In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Tadoussac via Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles to the limestone monoliths of Mingan and on to the village of Natashquan, where the road lies almost at the end of Québec: 1,000 kilometres of coast, taiga and open space.
The spirit of the route
The Côte-Nord is the long, thinly populated north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Beyond Tadoussac the traffic quickly thins out, and Route 138 follows cliffs, river mouths and bays, with villages in between that have small harbours, white churches and lookout towers. East of Baie-Comeau the distances between petrol stations and shops grow, the sea is always close by, and inland the taiga begins with spruce, peat bogs and rivers where salmon leap. At Havre-Saint-Pierre the Mingan Islands begin, an archipelago of limestone rocks that the wind has shaped into sculptures. According to the current situation the road ends far beyond Natashquan; anyone who drives that far feels as if standing at the edge of the continent. From your sliding door you see whales, puffins in season, mist over the sea and, at night, the northern lights.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Tadoussac to Baie-Comeau (approx. 210 km)
- The drive
- From Tadoussac on Route 138 north-eastwards via Les Escoumins and Forestville to Baie-Comeau; hills, river mouths and coastal stretches alternate, speeds of 50 to 90 km/h, longer climbs and descents. Petrol stations and shops in Les Escoumins, Forestville and Baie-Comeau; little in between. Driving time is about three hours, a full day with stops.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Cap-de-Bon-Désir near Les Bergeronnes: viewpoint in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park from which you can see whales from land at ebb and flood tide; check times and admission with Parks Canada.
- Les Escoumins: diving town and visitor centre of the marine park; small harbour and beach, a short stop is enough.
- Réserve naturelle de la Pointe-aux-Outardes: sand spit with birdwatching spots before Baie-Comeau; check times and access in advance.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Campgrounds in and around Baie-Comeau are mostly privately or municipally run; clarify opening times, facilities and vehicle length with the operator before arriving. Reservations are advisable in high summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping on the coast or in the towns; overnight stays in car parks and at viewpoints are not permitted. 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 the tank and water in Tadoussac, Forestville or Baie-Comeau; from here the distances between supply points grow. Check the timetable of the Baie-Comeau–Matane ferry (if wanted) beforehand.
2Stage 2: Baie-Comeau to Port-Cartier (approx. 260 km)
- The drive
- On Route 138 through coastal forests and taiga, past Baie-Trinité and Pointe-des-Monts, then on to Port-Cartier. Winding with long straights, speeds of 70 to 90 km/h, hardly any towns between the destinations. Driving time is just under four hours, a full day with stops.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Phare de Pointe-des-Monts: historic lighthouse of 1830 at the mouth of the St. Lawrence; check tour and opening times in advance.
- Baie-Trinité: small town with a harbour and cliffs; trails along the water, moderate shopping options.
- Port-Cartier: industrial and port town with a nature reserve inland; suitable as a supply stop before Sept-Îles.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Campground at the Pointe-des-Monts lighthouse (according to the operator; clarify opening and facilities in advance) or campgrounds in Port-Cartier; check vehicle length and reservations with the operator.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping on the coastal road; the forests are mostly public land, where special rules apply to visitors from abroad. Parking at viewpoints at night is not permitted.
- Insider tip for campers
- There are only a few petrol stations between Baie-Comeau and Port-Cartier, so fill up completely in Baie-Comeau. The lighthouse lies on a dead-end road, so mind your vehicle length. Insect repellent in early summer.
3Stage 3: Port-Cartier to Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan (approx. 220 km)
- The drive
- From Port-Cartier to Sept-Îles, then on along Route 138 through taiga and coastal strips via Rivière-Saint-Jean to Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan. Long straights, 90 km/h, few towns. Driving time is about three hours, a full day with stops.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Sept-Îles: largest town on the Côte-Nord with a harbour; Vieux-Poste de Sept-Îles, a reconstructed fur trading post, and boat trips to the archipelago off the town; check opening hours and timetables in advance.
- Rivière-Saint-Jean: salmon river with hiking trails and fishing spots; check fishing permits in advance.
- Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan: starting point for boat trips to the Mingan Archipelago and visitor centre of the reserve; check timetables and reservations with Parks Canada or the operators.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Campgrounds in Sept-Îles and Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan (municipal or private); clarify facilities, opening times and vehicle length with the operator. Book early in high summer. Alternatively, the basic camps on the islands of the Mingan Archipelago (by boat only, tent).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping on the coast; overnighting in car parks and at viewpoints is not permitted. For the islands of the Mingan Archipelago, the reservation and camping rules of Parks Canada apply.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up and shop in Sept-Îles; after that there are only small shops until Havre-Saint-Pierre. Book boat tours to the Mingan Archipelago early; they are cancelled in wind and fog.
4Stage 4: Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan to Havre-Saint-Pierre (approx. 60 km)
- The drive
- A short stretch on Route 138 along the coast to Havre-Saint-Pierre, the main town of the Mingan Islands. A straight stretch through coastal forest and peat bogs, 90 km/h. Driving time is about an hour; the day belongs to the islands.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Réserve de parc national de l’Archipel-de-Mingan: limestone monoliths, coastal trails and seabirds (puffins in season) on the islands; boats from Havre-Saint-Pierre and Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, check timetables and reservations with Parks Canada and the operators.
