The Open Road Travel

A road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls takes you between one of Canada’s most historic cities and one of its most famous natural attractions.

A road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls covers 935 kilometres and takes 9 and 1/4 hours to drive. You go across Quebec and Ontario, past iconic rivers, Great Lakes, and some of Canada’s best known cities, as you drive along the US – Canada border.

Read on to learn more about what there is to see and do along the way on this incredible journey.

A road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls covers a minimum distance of 935 kilometres (580 miles) and takes at least 9 and ¼ hours to drive. However, the best route for a road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls covers 1,020 kilometres (635 miles) and takes 9 and ¾ hours to drive.

Our suggested route begins by having you drive west out of Quebec City on Boulevard Charest. Continue following it when it becomes Autoroute Charest and then merge onto Quebec Autoroute 40 when the road ends.

Stay on this for 230 kilometres (143 miles), until you reach Exit 960 in Charlemagne, where you’ll join Quebec Autoroute 640 as it begins. When you reach Exit 20, you will then begin heading north on Quebec Autoroute 15.

Exit 35 in Saint-Janvier will see you pick up Quebec Autoroute 50 where it begins and start heading west again. You will then drive almost its entire 159 kilometre (99 mile) length, to Exit 135, in Gatineau, where you will use Quebec Autoroute 5 to cross the Ottawa River into Ontario.

Turn right onto Rideau Street then left onto Elgin Street, when you pass The National War Memorial. Go right on Ottawa Road 60, which you will then use to join the Trans-Canada Highway going west. Follow this to Exit 130, where you will begin heading south on Ontario Highway 416.

Drive the entire 76.4 kilometre (47.5 mile) duration of the road, then head west on Ontario Highway 401. This will then take you 380 kilometres (235 miles) to Mississauga, where you’ll join Ontario Highway 403 at its origin.

You’ll remain on this till Exit 101, where you join Queen Elizabeth Way, which takes you the rest of the way to your destination of Niagara Falls.

The best time for a road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls is from late May to mid-September, as this is the warmest stretch of the year.

While a pleasant temperature is always a selling point, especially in an often bitterly cold country like Canada, it holds particular importance here.

Warm weather ensures that when you arrive at your destination, the waters of Niagara Falls will be flowing freely, and all of the boat trips will be running. This means you will be able to see this iconic location and explore its surroundings however you choose, in complete comfort.

With at least a 9 hour drive on a road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls, most people will want to break their trip up with an overnight stay to make it more enjoyable.

The best place to stop on a road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls is Ottawa, and it is also the reason for the 30 minute detour on our suggested route.

The capital city of Canada since December 31st, 1857, as well as its 4th most populous, Ottawa lies on the south bank of the Ottawa River. Founded as Bytown in 1826 and officially incorporated in 1855, Ottawa is known nationwide for its abundance of historic architecture.

Heritage sites, museums, performing arts centres, and even the buildings of the Federal Government of Canada are dotted throughout the city, helping Ottawa intrigue those interested in everything from history and art to Canadian politics.

With a calmer atmosphere than most major Canadian cities and regularly hosting festivals like the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, Ottawa International Jazz Festival, the nation’s biggest Canada Day celebration, and Canada’s largest festival, Winterlude, Ottawa is a city that can be enjoyed by all.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier is 5-star hotel inside one of Ottawa’s most historic, iconic buildings. Its Chateauesque and French Gothic Revival architecture and grandiose décor create a stylish aesthetic both inside and out and has even had the hotel designated a National Historic Site Of Canada.

Surrounded by the Canadian parliament buildings and Rideau Canal, it provides stunning views and an easy base to explore the city from.

Every one of the hotel’s 429 pet friendly guest rooms perfectly blends classic furniture with modern amenities like air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, a flat screen cable TV, and a mini bar.

In the communal areas you’ll find a health club, fitness centre, swimming pool, Wilfrid’s Restaurant, which serves gourmet cuisine, and Zoe’s Lounge, where you can enjoy afternoon tea and evening cocktails. The entire property also features high speed Wi-Fi, while parking is offered to all guests.

Now that you know more about the best route for a road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls, it’s time to plan your dream travel itinerary. I will now show you the 10 top attractions on a road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls, to ensure people of all interests can have a dream vacation.

Quebec’s most populous city and Canada’s second most, Montreal was founded in 1642 and named after Mount Royal. Often listed amongst the world’s most liveable cities, it is the heart of the French speaking region of Canada and has more French speakers than any other city on Earth besides Paris.

One of the most bilingual cities in Canada, over half the population of Montreal speak both English and French. This is perhaps one of the reasons it hosts so many international events and has become known as one of Canada’s main sport and entertainment hubs.

Events like the Canadian Grand Prix, Just For Laughs comedy festival, Les Francos de Montreal French music festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival are held here annually. Each is the largest of its kind on Earth and helps to add a great deal of prestige to the city.

The city has even held events like the Summer Olympics and International And Universal Exposition and is home to North America’s most successful ice hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. Throw in its fabulous historical locations and amenities, and Montreal a city worth visiting for all.

