10 Best Road Trips Near Montreal

Set in Québec’s majestic Laurentian Mountains, Mont Tremblant is a year-round holiday spot that boasts world-class skiing, sports, and shopping. When you’re not hitting the slopes, you can spend your days hiking and cycling along forested trails or taking to the water in a rentable boat.

Lake Tremblant is home to one of Quebec province’s most picturesque marinas while the Mont Tremblant Ski Resort offers a range of tickets and passes that’ll have you zipping across the terrain. The Panoramic Gondola delivers spectacular 360-degree views of the peaks and the valleys, while Circuit Mont-Tremblant is a hit with racing car enthusiasts.

Parc Omega is a 2200-acre safari park that allows you to get up close and personal with Canada’s native animals (and exotic creatures like the Przewalski horse). Partake in seasonal activities like beaver observation sessions, picnic in the outdoor teepees, or watch bison, coyotes, and moose from the comfort of your car.

Book a cabin, suite, or chalet at the Sleeping with Wolves and Bears adventure and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime audience with the park’s 4-legged predators. Overlooking Bird Lake, the OmegaBon restaurant serves delicious meals from breakfast through to dinner, including crispy trout, beef mignon, charcuterie boards, and oyster platters.

Set on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, French-speaking Quebec City dazzles with its cobbled streets, effervescent culture, and fortified colonial core. This UNESCO World Heritage gem is adored for its array of architectural landmarks including Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, L’Hôtel de Ville, and the star-shaped citadel.

Visitors flock here year-round for music festivals, boutique shopping, and elevated global cuisine. Reserve a table at Restaurant Wong for lobster and chanterelle dumplings, Melba for Dauphiné ravioli, or L’Entrecôte Saint-Jean for luscious lava cake and duck leg confit.

One of the first Forever Wild Forest Preserves in America, Adirondack Park is a unique wilderness area spanning a whopping 6 million acres. Founded in 1892, this awe-inspiring landscape is renowned for its fiery fall colours, meandering rivers, enchanting waterfalls, and undulating mountain peaks.

One could ski, bike, fish, hunt, and hike for a year and only experience a very small parcel of what is considered the largest National Historic Landmark in the USA. Animal enthusiasts will love the Adirondacks for its wealth of native fauna including moose, bears, flying squirrels, otters, bobcats, and ermine.

Canada’s capital Ottawa might not be a tourist hotspot like Montreal or Vancouver, but it has plenty of historic attractions that will keep any road-tripper happy. Visit Parliament Hill for the city’s grandest neo-Gothic buildings, the National Gallery of Canada for Inuit and Aboriginal art, or the UNESCO-listed Rideau Canal for a pleasure boat cruise.

Shoppers will relish a day at ByWard Market: a rambling retail space that overflows with farm-fresh produce, artisan crafts, and atmospheric cafes. Alternatively, head to the Canadian Museum of Nature for palaeontology and a real blue whale skeleton, all housed in a castle that’s reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands.

Located in Quebec’s Outaouais region, Gatineau Park is celebrated for its rich biodiversity and engaging guided tours (the animal tracking on snowshoes is a definite highlight). This expansive green space draws visitors with its range of outdoors sports – from swimming, cycling, and hiking to horse riding and in-line skating.

During the warmer months of the year, Gatineau Park teems with picnickers who flock to its barbecuing spots like Breton Beach, Church Hill, and Luskville Falls. Fishing enthusiasts can cast a line for pike and bass in Lake La Peche (you can buy a permit at most local hardware, sports, and convenience stores).

Eastern Townships is a collection of characterful cities and towns nestled in the undulating landscapes of southeastern Quebec. Boasting English, Irish, and Scottish roots, this historic region is a magnet for out-of-state visitors seeking an unforgettable holiday and frazzled Montrealers on weekend escapes.

Explore the pristine habitats of Eastern Townships’ many national parks like Yamaska, Mont-Orford, and Frontenac for family-friendly activities like bird watching, swimming, snowshoeing, and hiking. Alternatively, travel the Route de Vins for 20 glorious wineries where you can help harvest grapes or partake in tastings.

Burlington, in northeastern Vermont, sits on the banks of beautiful Lake Champlain – a short drive from the Canadian border. This picture postcard New England city is distinguished by its bright white churches, vivid fall colours, and a charming historic City centre that has twinkling fairy lights strung through the trees.

While one can easily spend a weekend here hiking, biking, or paddling, Burlington’s food scene is definitely one to explore. Hit Hen of the Wood for succulent swordfish and duck pastrami or Bistro de Margo for rabbit terrine, pan seared black bass, and tangy lemon meringue tart.

Quebec’s Mont-Megantic National Park is the perfect road trip destination thanks to its mesmerising mountains, 60 kilometres of hiking trails, and top-notch skiing opportunities. Here, peaks ascend to over 1000 metres and panoramic ridgetops lead to dramatic waterfalls.

Part of the first international Dark Sky Reserve, Mont-Megantic prides itself on its renowned astronomical observatory (which is the most important in eastern Canada). Visit the site’s ASTROLab to gaze at the starriest sky you’ll see in your life and to learn about the solar system.

Set on the eastern shores of Lake Ontario, Prince Edward County is a scenic region that’s known for its golden sand, dramatic limestone cliffs, historic architecture, and country-style cuisine. A cluster of cosy hamlets and villages, this Canadian jewel is home to some of the nation’s brightest talent including artists, winemakers, chefs, and distillers.

Visit Picton to see the Regent Theatre (a restored Edwardian opera house) or venture to South Marysburgh to sample farm-fresh food such as heirloom tomatoes and Black River cheese. Hillier’s wineries serve some of the best drops in all of Canada while Wellington charms with its iconic lighthouse and pebbly rotary beach.