A road trip from New York City to Quebec City takes you between the most populous city in the United States and the second oldest city in Canada.
You’ll journey from a world-famous destination to a city that is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the only fortified city walls in North America north of Mexico.
Along the way you’ll drive through two of the most famous states and provinces in North America, both filled with incredible sights and sounds.
So, if you want to embark on a truly monumental journey that you’ll remember forever, I highly recommend reading on.
A Road Trip From New York City To Quebec City: How Far Is It, How Long Will It Take To Get There & What Is The Best Route?
A road trip from New York City to Quebec City covers 520 miles (837 km) and will take around 8 and ½ hours to drive. The best route will see you travel the height of New York State, before crossing the United States – Canada border into the province of Quebec.
Begin by picking up I-87 where it begins in The Bronx and following it north. Use Exit 5 to join New York State Route 100 then, almost immediately, turn left onto Sprain Brook Parkway.
This will merge into the Taconic State Parkway, which you’ll continue following until it itself merges with the I-90. Follow the I-90 west to Albany, where you’ll use Exit 1N to re-join I-87, which takes you north the rest of the way to the Canadian border.
Once you pass into Canada, the road will become Autoroute 15, which you’ll continue to drive north on. Use Exit 40 to join Autoroute 930 going east and merge with Autoroute 30.
When you reach Exit 83, drive east on the Trans Canada Highway, which will take you a large portion of your remaining journey.
Use Exit 312N to join Autoroute 73, which takes you north across the St Lawrence River, then use Exit 132 to go east on Quebec Route 136, which takes you the remainder of the drive to Quebec City.
Best Place To Stop On A Road Trip From New York City To Quebec City: Montreal
The most populous city in the province of Quebec and second most in all of Canada, Montreal is named after Mount Royal, which is found in the city. Settled in 1642, Montreal regularly ranks among the most liveable cities in the world.
The heart of Canada’s French speaking region, it boasts more native French speakers than any other city in the world besides Paris. It is also considered the most bilingual city in the country, with more than half the population capable of speaking both English and French.
The city is well-known as one of Canada’s main hubs of sport and entertainment. It holds events such as the Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal Jazz festival, Just For Laughs comedy festival, and Les Francos de Montreal French music festival each year.
Each of these festivals is the largest of its kind in the world.
Montreal has also previously hosted prestigious events like the Summer Olympics and International And Universal Exposition, and is home to the most successful ice hockey team in North America, the Montreal Canadiens.
When you combine these exciting attractions with the abundance of historical locations and fabulous amenities, it makes Montreal a city that is worth visiting on its own, let alone as a stop when you are already passing through.
Best Hotel To Stay At In Montreal – Le Mount Stephen
Le Mount Stephen is an exquisite, 5-star hotel, located inside a historic, 19th century mansion. Its stunning architecture and contemporary tower make it a beautiful site that is just as much an attraction as it is accommodation.
The hotel boasts a collection of 90 rooms and suites, each of which is stylishly designed and pet friendly. They all offer luxurious features and amenities, such as a mini bar, flat screen IPTV, coffee machine, and Wi-Fi.
The climate, curtains, and lighting are all controlled by a high-tech, touch screen system, while marble bathrooms with underfloor heating and rain forest showers provide a true sense of the quality and calibre of the establishment.
An on-site bar and restaurant with a beautiful outdoor terrace will cater to all of your dining needs. That said, one of the city’s main shopping streets is just 150 yards away, in case there is something you particularly desire.
With a fabulous fitness centre that is equipped for all of your workout needs and a spa to help you relax, Le Mount Stephen truly is a destination that has anything and everything you could possibly need while you are away.
Best Time For A Road Trip From New York City To Quebec City
When looking at the best time for a road trip from New York City to Quebec City, most people will want to consider making the drive in the period from mid-June to the end of August.
As with many Canadian cities, Quebec City can be cold and snowy throughout large portions of the year. While this can certainly provide its own appeal, it also makes both driving the route and outdoor activities at your destination a little more complicated and less enjoyable, for the most part.
The period above features the best temperatures the city sees each year. This makes it the perfect time for people to experiencing a relaxing drive and explore and enjoy everything Quebec City has to offer, without constantly worrying about the weather.
Top Attractions On A Road Trip From New York City To Quebec City
Covering over 500 miles, there are plenty of things to do and see on a road trip from New York City to Quebec City.
That’s why we’ve compiled the following list of the top attractions on a road trip from New York City to Quebec City, to ensure you don’t miss anything along the way.
Sleepy Hollow
A small town on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, Sleepy Hollow has long been considered one of the most haunted places in America.
Famously used as the setting for the iconic book “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow”, it is an ideal stop for history fans or those looking for a good scare.
The town is filled with creepy attractions that play on its history, as well as a famous cemetery, where the novels author, Washington Irving, is buried.
Anyone visiting around October simply can’t pass up a trip here, as it is one of the best places to celebrate Halloween in America.
