Review Request - 19-Day Quebec Road Trip

We’ve got our tickets—we’re leaving from August 5th to the 24th! We’ve got a few hesitations about our itinerary, so we’re here to ask for tips and feedback. This forum has been a huge help for other trips. Here’s our draft plan:

3 days - Montreal 2 or 3 days in Mauricie 3 days in Quebec City, including one day for Jacques-Cartier Park 2 days in Charlevoix 3 days in Saguenay Fjord 2 days in Tadoussac 2 days in Bas-Saint-Laurent 1 day to return to Montreal—our flight leaves at 11 PM

Maybe we’re being too ambitious? Should we cut some stops? We’d still like to avoid driving too much in one go this year. Thanks for your suggestions! Artlou

Hi, Your first draft looks pretty good to me. Personally, I’d add a day in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region to enjoy Parc du Bic (I’d "move" one day from Parc de la Mauricie to Parc du Bic), but that’s just my personal opinion 😛 Since you’re staying in Montreal for the first 3 days (great strategy to "recover" from the trip and jet lag), I assume you’ve planned to rent a car downtown the day you leave Montreal! If that’s the case, I think it’s better to return it at the same location (rather than at the airport) to avoid "drop-off" fees. Safe travels—it’ll be here before you know it 😉

Thanks, this is exactly the advice I was looking for! 🙂 I’m checking out the bike Yeah, we want to pick up our stuff and take the time to explore Montreal since our daughter has the opportunity through her school to do a dual French-Quebecois degree. She wants to see how she feels in the city before committing because it’s for two years on-site. We’ll actually rent a place in the city just before leaving Montreal—we saw there are shuttles to the airport. Thanks again!

Hello, Bic is, in my humble opinion 😏, one of the most beautiful parks in Quebec. If you have the chance (depending on your timing), I’d recommend spending a night there—why not in a yurt? 😛 https://www.sepaq.com/fr/reservation/chalet/parc-national-du-bic Montreal is a really fun city (especially when you’re a student ;-)) I hope your daughter gets to enjoy discovering this city if she finalizes her exchange. Until then, happy trip planning—I’ll be following your post!

Bic Park after last night’s rain It’s a morning of light gray clouds And muddy trails It’s a morning of dripping trees And vividly colored flowers It’s a morning of silent birds And well-hidden squirrels. Around a bend in the path A lake stretches out lazily A lake with pale, tranquil waters You just have to sit there for a few moments And let your gaze wander Toward the playful seals Playing hide-and-seek with the wisps of mist…

I love this park 🙂 and sorry for butting into your conversation!

Hey, Sure, it’s an intrusion, but a poetic one, so I’m sure Artlou31 won’t mind 😛 If I may add a tiny comment , I would’ve swapped "lac" for "fleuve" to really *express* the Bic 😛

No worries: at least it’s inspiring, and we’ve revised our itinerary as a result! Montreal / 3 full days Mauricie / 2 days, including 1.5 on-site Quebec City / 2 days, including 1.5 on-site Jacques Cartier / 2 days Charlevoix: 2 days Saguenay Fjord: 2 days, including 1.5 on-site Tadoussac: 1 day Bic Park: 2 days, including 1.5 on-site Lower St. Lawrence: 1 day Return day in Montreal (if we can find luggage lockers)

We’ve got one extra day to fit in, and we’re wondering if we should cut one night in Montreal at the start of the trip and pick up the car early afternoon instead. That would leave us with just one day for Mauricie. I was also thinking of adding a night near the fjord, maybe around Tadoussac? My husband wants 2 days in Jacques Cartier to go down the river. As always, your suggestions are welcome!

I’m also looking for sites other than Booking.com to find ready-to-camp setups or B&Bs if they exist—I’m all ears!

Thanks in advance

Really beautiful and inspiring, so we added the Bic to our plans. Thanks!

Hey, If you love hiking, in Charlevoix there’s a gorgeous hike called ''L'Acropole des Draveurs'' in the Parc des Hautes-Gorges. It’s a pretty tough hike (800 m elevation gain) but it’s totally worth it!! Actually, to make things easier, I’d suggest (but it’s just a suggestion, so no pressure 😛) laying out your itinerary like this: Tuesday, August 5: Flight Toulouse–Montréal – night in Montréal Wednesday, August 6: Montréal sightseeing – night in Montréal etc.... That’ll make it way easier to follow. But don’t worry, even if you don’t take my advice, I’ll still follow your post 😛

FYI, B&Bs here are called "Couette et Café"—that’ll help with your searches!! In Charlevoix, I used to stay at one called ''l'Aubergine'' in St-Hilarion. I think it’s still around, but it seems like they don’t have a website anymore! For ready-to-camp options, check out the SEPAQ site (https://www.sepaq.com/camping/pret-a-camper/index.dot?language_id=2)

Hi there, Since I’ve been to Quebec several times, I always save Montreal for the end of the trip. After a road trip by car, it’s nice to unwind before heading home. For me, the return jet lag is always the hardest, especially since the flight is overnight. I pick up the rental car directly at the airport and return it right away when I get back to Montreal, so I can then use public transit (the 747 shuttle to downtown, then the metro or walking for sightseeing in Montreal). Otherwise, I might cut a day from La Mauricie Park and, since you’re coming back via the Lower St. Lawrence, maybe stop at the Village Québécois d’Antan in Drummondville? In Tadoussac, have you planned to go whale watching? If so, I recommend the Essipits zodiac tours, which leave from Bergeronnes. They’re a lot of fun! Have a great trip! !

Parc du Bic after last night’s rain It’s a morning of light gray clouds And muddy trails It’s a morning of dripping trees And vividly colored flowers It’s a morning of silent birds And well-hidden squirrels. Around a bend in the path A lake stretches out lazily A lake with pale, tranquil waters You just have to sit there for a few moments And let your gaze wander Toward the joyful seals Playing hide-and-seek with the wisps of mist...

I love this park 🙂 and sorry for butting into your conversation!

Is there a lake at Parc du Bic?

Montreal / 3 full days Mauricie / 2 days including 1.5 on-site Quebec City / 2 days including 1.5 on-site Jacques Cartier / 2 days Charlevoix: 2 days Saguenay Fjord: 2 days including 1.5 on-site Tadoussac: 1 day Bic Park: 2 days including 1.5 on-site Lower St. Lawrence: 1 day Return day in Montreal (if we find luggage lockers)

Hi there, this is my 2024 trip.

Montreal—you either love it or you don’t, and I really didn’t. That’s just how it is. Mauricie is a really beautiful park. Quebec City is a great city. The falls, Île d'Orléans, the hyper-center, and Old Quebec, which is more of a tourist zone. Didn’t do Jacques Cartier. Didn’t do Charlevoix. Saguenay Fjord—with the park? Tadoussac is nice, small, and you can see whales if the weather’s good. Missed Bic Park due to organizational reasons. Did you take the ferry to Les Escoumins? Lower St. Lawrence—what spot exactly?

So you’re mostly sticking to the left bank of the St. Lawrence. No Gaspésie except for Bic Park and Lower St. Lawrence? You’re missing Gaspé?

Have a great trip.

Oh no, of course, there’s no lake—even if appearances can sometimes be deceiving. During a walk, I captured this image and called it a lake, just for the rhythm and harmony of this little piece.

Oh no, of course not, there’s no lake—even if appearances can sometimes be deceiving. During a walk, I had this image, and I translated it as lake, just for the rhythm and harmony of this little text.



A rhyme that ignores reality? No? 😎