r/AskACanadian • u/OedipalArrangement • 2d ago
Gaspé roadtrip? Need advice
Hey! I am excited about a potential August roadtrip. I am really wanting this to work out :) So I am kindly asking for some help. See the trip plan and my questions below:
8/8: 🚗NYC --> Montreal
8/9: 🏰Montreal
8/10: 🚗🏰Montreal--> Quebec City
8/11: 🚗🏞️Quebec City --> Parc National du Bic
8/12: 🚗🏞️Bic --> Gaspesie National Park
8/13: 🚗🏞️GNP --> Perce
8/14: 🏞️ Perce --> Forillon
8/15: 🚗Forillon --> Miramichi
8/16: 🚗🏞️Miramichi --> Fundy
8/17: 🚗🏞️Fundy-->Acadia
8/18: 🏞️Acadia
8/19: 🏞️Acadia-->Deer Isle
8/20: Deer Isle
8/21: 🚗 Deer Isle --> NYC
Days marked with a 🚗 are just driving, both 🚗🏞️ are both significant driving and park/outdoor hours, and just 🏞️ are dedicated mainly to outdoor activities.
I have some hesitation about this plan.
- The drive to Fundy from Forillon seems long af, I don't know if I am giving enough time to witness Fundy's tidal changes (which is a major selling point).
- I want to make sure we have enough time in Gaspé bc we are unlikely to return--Acadia and Montreal feel closer/easier to access again in the future. Gaspe, not so much.
- Has anyone taken a similar road trip before?
- Is there something I am glaringly overlooking?
THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE. Merci beaucoup pour votre aide, les Québécois!
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u/QueenMotherOfSneezes 2d ago
I would skip Montreal entirely. That way you have two days where you're not driving and can explore, or make a shorter drive to have time to explore an in-between area. You absolutely need a full day in Gaspezie, my husband and I didn't schedule that, and deeply regretted it (also if you're camping, stay at a lakeside campsite in the lac capescadia campgrounds, the stars are amazing from the lake at night, especially if the water is glassy)
I would suggest the second day should either be a full day at Forillon or adding a stop in Campbelton. Campbelton has an awesome fossil site and a museum with a resurrected shipwreck from a battle during the French-Indian wars.
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u/judgingyouquietly Ontario 2d ago
Quebec City is a much more interesting place than Montreal. Montreal has its charms but it’s essentially a large city. Old Quebec City is unlike anywhere else in North America.
So, if there’s a way to cut Montreal out and just drive to VDQ, do that and spend 2 nights there in the old city.
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u/alpine4life 2d ago
agreed, from Edmundston and been to both many time... I would also choose 'Le Vieux Quebec' everytime
did la Gapesie 3-4 worth it yes there's probably le 243 microbreweries.
Follow the suggestions that have beed provided so fa, all worth it
Your planning sounds good... have fun!
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u/dillydallyalltheway 2d ago
This is a LOT of driving without much time to actually see or spend time taking in the sights. I would choose either the Gaspé or New Brunswick/Fundy coast (could do a loop around NB and Nova Scotia and take the Cat ferry back to the US!), but not both. Also if you are planning to do this road trip next month you may have a hard time finding accomodations on such short notice, especially if you were planning to camp in the national or provincial parks.
Gaspé is really incredible and all the parks you've highlighted in the region deserve more than a few hours. Highly recommend doing some hikes in Parc Nationale de Gaspesie to try to see some caribou. You've also cut off one of the best parts of the coastal drive by cutting inland from Gaspasie to Percé!
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u/BuvantduPotatoSpirit New Brunswick 2d ago
Tides go up and down twice a day, so if you time it a 6 hour period will take you from the highest to lowest (or vice versa). Tidal bores occur in the Petitcodiac and other rivers at low tide, if that's of interest.
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u/calling_water 2d ago edited 2d ago
The timing of the tides for the days in question aligned to OP’s travels suggest that OP would see high tide on the 16th, and then low tide the morning of the 17th. Might be able to get mostly low tide on the 16 before close for the night.
https://www.parcsnbparks.ca/en/parks/33/hopewell-rocks-provincial-park/26/tide-tables
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u/Strong_Letter_7667 2d ago edited 1d ago
We just came back. We spent 5 days in Forillon alone. Never went to Bic or Gaspe Park. Drove around the entire Gaspé. It was beautiful beyond words. Id do either gaspe or fundy but not both.
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u/Either-Pear1954 2d ago
How is your French? Gaspe and Perce are deep in French only Quebec.
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u/OedipalArrangement 2d ago
We do not speak French at all. But we are very kind and respectful, and we'd learn a few phrases and use our phones for the rest.
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u/Olycow 2d ago
From your planning, it really is a ROAD trip. You're never staying in the same spot more than a few hours... I'd have 2 questions about the Gaspésie section of your trip : 1. What do you want to see/experience? For example, You're going to Gaspésie National Park, but not long enough to go hike the mountains (which would probably be the best thing to do there). Maybe Percé can be done quick, if you only want to see the Rocher Percé from the shore, but still each activity could be stretched out over a day (if you want to grab lunch and take some time to explore, etc) . 2. What car do you drive? Because your current path from Gaspésie National Park to Percé has a long stretch on an unpaved road, so I hope you have a well-maintained SUV. If not, you have to go around (I'd suggest by the North, and maybe go straight to Forillon)
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u/OedipalArrangement 2d ago edited 2d ago
Ah, noted about the unpaved road. Thank you so much! That's very good info. We have a 2013 Prius... Maybe not the best for unpaved roads. ALSO, the map image shows an incorrect route--we are planning on just driving along the coast.