Fahnestock State Park
Founded in 1929 by Dr. Ernest Fahnestock, Fahnestock State Park covers 14,337 acres in south-eastern New York State.
Filled with hiking, biking, and nature trails, lakes, fishing ponds, hunting areas, playgrounds, and even a beautiful beach, it is an ideal stop for lovers of the great outdoors.
Each winter, a section of the park is transformed into Fahnestock Winter Park from early December to late March.
During this time, fans of winter sports can enjoy activities like cross-country skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing. Equipment and lessons are also available to purchase or rent on site.
Albany
The capital and 6th most populous city in the state of New York, Albany was first settled in 1614, making it one of the oldest cities in the United States.
This makes it the perfect place to visit for fans of history, as everything from the architecture to museums paints a picture about the country’s past.
The most popular attraction in the city is without a doubt the New York State Capitol building.
A unique and iconic building boasting a combination of Neo-Renaissance and Romanesque Revival architecture, it was the most expensive U.S government building when it was completed in 1899.
Listed on the U.S. National Register Of Historic Places since 1971 and designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark since 1979, a guided tour or stroll around the grounds is an absolute must for anyone passing through.
Pharaoh Lake & Dix Mountain Wilderness Areas
Pharaoh Lake and Dix Mountain are a pair of wilderness areas in upstate New York that are perfect for those who love to explore.
Pharaoh Lake features Pharaoh Mountain and forest, both of which are filled with more than 70 miles of hiking trails and campgrounds, which are popular with backpackers.
Its collection of 39 bodies of water includes the impressive Pharaoh Lake and many are popular for fishing and boating.
Dix Mountain, on the other hand, is better known for its rugged, mountainous landscapes. Its peaks, forests, and rocky terrain are ideal for those interested in rock and ice climbing .
Lake Champlain
Covering 514 square miles (1,331 square kilometres), Lake Champlain is listed as the 6th largest lake in the United States. Most of its area is split between the American states of New York and Vermont, although its northern point is in the Canadian province of Quebec.
Known to drain more than half of Vermont, it is an incredibly important destination that supplies over a quarter of a million people with their drinking water.
Visitors will find numerous parks dotted around the shore of the lake, while a collection of islands can be found across its surface.
A popular destination for boating and fishing, attractions like ferry tours, lighthouses, and bridges bring countless people here for recreation each year. Many will even come in search of the “Lake Champlain Monster”, a legend dating back to 1609.
St Lawrence River
The St Lawrence River runs for 500 km (310 miles) (or 1200 km (745 miles) including the estuary) along the U.S - Canadian border.
An incredibly beautiful waterway with numerous nature reserves and wildlife hotspots dotted along its shores, it connects Lake Ontario, one of North America’s “Great Lakes”, to the Atlantic Ocean.
Drummondville
Drummondville is the most populous town in the Centre-du-Québec region of the province. The town has christened itself “Quebec’s Capital Of Expression & Traditions”, due to an impressive collection of cultural and historical attractions.
Its most popular attraction is the Village Québécois d’Antan, a historical village and living museum that depicts life in the region in the 19th century.
The village boasts 70 houses and 18 economuseums, filled with guides in historical attire explaining about the traditional way of life in the village.
Nicolet Bird Sanctuary
The Nicolet Bird Sanctuary became a refuge in 1982, before being designated as one of Quebec’s 28 migratory bird sanctuaries in 1998. It is an important stop on the international flyway for species such as ducks, sparrows, terns, Canada geese, and Species Atlantica.
Situated on the shores of Lake Saint Pierre, its incredible landscape is filled with forests, marshes, rivers, and swamps. It is an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts of all kinds, although is particularly attractive for those interested in birdwatching.
Trois-Riviéres
Originally settled in 1634 by French colonists, the city of Trois-Riviéres is the second oldest and ninth most populous in Quebec. Its name translates to “Three Rivers” and comes from the three channels that connect the Saint Maurice and St Lawrence rivers around the city.
One of the primary cultural and financial hubs of the region, Trois-Riviéres is filled with beautiful natural attractions and historic buildings, making it a wonderful place to explore for people of all interests.
Levis
Located just across the river from Quebec City, Levis was founded in 2002 by the merger of 10 smaller cities, including the original city of Levis that was settled in 1861.
Levis is a wonderful, diverse town to explore. Being made up on so many smaller settlements allows it to offer different styles in each of its boroughs, giving you the opportunity to see the variations that would historically have been present in the area.
Conclusion
A road trip from New York City to Quebec City is an amazing journey that takes you between two of the most important cities in North America. Whether you choose to do it in a single day or spread it out and make it a real event, there is plenty to do to keep you entertained.
This article will hopefully have helped you determine all of the spots you want to stop at along the way and all of the attractions you want to see.
All that’s left to do now then is work out where to stay in Quebec City and start getting things booked, so you can look forward to hitting the road as soon as possible.
