie alone requires a loop of at least 7 to 10 days from Quebec City).

For 11 days and a relaxed pace (max 3 hours of driving/day), you’ll need to choose between the West (Outaouais/Mauricie) or the East (Charlevoix, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Tadoussac, Bas-Saint-Laurent). Since you’re starting from Quebec City, the Eastern loop is perfect—gorgeous and packed with outdoor activities.

Traveling solo? Quebec City is one of the easiest places in the world to break the ice, since people strike up conversations super easily. Here are a few tips:

Stay in youth hostels (with private rooms if you prefer a bit more comfort) or B&Bs. Breakfast in a B&B around a big communal table is ideal for chatting with hosts and other travelers.

Opt for guided activities—a guided sea-kayaking trip or a small-group whale-watching cruise (zodiac) instantly creates connections.

If you arrive in early September, the Western Festival in St-Tite (Mauricie, September 10–19) is an absolute must if you want to experience local culture, country music, and some seriously fun meet-ups (double-check if it fits your exact travel dates)!
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
hey if you want to go kayaking there’s the Rivière des Mille-Îles north of Montreal where you can rent some. It’s max 30 minutes from downtown Montreal by car. And with a bit of luck you might spot Céline’s old estate—she sold it recently 😎
TH Thebigblue Regular ·
Thanks Louis for the reply! I’m just looking for advice on the main stops for an itinerary—I’ll handle checking availability and logistics later. I mentioned I’ll have a car...
TH Thebigblue Regular ·
Thanks Laura for the tips and itineraries—it’s great! In the list of stops I mentioned, those were just notes I took while reading the forum. I didn’t say I was definitely going to follow that route. You’re right, Omega is in the opposite direction, so I don’t think I’ll go there.

Yes, my goal is to stay in youth hostels (dorms, simple and cheap work for me). But when I check Booking.com, I don’t find many options outside Montreal and Quebec City. Are there other websites you’d recommend for finding hostels? I’ll also try Couchsurfing, which I’ve used in the past.

And unfortunately, as I mentioned, I arrive on the 19th, so no festival this time.
TH Thebigblue Regular ·
Thanks Mathews, I’ll only have the car starting from Quebec City, but I’ll keep that in mind!))
LE Lescaribous Globetrotter ·
Hey Laurent, Just a quick preliminary question—you wrote “I’ve got 11 days starting from Quebec City,” and it sounds like the car’s already booked from YQB. Is that set in stone? If so, squeezing in Parc Omega could get tricky. I’m guessing your flight ticket is a round-trip NCE/YUL.

As others on the forum have already mentioned, I’d really recommend writing off the Gaspésie for this trip. To enjoy that region properly, you’d want at least 15 days for a loop from Montreal (that loop’s about 2,000 km!).

Another thing (also pointed out by someone else): Parc Omega is west of Montreal, while most of the other sights are east. But don’t worry—you *can* combine everything if you pick up the rental car in Montreal instead of Quebec City!

Here’s a rough itinerary (just a suggestion, of course!): D1 – Arrival in Montreal D2 – Explore Montreal D3 – Finish up Montreal D4 – Pick up rental car in the morning – visit Parc Omega – overnight near Omega D5 – Drive to Parc de la Mauricie – overnight near the park D6 – Parc de la Mauricie – drive to Quebec City D7 – Quebec City D8 – Quebec City D9 – Drive to Charlevoix – overnight in Charlevoix D10 – Parc des Hautes-Gorges (hike the Acropole des Draveurs—if you like hiking, it’s worth it. There’s some elevation, but the view from the top is amazing) D11 – Overnight in Charlevoix – drive to Les Escoumins D12 – Les Escoumins – whale-watching cruise – crossing from Les Escoumins to Trois-Pistoles – overnight at Parc du Bic D13 – Parc du Bic – overnight in the park D14 – Parc du Bic – overnight in the park D15 – Drive back to Montreal – drop off rental car – overnight in Montreal D16 – Return flight to Nice

That’s my take. For Parc du Bic: Parc national du Bic - Parcs nationaux - Sépaq For Hautes-Gorges: Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie - Parcs nationaux - Sépaq

I’ll be following your thread—happy planning!
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
Hey Thebigblue, if we want to get to the Thousand Islands Park, we can go there first by metro and then by bus.
TH Thebigblue Regular ·
hi Jean-Yves, flight ticket booked, yes I arrive in Montreal, I’ll visit for 1.5 days then bus or train to Quebec City I’ll rent a car for 11 days to explore return to Quebec City, visit the city and I’ll take my return flight from Quebec City (not Montreal)

I’ve taken your feedback into account, so I’ll skip Omega since it’s not on my route
LE Lescaribous Globetrotter ·
Hey, Since you're arriving in Montreal and leaving from Quebec City for Parc Omega and Parc de la Mauricie, you’ll have to come back! 😛 But that gives you more time to enjoy the rest!!

