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Cultural drive · Québec
Bas-Saint-Laurent & Route des Navigateurs
The south shore, where the river becomes the sea.
Overview
The south shore of the St. Lawrence between Québec City and Rimouski is one of the country's underrated drives: an agricultural coastline of silver-roofed houses, lighthouses and river islands.
Route 132 links Montmagny, Kamouraska, Rivière-du-Loup and Le Bic before reaching Rimouski, roughly 360 km as an estimate. Kamouraska is the visual highlight, and Parc national du Bic near Rimouski packs fjord-like coves and seal haul-outs into a small area.
Ferries from Rivière-du-Loup and Trois-Pistoles cross to the north shore, and island excursions run to Île aux Basques and Île Verte. All are seasonal and weather-dependent — check operators directly before scheduling a crossing.
Distances and driving times on this page are planning estimates measured door to door without stops. Confirm ferry sailings, seasonal road openings, park access, fuel availability and weather with the operator or provincial highway service before you leave.
Distance
≈ 360 km
Estimate, Québec → Rimouski
Highway
Route 132
River-hugging
Ferries
Seasonal
Rivière-du-Loup, Trois-Pistoles
Pace
4 days
Village-led
The route
From start to finish
An approximate path through 6 key waypoints along the drive.
Driving times
Leg by leg
310 km across 5 legs. Times exclude stops, ferries, and weather contingencies.
| # | From → To | Distance | Driving time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Québec City → Montmagny | 60 km | 0h 45m | — |
| 02 | Montmagny → Kamouraska | 95 km | 1h 05m | — |
| 03 | Kamouraska → Rivière-du-Loup | 45 km | 0h 35m | — |
| 04 | Rivière-du-Loup → Le Bic | 90 km | 1h 05m | — |
| 05 | Le Bic → Rimouski | 20 km | 0h 20m | — |
| Total | 310 km | 3h+ | Drive time only |
Day by day
The itinerary
A suggested route designed to balance driving time with the stops that matter.
Québec City to Kamouraska
Follow the river east through Montmagny and La Pocatière, arriving at Kamouraska for sunset.
Rivière-du-Loup and the islands
Visit the Pointe de Rivière-du-Loup, then take a seasonal island excursion if one is sailing.
Trois-Pistoles to Le Bic
Drive the coast to Parc national du Bic and walk the shoreline trails at low tide.
Rimouski
Visit the Pointe-au-Père maritime historic site and submarine, then return west or continue to the Gaspé.
When to drive
Month by month
Best window: June – October. Plan around shoulder months for fewer crowds at the cost of variable weather.
Budget
Three ways to drive it
Smart
$165–$275/ day
- Drive days
- 4
- Lodging
- Campgrounds, motels and small B&Bs
- Food
- Groceries, bakeries and roadside diners
- Experiences
- Self-guided hikes, beaches and viewpoints
Mid
$315–$545/ day
- Drive days
- 4
- Lodging
- Inns, lodges and mid-range hotels
- Food
- Regional restaurants and one standout meal a day
- Experiences
- One guided tour or ticketed attraction most days
Premium
$865+/ day
- Drive days
- 4
- Lodging
- Boutique hotels, resorts and premium lodges
- Food
- Chef-led tasting menus and producer visits
- Experiences
- Private guides, charters and small-group tours
Editorial picks
Where to stop, sleep, and eat
Stop
Kamouraska
Bas-Saint-Laurent
The prettiest village on the south shore, and the best sunsets.
Stop
Parc national du Bic
Le Bic
Coves, capes and seal haul-outs in a compact Sépaq park.
Stop
Pointe-au-Père
Rimouski
Lighthouse, Empress of Ireland museum and a submarine you can board.
Signature stops
Don't miss
Kamouraska village
Parc national du Bic
Pointe-au-Père lighthouse and submarine
St. Lawrence island excursions
Before you go
The prep checklist.
Practical things to lock in before you leave the driveway.
- Confirm island and cross-river ferry sailings before scheduling them.
- Check tide times for shoreline walking at Le Bic.
- Book Kamouraska accommodation early — the village is tiny.
- Sépaq parks may require a day pass in peak season.
Where this road leads
Related destinations
Good to know
Frequently
asked.
Practical answers from travellers who have driven this route.
- How does this connect to the Gaspé?
- Directly — Route 132 continues east from Rimouski around the Gaspé Peninsula, so the two routes chain into a longer trip.
- Are the river ferries reliable?
- They are seasonal and can be cancelled for weather or maintenance. Confirm sailings with the operator on the day and keep a driving alternative in mind.
- What is the food like?
- Excellent and local: lamb from Kamouraska, smoked fish, cheeses and cider along the whole route.
Planning the bigger trip?
Read our full guide to Canadian road-trip itineraries.
Along this route
Parks, camps, and cities on the drive
Every place below is within a comfortable side-trip of the route waypoints — surfaced automatically from our national-park, provincial-park, campground, and city datasets.
Nearby national parks
Nearby provincial parks
Nearby campgrounds
Cities along the way
Curated trips
Related packages
Travel styles
Related experiences
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Nearby events & festivals
Events along the Bas-Saint-Laurent & Route des Navigateurs route — worth timing your trip around.
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