The Gaspé Peninsula loop on Route 132, more than 930 km around the peninsula, extended here from Quebec City along the Lower St. Lawrence coast.
| Days | Stop | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 | Quebec City | Start |
| Day 3 | Kamouraska | 160 km · 2h40 |
| Day 4 | Matane | 253 km · 3h35 |
| Days 5 to 6 | Sainte-Anne-des-Monts | 87 km · 1h20 |
| Days 7 to 8 | Gaspé | 240 km · 3h50 |
| Days 9 to 10 | Percé | 69 km · 1h05 |
| Days 11 to 12 | Carleton-sur-Mer | 190 km · 2h55 |
| Day 13 | Rimouski | 251 km · 3h45 |
| Day 14 | Back to Quebec City | 295 km · 4h20 |
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
Late June to mid-September: the Mont Jacques-Cartier trail is open from 1 July to 30 September, and northern gannets nest on Bonaventure Island from April to October; the island's trails close on 12 October. In winter, winter tyres are compulsory from 1 December to 15 March and high-altitude trails are closed.
🚗 160 km · 2h40 of driving from Quebec City
Autoroute 20, then Route 132 along the river through L'Islet-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, with no difficulty.
🚗 253 km · 3h35 of driving from Kamouraska
Autoroute 20 to Rimouski, then the coastal Route 132. At Sainte-Flavie the 132 splits: follow the coastal branch towards Matane.
🚗 87 km · 1h20 of driving from Matane
Route 132 along the river through Cap-Chat. Gaspésie National Park is reached via Route 299, heading south: moose are common.
🚗 240 km · 3h50 of driving from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
The coastal Route 132 via Mont-Saint-Pierre and Grande-Vallée: cliffs, climbs and bends, with villages far apart. Then Cap-des-Rosiers and Forillon rather than the inland road (198).
🚗 69 km · 1h05 of driving from Gaspé
Route 132 along Gaspé Bay and then the Gulf coast: a short leg.
🚗 190 km · 2h55 of driving from Percé
Route 132 along Chaleur Bay, through Chandler, Paspébiac, Bonaventure and New Richmond.
🚗 251 km · 3h45 of driving from Carleton-sur-Mer
Route 132 through Matapédia, then the Matapédia Valley and Amqui to Mont-Joli: forest, a salmon river, moose at dawn.
🚗 295 km · 4h20 of driving from Rimouski
In 10 days, sleep in Quebec City (1 night), Rimouski (1), Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (2), Gaspé (2), Percé (1), Carleton-sur-Mer (1) and Rimouski again (1) before heading back. You skip Kamouraska and Matane, and keep only one day in Percé.
| Small car, Quebec City, annual average | ≈ C$58 a day (€36) |
|---|---|
| All categories, July (most expensive month) | ≈ C$105 a day (€65) |
| All categories, April (cheapest month) | ≈ C$52 a day (€32) |
| Intermediate car, Quebec City | ≈ C$77 a day (€48) |
| SUV, Quebec City | ≈ C$101 a day (€63) |
| Vehicle | A small car is enough in summer on Autoroute 20 and Routes 132 and 299. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | Jean-Lesage Airport or central Quebec City; it is a loop, so no one-way fee. |
| From Montreal | Hire in Montreal and add about 250 km on Autoroute 20 each way. |
| Insurance | Take the CDW or LDW (damage to the vehicle) and check the excess before signing. |
| Age | Enterprise rents from age 18 in Quebec; young driver surcharge of about C$25 a day under 25. |
| Winter tyres | From 1 December to 15 March, all hire cars are fitted with them. |
| Prices quoted | Kayak Canada averages for Quebec City, checked on 24 September 2026, excluding insurance; €1 = C$1.61. |
⚠️ July costs 54% more than the annual average in Quebec City (Kayak): book early, or aim for June and September.
A French licence is valid for six consecutive months in Quebec; licences written in French or English are recognised without an International Driving Permit. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.
As in mainland Europe; distances and speeds in kilometres.
100 on motorways (60 minimum), 50 in towns, 70 on gravel. Fines doubled in roadworks and school zones.
