Quebec - do we need a car?
 

We've fallen in love with the descriptions of Quebec City, and decided on Dominion 1912, but can only get flights to and from Montreal. We fly in at 11 a.m. Thursday, and out at 5 p.m. Sunday. Given the 3 hour travel time to Q.C., are we better off renting a car or taking the train? I figure that if we drive we won't get to QC until 3, and will have to leave before noon on Sunday. Is there any reason to leave Quebec City and drive around the area, with only 2 full days there? Thanks for all your advice, fellow Fodorites! (It's addictive, isn't it??!)

I wouldn't use a car in Quebec City. Parking in the old city would be rough, and there's so much to do and see there. Two days won't be enough time!

The problem with the train is the return trip. You will have to leave Quebec at 8;00 AM . The next train gets into Montreal too late for your flight. And the shuttle between the airport and Downtown is a pain. Since you are just staying for a couple of days, renting a car will maximize your time in Quebec. Just have the hotel park it and leave it for the entire stay. Two full days is not a lot of time for Quebec and I would forget about the outskirts .

Another nice perk with renting a car is that you can get cheap weekend rates ( which normally start at Thurs noon, but if you are a bit early, they will give you the rate).

What is the actual driving time from Trudea Airport to Quebec City - I've seen it listed between 2 and 3 plus hours?

Montreal to Quebec City is 156 miles. Add a few miles from Dorval/Trudeau, and 2.5-3 hours is reasonable, depending on traffic.

Disregard my earlier advise !

I just got back from Montreal and the Eastbound TransCanada, East of Dorval, in Montreal, is extremely slow because of construction. You can't bypass it on the way to Quebec. This will easily put an extra hour onto the trip.

So....take a cab to the Train Station because you will be a bit tight for time. If you are late for the train, go to the Bus Station. Buses to Quebec run every hour or so. Make sure you take the Express.

On the way back, if you take the AM train, you will have about 3 or 4 hours to roam Montrea before taking a cab or shuttle bus to the Airport. The Train station is centrally located. Maybe a quickie horsedrawn carriage tour ?

I've driven Montreal-Quebec, and we took Autoroute 20 on the South side of the river (mainly because were staying in Brossard, across from Montreal). But if the Pont Champlain is not congested, that should be a better way of going, as once you cross the bridge, traffic moves smoothly East on 20, bypassing most of Montreal.

So, yes, you can bypass Autoroute 40 (Trans-Canada).

You are absolutely right ! Driving to Quebec City from Eastern Ontario, we would get on TransCanada and go straight through. To be honest, taking 20 never crossed my mind. But given the current mess on the TransCanada and the proximity of the airport to 20, your suggestion is bang on

tt