10 Best Road Trips Near Quebec City

Jacques-Cartier National Park, or Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier, is the closest protected area to the city, making it a hit among nature-loving Québécois. Most come to explore Vallée de la Jacques-Cartier, a verdant valley that slices through a mountainous plateau. The pristine Jacques Cartier River runs along the bottom, ideal for kayaking, tubing, and paddleboarding.

In winter, the park is popular with off-piste skiers, snowshoe trekkers, and sledders – keep an eye out for blizzard-induced road closures. Summer is all about hiking, fishing, and biking through the thick coniferous forests. As it’s a quick, easy 45-minute trip from Quebec City, you’ll be back home in time for tea.

Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area is a birder’s paradise, as this wildlife refuge close to Quebec is home to over 180 avian species. A 45-minute trip along the St. Lawrence River leads you to these vast coastal wetlands. During autumn and spring, enormous snow geese flocks (some up to 10,000 strong) rest here on their cross-continental migration.

Gentle hiking trails wind through the wetlands to bring you closer to your feathered friends. Bring a pair of binoculars to spot warblers, birds of prey, and dozens of different duck species. There’s no accommodation on-site, so plan to head back to Quebec in the afternoon.

Baie-Saint-Paul offers a quaint country escape just an hour from Quebec City. A panoramic drive through the lush Laurentian Mountains leads to this small rural city at the mouth of the Gouffre River. The town is best known for its eclectic collection of galleries and boutiques – most line the charming Rue Sainte-Anne.

Art enthusiasts mustn’t miss the Baie-Saint-Paul Museum of Contemporary Art or the Galerie d’Art Iris Enr. If you’re feeling peckish, a string of high-end haute cuisine restaurants serves refined French fare along the Gouffre River (Le Mouton Noir is a solid choice).

Île d’Orléans is a fertile farming island on the St Lawrence River, some 17 km from Old Quebec City. Packed full of small-scale producers and vineyards, this tranquil region is Quebec’s unofficial epicurean epicentre. Many of the city’s top fine-dining restaurants source produce here, so you know the quality is on point.

Six small communities lie scattered around the island, each with quaint little villages to explore. Spend a satiating day sampling farm-fresh produce from artisan producers and drink top-quality wine. If cider is more your thing, check out Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau instead. The beach in Saint-Jean is the most scenic spot to swim and escape the summer heat.

The village of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier is home to the widely popular Village Vacances Valcartier resort. Set in the scenic Jacques-Cartier River valley, this enormous family-orientated amusement park has an impressive selection of waterslides and other aquatic thrills. Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier is only a half-hour drive from Quebec City.

In winter, the adrenaline-pumping snow-tubing park lures in the crowds. You’ll also get to see the iconic Hôtel de Glace, a seasonal hotel built from carved ice shards. Guests stay in intricate icy rooms and can try maple taffy or frosty cocktails at the frozen bar. Not keen to stay overnight? Day passes and guided tours are also available.

Beaupré is a lovely little town at the mouth of the Sainte-Anne-du-Nord River. The short, scenic drive to get there from Quebec straddles the St Lawrence River, passing art galleries, wineries, and artisanal grocers en-route. Another worthy stop is the neo-romanesque Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, a stunning cathedral famed for its wood carvings and stone sculptures.

In winter, the region lures a legion of thrill-seekers who come to hurtle down Mont-Sainte-Anne, the highest ski resort in eastern Canada. During the warmer months, the hiking, rappelling, and ziplining at Canyon Sainte-Anne are superb.

Grosse Île is a historic St Lawrence island that once served as Canada’s primary migration gateway. In the early 19^th and 20^th centuries, thousands of Irish immigrants stopped here for processing on their way to start a new life in Quebec. The Irish Memorial National Historic Site recognises the critical role immigration has played in Canadian history.

Grosse Île also served as an international quarantine station – it was vital during the mid-19^th-century typhus epidemic. The Disinfection Building provides sombre insight into those troubled years. Because there’s no bridge to the island, you’ll need to drive to the marina at Berthier-sur-Mer and jump on a passenger ferry (3 departures are available daily).

Levis is a small, laidback town on the St Lawrence River, directly opposite Quebec City. Upon crossing the Pierre-Laporte Bridge, keep an eye out for the turnoff to Chaudière Falls Park. These roaring waterfalls thunder down the Chaudière River and are best admired from the pedestrian-only suspension bridge.

There’s plenty to see around town, including the magnificent mansion of the Alphonse Desjardins family (now a free museum). The British built the Lévis Forts National Historic Site in the 19^th century to safeguard the town. Jump on a guided tour to explore its underground tunnels and chambers.

La Malbaie is a scenic resort village on the St Lawrence River. For over 2 centuries, the town has welcomed well-to-do holidaymakers who come to live the high life in its luxury hotels. The iconic château-style Casino de Charlevoix offers table games with epic river views. Next door, Hôtel Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu does 5-star rooms and fine gourmet dining.

If you’d like to learn more about regional history, Musée Charlevoix will fill you in. From May to October, marine cruises take you on memorably exciting journeys. A little further afield, the Mont Grand-Fonds ski resort has a solid selection of exhilarating runs.

Parc Régional du Massif du Sud (South Massif Regional Park) is a spectacular wilderness region with a wide array of activities to enjoy year-round. In winter, its elevated location (900 metres) ensures ample snowfall, making it a playground for cross-country skiers and snowshoe trekkers.

Once the powder has melted away, the lush alpine scenery is superb for hiking and mountain climbing. Fatbike riding is also a popular pursuit, with stacks of thrilling trails open throughout the year. If you’d like to extend your stay, you’ll find comfortable forest lodgings and rustic campgrounds.