In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From the ski resort of Saint-Sauveur via Parc national du Mont-Tremblant and Saint-Donat into the lake country of Parc national de la Mauricie and on to the Saint-Maurice River at La Tuque: 600 kilometres of forest, water and open space.
The spirit of the route
The Laurentians are the mountain and lake country north of Montréal, ancient, rounded mountains of the Canadian Shield with hundreds of lakes in between. Beyond Saint-Sauveur and Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts the forest begins; in Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, Québec's oldest provincial park, there are lakes, rivers and hiking trails where the maple glows red and yellow in autumn. Via Saint-Donat the route leads through hills to Shawinigan and into Parc national de la Mauricie, whose lakes are home to canoes and moose. The road ends at La Tuque on the Saint-Maurice, a river on which, until the 1990s, logs were driven downstream to the paper mills. From your sliding door you see mist over the lakes in the morning, beavers in the evening and occasionally a moose on the shore. The route rewards cyclists, paddlers and campers who plan their reservations early.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Saint-Sauveur to Mont-Tremblant (approx. 100 km)
- The drive
- From Saint-Sauveur on Autoroute 15 and Route 117 via Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts to Mont-Tremblant. Well-built roads with hills and lake views, speeds of 50 to 100 km/h. Driving time is about an hour and a half, half a day with stops.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Parc linéaire Le P’tit Train du Nord: former railway line that runs as a cycle and hiking trail from Saint-Jérôme to Mont-Laurier, around 200 kilometres long; access in many towns, so check sections and services in advance.
- Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts: town on Lac des Sables with a promenade and boat trips; parking for motorhomes on the edge.
- Mont-Tremblant: pedestrian village at the mountain with a gondola and shops; check opening hours and prices in advance.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Parc national du Mont-Tremblant (Sépaq), La Diable sector (including Lac Chat, Lac-Escalier): campgrounds on the river and at lakes with varying facilities; check vehicle length and hookups with Sépaq. Reserve through Sépaq, early in summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping at the roadside or in car parks in Québec; on public land special rules apply to visitors from abroad, which should be clarified beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up and shop in Saint-Sauveur or Sainte-Agathe. The town of Mont-Tremblant is very busy in summer and autumn and parking is scarce; leave the motorhome at the campground.
2Stage 2: Mont-Tremblant to Saint-Donat (approx. 70 km)
- The drive
- Through Parc national du Mont-Tremblant to the north and east along the park roads to Saint-Donat. Winding and hilly, speeds of 50 to 70 km/h in the park. Driving time is about an hour and a half to two hours; watch for wildlife crossing in the park.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Parc national du Mont-Tremblant: Québec's oldest provincial park with lakes, rivers and hiking trails; check admission and opening hours with Sépaq.
- Lac Archambault near Saint-Donat: beach and boat rental; popular in summer.
- Hiking trails in the de l’Assomption sector: viewpoints and lakes with canoe rental.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Parc national du Mont-Tremblant (Sépaq), Pimbina-Saint-Donat sector (access from Saint-Donat, including Lac Provost, Lac-des-Sables): campgrounds with varying facilities; check vehicle length and hookups with Sépaq. Reserve through Sépaq.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping in the park or on the roads; car parks at trailheads are not meant for overnight stays at night.
- Insider tip for campers
- There are only a few shops in the park; buy food beforehand. Moose cross roads at dusk, so drive slowly. Mosquitoes and blackflies are frequent in early summer.
3Stage 3: Saint-Donat to Shawinigan (approx. 190 km)
- The drive
- From Saint-Donat via Route 125 to Joliette, then on Autoroutes 31, 40 and 55 to Shawinigan. Well-built roads, speeds of 50 to 100 km/h; in the hill country the way begins as a country road, then motorway. Driving time is about two and a half to three hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Joliette: town with an art museum and old town; a short stop to fill up and shop.
- Shawinigan: Cité de l’énergie, a hydropower museum with an observation tower; check opening hours and admission in advance.
- Saint-Maurice River at Shawinigan: dams and waterfalls, paths along the river.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Campgrounds near Shawinigan and on the edge of Parc national de la Mauricie (private or municipal); clarify facilities, opening times and vehicle length with the operator. Alternatively, directly in the park, see the next stage. Reservations are advisable in high summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping in towns or at the roadside; car parks in Shawinigan are not meant for overnight stays at night.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up and shop on the motorway between Joliette and Shawinigan; there is little in the park. If you want to reach the park early, you can also drive the stretch in two days.
4Stage 4: Shawinigan to Parc national de la Mauricie (Saint-Jean-des-Piles) (approx. 30 km)
- The drive
- A short run via Route 55 and the park road to Saint-Jean-des-Piles and into Parc national de la Mauricie. Well-built road with hills and lake views, speeds of 50 to 90 km/h. Driving time is about half an hour; the day belongs to the park.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Parc national de la Mauricie: lakes, forests and hiking trails; moose, beavers and loons; check admission and opening hours with Parks Canada.
- Lac Wapizagonke: long lake with canoe and boat rental as well as viewpoints; check boats and reservations in advance.
- Saint-Jean-des-Piles: village on the edge of the park with small shops and access to the river.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Parc national de la Mauricie (Parks Canada): campgrounds such as Rivière-à-la-Pêche and Lac-Wapizagonke with varying facilities; check vehicle length and hookups with Parks Canada. Reserve through Parks Canada, early in summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping in the park; car parks at trailheads are not meant for overnight stays at night.
