New summer road trip ideas
Have you recently purchased a vehicle? Whether new or used, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the summer season.
If you're planning a road trip, it's great... as long as you're well prepared! This is even truer with an electric car, given the scarcity of charging stations in some places. By the way, don't miss our previous columns on the subject, including vehicle checks and essential items to bring along to make discovering new parts of the country as pleasant and memorable as possible.
For those lacking inspiration, last year we published a list of suggested routes in Quebec. Here are some more ideas for road trips in la belle province:
Route 132
We've already mentioned the Gaspé tour, but Route 132 - which could be described as Quebec's version of the mythical Route 66 in the USA - is also some 600 km from the south shore of Montreal to Mont-Joli, via Sorel-Tracy, Bécancour, Lévis, Rivière-du-Loup and Rimouski.
Following the St. Lawrence River and criss-crossing the lowlands at the foot of the Apalaches, the route allows you to admire numerous islands and stop off at some of Quebec's most beautiful villages.
La boucle du Sud-Est
Looking for a new way to link the main city and the capital? Take a 400 km detour through Montérégie, Estrie and Chaudière-Appalaches. Not on highways 10 and 73, among others, but on the lovely Route 112.
In addition to several national parks, plains and valleys, it passes through Granby, Magog, Sherbrooke, the asbestos region and Thetford Mines, as well as the Beauce. If you have more time, add a detour to Lac-Mégantic via Route 161. Once you've reached the Chaudière River, follow it along the picturesque Route 173 back to Quebec City.
Crossing the Laurentians
Here, we have two versions for you to choose from. The shorter version will take you from Trois-Rivières to Lac-St-Jean via Route 155 and the unmissable stopover of La Tuque, a journey of just over 300 km. A change of scenery is guaranteed!
The longest option, covering almost 500 km, is to leave St-Jérôme for Val-d'Or and the Abitibi region, via none other than route 117, the inspiration for so many songs and stories. With its countless lakes and rivers, notably in the La Vérendrye wildlife reserve, this crossing will also tempt kayaking and fishing enthusiasts. Can your vehicle accommodate all your gear?