Canada’s first rail tunnel, the Brockville Railway Tunnel was opened on December 31st, 1860, and remained in operation for over 100 years, till 1970.

Known primarily for its history and architecture, it has since been converted into a seasonal attraction to appeal to a broader range of tourists.

In 18 months in 2016 and 2017, Brockville Railway Tunnel was turned into a work of art with bright, colourful LED’s and powerful sound systems. The lights and music synchronise to make vibrant patterns and create a truly atmospheric, immersive display for you to walk through and enjoy.

A 39 kilometre (24 mile) scenic parkway, Thousand Islands Parkway follows the St Lawrence River along its north bank, from Butternut Bay to Lake Ontario. One of the region’s most famous stretches of road, it offers stunning views of the beautiful surroundings.

Named after the countless islands found in this stretch of river, you can enjoy views of them as you drive along the shore. You can even drive onto many of the larger islands, like Howe Island, the largest in the group, to get a better view and explore them up close.

With many small towns and lighthouses, like Wolfe Island (Québec Head) Lighthouse, Ontario’s 2nd largest, Thousand Islands Parkway is a great place to go for a drive and take in your surroundings.

Kingston was established in 1760, on the site of the 17th century Fort Cataraqui trading post. Set where the St Lawrence River flows into Lake Ontario, it was Canada’s original capital city for three years, between 1841 and 1844, and is a must visit location for history fans.

Throughout Kingston there are 1211 separate locations listed in the Ontario Heritage Act, 21 sites found on the register of National Historic Sites Of Canada, and the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site and its historic fortifications.

Prince Edward County is a large peninsula in south Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, that is surrounded by water on all sides. Connected to the mainland by only one natural link and a range of manmade bridges, it offers stunning views of Lake Ontario and the surrounding area.

It is home to some stunning attractions, like the 1,551 hectare Sandbanks Provincial Park. It boasts the largest bay-mouth barrier dune formation in the world, the best sandy beach in Ontario, an incredible range of wildlife, and is popular for activities like hiking, swimming, fishing, and more.

Prince Edward County is also known for its vast number of vineyards and lighthouses. Visitors can drive the length of the county, sampling fabulous wines and visiting historic structures. Nature lovers will also enjoy the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory as well.

The National Air Force Museum Of Canada houses a permanent collection of memorabilia, vehicles, and artefacts detailing the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which includes at least one plane from every era of the RCAF.

Informative displays will take visitors on an interactive tour through the entire history of the RCAF, from its formation to its place in modern Canada. With detailed displays and memorials dedicated to the squadrons lost in battle, it is a great place to learn about aviation while paying your respects.

With a surface area of 19,000 square kilometres (7,340 miles) and holding 1,640 cubic kilometres (393 miles) of water, Lake Ontario is the smallest of North America’s Great Lakes by area and second smallest by volume, yet it still manages to rank as the 13th largest lake on the planet.

Split between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the U.S., the beautiful lake is surrounded by historic lighthouses, forts, and settlements on all sides. It also has many small islands atop it, full of wildlife, making it a great stop whether you prefer to explore on land or water.

Ganaraska Forest is a pair of joined forests between the towns of Oshawa and Peterborough. Both are full of beautiful natural landscapes and wildlife, making it a great place to go for a walk and enjoy your surroundings.

The highlight of Ganaraska Forest though is the collection aerial ziplines, pathways, and bridges in its canopy. This allows you to explore the forest from a different angle, taking in new views and getting to see wildlife that would otherwise have been scared off by human presence feed and live.

Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park is a safari park where visitors can see a variety of different species of big cats living in faithful recreations of their natural habitat. Throughout the park you will see tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, lynxes, and panthers, as well as a population of grey wolves.

Interactive programs let visitors feed some of the cats while being supervised by trained handlers for a hands on experience. You also have a collection of other animals that are allowed to freely roam the park, such as beavers, lemurs, monkeys, foxes, and a variety of different birds.

Dedicated animal lovers can even stay in a safari-themed lodge or room inspired by a den of one of the big cat species you have seen or go camping in designated sections of the park.

Toronto is the largest, most populous city in Canada and the capital of the province of Ontario. Founded in 1793 as York, the city is set on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario and is visited by over 43 million people each year.

It is a destination full of attractions suitable for a wide range of people, such as galleries, museums, Canada’s largest collection of pro sports teams, and the iconic CN Tower, the western hemisphere’s tallest free-standing structure.

With 3 of the 5 Great Lakes Of North America in close proximity and countless other natural attractions to boot, Toronto is a diverse destination that has plenty on offer for everyone, no matter what they may be looking for.

A road trip from Quebec City to Niagara Falls is one of the best ways to see some of the most famous cities and attractions that eastern Canada has to offer. This article will hopefully have given everyone planning to make the drive for themselves all the information they need to do it in style.

From the best route to use, how long it’ll take, and when to go, to the top things to do and places to stay along the way, you have everything to plan your dream travel itinerary. All that’s left to do now then is start getting things booked, so you can look forward to experiencing it all for yourself.