Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Canada
Reload this Page >

Driving from Montreal to Quebec City

Search

Driving from Montreal to Quebec City

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 27th, 2005, 08:55 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Driving from Montreal to Quebec City

We are flying to Montreal in October and plan to rent a car to drive to Quebec City. Rather than renting a car at the airport and navigating through the city, we are considering taking a taxi or train to a less busy location before we pick up our car. Does anybody have any experience driving directly from the airport to Quebec City? Can anybody recommend a location near the outskirts of the city to rent a car to avoid driving in Montreal? Thanks.
kathleen4057 is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2005, 09:19 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There's freeway close to the airport. I don't see why you should rent it somewhere else, with the extra time and hassle of taking a taxi or bus...
rkkwan is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2005, 09:47 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To get from Montreal airport to Quebec, there's no way that you will avoid Montreal. However, get on Autoroute 40 from the airport and simply follow it all the way to Quebec. Traffic will be heavy until you leave the island, but it's the shortest and best route. The Trans-Canada (Autoroute 20) will also get you there, but it goes on the south shore, and is a bit longer (also pretty boring).

If you really want to avoid Montreal traffic, take the airport shuttle to Central Station and then the train to Quebec City. It's a 3 hour trip.
laverendrye is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2005, 11:40 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Its really not that difficult to get out of the airport and onto the T-Can (Trans-Canada Highway), and with a map you should be able to navigate through Montreal with little trouble. Traffic may or may not be an issue, depending on what time you arrive. I'd rent a car at the airport. Just my 2 cents...
mikielikesit is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2006, 02:21 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
how long is the drive?
jck4 is offline  
Old Feb 25th, 2006, 05:47 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
laverendrye: your post above mentioned route 20 is a bit boring. does that infer that Rt 40 is more interesting? I'll be coming up from Burlington, VT, next Friday. Is Rt 40 enough better to make the few extra miles worthwhile?
dwooddon is offline  
Old Feb 25th, 2006, 07:10 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
dwooddon - Where are you going? If you're going to Quebec City, going Autoroute 40 will add a lot of travel time, compared to 20, because you need to fight Montreal traffic into, through, and out of the city. Definitely take 20.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Feb 25th, 2006, 09:31 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I guess I need to engage my brain before starting to type. Yes, I am going to Quebec City from Burlington. If the weather is good, the amount of time it takes me to drive it is not a factor although Montreal traffic might be.

Since I'd like to take different routes up and back (again, assuming weather is not an issue), would anyone have suggestions for the trip up on Friday morning and the trip back to Burlington on Monday morning? My primary factor in selecting a drive is the visual appeal of the route and any interesting things to see along the way.
dwooddon is offline  
Old Feb 26th, 2006, 06:53 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
DwooddonComing from Burlington, the fastest way is by Autoroute 20, as 40 will take you out of your way. You get there via I89, Hwy 133, Autoroutes 35, 10 and 30.

If you want a more interesting route, stay on 133 and get on 20 at Sainte-Julie. If time really does not matter, you could follow 133 along the Richelieu river all the way to the St. Lawrence at Sorel, cross the river at Berthierville and then take either Autoroute 40, or Hwy 138 (the Chemin du Roy) to Québec.

Similarly, coming back you could take Autoroutes 40, 30 and 15, crossing into the US at Rouses Point NY and making your way to Burlington from there.

In terms of interest, there's not much to choose among the autoroutes, but the old highways go through many small towns and villages, which you might find interesting.
laverendrye is offline  
Old May 28th, 2006, 01:15 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
so, to recap, If driving on a Saturday afternoon from Montreal airport to Quebec City and rush hour traffic isn't an issue, should I take 40 or 20?
jck4 is offline  
Old Jun 11th, 2006, 07:15 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To answer myself, we took 40 both ways. The drive was 3 hours; our rental car's GPS said taking interstate 20 would be 10-15 min shorter but we did 40 anyway.
jck4 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
basingstoke2
Canada
12
Jan 3rd, 2019 12:27 PM
patricia1961
Canada
2
Jul 3rd, 2006 10:12 AM
sollitt
Canada
6
Nov 23rd, 2005 10:07 AM
CJMatt
Canada
4
Feb 28th, 2005 04:45 PM
nj9000
Canada
7
Aug 2nd, 2004 01:01 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Your Privacy Choices -