For Montreal to Quebec City, you also have the option of carpooling with AmigoExpress (Carpooling for Quebec, Canada, and the United States | AmigoExpress) or taking the bus (which will be cheaper than the train—and just about as fast, since the TGV still hasn’t arrived here. We’ve only been talking about it for 25 years! 😄)

Happy planning!
BA Bauhaus Veteran ·
Hey Laurent, When you're in Montreal, I suggest walking up Mount Royal to the belvedere. You’ll get your exercise in and enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. 😊 Ideally, start from the Georges Étienne Cartier statue. If you're there on a Sunday and the weather’s nice, you might catch a tam-tam session. 😉 I’m sure you’ll want to check out Old Montreal. Watch out for tourist traps, but take the time to see the river. You can compare the vibe between Montreal and Quebec City. Speaking of Quebec City, don’t miss taking the ferry to Lévis—the view of Quebec City is amazing, day or night. Then you just take the same boat back. These are just a few suggestions. If you share more about your interests, we can definitely help you out more. To wrap up, there are several Facebook groups for active people in Quebec, for all ages. Usually free. Keep an eye out—you might be able to join locals for hikes in the forest, city walks, etc. Just don’t forget to sign up for the activity. Cheers! 👋 PS: Quebec will be in the middle of an election campaign, so you’ll see lots of signs on poles. Something to watch if you’re into politics. Also, hockey season will have started. Try to catch a game if you want to feel the passion Quebecers have for their national sport. 🏒
CH Chrisjodana Regular ·
Hi Laurent,

To give you an idea of how long it takes to cover part of the route I took (including Gaspésie) and to possibly give you some visit ideas, I invite you to read my travel journal from 2017, "From Toronto to Montreal via Gaspésie" (if you haven’t already).

Happy reading! 😉

Hello to the former members I exchanged with here, and my best to Jean-Yves!

I’m returning to Quebec on September 10th 🙂
BA Bauhaus Veteran ·
Hi Christine! 😊

If you need any tips for planning your upcoming trip in la belle province, just let us know! 👋😉👍
CH Chrisjodana Regular ·
Hi Jean,

Thanks for the suggestion, but my road trip is all set.

Actually, I’m originally coming for the festival 🎪 in Saint-Tite, then I’ll be wandering around for two weeks. I think I’ll need some peace and quiet after the crowd bath 😉😉

I’m going to take the opportunity to revisit some villages I loved and spend a day with a great person I met through an Airbnb (yes, I know... it was quite the topic in my travel journal). But you can find real gems, both in accommodations and with some hosts. I arrive in Montreal on the 10th and leave on the 28th. This’ll be my third trip to your neck of the woods ;-) Cheers, Chris
TH Thebigblue Regular ·
Hi Jean, Thanks for your advice about the cities—it’s great!

Going to see hockey could be fun (you can book last-minute and it’s not too expensive), but will everything be sold out? As for politics, no thanks! )) And I’ll be there on a Sunday morning, so I’ll keep the tam-tams in mind.
BA Bauhaus Veteran ·
Hey Laurent,

Yeah, it’s possible to catch a Laval Rocket game (they’re the farm team for the Montreal Canadiens).

It’s cheaper and just as fun. You can also get there by metro (that’s where the Rocket play). If you’re going solo, depending on the date, I might be able to join you. Also, there needs to be a game that day. Otherwise, maybe a junior hockey game. Either way, once you’ve got a date for your trip through the Montreal area, let us know.

Cheers 👋🤝
TH Thebigblue Regular ·
My only evening in Montreal will be Saturday, September 19th, and in Quebec City, I’ll have Friday, October 2nd, maybe Thursday, October 1st.
BA Bauhaus Veteran ·
Hi Laurent,

I checked for games on Saturday, October 19th since that’s when you’ll be in my area (north of Montreal).

Good news—there’s a hockey game nearby! We could go see the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada take on the Val-d’Or Foreurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League 😊. The game starts at 4:00 PM. A ticket costs $25 + tax.

If you’re still interested, I could pick you up from Montmorency metro station and we can head to the arena together.

Take your time planning your trip, and let me know if this fits into your schedule—and most importantly, if it matches your interests. We can sort out the details in private.

Also, it’s always best to book in advance to make sure we get good seats. 😉

I hope this answers your questions. If you have any others, don’t hesitate to ask!

By the way, Les Caribous already shared a day-by-day plan with you. If possible, I’d suggest doing the same with your revised itinerary. It’ll make it easier for us to help you add info based on where and when you’ll be 😊

Cheers and happy planning! 👋👋👋
TH Thebigblue Regular ·
Thanks Jean, I’ll let you know if I confirm the hockey—I’m not sure yet since my time in Montreal (Quebec) will be limited (maybe I’ll stay an extra day there).

I’m in the middle of planning the first part of my trip (I’ll pick up a car in Quebec City):

Quebec City - Charlevoix - Saguenay - Tadoussac.

I’m leaving Quebec City in the morning: - Heading toward Baie-Saint-Paul (I’ll spend the night there). Are there any interesting stops along the way? - In the afternoon, I’ll visit Parc des Grands-Jardins.

- Then, heading toward La Malbaie and Parc des Hautes-Gorges.

If I want to go to Saguenay and Lac Saint-Jean, then head back down to Tadoussac / Les Escoumins, do you recommend taking Route 170 from La Malbaie instead of 381? And should I return via Route 172 on the other side of the river?

For Saguenay/Lac Saint-Jean, I’m looking for a youth hostel or cheap accommodation (dorm-style). Auberge Le Camp de Base in Anse-Saint-Jean (just the dates I want: Sept 22/23). Do you have any other recommendations?

(I found one in the Mashteuiatsh Indigenous community—I’m not sure if anyone has experience there.)

Then, heading down to Tadoussac and Les Escoumins, I’ll be looking for a hostel again—any recommendations?

(After that, I’ll cross to the other side of the St. Lawrence to continue my trip.)

For my stay, I’ll be doing hikes, sports activities like kayaking... maybe the Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien...

Thanks in advance!

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