Québec’s road network extends for some 185,000 km.
For up-to-the-minute information on road conditions:
Travel info – Transports Québec
Tel.: 1 888 355-0511
By motorcycle:
It is forbidden to ride a motorcycle in Québec between December 15 and March 15.
Protective helmets are mandatory for motorcyclists in Québec.
The table below shows driving distances (km) between Montréal, Québec City, Gatineau and about a dozen major Québec towns.
To calculate travel times and distances between destinations, use the tool provided by Transports Québec.
| Montréal | Québec | Gatineau | |
| Gaspé | 930 | 700 | 1125 |
| Gatineau | 207 | 450 | - |
| Montréal | - | 253 | 207 |
| Mont-Tremblant | 135 | 405 | 160 |
| Québec | 253 | - | 450 |
| Rimouski | 540 | 312 | 735 |
| Rouyn-Noranda | 638 | 877 | 535 |
| Saguenay | 465 | 211 | 662 |
| Sept-Îles | 900 | 652 | 1095 |
| Tadoussac | 475 | 205 | 685 |
All along Québec’s roadways, you’ll see signage specially designed to guide you to:
You can get to most of Québec’s cities and towns by bus. Intercity bus routes are offered by a few companies, among them Orléans Express, Intercar and Limocar.
Public transit services are available in Québec’s major cities. Montréal is served by a subway system (the “métro”), buses and commuter trains.
Given the sheer size of Québec, air travel is a fast, safe and extremely practical way to get around. Not only can you reach isolated regions like Nunavik that are inaccessible by road, you can also cover huge distances in next to no time, like Québec City–Gaspé or Montréal–Chibougamau, both of which take around 90 minutes.
Taking a plane is also a great way to get to the Basse-Côte-Nord (Duplessis) or the Îles-de-la-Madeleine in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A number of operators will let you charter a bush plane or seaplane to the destination of your choice.
Getting around Québec by plane
With several departures daily, the most popular train running is the one between Montréal and Québec City. You can also enjoy a longer ride by hopping aboard one of the trains departing for Matapédia (Gaspé), Saguenay or Senneterre (Abitibi-Témiscamingue) three times weekly. VIA Rail offers custom packages that let you explore Québec by rail at your own pace.
From May to October, the Train de Charlevoix invites you to discover the Charlevoix coastline between Québec City and Baie-Saint-Paul.
For an enjoyable trip by train
Québec boasts an impressive network of bike paths known as the Route Verte. Extending for a total of some 5,000 km, it lets you pedal your way clear across the province. Roll along at your own speed, spend your nights just off the bike path and get your fill of splendid landscapes!
Participating accommodation establishments and campgrounds in Vélo Québec’s Bienvenue cyclistes! program offer amenities tailored to the needs of cycle tourists. These include secure and sheltered bike storage (hotels and B&Bs only), access to tools and a wealth of useful information. The campgrounds offer cycle tourists tent sites with no need for advance booking, plus a sheltered place to dine in the event of bad weather.
As an adjunct to road travel, numerous ferries offer year-round or seasonal service on the St. Lawrence and other major rivers (including the Saguenay, Saint-Maurice, Richelieu and Outaouais). Pleasure boating is also highly popular on these waterways.
A ferry links Prince Edward Island to the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, which can also be accessed by cruise ship from Montréal or Québec City. A passenger-freight ship leaving from Rimouski serves the entire Basse-Côte-Nord region between Kegaska (where Route 138 comes to an end), Île d'Anticosti and Blanc-Sablon. Reservations are recommended, particularly during peak season.
Thanks to the Association maritime du Québec’s new voluntary classification program, some 50 of the province’s recreational marinas now have one to five “golden anchor” ratings. This organization also runs the Eco-Marina certification program as well as the nautical station program, a network of 15 of Québec's main marine destinations.
Proof of competency for pleasure boating is required :
In Québec, if you operate a boat with a motor and use it for recreation, you need proof of competency — something that shows you have a basic understanding of how to operate your boat safely and know what to do in an emergency. Proof of competency is required with all motor types (including electric trolling motors) and even when the motor is not in use (such as when sailing).
For a visitor to Québec, an operator card or other document that meets the requirements of his or her home state or country. More informations.
