Question of getting out of your routine for a day or the weekend, here are several destinations that will disorient you from Quebec.
You can play tourist as much as you want with these regions accessible less than 2h30 from the bridges, promise! Also check out our list of mini-trips from Montreal.
Here are 15 one-day roadtrip destinations from Quebec City.
National Capital
1. Baie-Saint-Paul
The magnificent city of Baie-Saint-Paul unfolds before our eyes as we reach the heights of the 138. Whether it is to stroll through the various downtown shops and discover the artisans, or to admire the view from the river, Baie-Saint-Paul remains a favorite for everyone who sets foot there. You may find it difficult to choose from the best restaurants in town to enjoy the gastronomy. The greediest will imperatively make a detour by the Charlevoix dairy and their famous cheeses, including 1608. About an hour from Quebec City, it’s a very popular destination.
2. Isle-Aux-Coudres
You have to go through Baie-Saint-Paul to reach the charming Isle-Aux-Coudres. Accessible only by ferry, you let yourself be immersed in the river that surrounds the destination. Thereafter, we advise you to rent bicycles from bike-sew to go around the island. The bikes are available as singles, doubles, or for 4 to 6 people. You will be able to enjoy the great outdoors and landscapes in an original way. A few stops are essential during your tour of Isle-Aux-Coudres. There is the Cidrerie Vergers Pedneault, the Boulangerie Bouchard, the Chocolaterie du Village to enjoy an ice cream by the water, the mill and the Quai de l’Anse and its fishing huts.
3. Cote-de-Beaupre
Passing by the avenue Royale to take an interest in the charming little old houses, discover the Côte-de-Beaupré. After a stop at Montmorency Falls, you can enjoy a road that seems straight out of the past and perhaps go to Plage-Rhéaume, visit the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré for the grandeur of the place, Quai Sainte-Anne, Mont-Sainte-Anne and its colors as well as Canyon Ste-Anne. You can take your time in the regional county municipality and let yourself be charmed. If you have several hours ahead of you, you can enjoy the view in a different way, at the Spa des Neiges.
4. Portneuf
About 40 minutes from downtown Quebec is a region rich in nature and attractions. Whether we think of the Vallée Bras-du-Nord with more than 80 kilometers of hiking trails and a hundred kilometers of mountain bike trails or even the Portneuf wildlife reserve, you will be in the right place to completely disconnect from the daily. For water lovers, the blue route, a secure and marked maritime path, allows you to kayak on the St. Lawrence. Are you a water lover ascending glutton? Book your expedition with Paddlesa nomadic company that offers gourmet paddle board excursions while introducing people to the richness of local artisans in Portneuf.
5. Saint-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier
Crossed by the Jacques-Cartier River, this destination 25 minutes from Quebec City is teeming with the most charming activities. Discover the public market open on Sundays until mid-October, the relics and reproductions of crosses to learn more about the history of Quebec or take advantage of the abundant nature of the region. Several outdoor activities are accessible to the Duchesnay tourist resort, such as SUP or kayak rental to sail on the magnificent Lac Saint-Joseph. You can also take the Chemin de la Liseuse, which also passes through Pont-Rouge, on foot or by bike. Your roadtrip You can also be zen by renting a SUP at the Yogi Nomade kiosk in Parc du Grand Héron.
6. Ile d’Orleans
The riches of Île d’Orléans make it possible to spend a whole day there and take your time, barely fifteen minutes from Quebec. Whether you start on the left or the right, you will have many attractions to linger over, which you can also discover just here. A new shutdown is also all the rage, la Midinette Fancy bakery and refreshment bar, initiated by the entrepreneurs behind Cassis Mona et Filles. Pass also by the fields of flowers and the intoxicating vineyards.
Chaudiere-Appalaches
7. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli
The municipality of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli attracts tourists with its magnificent landscape on the banks of the Saint-Lawrence River and its artisans with boundless talents. Visit the many studio-galleries, shops and museums on offer, and take a moment to taste the beers from the microbrewery Race L’Bock with a few bites. A village for bon vivants about an hour and a half from Quebec.
8. Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce and surroundings
Strolling through the Beauce, here is a project that will amaze you and fill your head. In Sainte-Marie, Domaine Taschereau – Parc Nature will allow you to experience the most beautiful nature that surrounds us. You must also pass by JA Vachon., the house which saw the birth of the company of the famous p’tits Vachon cakes. Of course, you can get them there. Stock up on provisions for a picnic at the Jardins de la petite école de Céline, a beautiful place that seems enchanted. Food lovers will also want to take advantage of the time spent at the Marland blueberry field. Animal lovers, you could go to the Miller Zoo in Frampton, now known throughout Quebec thanks to the owners and endearing residents. Passionate about old animals, it is also possible to discover the Woodooli Park, a forest park lined with dinosaurs.
