Road trip Toronto to Gaspe, Quebec

Gaspe is home for me so I have done it many times from Mississauga. Heading back mid August. It's a beautiful drive down the coast from Saint-Flavie where you come off Hwy 20 and hit hwy 132. Quebec City is the halfway point on the drive. Usually it is about 16 hours total and I usually drive to Matane and sleep there and then about another 3.5hrs to the town of Gaspe. Check out the national park in Parc Forillion and take in the whale watching and head to Perce as well.
https://www.tourisme-gaspesie.com/en/home.html
https://www.baleines-forillon.com/fr/
https://www.quebecmaritime.ca/en/road-t ... deas/perce

Thanks very much. Since we've been to Quebec city a couple of times, just driving through this time. We are staying at Mont-Joli for 2 days. Then heading to the Daniel Johnson dam via ferry from Matane. Getting ferry back the next day, 4 days at the Forillion national park and 2 days in Bonaventure. Plan to visit Perce when we are at Parc Forillion. Then back to Toronto with a night halt at Montreal.
How does that sound?

RFD2entertain wrote: ↑ Thanks very much. Since we've been to Quebec city a couple of times, just driving through this time. We are staying at Mont-Joli for 2 days. Then heading to the Daniel Johnson dam via ferry from Matane. Getting ferry back the next day, 4 days at the Forillion national park and 2 days in Bonaventure. Plan to visit Perce when we are at Parc Forillion. Then back to Toronto with a night halt at Montreal.
How does that sound?

Sounds like a good plan. Nvere been to that dam north of Baie Comeau but sounds interesting and get to relax on the ferry. Enjoy the Gaspesie!

Thank you. You have a wonderful trip home too.

great timing for this thread. we will be on a road trip and will spend a couple of nights in Gaspe.

couple of interesting POIs in case you missed them

http://www.centredart.net/le-grand-rassemblement/
564 route de la Mer, Ste-Flavie statues that lead to the ocean .

The Birthplace of Canada. monument .
179, Montée Wakeham, QC-198, Gaspé, QC G4X 1V3

https://wanderingwagars.com/unforgettable-canadian-road-trips/

webworm wrote: ↑ Gaspe is home for me so I have done it many times from Mississauga. Heading back mid August. It's a beautiful drive down the coast from Saint-Flavie where you come off Hwy 20 and hit hwy 132. Quebec City is the halfway point on the drive. Usually it is about 16 hours total and I usually drive to Matane and sleep there and then about another 3.5hrs to the town of Gaspe. Check out the national park in Parc Forillion and take in the whale watching and head to Perce as well.
https://www.tourisme-gaspesie.com/en/home.html
https://www.baleines-forillon.com/fr/
https://www.quebecmaritime.ca/en/road-t ... deas/perce

Hi, I am planning this trip next week Wednesday to Sunday. We have only 5 days. We are in Mississauga, couples with 2 small kids. Just want to know if 5 days is sufficient for this trip. If we get time we are planning to stop at Quebec city for few hours to cover montmorency falls.
Just need some advice for this drive to Gaspe.
Is there any restrictions right now for covid? Do we need to book anything in advance for sightseeing? Thanks in advance.

yas1708 wrote: ↑ Hi, I am planning this trip next week Wednesday to Sunday. We have only 5 days. We are in Mississauga, couples with 2 small kids. Just want to know if 5 days is sufficient for this trip. If we get time we are planning to stop at Quebec city for few hours to cover montmorency falls.
Just need some advice for this drive to Gaspe.
Is there any restrictions right now for covid? Do we need to book anything in advance for sightseeing? Thanks in advance.

Where in Gaspe are you going? You know that to drive all the way to the end it's 15 hours? Even if you did the western parts of Gaspe, I think it's a crazy amount of driving for 5 days total.

gumby_ng wrote: ↑ Where in Gaspe are you going? You know that to drive all the way to the end it's 15 hours? Even if you did the western parts of Gaspe, I think it's a crazy amount of driving for 5 days total.

+1. I was there last year for 9 days and it still felt rushed.

yas1708 wrote: ↑ Hi, I am planning this trip next week Wednesday to Sunday. We have only 5 days. We are in Mississauga, couples with 2 small kids. Just want to know if 5 days is sufficient for this trip. If we get time we are planning to stop at Quebec city for few hours to cover montmorency falls.
Just need some advice for this drive to Gaspe.
Is there any restrictions right now for covid? Do we need to book anything in advance for sightseeing? Thanks in advance.

You need at least 10 days especially with 2 small kids yo enjoy the trip and take in the sights.

yas1708 wrote: ↑ Hi, I am planning this trip next week Wednesday to Sunday. We have only 5 days. We are in Mississauga, couples with 2 small kids. Just want to know if 5 days is sufficient for this trip. If we get time we are planning to stop at Quebec city for few hours to cover montmorency falls.
Just need some advice for this drive to Gaspe.
Is there any restrictions right now for covid? Do we need to book anything in advance for sightseeing? Thanks in advance.

