Montreal → Quebec City → Charlevoix
The St. Lawrence from French cities to rolling hills.
Following the north shore of the St. Lawrence, this route moves from the bilingual buzz of Montreal through the walled old capital of Quebec City and into the rolling Charlevoix countryside — a UNESCO biosphere of farms, fjords and painterly hills. Come in early autumn for the foliage, which turns the route into a corridor of red and gold.
Flying in? This route starts in Montreal — pick up wheels at the airport.
Rent a Car in MontrealBest Time to Drive
September–October for foliage; December–February for winter magic.
How Many Days
2–3 days with a Quebec City overnight.
Where to Stay
One night inside Old Quebec, a second in Baie-Saint-Paul.
Drive this route
A rental car, stops to sleep and roadside cover.
The route, stop by stop
- 1
Trois-Rivières
140 kmHalfway coffee and riverfront stretch on the St. Maurice.
- 2
Quebec City
250 kmWalk the fortified walls, Dufferin Terrace and Quartier Petit Champlain.
Stay inside the walls — the Château Frontenac and Petit Champlain inns walk to everything.
- 3
Île d'Orléans
290 kmA short bridge to cideries, farms and river views around a pastoral island loop.
Cideries and farm stands dot the island loop — allow a slow half-day.
- 4
Baie-Saint-Paul
420 kmArt-colony town in the Charlevoix crater — the heart of the region.
Charlevoix's art-colony base; crater-valley B&Bs book out in foliage season.
- 5
Charlevoix coast
500 kmRolling farmland and whale-watching departures at the Saguenay fjord.
Saguenay–St. Lawrence whale-watch zodiacs depart from Baie-Sainte-Catherine.