9. Saint-Georges-de-Beauce
Known as one of the most dynamic cities in Canada, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce has several attractions that will make your roadtrip an exceptional expedition. Pozer Island Park will make you feel like you’re on a trip to an American tourist town where you’ll feel like you’re in a movie. Also take a hike in the Parc des Sept Chutes through the magnificent larger-than-life trails. Sit down at one of their many restaurants for a scrumptious lunch or a satisfying meal. Apparently, Saint-Ben’s is said to be a fail-safe choice for lunch. To complete your trip, stop by La Société Microbrasserie et Restaurant to taste the local beers. A bit more time? Head to Saint-Côme-de-Linière to unearth ancient treasures at Ancestral Recovery.
10. Bellechasse
The MRC de Bellechasse is full of pretty little villages to visit on a whim. By bike, take the Bellechasse cycle route, stopping to admire the landscape. No bikes, you can rent antique-looking e-bikes at the kiosk Velopop! to discover Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse and its attractions. Bellechasse includes Mont Chocolat, given this name for the resemblance to a candy Cherry Blossom, Parc des Chutes-Rouillard, Domaine Bel-Chas vineyard, Ricaneux, Mont du Midi, Parc des Chutes d’Armagh and much more. Yours to Discover!
11. La Pocatiere
La Pocatière is the gateway to Bas-Saint-Laurent. The Halte marine de la Maison du Kamouraska will make you discover biodiversity through five main themes, with the added bonus of privileged access to the river and the local marsh. We suggest that you stay for a bite to eat for supper in order to take all of your day off. Thereafter you must stay until the sunsets, we admire the most beautiful in Quebec. Adventurous? Maybe you will try it great maze of La Pocatière. A course that can give you a hard time through a huge field of corn, on the way to obtaining a mention in the Guinness Book of Records.
12. Montmagny-L’Islet
The region will be perfect for lovers of local products and lovely landscapes. About forty minutes from the bridges, Montmagny retains the site of the basin and the Montmagny falls, where it is possible to navigate by kayak or even enjoy the facilities on foot with the walkways, the Marina and the river station. . You must see the park of the pioneers, name taken from the historical occupations of the place, as well as the garden of the stumps. If you prefer interior visits, discover the Accordion Museum, the Sir Étienne-Paschal-Taché House and the library, partly housed in the former St-Thomas presbytery and housing exhibitions. Also enjoy the terrace of the Côte-du-Sud microbrewery. In this escape, take the ferry to Isle-aux-Grues. Besides the magnificent viewpoints and incredible nature, the craftsmen will surprise you. You will need a good basket to stock up at the Fromagerie de l’Isle.
Lower St. Lawrence
• Read also: Bas-Saint-Laurent: 21 things to do on your next road trip
13. Kamouraska
The municipality of Kamouraska is not a favorite of our Quebec stars for nothing. This magnificent region will take your breath away. Through the various villages in which to walk, discover the Regional Museum of Kamouraska, stroll on the shore while admiring the landscape and make a few gourmet stops, either at the Chocolaterie La Fée Gourmand, at the Bistro de la mer and at the Café du Bell tower. You should also make a stop at the Tête d’Allumette for a beer and board games moment.
14. Riviere Du Loup
Two hours from Quebec, Rivière-du-Loup will make you feel like you’re on vacation. Visit Parc des Chutes and stroll downtown teeming with merchants who work together to bring it all to life. Many restaurants welcome you with dishes to make your mouth water. You can also have a drink at La P’tite Gareat the microbrewery Aux Fous Brassant or on the restaurant’s new roof terrace Le Loft, Le Roof. On your way, plan to picnic at Parc de la Pointe and pass by Notre-Dame-du-Portage for the beauty of the place and there too, the breathtaking sunsets of the Bas-Saint-Laurent.
Mauricie
15. Shawinigan
Shawinigan is a pleasant destination when you take a day to discover the place. You could learn more about our greatest natural resource at La Cité de l’énergie, or go on water or land hikes that will rejuvenate you. Several corners are set up along the bodies of water that surround Shawinigan in order to swim and relax. Shawinigan also has many waterfalls to explore. Twenty minutes from the city at Notre-Dame-Du-Mont-Carmel, the enchanting domain, which accepts dogs, includes an animal park, a suspended labyrinth, hebertism and more for a successful day outdoors. For those cravings, the town of Shawi, as the regulars call it, is full of some pretty cool restaurants to try.
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