Montreal to Gaspésie: the ultimate road trip itinerary
- Hisham Ibrahim
- Apr 12
- 6 min read
Embarking on a road trip from Montreal to Gaspésie is an unforgettable adventure filled with breathtaking landscapes, charming small towns, and thrilling outdoor activities. Whether you're an avid hiker, a nature lover, or simply someone looking for a scenic escape, Gaspésie has something for everyone.
In this guide, you'll find everything you need to plan your trip—from routes and must-see stops to camping suggestions and pro tips that’ll make your journey smooth and memorable.
📍 How to Get There
We recommend driving to Gaspésie. If you don’t have a car, renting one is a great option. It gives you the freedom to explore all the amazing, spread-out spots along the coast.
Distance from Montreal to the farthest point (Forillon National Park): ~12 hours of driving
Public transport? Buses are available, but they’re limiting in terms of flexibility and access to natural parks and trails.

Tip: Start the trip with the mindset that the road is part of the adventure. We’ll recommend some scenic stops on the way that make the drive more exciting and manageable.

🗓️ Best Time to Visit
While Gaspésie is beautiful year-round, this itinerary is designed for late spring to early fall. That’s when:
Hiking trails are open (many close in winter).
Outdoor activities like kayaking, camping, and wildlife watching are at their best.
You can enjoy comfortable weather, blooming landscapes, and fewer driving risks.
👉 Before heading out, check park websites for trail closures, camping sites availability and weather updates:
🏕️ Where to Stay
We camped the entire trip, and honestly, we think it's the best way to experience Gaspésie’s raw beauty. In each section below, we list the exact campsites we stayed at (plus prices).
Want to prep for your camping journey? Check out our Camping in Quebec Guide (Article will be available soon)
📍 Road Trip Stops
These are optional stops, hiking spots, camping ground... worth considering either on your way to Gaspésie or on your way back.
🌊 Chute Montmorency (near Québec City)
What to see: 83m waterfall, taller than Niagara!
What to do: Walk the stairs to see the falls from below and above.
Fitness level: Moderate (lots of stairs)
Entrance fee:
$5.85 CAD (Quebec residents)
$11.70 CAD (non-residents)
💧 Chute de la Chaudière
A lesser-known but beautiful 35m-high waterfall
Peaceful and surrounded by trails for exploring
Great place to picnic or relax
Free access
🥾 The Gaspésie Loop
Night 1: Parc National du Bic (Rimouski)
🏞️Why stop here first? It’s the perfect intro to Gaspésie’s coastal beauty and you also just drove 6h at this point.
🥾What to do?
Le Grand Tour Hike
8.7 km / 3 hrs /moderate hike
Available in summer and only at low tide
Features “Dragonstone-like” coastal views. Hello Game of Thrones fans!

Sea Kayak Tour (sunset)
Guided by Aventures Archipel
Seals spotting and stunning ocean views!
$71.25/person
Visit Rimouski Town
Eat at their many restaurants
Visit the Historical Maritim Museum (SHMP) to go inside a War submarine
Walk along the Marina coast

🏕️Accommodation? Camping at National parc Bic: $31.50/night + Sepaq entry: $9.85/adult/day
Night 2: Parc National de la Gaspésie (Sainte-Anne-des-Monts)
🏔️Why stop here here? A must for wildlife lovers and hiking enthusiasts!
🥾 Top Hikes? Choose your poison !
Mont Jacques-Cartier:
1,268m elevation, offers epic alpine views
Difficulty hard
Le Tour du Mont Albert
17.3 km / 6–8 hrs / advanced hikers
Full loop recommended for panoramic views