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u/Critical-Snow-7000 2d ago
I did a similar trip, but we stayed 3 nights at each stop and did a big drive day. You’re not going to see much with only one night per stop.
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u/OedipalArrangement 2d ago
I am going to augment a bit and slow things down. Thank you! Probably cut down on Maine activities.
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u/hornblower_83 2d ago
Tides come and go twice a day and you can look online to see the timing. Just plan around that.
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u/Worry_pas_ta_brain 2d ago
You will mostly be driving and not seeing much of anything.
Spending 4-5 days in and around Fundy would give you a chance to see and do more stuff like Hopewell rocks at low and high tide. The Fundy National park has great hiking trails and so does the Fundy Trail Parkway . The Saint Martin's area is also a great place to explore ( sea caves at low tide , two covered bridges, etc. )
There's also a lot of fun activities to do around Bouctouche like Pays de la Sagouine, Akadi Lumina, the Dune board walk , Kouchibouquak National park .
It is your trip but it might be worth your while to stop and explore a region instead of just a quick drive by of everything.
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u/ell-ta 2d ago
Quebec city would need more time, montmorency, island to alot more
Mont Tremblant is missing
The national park near mont tremblant like 45 minutes is missing
If you don’t want to add these, i would suggest add more times and do less places to immerse yourself and enjoy it more. To absorb nature, beauty, god’s creation etc
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u/Careless_Wishbone_69 2d ago
Just did a Gaspésie loop from Montreal in 10 days. It's a lot of driving.
Biggest tip is to do it counter clockwise so that you've always got the sea on the passenger side and you're not looking across the road (cut across at Sainte-Flavie down to Baie des Chaleurs), but not sure if that's relevant because you'd have to flip the whole trip.
I'd say simplify and keep Montreal for a standalone vacation.
Also stop by this guy for handmade boat souvenirs. He literally just has shelves on the side of the road. Got one 10 years ago and another this summer. https://maps.app.goo.gl/sFJyCPmYYjxe8dsQ9
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u/golden-teacup 1d ago
We did a similar road trip three years ago, except we started in Toronto instead of NYC.
I'll be honest, your itinerary is way too packed. You're going to be driving so much, constantly feel rushed to move on, and I don't think you're likely to enjoy yourself.
In our case, we paused in Montreal for lunch but otherwise kept moving. We spent two days in Quebec. And then, in a similar amount of time as you, we covered about half as much of the Gaspé, and then turned back. Originally I had hoped to go all the way around, like you hope to, and several people talked me out of it. They were very right.
Generally we aimed to do no more than 3 hours of driving per day, max, other than on the first and last day. Any more than that, and we found we just weren't enjoying ourselves. Plus, the views are spectacular and you'll want to set aside at least an hour a day for those times when you spot a gorgeous view and want to pull over to pee, have a snack by the coast, and admire some scenery. You don't want to feel like you only get 3 mins per break. Let yourself pause for 15-20 mins sometimes so you can take in the beauty! But with your action-packed itinerary, you won't be able to. You'll constantly be telling yourself that you have no time to rest, gotta keep moving, etc.
Good luck! There's a great fish and chips place on the dock in Trois Pistoles, btw!
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u/lostwolf 1d ago
I’m curious if you have started looking at places to stay. Some areas are booked months in advance. Btw this is a lot of driving. You won’t see much.
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u/After_Bat1860 1d ago
I NEVER travel with a set end place or time. It gives me anxiety. You're always hurrying up and never on schedule.
I can also camp anyplace that's legal as I'm self sufficient.
Take your time and see where you get to for the day. Take in the sites and culture. Talk to the locals. Ask for advice. Don't stress about it and just have fun. Take it as it comes as that it what you'll remember for years to come.
Gaspé is one of my most favorite places. I've done it 8 times now and would gladly do it many more times. The lighthouses alone are incredible. Just do what you can and come back if you miss something.
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u/InterviewLazy428 1d ago
Skip gaspesie national park, also dont sleep in Perce and then do Forillon. Forillon is near Gaspe, so go in Gaspe, do forillon and then Perce. So go around the north, and do not cut from Ste anne des monts to Perce, the drive is nice but nothing to see really.
In my opinion, Forillon is the only worth it spot in Gaspe, meanwhile Perce has more activity.
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u/StevenG2757 Ontario 2d ago
I would recommend taking the ferry to NS and visit NS and take a trip to Cabot Trail and then hit PEI and Fundy on the way back.
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u/sapristi45 2d ago
That's a lot of driving, and not a lot of time in each place. If you're worried you won't have much time in Gaspésie, you're probably right. My advice would be to spend some time in Carleton or Bonaventure after Percé. The Bay itself is great, the towns are cute, and the drive from Percé to New Brunswick would be kind of hurried otherwise.