The best road trips in Quebec in 2023
Are you on vacation or about to be? Lucky you! Although inflation may have changed your plans in one or more ways, you're probably looking forward to hitting the road, getting away from it all and discovering new places.
In this regard, we hope you've read our previous columns on how to prepare for a road trip, including vehicle checks and essential items to bring along.
Here, we'd like to suggest some of the best places in Quebec for a road trip. There's no shortage of choice, of course, and some of them will have you enjoying some of the most beautiful driving roads in the province. We're off!
The Gaspésie tour
A favorite destination for many Quebecers on vacation, the Gaspé Peninsula charms visitors with its magnificent scenery and proximity to the sea, all of which can be savored by taking a complete tour of the region along Route 132. In 2013, National Geographic Traveler included Gaspésie in its list of the 50 must-see destinations in Canada in a lifetime. Michelin's renowned Green Guide gives it no less than 3 stars!
Whether you prefer to go clockwise or anti-clockwise (the eternal debate!), it's easy to feel like you're somewhere else on the planet. The northern part, from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to Forillon Park, is probably the closest you'll get to California's West Coast.
The Quebec-Charlevoix-Saguenay triangle
Departing from the capital and its bucolic Old Quebec, a memorable journey awaits those who take Route 138 (circling Île d'Orléans in the process). This link between the St. Lawrence River and the Charlevoix Mountains is packed with sights and attractions, including the road itself. Preferably, connect Baie-St-Paul and La Malbaie via route 362 before continuing on to Baie-Ste-Catherine.
Once you've crossed at Tadoussac, you head up the majestic Saguenay Fjord on Route 172 to the Chicoutimi area (là, là!). Weather permitting, you'll make the Lac St-Jean loop and see for yourself if the blueberries are really as big as they say. The final leg of this road trip takes you through L'Étape, right in the middle of the Réserve faunique des Laurentides, then on to Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier via Route 175.
Tadoussac and the North Shore
"These are two regions where I made some wonderful discoveries, and I highly recommend a zodiac excursion to the islands off Sept-Îles with Captain Rudy Blais, who tells many anecdotes about his native region, as well as a stay in a yurt at the Maricole Purmer farm on Grosse Boule Island. A change of scenery guaranteed", wrote Gabriel Gélinas, a journalist with Le Guide de l'auto, in his report on his trip in an Audi RS 6 Avant 2021.
Follow Route 138 to Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, home to the largest concentration of monoliths in Canada.
Any other suggestions?
We're a little guilty of not mentioning certain regions, because they're all worth visiting by car. In the Mauricie region, the Route des Rivières (155) up the St-Maurice is particularly noteworthy, especially between Grandes-Piles and La Tuque. In autumn, with the changing colors, it's even more magnificent.
On the Eastern Townships side, routes 202, 213 and 237 linking Dunham, Frelighsburg and Stangridge East form what's known as the "Wine Route", taking in several vineyards in its rolling landscapes. Epicureans are in for a treat, even more so if they make their way to Lac Brome for its duck.
Finally, if you're leaving Montreal, take Route 148, which runs alongside the Ottawa River. From La Chute to Gatineau via Montebello is beautiful enough, but consider continuing your adventure on this same route to take a detour for a few hours on Ontario's Highway 17 before returning to Quebec on the 101 and discovering the many lakes of the Abitibi region.
Have a nice trip!