Mont Ernest Laforce
4.6 km / ~2 hrs
Difficulty easy
Best moose-spotting hike (we saw 8 moose on the road alone!)
🚣Other Activities? Canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, and even a 3-course meal at Gîte du Mont Albert
🏕️Accommodation? Camping at National parc de la Gaspésie: $42.70/night + Sepaq entry: $9.85/adult/day
TIP : The road from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to the national park takes at least 30 minutes. If possible, we recommend not driving it at night, as there are a lot of animals, including deer and moose, that sometimes wander onto the road, leading to many accidents each year.
TIP : Grocery shop before you enter the park—there are no stores nearby!
Night 3: Forillon National Park (Gaspé)
🌊Why stop here? Gaspé is the easternmost city of Gaspésie, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It's a charming, small city that you can easily explore in a few hours, perfect for grabbing a bite before heading to one of Canada's most stunning national parks, Forillon National Park.
🌲What to do there?
Mount Saint-Alban Tower Hike: 2–3 hrs with incredible ocean panoramas
Group picture at the top at Saint Alban tower hike Cap Bon Ami Beach: Ideal for picnics and a BRIEF COLD swim. You are swimming now in Ocean salt Water
Les Graves Hike: Ends at a cliff called “The End of the World”—windy and wild! You will be at the edge of Gaspésie going down stairs and facing incredible winds. Loved it !
Picture at Land's End sign
🏕️ Accommodation? Camping Forillon: $28.50/night + Park Canada entry: $9 adult/day
TIP : Also don't drive from Parc de la Gaspésie to Forillon park at night because of the wildlife encounter and for it's beautiful coastal views along the way
Night 4: Percé & Bonaventure Island National Park
🪨Why stop here? This small village along the coast is the heart of tourism in Gaspésie. Named after its famous pierced rock, everywhere you go you can grab a postal picture photo

🏞️What to do there?
Bonaventure Island: Home to thousands of Northern Gannets
Accessible by boat, ticket can be purchased next to the port—aim for a morning or early afternoon trip
Part of the Sepaq Park, you can camp there if you are lucky to have a spot !
2–3 hrs loop with cliffside views, bird colonies, and rock formations
Boat fee : 45$/adult
Cap Mont-Joli lookout point: For the best view spot of the Perce rock !
Cap Mont-Joli lookout point La Maison du Pêcheur:
Reward yourself with an authentic on the pricier side sea food restaurant.
Book at least two days in advance as places get filled up quickly.
🏕️ Accommodation? Camping du Phare à Percé: $40/night
TIP: This place gets super touristy, and accommodations book up fast—whether for camping or hotels—so it’s best to book your stay ahead of time. Same goes for the boat ride to Bonaventure Island: try to book first thing in the morning or even earlier. And be sure to buy your national park access pass online beforehand, as the signal on the island can be spotty!
💧 Stopover: Bonaventure River
Between Percé and Carleton-sur-Mer, this crystal-clear river is perfect for paddling.
Activity: SUP, kayak, canoe (with Cime Aventure)
Book ahead departures are in the morning
Price: $39.95 for a 2-hour family tour
Night 5: Carleton-sur-Mer
🌅Why stop here? A charming village in Chaleur Bay with mountain, beaches, and great food.
Swim or paddleboard at the beach
Hike Mont Saint-Joseph: Amazing views over the region
Explore the village: Boutiques and restaurants

🏕️ Accommodation? Camping at Carleton-sur-Mer on a peninsula: $37/night
Hell’s Gate Canyon (On your way back)
🌉Why go there? Located near Rimouski, this hidden gem features dramatic canyon views and epic hikes. It will allow you to cut the road back in half.
🌲Things to do at their Park ? Wake up to the soothing sound of a 20-meter-high waterfall right by your campsite. From there, take a short trail leading to a breathtaking 63-meter-high suspension bridge—the highest in Quebec! Feeling adventurous? Tackle the “Descent into Hell” trail, where you’ll descend 300 steps deep into the canyon. Just don’t forget—you’ll have to climb them all back up!

🏕️ Accommodation? Camping at Hell's Canyon: $35/night or Entrance fee $17.75/adult
Final Tips for your trip
📱 Download offline maps before heading out—cell service is spotty in remote areas.
🧺 Pack food & essentials in advance and overpack ! especially for remote parks.
🔦 Bring a headlamp for sunset hikes.
📅 Reserve your camping and activities ahead of time—summer gets booked fast!
🛶 Try at least one water activity—Gaspésie is made for it!
🦞 Try at least one sea food meal— Won't get any fresher than that !
🫂 Chose well your friend group—Don't forget it's a minimum of 25h road trip
very nice trip
Best itinerary!