Honestly if you only have 5 days, I would just stick to Quebec City or Montreal (and even then, that's pretty much a full day drive there and back). If you tried to do Gaspe, more than half the time would be driving.

gumby_ng wrote: ↑ Where in Gaspe are you going? You know that to drive all the way to the end it's 15 hours? Even if you did the western parts of Gaspe, I think it's a crazy amount of driving for 5 days total.

Hi. Apologies for the late reply. Below is the plan
Day1: Drive to Quebec city. Start early morning. Reach Quebec in evening and visit Montmorency Falls
Day2: Drive to Gaspe and Rest
Day3: Visit Parc national Forillon and other near by places in gaspe
Day4: Visit Perce and Bonaventure Island
Day5: Return to Mississauga. (Long Drive 15 hrs)

I guess it will be difficult in 5 days as all mentioned in the post, especially with small kids. I am re-thinking to see if I can make it in 6 days or will re-consider the plan.
If possible, can you let me know the must see sightseeing spots / places in Gaspe and Perce. I have only Parc national Forillon, Perce Rock and Bonaventure Island in my list. Did I miss anything?
Thanks

yas1708 wrote: ↑ Hi. Apologies for the late reply. Below is the plan
Day1: Drive to Quebec city. Start early morning. Reach Quebec in evening and visit Montmorency Falls
Day2: Drive to Gaspe and Rest
Day3: Visit Parc national Forillon and other near by places in gaspe
Day4: Visit Perce and Bonaventure Island
Day5: Return to Mississauga. (Long Drive 15 hrs)

I guess it will be difficult in 5 days as all mentioned in the post, especially with small kids. I am re-thinking to see if I can make it in 6 days or will re-consider the plan.
If possible, can you let me know the must see sightseeing spots / places in Gaspe and Perce. I have only Parc national Forillon, Perce Rock and Bonaventure Island in my list. Did I miss anything?
Thanks

Once again I would never do this especially with young kids. You are driving two 15 hour days for a 5 day trip. Originally we were planning 12 days from Ottawa but then had to cut back to 7 days. With even being closer it wasn't worth the drive for us so we are flying out to Halifax on the cheap with Flair instead.

There's also whale watching at Forillon, some museums in Gaspe, the town. For our 12 day trip we had booked 3 nights near Forillon and 2 nights in Perce, longer than your entire trip. There's so much to do before Forillon, save it for when you have more time. Your kids when they are older might enjoy it more if they like the outdoors.

If you still go, please let us know how it turns out.

photos from our recent drive through Gaspe/Perce

yas1708 wrote: ↑ Day5: Return to Mississauga. (Long Drive 15 hrs)

Don't forget it's a 15 hour drive assuming no delays and no stops. If I was doing it, I would probably need to add time for two meals and probably at least two shorter stops. Even day one, if I was driving for leisure, there's no way I'm doing GTA to Quebec City in one stretch without a stop. It's not fun and it's probably not even safe.

Look at day one - assume you leave at 6am. It's an 8-9 hour drive to Quebec City, so let's say you stop for lunch somewhere and one other stop for gas/drink/washroom. That adds another hour. Get to the hotel at 4pm assuming everything goes smoothly. Are the kids really going to want to get back in the car and go sightseeing? Everyone is different but at a minimum I would want a full rest day in QC and a full rest day there or Montreal on the way back. Just something to think about because I wouldn't want you all to go to the trouble of driving all the way there and back, given how much it all costs in time as well as money, and not even feel good enough to enjoy it.

What about this 6d 5night plan, a lot of driving, maybe we can go in Sept, maybe not.

---------------------------------------------Driving--------------Play----------------------Night
d1 T to QC----------------------------8hr ----------------n/a--------------------------Qcity
d2 QC to Tadossac------------------3hr----------- whale watching--------------Tad
d3 tado to gaspesie np-------------5hr-------------roadside---------------------gaspesie np
d4 gaspesie to gaspe---------------2hr-------------roadside--------------------aspesie np
d5 gaspesie np to MTL-------------8hr-------------n/a -------------------------- MTL
d6 MTL to Tor through OTW-------7hr--------------OTW-----------------------home

Questions:
Where is the best port for whale watching service? and the cost? and is the small boat get any sea sickness?
Any sight-worth spot along 401 that's seems to be the most time consuming and boring part of the trip.
I believe campsite will be so hard to book now, maybe not worth to drag a trailer for that.

napoleonbot wrote: ↑What about this 6d 5night plan, a lot of driving, maybe we can go in Sept, maybe not.

---------------------------------------------Driving--------------Play----------------------Night
d1 T to QC----------------------------8hr ----------------n/a--------------------------Qcity
d2 QC to Tadossac------------------3hr----------- whale watching--------------Tad
d3 tado to gaspesie np-------------5hr-------------roadside---------------------gaspesie np
d4 gaspesie to gaspe---------------2hr-------------roadside--------------------aspesie np
d5 gaspesie np to MTL-------------8hr-------------n/a -------------------------- MTL
d6 MTL to Tor through OTW-------7hr--------------OTW-----------------------home

Questions:
Where is the best port for whale watching service? and the cost? and is the small boat get any sea sickness?
Any sight-worth spot along 401 that's seems to be the most time consuming and boring part of the trip.
I believe campsite will be so hard to book now, maybe not worth to drag a trailer for that.