- Insider tip for campers
- There are only a few shops in the park; buy food and water beforehand. Canoes and bikes can be rented in the park; check reservations in advance. Mosquitoes and blackflies are frequent in early summer.
5Stage 5: Parc national de la Mauricie to La Tuque (approx. 130 km)
- The drive
- From Saint-Jean-des-Piles via Grandes-Piles on Route 155 north to La Tuque. Country road through forest and along the Saint-Maurice River, 90 km/h, few towns. Driving time is about two hours; watch for wildlife crossing, especially moose.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Saint-Maurice River: former log-driving route on which, until the 1990s, logs were driven to the paper mills; viewpoints along Route 155.
- La Tuque: town on the river with a dam and parks; supply stop for fuel and shopping.
- Zec Wessonneau and lakes in the surrounding area: basic campgrounds, fishing and canoeing; access roads are mostly gravel.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Zec Wessonneau near La Tuque: basic campgrounds by the water for a fee; clarify facilities, access and vehicle length with the operator in advance, as access roads are mostly gravel. Alternatively, campgrounds in La Tuque (municipal or private). Reservations are advisable in high summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping at the roadside or in car parks; on public land (Terres du domaine de l’État) special rules apply to visitors from abroad, which should be clarified beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up in Shawinigan or Grandes-Piles before the drive; there are few petrol stations between there and La Tuque. The route is remote, so check the tyres and spare wheel beforehand; breakdown assistance may be far away.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Wild camping at the roadside or in car parks is prohibited in Québec and is patrolled by police and municipalities. On public land (Terres du domaine de l’État) different rules apply to residents and visitors; visitors from abroad should clarify permits beforehand.
- Sépaq parks (Mont-Tremblant) and Parks Canada (Mauricie) are the main solution for legal overnight stays; reservations are needed early in summer and autumn, and sites are often booked out.
- Zones d’exploitation contrôlée (ZEC) and Réserves fauniques offer basic campgrounds for a fee; access roads are mostly gravel and unsuitable for large motorhomes.
- Wildlife: black bears, moose, beavers and lynx live in the forests; store food at night in the vehicle or in bear-proof containers. Mosquitoes and blackflies are a nuisance in early summer, and ticks are widespread in meadows and woods.
- Vehicles in national parks: car parks at trailheads can be used by day, not for overnight stays at night.
- Useful apps: Sépaq, Parks Canada, iOverlander, Campendium, Québec 511 (road conditions).
- If you are checked in a car park, cooperation helps: stay friendly and leave the spot.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations are available at some campgrounds and in towns; clarify details when reserving. Public dump stations are rare.
- Drinking water in towns is mostly good, and campgrounds have fresh water stations; filter or boil water from lakes and rivers.
- Do not drain grey water onto the ground; empty chemical toilets only at dump stations.
- Propane: petrol stations and dealers in Saint-Sauveur, Sainte-Agathe, Shawinigan and La Tuque fill bottles; European bottles need an adapter; rental motorhomes have fixed tanks.
- Fuel: petrol stations are frequent in towns and larger villages; there is little in the parks and north of Grandes-Piles, so fill up beforehand.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Saint-Sauveur, Sainte-Agathe, Joliette, Shawinigan and La Tuque; only small shops in the parks.
- Electricity: campgrounds with hookups mostly offer 15, 30 or 50 A, 120 V; rental motorhomes have suitable cables.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in km/h: motorways mostly 100, country roads 90, in towns 50, in school zones 30 to 40; in the parks mostly 50 to 70. A motorhome drives like a car; trailers are permitted as signposted. Moose cross roads, especially at dusk.
- Tolls and fees: There are no tolls on this route.
- Parks and admission: Sépaq and Parks Canada charge day fees for vehicles; check prices on site and online. Boat and canoe rental have their own prices.
- Dimensions and lengths: Campgrounds have length limits, so state the vehicle length when booking; the legal maximum height in Québec is mostly 4.15 m (13 ft 6 in).
- Language: Québec is French-speaking, and signs and conversations are mostly in French; learn basic words such as “Arrêt” (stop) and “Interdit” (prohibited). In tourist towns English is often understood.
- Reservations: Sépaq and Parks Canada, campgrounds depending on the operator; high season is July and August as well as the autumn foliage in October, so book early.
- Weather and season: summer warm and full of mosquitoes, autumn with foliage from late September to mid-October especially popular; in winter many sites close and roads can be icy.
- Traffic law for travellers: turning right on red is generally prohibited in Québec unless a sign permits it; open alcohol in the vehicle is prohibited; phones at the wheel hands-free only; seat belts and child seats are compulsory; a German driving licence is enough for tourists, though an international one is recommended.
- Emergency: 911; mobile reception is partly weak or absent in the parks and in the north; take a map and water on hikes.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Canoe or paddling equipment (or a reservation with the rental) for the lakes in Mont-Tremblant and the Mauricie: paddling is the main activity.
- Insect repellent and a mosquito net: in forests and at lakes mosquitoes and blackflies are common in early summer.
- Bikes for the P’tit Train du Nord and the park roads: the cycle paths are well developed.
- Warm layers and rain gear: evenings turn cool at the lakes, frosty in autumn.
- Binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens: moose, beavers and loons are best observed from a distance.
- Offline maps and printed reservations: in the parks and in the north reception partly drops out.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
