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Wilderness drive · Québec
Côte-Nord Whale Route
Follow Route 138 until the road runs out.
Overview
Route 138 hugs the north shore of the St. Lawrence for hundreds of kilometres, past whale-watching harbours, boreal rivers and eventually the limestone monoliths of the Mingan Archipelago.
From Tadoussac at the mouth of the Saguenay, the route runs through Les Escoumins, Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles to Havre-Saint-Pierre — roughly 700 km as an estimate. Beyond that, Route 138 continues in disconnected segments and the far eastern communities are reached by boat or air.
The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park protects a feeding area where belugas are resident and large baleen whales gather seasonally. Belugas are a protected population and approach rules are strict; book with operators who follow the marine park's regulations, and treat any sighting from shore as the better option.
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
≈ 700 km
Estimate, Tadoussac → Havre-Saint-Pierre
Marine park
Protected
Strict approach rules
Highway
Route 138
Segmented east of Natashquan
Pace
6 days
Long coastal legs
The route
From start to finish
An approximate path through 5 key waypoints along the drive.
Driving times
Leg by leg
665 km across 4 legs. Times exclude stops, ferries, and weather contingencies.
| # | From → To | Distance | Driving time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tadoussac → Les Escoumins | 40 km | 0h 35m | — |
| 02 | Les Escoumins → Baie-Comeau | 175 km | 2h 00m | — |
| 03 | Baie-Comeau → Sept-Îles | 230 km | 2h 40m | — |
| 04 | Sept-Îles → Havre-Saint-Pierre | 220 km | 2h 40m | — |
| Total | 665 km | 7h+ | Drive time only |
Day by day
The itinerary
A suggested route designed to balance driving time with the stops that matter.
Tadoussac
Cross the Saguenay ferry, settle in the village, and watch for whales from Pointe de l'Islet on foot.
Les Escoumins and the marine park
Take a regulated whale-watching excursion, then continue up the coast.
Baie-Comeau
Drive the Manicouagan coast, visit the Manic-5 dam area if tours are running.
Sept-Îles
Long coastal driving day; explore the archipelago boat trips and the Innu cultural museum.
Mingan Archipelago
Reach Havre-Saint-Pierre and take a boat to the Mingan monoliths with a licensed operator.
Return west
Retrace Route 138, or connect onward toward the Gaspé via the Matane ferry if it is sailing.
When to drive
Month by month
Best window: June – September. Plan around shoulder months for fewer crowds at the cost of variable weather.
Budget
Three ways to drive it
Smart
$190–$300/ day
- Drive days
- 6
- Lodging
- Campgrounds, motels and small B&Bs
- Food
- Groceries, bakeries and roadside diners
- Experiences
- Self-guided hikes, beaches and viewpoints
Mid
$340–$570/ day
- Drive days
- 6
- 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
$890+/ day
- Drive days
- 6
- 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
Pointe de l'Islet
Tadoussac
Free shore-based whale watching on a short village headland.
Operator
Marine-park-compliant excursions
Tadoussac / Les Escoumins
Choose operators bound by the marine park's approach rules.
Stop
Mingan monoliths
Havre-Saint-Pierre
Eroded limestone giants reached by licensed boat.
Signature stops
Don't miss
Tadoussac and the Saguenay fjord mouth
Whale watching in the marine park
Sept-Îles archipelago
Mingan Archipelago monoliths
Before you go
The prep checklist.
Practical things to lock in before you leave the driveway.
- Confirm the Saguenay ferry and any onward crossings before planning nights.
- Book whale excursions with operators who follow marine park regulations.
- Fuel is spaced widely east of Baie-Comeau.
- French is the working language along most of the coast.
Where this road leads
Related destinations
Good to know
Frequently
asked.
Practical answers from travellers who have driven this route.
- What whales might I see?
- The marine park is known for resident belugas and seasonal baleen whales including minke, fin and humpback. Nothing is guaranteed — sightings depend on season, feed and weather.
- How far does Route 138 go?
- It runs continuously to the Havre-Saint-Pierre region and then exists in separate segments further east. Confirm the current state of the highway before planning to drive beyond Natashquan.
- Is French essential?
- It helps a great deal outside Tadoussac. Tourism operators generally work in English, but signage and small businesses are French-first.
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.
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