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Montreal to Quebec City With + Without a Car
Updated: Aug 27
Quebec is Canada’s charmingly French region. It’s a must-visit while in Canada, with two of the best places to visit being Quebec City and Montreal. Here you will enjoy delicious French-Canadian food, stunning architecture, museums, city life, and more.
If you're wondering how to get from Montreal to Quebec City, good news. Alpacka My Bags is here to help! Keep reading to learn how to get between the cities with and without a car! Take the scenic drive or plan your train trip with this guide.
Montreal to Quebec City With a Car
Driving Route
One option for getting from Montreal to Quebec City and back is to drive. Who knew? Honestly though, if you’ve ever driven on the right side of the road, you’ll be golden when driving in Quebec. The average drive from Montreal to Quebec City takes 3 hours.
The two most common routes are taking the A20 or the A40 to get from Montreal to Quebec City.
The A20 is the fastest route and generally takes a little under 3 hours. Or you can opt to drive along the St Lawrence River on the A40. This route takes about 15 to 30 minutes longer, but the A40 is more scenic.
For my fellow Americans, the only major difference between driving in Quebec and driving in the US are the speed limits. Remember they use kilometers per hour in Canada! The drive from Montreal to Quebec City is mostly all on major highways, so directions will be easy to follow.
Driving is a great option if you want to explore more of the province. Once outside of major cities, it is hard to get around without a car. Check out the best day trips from Quebec City and see for yourself how beautiful Quebec is.
Directions
Use your preferred maps or directions app, ours is Google Maps, plug in your specific destination, and hit the road. Keep in mind, gas is fairly expensive in Canada. It’s also based on price per liter, not gallon, my American friends.
If you don’t have an international phone plan, find some free wifi while you’re still in Montreal, maybe in your hotel, plug in the directions before you leave, and Google Maps will keep the directions up even if you lose internet access!
This is only if you keep the route open though. Don’t close the app or end your trip, otherwise, the directions will be lost! Don’t fret about driving in another country if you’re from outside of Canada. Check out more driving tips below!
Read Also: Driving in Quebec City
Best Route from Montreal to Quebec City
Starting in Montreal, Canada, there are two main routes you can drive to get to Quebec City. One is slightly shorter at an average of 3 hours, and one is slightyl longer but more scenic at 3 hours and 45 minutes.
The southern route (A20) is shorter and takes you through Saint-Hyacinthe, Drummondville, and Levis. The northern route (A40) follows along the St Lawrence River most of the way, offering a much more scenic drive.
If you have the time, I recommend taking the northern scenic route and stopping in a few places like Trois-Rivières and Port Neuf. Below are my suggestions on where to stop when driving from Montreal to Quebec City.
Berthierville
Sentiers pédestres des îles de Berthier | Hiking area (dog-friendly)
Cantine Chez Boguette | Quick, easy stop for yummy food
Trois-Rivières
Moulin seigneurial de Pointe-du-Lac | Local museum and walking area
River Terraces Park | Large, open space park on the riverfront
Milk Bar the Polar Star | Ice cream shop
Gambrinus | Brewpub with food menu and (must try their poutine)
Portneuf
Quai de Portneuf | Scenic photo spot on St Lawrence River
Observatoire ornithologique de Portneuf | Park on the river (great for birdwatching)
Montreal to Quebec by Train and Bus
Another option, if you don’t have your own car or aren’t renting one while in Canada, is getting from Montreal to Quebec by train or bus.
This is a great option if you don’t want to get behind the wheel and plan on staying only in the city. The average train journey takes 3 hours, 30 minutes, and the average bus journey takes 3 hours, 50 minutes.
Train tickets range from USD $65 to USD $310 roundtrip. There are various ticket types you can purchase, just like on a plane.
The most basic is the “Escape” ticket, which is the cheapest, and they progressively get more expensive until you reach the “Business Plus” option, which is the most expensive.
Bus tickets range from USD $50 to USD $67. I recommend booking train or bus tickets in advance to secure the best price.
If you want to buy a train or bus ticket day of or for the next day, you risk not being able to find any tickets if they’re sold out and also paying much higher prices.
Taking the train or bus from Montreal to Quebec City and back is definitely the most convenient option. It allows you to work or relax while on the journey. It is a slightly longer journey than driving, but not by much.
If you plan on taking the train, you can book tickets below!
If you plan on taking the bus, you can book tickets below!
Recap: Getting to Quebec City from Montreal
Driving is the quickest, and often cheapest, option if you have your own car with you. However, if you won’t need a car for the rest of your trip, renting one just to drive from Montreal to Quebec City will be quite expensive.
Taking the train from Montreal to Quebec City can be quite expensive too, but it is convenient. If you don’t want to rent a car, this is definitely the best option. And if you don’t know when you’ll be back in Canada, the train tickets are so worth it! Quebec City is a wonderful place to visit.
If you plan on using a car, check out our guide to driving in Quebec City so you can get around without worries. There are cool places to visit outside of Quebec City as well, which are reachable if you have a car.
Now you know how to get from Montreal to Quebec City and back, when are you planning your Canada trip? Will you be visiting other places as well? Canada is a vast, beautiful country with many places worth visiting.
While traveling in the Quebec region, check out the best coffee shops in Quebec City and make sure you try these traditional Quebecois foods! Pick up some basic French phrases, pack your bags, and have fun in Quebec, Canada!
Keep planning your Quebec trip!
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