cedar

I am beginning to plan our drive out of Quebec City. We hope to drive as far east along the St. Lawrence as we have time.
In you opinion...which side is the most scenic or desirable? 138N or 132S?
Thanks!

laverendrye

Highway 138 along the north shore through Charlevoix is much more scenic than the south shore.

But you can do both. Follow the north shore to Les Escoumins, taking the ferry across the Saguenay at Tadoussac, and then take the ferry from Les Escoumins to Trois Pistoles on the south shore and head back on 132. Or, if you can't get that far, then cross at Saint-Siméon to Rivière-du-Loup. If you are pressed for time, follow autoroute 20 back to Québec.

cedar

thank you.
I was just reading an article about traveling on 132 clockwise from Quebec City because you hug the mt side....
Do you know anything about the road being particularly high? We are pulling the motorcycle and I don't need any added stress to my driving.

cedar

tt

laverendrye

There are some fairly hilly sections on 138, less so on 132.

Erick_L

The north shore is way more scenic. It's quite hilly, more so if you take road 362 between Baie St-Paul and La Malbaie (highly recommended).

Road 132 is quite flat and, in my opinion, boring. It gradually becomes more scenic when you enter the Gaspésie région. The part that's hanging between the mountain and sea is between Tourelle and Manche-d'Épée. It's flat but very scenic. From Manche-d'Épée, it's up and down non-stop with steep grades. It's quite scenic as well.

If I had to plan a road trip in eastern Quebec, I'd drive on the north shore to Les Escoumins, then take the ferry across the St-Lawrence and around the Gaspé peninsula. This is a fairly long trip though. Laverendrye's suggestions are good as well if you have limited time.