What is with all these itineraries involving so much time spent driving. You are averaging over 5 hours per day spent driving on this trip.

What about just doing the Saguenay region? We spent 8 days just doing that from Ottawa. Drive up one bank of the Saguenay River and back the other. Lots of awesome hiking and other activities and museums. We went whale watching in Tadoussac and enjoyed it. We also saw whales from land both along the St. Lawrence and the Saguenay.

Cost can be found on websites probably. We went with Croisieres Escoumin and we were happy with them. We had no issues with getting but everyone is different. We went on a boat in Cape Cod and they were giving out Gravol which we glad we took. Many people on that boat were sick. If anyone is prone to sea sickness take a Gravol 30mins to an hour before. If you are out there and sick, it's too late. Just be aware that it will cause drowsiness but that's much easier to manage than getting sick.

napoleonbot wrote: ↑ What about this 6d 5night plan, a lot of driving, maybe we can go in Sept, maybe not.

---------------------------------------------Driving--------------Play----------------------Night
d1 T to QC----------------------------8hr ----------------n/a--------------------------Qcity
d2 QC to Tadossac------------------3hr----------- whale watching--------------Tad
d3 tado to gaspesie np-------------5hr-------------roadside---------------------gaspesie np
d4 gaspesie to gaspe---------------2hr-------------roadside--------------------aspesie np
d5 gaspesie np to MTL-------------8hr-------------n/a -------------------------- MTL
d6 MTL to Tor through OTW-------7hr--------------OTW-----------------------home

Questions:
Where is the best port for whale watching service? and the cost? and is the small boat get any sea sickness?
Any sight-worth spot along 401 that's seems to be the most time consuming and boring part of the trip.
I believe campsite will be so hard to book now, maybe not worth to drag a trailer for that.

Thanks for the better set up in this reply than the previous one … Reply # 16
(BTW … you can DELETE the previous one … just click on the TRASH CAN in its bottom corner )

Itinerary is Better.
But IMO still a pretty rushed trip
My minimum for this circuit would be 10 Days
Esp so if there’s a lot of places enroute you’ve never been before

Tadoussac is reknowned for whale watching.
I would say it’s your best bet along the St Lawrence
Seasickness is truly a personal characteristic …
Some folks have good sea legs … others do not
Some do fine no matter the boat / ship or sea conditions
Others don’t
All you can do is plan for the worst
And hope for the best

GOOGLE to find Meds & suggested remedies / preventions

For the best experience on the drive
I suggest the Quebec City drive be done on both sides of the St Lawrence
One side going, the other returning
The Trans Canada is the fastest route … 401 / Autoroute 20
And throw in the Montreal Bypass … Autoroute 30

Returning via Ottawa
It’s Autoroutes 40 / 640 / 15 / and 50

So you won’t actually need to return to / go thru Montreal
At all either going or coming … unless you actually want to

On your return …
Instead look for accommodations north of the city …
Laval is always a good bet if you don’t want to stay over in Gatineau or Ottawa
(Although going back to the GTA from Quebec City thru Ottawa … the NCR is closer to half way )

Be sure and get off the Expressway at some point between Quebec City & Trois Rivieres / 3 Rivers
To take in the sights along Hwy 138 for a bit

Hwy 138 here is known as Chemin du Roy (Kings Road)
And has historical significance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemin_du_Roy

You can find out a lot about Quebec (Province & City) via the Quebec Tourism website

https://www.bonjourquebec.com
https://www.quebec-cite.com

Example here’s there info on Chemin du Roy

https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-ca/whe ... ing-s-road
https://www.quebec-cite.com/en/what-to- ... chemin-roy

I was going to make a new post but saw this.

We plan on going to Gaspe in September for about 5 days. From Montreal I was thinking the below :

1 night in Sainte Flavie...next day visit Matane for some famous shrimp and visit some small towns along the way

2 night in either Anse au Griffon, Cap des Rosiers or Cap aux Os...any recommendations on these places or what to see or do there. I heard of parc forillon. We are not hikers...we just want to see the area and chill at a nice area for lunch etc....also see the lighthouse. It was suggested we also visit Coin du Banc on the way to Perce. Anything particular to see here?

3 night in Perce...visit town and rock....maybe bonaventure island.

4 night it was suggested we visit Anse de Beaufils and Carlteon sur mer but we are not sure if we should stay here. Is there another town before Riviere du Loup you suggest we can stay at?

Our days are flexible so we can add a day here and there if needed.

Any covered bridges we can visit in these areas?

boneca wrote: ↑ Any covered bridges we can visit in these areas?

If you are driving the loop on the 132, there's one on the way in Routhierville.