Above this, it is a criminal offence in Canada. Quebec does not suspend licences below it, except for young drivers.
More than 7,200 collisions a year in Quebec, mostly in June-July and October-November. Brake gradually and sound your horn.
After a full stop, giving way, unless a sign says otherwise; banned across the whole island of Montreal.
Flashing red lights and stop arm out: traffic stops in both directions, unless there is a central reservation.
Compulsory on Quebec-registered vehicles, hire cars included; fine of C$200 to C$300.
Check Québec 511 for network conditions; dial 511 to report an animal on the road.
≈ €1.26 a litre on the Gaspé Peninsula (202.2 Canadian cents, week of 21 September 2026)
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.
⛽ 1,545 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €140 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
Dearer than in Quebec City (194.5 cents) and the Lower St. Lawrence (196.1 cents): fill up in Rimouski or Matane before the peninsula.
| Autoroute 20 and Route 132 | No tolls: Quebec's tolls are on Autoroutes 25 and 30, near Montreal |
|---|---|
| Quebec national parks (Bic, Gaspésie, Île-Bonaventure, Miguasha) | C$10.30 per adult per day, free up to age 17 |
| Parcs nationaux du Québec annual card | C$93 per adult, all parks for 12 months |
| Île-Bonaventure park car park, in Percé | C$11.74 per car, plus taxes |
| Forillon National Park (Parks Canada) | C$10 per adult, C$19.50 per family or group, from 25 June to 1 September |
| Forillon, late season | C$7.25 per adult, C$13.75 per family, until 13 October |
| Canada Strong free access | Forillon free until 7 September 2026, charged again from the 8th |
| Mont Jacques-Cartier shuttle | Charged, from the Mont-Jacques-Cartier campsite reception |
| Mont Jacques-Cartier trail | From 1 July to 30 September, 10:00 to 16:00 |
|---|---|
| Mont Jacques-Cartier shuttle | Last departure at 11:40 |
| Tour du Mont Albert | Open from 1 July to 30 September |
| Mont Albert (north side) and Mont Xalibu | Open from 13 June to 12 October 2026 (caribou) |
| Bonaventure Island trails | From 31 May to 12 October 2026, weather permitting |
| Foot of Percé Rock | Off limits all year: falling rocks |
| Quebec national parks | Entry refused once capacity is reached: buy online |
The Route 132 loop around the peninsula is more than 930 km, and Bonjour Québec recommends a week on the spot. From Quebec City, allow 10 to 14 days: our loop covers about 1,500 km in 13 nights, with no day longer than four and a half hours behind the wheel. In 10 days, keep Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Gaspé, Percé and Carleton.
Excluding flights and accommodation: C$810 to C$1,470 of car hire over 14 days (Kayak, annual average or July), about C$240 of fuel at September 2026 prices for 1,500 km, and C$10.30 per adult per day in Quebec national parks. Add Forillon (C$10 per adult) and parking in Percé.
From late June to mid-September. The Mont Jacques-Cartier trail is only open from 1 July to 30 September, the Bonaventure Island trails from 31 May to 12 October 2026, and northern gannets nest there from April to October. Moose cross mostly in June-July and October-November, at dawn and dusk.
Often, yes: Bonjour Québec states that licences written in French or English are recognised, so no International Driving Permit is needed, and the French consulate says a French licence is valid for six consecutive months in Quebec. Visa-exempt travellers flying in still need an eTA (C$7), except US citizens.
Yes. Quebec records more than 7,200 collisions a year with large wildlife (2021-2024), 90% of them with deer, but hitting a moose causes far more serious damage. The Matane Wildlife Reserve, south of Matane, is home to more than 6,000 moose, the highest density in Quebec. Slow down at dawn and dusk.
It is advisable: Sépaq limits the number of visitors per day and may refuse entry when a car park is full. The access fee (C$10.30 per adult) can be bought online up to 30 days ahead. For Mont Jacques-Cartier, the shuttle leaves from the campsite reception, last departure at 11:40, and the trail closes at 16:00.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/gaspe-peninsula · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026