- Havre-Saint-Pierre: harbour town with the islands' visitor centre and a small museum; boat landing and shops nearby.
- Coastal trails on the Rivière-Saint-Pierre and the beach of Havre-Saint-Pierre: easy walks with sea views.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Camping Municipal in Havre-Saint-Pierre or private sites; clarify facilities, opening times and vehicle length with the operator. Alternatively, primitive campgrounds on individual islands in the archipelago (by boat only), reserve with Parks Canada.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping; the coastal road has only a few lay-bys, and parking there at night is not permitted.
- Insider tip for campers
- For an island day, check the weather and tide report and pack a wind and rain jacket. Leave the motorhome at the campground and cross by boat. Mosquitoes and blackflies are frequent in early summer.
5Stage 5: Havre-Saint-Pierre to Natashquan (approx. 160 km)
- The drive
- From Havre-Saint-Pierre on Route 138 eastwards through taiga and river mouths via Rivière-au-Tonnerre and Aguanish to Natashquan. Long straights, 90 km/h, hardly any towns, mobile reception partly weak. Driving time is about two to three hours. Route 138 officially ends at Kegaska, about 100 kilometres beyond Natashquan; beyond that there is no continuous road, the section is under construction, so check its condition in advance.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Rivière-au-Tonnerre and river mouths: beaches and trails on the shore, waterfalls inland depending on the season.
- Natashquan: village with the “Galets”, a historic fishing settlement by the sea, and white sandy beaches; check opening hours of museums and shops in advance.
- Coastal walks and viewpoints near Aguanish and Natashquan: sea views and seabirds, little activity in summer.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Campgrounds in and around Natashquan (municipal or private); clarify facilities, opening times and vehicle length with the operator or the municipality. Reservations are advisable in high summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping on the coastal road; on public land special rules apply to visitors from abroad, which should be clarified beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill the tank and water and buy supplies in Havre-Saint-Pierre; between Havre-Saint-Pierre and Natashquan there are only a few shops. Check the tyres and spare wheel before the drive, as breakdown assistance is far away. The road back to Baie-Comeau takes about two days.
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; overnighting in the vehicle at viewpoints and harbours is not permitted. On public land (Terres du domaine de l’État) different rules apply to residents and visitors; visitors from abroad should clarify permits beforehand.
- There are few campgrounds on the Côte-Nord; they are mostly in the towns and are municipal or private. Opening times are often limited to summer, so in spring and autumn clarify by phone beforehand.
- Réserves fauniques and ZEC offer basic campgrounds for a fee; access roads are mostly gravel and unsuitable for large motorhomes.
- Wildlife: black bears, moose and caribou live in the forests and bogs; store food in the vehicle at night. Mosquitoes and blackflies are a nuisance in early summer, so pack insect repellent and a mosquito net.
- Marine park and protected areas: keep your distance from whales and seals; drones are mostly prohibited in protected areas.
- Useful apps: Parks Canada, Sépaq, 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; clarify details with the operator. Public dump stations are rare.
- Drinking water in the towns is mostly good, and campgrounds have fresh water stations; filter or boil water from rivers.
- Do not drain grey water onto the ground; empty chemical toilets only at dump stations.
- Propane: petrol stations and dealers in Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles fill bottles; European bottles need an adapter; rental motorhomes have fixed tanks.
- Fuel: petrol stations are rare; fill up regularly in Tadoussac, Forestville, Baie-Comeau, Port-Cartier, Sept-Îles and Havre-Saint-Pierre. Carry a spare can if the rental terms allow it.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles and Havre-Saint-Pierre; only small shops in the small towns.
- 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: country roads 90, in towns 50, in school zones 30 to 40. A motorhome drives like a car; trailers are permitted as signposted. Moose and caribou cross roads, especially at dusk.
- Tolls and fees: There are no tolls on this route; ferries (e.g. Baie-Comeau–Matane) have their own prices and timetables.
- Parks and admission: Parks Canada and Sépaq charge fees for vehicles and boat tours; check prices on site and online.
- 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).
- Reservations: Parks Canada (Mingan), boat tours, ferries and campgrounds depending on the operator; high season is July and August, so book early.
- Weather and season: summer cool and full of mosquitoes, June to September suitable; in spring and autumn many facilities are closed; fog and wind are frequent on the coast.
- 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 away from the towns; carry emergency equipment, water and provisions, as breakdown assistance may be far away.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Spare can and spare wheel: petrol stations and workshops lie far apart, especially beyond Port-Cartier.
- Insect repellent and a mosquito net: in coastal forests and bogs mosquitoes and blackflies are common in early summer.
- Warm layers and rain gear: on the coast it can be cool and foggy even in summer, especially on boats.
- Binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens for the Mingan Islands: seabirds, puffins and seals are best seen from a distance.
- Offline maps and printed reservations: mobile reception drops out between the towns.
- Water canisters and food supplies for several days: shops are rare in the small towns and have limited opening hours.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
