Planning a family road trip from New York to Montreal

Hi there, I’d like to plan a family road trip (2 adults, 2 kids aged 14 and 11) next summer, starting in New York and ending in Montreal. Here’s my rough itinerary: Arrival in New York: 4 nights Train to Boston: 2 nights Car rental, then off to Cape Cod: 2 nights Head to Acadia Park: 2 nights On to Quebec City: 2 nights Tadoussac: 2 nights Saguenay region/Lac Saint-Jean: 2 nights Montreal: 2 nights Departure from Montreal. Could you share some ideas for places to stay, eat, visit, whale watching, lobster feasts, etc.? Also, about the car rental: picking up in the US and dropping off in Canada—any tips? Would it be easier to fly round-trip from Lyon to Montreal and drive to NY instead? Thanks for your feedback!

For car rentals, which can really shape your trip, do some research—while I managed it a few years ago (rental in Vancouver, return in Seattle), it seems tougher now. A fallback option is to switch cars at a border city. This is done in places like Niagara, but I’m not sure if that fits your route.

As for the direction, I’d say it doesn’t matter much. Ending in NY could be a highlight, though Montreal is a bit disappointing for tourists.

Another option for such a short trip might be to skip NY, save it for a city break another time (there are often flight deals), and start in Boston instead.

Hello, I’d like to plan a family road trip (2 adults, 2 kids aged 14 and 11) next summer, starting in New York and ending in Montreal. Could you share some ideas for accommodations, dining, sightseeing, whale watching, lobster eating, etc.? What about renting a car: picking it up in the U.S. and dropping it off in Canada? Would it be easier to fly round-trip from Lyon to Montreal and drive to NY from there? Thanks for your feedback!

Hi, I’m not sure if combining NYC and Quebec is a great tip. There’s definitely a lot of driving involved. Anyway, it’s up to you. Generally, these are two separate trips.

For lodging and dining, without knowing your tastes or budget, it’s hard to give advice. If you’re tired of burger joints, the bill adds up quickly in the city. Even Italian places aren’t cheap. For lobster, it’s mostly in Gaspésie, but honestly, you can find it all over Quebec. As for whales, you can see them in Tadoussac if the weather cooperates and the boat finds them.

Hi there, We’ve traveled through these two countries Since 2017, almost full-time. The distances between each point of interest Are long, and there’s so much to see. A tip: adjust your road trip— Whether it’s the United States or Quebec, Too many kilometers in two weeks Won’t give you enough time to visit. If you’d like more info, Don’t hesitate to ask. Best, Marie

Hi there, Thanks so much for your feedback. You’re right—I do want to pack a lot into this single trip, but we’re going for three weeks, and I want to make the most of the flights! I’m planning to spend 9 days in the US between NY/BOSTON/CAPE COD—I might drop the 3 days at ACADIA PARK—and 10 days in CANADA between QUEBEC/TADOUSSAC/SAGUENAY/MONTREAL. I know each destination could easily deserve three weeks on its own! If you happen to have any recommendations for places to stay and/or visit... Best regards,

Hi, I mostly agree with "les4S"’s post. Four days in NY is really short—especially since you’ll have jet lag to deal with! Also, don’t forget that tourist rentals in NY via Airbnb are super complicated (actually, they’re pretty much impossible). You might want to focus on the East Coast of the US: NY + Washington. But hey, that’s just my personal take! Happy travels

PS: Actually, my answer agrees with Mitch’s post! Sorry for the mistake

PS: Actually, my answer agrees with Mitch’s post! Sorry for the mistake

No worries.

For Airbnbs, it’s pretty much impossible in NYC now. Except in rare cases. One of my friends spent Christmas there by staying in Harlem, but it was all through a friend network. The dark web of accommodations, so to speak. 😎