The ultimate 5-day Gaspé Peninsula road trip itinerary

This epic 5-day Gaspé Peninsula road trip itinerary includes Percé Rock, Forillon National Park, covered bridges, lighthouses, and much more! We’ve also recommended some Gaspé hotels to book for a five-day Gaspé itinerary.

Completing the loop along Quebec Route 132 around the Gaspé Peninsula takes roughly 11 hours of active driving time. There’s a lot to see and do, so we recommend setting aside five days to complete this spectacular drive.

Most people arriving from the west will start and finish the loop in Mont-Joli. We suggest approaching it counterclockwise, which saves the most scenic portion of Route 132 for the end of your trip. If you prefer to start with the good stuff, take this itinerary in reverse and travel in a clockwise direction.

This information was gathered via media tours in the Gaspésie hosted by Quebec Maritime. Click here to find more details about what you’ll see on this epic Gaspé Peninsula road trip. Have questions about this itinerary? Join our Facebook community!

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What you’ll experience on this Gaspé Peninsula road trip itinerary

On this five-day Gaspé Peninsula road trip itinerary, you’ll explore some of Quebec’s most distinct seaside landmarks. These include Percé Rock and the Northern Gannet colony on Bonaventure Island, Canada’s tallest lighthouse, and Forillon National Park. You’ll also discover covered bridges in the Matapédia Valley.

This drive is one of Quebec’s most scenic road trip routes. It’s also among the top road trips in Canada. Let this itinerary guide you through one of the country’s best lesser-known drives!

Day 1: Rivière-du-Loup to Carleton-sur-Mer

Visitors entering the region from the west are likely to pass through Rivière-du-Loup. This city is located just over 2 hours from Quebec City, 4.5 hours from Montreal, and 10 hours from the Greater Toronto Area. If you’re traveling to the region from a distance, an overnight stay in Rivière-du-Loup will set you up well for this itinerary. We recommend the Hôtel Universel Rivière-du-Loup.

In the morning, head east on Route 132 for an hour and 15 minutes to reach Parc national du Bic. Stop for a hike, or enjoy an early picnic lunch. Alternatively, you could continue east on Route 132 into Rimouski to enjoy lunch at one of the downtown restaurants.

Continue on to Pointe-au-Père National Historic Site, located just outside Rimouski. Set aside at least two to three hours to climb the lighthouse, tour the retired military submarine HMCS Onandaga, and explore the Empress of Ireland Museum.

Follow Route 132 east for another 30 minutes to reach the city of Mont-Joli. This is the point where the circular route around the Gaspé Peninsula begins and ends.

To join this loop counterclockwise, take Route 132 southbound to drive through the Matapédia Valley. This drive is known for its rural landscapes and covered bridges. Expect this drive to take anywhere from two to four hours, depending on how often you stop for photos. Key sites to see along this route are:

• Beausejour Bridge, a covered bridge in Amqui
• Heppell Bridge south of Causapscal
• Routhierville covered bridge
• Belvédère de Deux-Rivières, a lookout in the village of Matapédia

If you’ve arrived in time, visit the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site. It operates from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM during its operating season. An hour is long enough for an overview visit, and two hours will provide ample time to enjoy the site.

Arrive at the Riôtel Carleton-sur-Mer for a one-night stay.

Day 2: Carleton-sur-Mer to Percé

In the morning, check out of your hotel and continue east on Route 132.

After just under an hour, you’ll reach Ferme Bourdages Tradition. Stop in for a tasting of their fruit wines and pick up some pies and other treats for the road.

Continue east for another half hour to reach the Site historique national de Paspébiac. Set aside at least an hour to tour the site and learn about this area’s cod fishing history, including the shipbuilding shop and blacksmith. Add another hour if you’d like to stay for lunch at the on-site restaurant. (Note that English interpretation may be limited outside of the peak summer months.)

Rejoin Route 132 and carry on into the village of Percé. To make the most of your approach, watch for the Halte municipale de la Côte-Surprise, which lets you soak in the hilltop views of Percé and Bonaventure Island on your way into town.

Spend the rest of the day taking in the village of Percé. Walk the boardwalks, visit the Percé UNESCO Global Geopark to learn about the area’s geology and hike to the Mont-Sainte-Anne lookout, enjoy a masterful seafood dinner at la Maison du pêcheur (reservations required), or stop in for a pint and some live music at the Pub Pit Caribou.

Check into your hotel for a two-night stay in Percé. We recommend the Riôtel Percé. Book early and request a room with a view for the best experience!

Day 3: Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé

Dedicate an entire day of your itinerary to the Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-rocher-Percé.

Arrange your crossing in advance with one of the boat operators in the village. We had an excellent experience with Les Bateliers de Percé. Your cruise will begin by circling Percé Rock, and you’ll then continue around Bonaventure Island before being dropped off at the island’s main dock where you enter the park.

To reach the Northern Gannet colony, follow the les Colonies trail for approximately 45 minutes each way. Allot additional time to hike through the original settlement on the island or to complete the children’s scavenger hunt. During the peak season, there are cafés open at the dock and at the colony (cash only). Note that some people may find the odor at the colony to be a little strong for maintaining an appetite.

Boats return to the mainland hourly. Be sure to check the departure times and arrive at the dock early so you don’t miss your preferred return time.

Once you’re back in Percé, take in any activities you didn’t have time for the day before. As a second dinner option in town, consider Le Restaurant Paqbo in the Riôtel Percé. Overnight at your Percé hotel.

Day 4: Forillon National Park of Canada

Check out of your Percé hotel and head north on Route 132, pausing at the Halte municipale du Pic de l’Aurore as you leave the village for a final view of Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island.

Make an optional stop in the town of Gaspé for lunch, groceries, or supplies before reaching Forillon National Park of Canada. Plan to spend at least one full day taking in the park. If you have time to stay for longer, two or three days will allow you to take in much more of what the park has to offer.

If hiking or fat biking are options for you, don’t miss Les Graves trail to reach the end of the Gaspé Peninsula. Click here to learn more about amazing things to do in Forillon National Park.

Overnight in Gaspé (we suggest staying at Auberge sous les arbres), or try out some Gaspé Peninsula camping by staying overnight at the park. If you’d prefer not to rough it, Forillon National Park has multiple options for ready-to-camp stays, including oTENTiks, Ôasis teardrop pods, and MicrOcubes.

Day 5: The St. Lawrence South Shore

Dedicate the fifth and final day of your ultimate Gaspé road trip to tracing the south shore of the St. Lawrence River along Route 132. With no stops, it takes four and a half hours to drive from Forillon National Park to Mont-Joli. You’ll want to take multiple breaks along the way to look for whales from the scenic lookouts, explore the coastal villages, and visit the lighthouses along the route. Plan a full day for completing this drive.

Turn your day into a lighthouse tour by visiting the four lighthouses along the route, which you’ll encounter in this order as you leave Forillon National Park:

• Cap-des-Rosiers National Historic Site, the tallest lighthouse in Canada, is just outside the park boundary to the north along Route 132
• Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse (note this lighthouse is approximately 2 km off the highway along a dirt road)
• Cap-de-la-Madeleine Lighthouse
• Le Martre Lighthouse, unmistakable thanks to its bright red exterior

Overnight as appropriate along your route. We suggest the Riôtel Matane. Follow Route 132 toward Mont-Joli and onward to home.

Extend your Gaspé Peninsula road trip

Optionally, ferry crossings are available in Matane and Trois-Pistoles that will take you to the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, which offers different views and experiences to enjoy on your return trip.

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