French Canada from cobblestones to river cliffs
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix
Québec City to Charlevoix
Québec City and Charlevoix sit about 104 km (65 mi) apart in a straight line, with Charlevoix to the north-east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix itinerary, an 8-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 104 km · 65 mi
- Est. road distance
- 125–146 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 30 min – 3 h
- Direction
- Heading north-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 125–146 km (78–91 mi) of road and 1 h 30 min – 3 h behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
By train
Our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix guide also mentions trains for parts of the trip. Whether a direct train links Québec City and Charlevoix depends on the line — check timetables.
VIA Rail links Montréal and Québec City in about 3.5 hours, and both old towns are walkable. Rent a car in Québec City for Île d'Orléans and Charlevoix, a 90-minute drive along Route 138.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Charlevoix
Spend 2–3 nights split between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie for river views, hikes and farm food.
Baie-Saint-Paul
Artist village with galleries and cafés along Rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
Train de Charlevoix
Seasonal riverside rail line between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie, hugging the St. Lawrence shore.
Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park
Some of eastern Canada's highest rock walls rise above the river; hike L'Acropole-des-Draveurs or paddle.
Laiterie Charlevoix
Family cheese dairy making Le 1608 and other local cheeses, with a tasting shop.
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu
Clifftop château hotel above the river with a lounge, golf and the Casino de Charlevoix next door.
Le Massif de Charlevoix
Ski hill dropping straight toward the St. Lawrence, with summer hiking and the river views year-round.
Before you leave Québec City
Give it 2–3 nights for the walled old town plus day trips to the falls and Île d'Orléans.
Château Frontenac & Dufferin Terrace
Landmark hotel above a boardwalk with sweeping views of the St. Lawrence.
Quartier Petit Champlain
Narrow lower-town lanes of boutiques and bistros under the cliff, reached by funicular or Breakneck Stairs.
Plains of Abraham
Battlefields park where the 1759 battle was fought, now lawns and lookouts over the river.
On this curated route
Where Québec City → Charlevoix sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Charlevoix to Québec City is the same 104 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in April, when Charlevoix averages highs 3°C cooler than Québec City.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Québec City high | -7° | -5° | -1° | 8° | 17° | 22° | 24° | 23° | 20° | 12° | 4° | -3° |
| Charlevoix high | -9° | -7° | -3° | 5° | 14° | 19° | 22° | 22° | 18° | 10° | 2° | -5° |
| Québec City rain | 66 | 64 | 72 | 93 | 95 | 113 | 123 | 108 | 109 | 119 | 90 | 95 |
| Charlevoix rain | 59 | 62 | 70 | 90 | 93 | 109 | 116 | 106 | 103 | 116 | 87 | 91 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Charlevoix month guides.
Québec City to Charlevoix: questions travelers ask
How far is Québec City from Charlevoix?
Québec City is about 104 km (65 mi) from Charlevoix in a straight line, with Charlevoix to the north-east. By road, we estimate 125–146 km (78–91 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Québec City to Charlevoix?
An estimated 1 h 30 min – 3 h, assuming 125–146 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Québec City to Charlevoix?
Our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix itinerary includes this leg. Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix runs about 8 days across 3 stops, best in Jun – Oct.
Getting to Québec City
- Montréal to Québec City 232 km
- Québec City to Mont-Tremblant 267 km
Guides for both ends
- Québec City travel guide
- Québec City weather best time to visit
- Charlevoix travel guide
- Charlevoix weather best time to visit
Charlevoix by month
Plan Québec City → Charlevoix with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.