We are Australians thinking of driving from Maine Area to Quebec in November.....is this a bad idea with the road conditions (snow)?

It's definitely doable. There most likely won't be snow just yet in November (I know because my in-laws live in the area you have to go through to get from Quebec City to Maine).

If you're thinking of going up to Quebec City, you'll have to get to Jackman in Maine, cross over the border, then you'll pass through Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, Ste-Marie and St-Etienne (the bigger towns) on Route 173 and Highway 73 up to Quebec City.

It's been a while since we've crossed over the border at Jackman, but I would estimate at least 1.5 hours between the border and Quebec City.

thanks pavfec....since I posted my question, I met someone who told me that road signs in that part of Canada are in French... if so, not a good idea for us to drive at all.

Yes, the signs in Quebec are in French, but that doesn't make driving here impossible. My father didn't speak a word of French, but managed to drive through Quebec with no problems. As long as you have a map and familiarize yourself with certain words (est = east, ouest = west, sortie = exit), then you'll be fine.

Don't let no knowledge of the language discourage you - there are plenty of people who drive in countries where they don't speak the language and everything turns out alright.

You need to state the cities you will be travelling from and to to get more specific info, but we travel this route frequently and November is more slush than snow and the road signs (we don't speak French either) are no problem: they are international.

<i>...and November is more slush than snow...</i>

Sorry, but there can only be slush after there has been snow, which isn't the case in November.

November in the province of Quebec is cool/cold (between 0 and 5 to 8 C) and can be wet and windy. There might be the odd snowfall, but I don't remember any slush and I've been going to that area (la Beauce) for 9 years.

They tell me that the Innuit have 100 words for snow...I guess I need a bigger vocabulary! What I MEAN is that stuff that doesn't stick around and ice up the roads but looks like snow when it falls.Big, fat wet flakes that only shows at the sides? That is what you get in November along those roads in my experience.

Maybe we're not travelling the same roads then! I've never seen slush in La Beauce in November, or for any other region in Quebec for that matter. It's usually just rainy and cold.

In any case, the OP will have to bring the appropriate clothing, and if they rent a car, it'll probably have four-season tires so they can brave the roads of Quebec no problem!

Born and Bred in Mtl says: This is an easy drive, if you want a side trip through NH you can stop in at the George washignton hotel and shop for deals in the North Conway, this would make you a true Quebecer, maybe a stop in Burlington Vt or Plattsburgh NY even better, all Joking aside (you would have to be a montrealer to get it) I t would be highly unusual to have any form of snow in November regardless of how many inuit words there are for it, last year for example we had a green Xmas.

Roadsigns in french...this is nearly laughable... Quick lesson..Nord.Sud Est ouest (North South East West) thats all you need to know, furthermore if you happen to encounter someone who can only speak one language in quebec he's probably English (Again you'd have to be from Mtl to get it)

Enjoy the trip if you like roughed mountanous country side you'll love it.