Best Scenic Route from Moncton (NB) to Quebec City ??
 

We (my wife and I) will be undertaking a 3 week maritime experience by car during autumn this year. Fly into Halifax, then to Lunenburg, around the costal route to Annapolis Royal, then to Baddeck, Dingwell (on the Cabot Trail), PEI, then the Fundy Coast and finally drop the car off in Quebec. What is the best route between Moncton and Quebec City?? There appears to be at least two options. An eastern option via Miramachi City (then via Highway 108 to Grand Falls or similar) or head west to Fredericton and then head north (Highway 2). I guess the routes would be identical from Grand Falls?? We are retirees and now take these drives in a relaxing manner to enjoy the sights - we have allocated 3 days (2 nights) for this part of the trip.

The Trans-Canada (Hwy 2) is a much better and more scenic route. Fredericton is certainly worth a visit, and you will also want to stop along the way at such places as King's Landing (just past Fredericton) and Hartland with the world's longest covered bridge. From time to time, you can leave Hwy 2 and take one of the secondary highways that run right along the river.

Whatever you do, don't waste your time stopping at the so-called "Magnetic Hill" outside Moncton.

Dear Laverendrye, Thanks for your perspectives - much appreciated. Are there any specific areas that we should leave Hwy 2 and take secondary roads along the river??

ROFL @ the Moncton reference. I wonder what Moncton would be were there a direct path between Hopewell Cape and Halifax, which did not include Moncton.

Whatever you do, have plenty of gas when going between Moncton and Fredericton - there should really be more gas stations than there are.

The freeway there is nice and new-ish, and not so heavily traveled as those in major U.S. cities.

My best suggestion about the route is, once you get up to the St. Lawrence, get off the main highway and drive on some of the smaller, local highways that parallel the main road. Pass through local communities & imagine their way of life in what is a pleasant setting most of the time. I especially liked leaving the main highway between Trois Rivieres and QC (from the other side).

Perhaps the best part is, if you gain nothing from having done so, you can easily leap back onto the main freeway to speed up your passage. You're not going out of your way at all to drive the local roads, all in the same direction.

Whatever you do, do not drive across NB on a road through the woods for what will seem like a million miles.

If this was my trip -- and it has been many times -- I'd go up the coast tihroungh Cambellton into Quebec province and turn west at Mont Joli.

Take the route along the river between Trois Rivieres and QC. It's beautiful...especially around St. Jean-Port Joli. There are fantastic wood sculptors and galleries/shops alog the route in the area and they have a park in town that features large sculptures that is worth the drive.

The above posters might have meant "Rivière-du-Loup" (not "Trois-Rivières"). Trois-Rivières is not on your itinerary if you drive from Moncton to Quebec City.

Enjoy the drive - and the side roads, too!

Ventdest: I stand corrected and embarrassed. :(

Of course I meant Riviere-du-loup. Trois-Rivieres is on the other side of the river between Quebec City and Montreal.

Oh MsLizzy don't be embarrassed! Many people mix the two cities, I just wanted to make sure the OP wouldn't get confused :)

A couple more ideas for stops -

Along Route 2 in New Brunswick:
Fredericton - definitely worth a stop; quiet provincial capital city, victorian homes, historic downtown, small but very nice art gallery (Beaverbrook Art Gallery)
Hartland - driving through the covered bridge is a must
Bristol - small town with an amazing restaurant in a vintage railway car, called "Fresh Fine Dining"
Grand Falls - check out the falls and gorge, right in town - zipline over them if you're adventurous - a 95-year old lady did it last week :)
Edmundston - if you drive by there at meal time and you like healthy and vegeterian food, I can recommend Le Lotus bleu

For a change from the 4-lane, take route 105. From Exit 333, East of Fredericton, it follows the St. John river closely all the way to Fredericton. The same route 105 is quite attractive West of Fredericton as well, with beautiful fall colours.

Oh and the route 108 you considered would be what BAK describes - a loooong road in the middle of the woods.

Has anyone been to Harpswell in Maine.
We are planning to visit Portland, Maine
around August and would like to drive to Harpswell.
Any suggestions. We also are going to visit
Hopewell and Alma to see Bay of Fundy.