Want to escape Montreal city for a day or two? Add one of these epic day trips from Montreal to your itinerary. From skiing trips to USA trips, we got you covered.
Note that you can easily rent your own car to get to any of these destinations. You could also organize your day trip with a tour operator too if you’d rather not drive.
Mont Tremblant
Mont Tremblant is a popular ski resort in the Laurentians, about an hour and a half’s drive from Montreal. The Mont Tremblant ski resort offers 97 ski slopes, including a range of beginner, intermediate, and those which are classified as “extreme”.
Alongside skiing, the resort also offers popular outdoor activities such as snowshoeing and trekking, snowboarding, dog sledding, tubing, and ice climbing. To complete your day trip at Tremblant, take a trip to the mountain village, which features a shopping district, various restaurants, an indoor pool, and stargazing.
A coach is also available with L’Express du Nord, traveling between Montreal and Mont Tremblant every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You can also organize your day trip with GetYourGuide. Day passes for Tremblant start at $99 for adults, with multi-day and season passes also available, making Tremblant one of the best places to visit around Montreal for both short and long trips.
Quebec City
One of the most popular day trips from Montreal, Quebec City is the capital city of the province of Quebec, which is around 3 hours’ drive from Montreal. Originally settled by Jaques Cartier colonists in 1535 and founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, Quebec City is one of the oldest European settlements in North America, and some of its fortified walls still exist today in the Vieux-Quebec District.
Of course, its fascinating history is one of the key points for visitors, who can learn all about early Quebec and the First Nations people at the Musee de la civilization.
For a taste of Quebec’s living history, take a stroll through Old Quebec (Vieux-Quebec), a World Heritage Site with points of interest including the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Quebec, Petit-Champlain Street, and Place Royale, the site of New France’s first permanent settlement dating back to 1608.
You can either rent a car or organize your day trip with GetYourGuide.
Vermont
When thinking of places to travel to for the best-road trip from Montreal, perhaps your first thought doesn’t involve crossing an international border. But, conveniently, Vermont is one of the closest states to Montreal and only a 2-hour drive away, making this the perfect destination for those that fancy a quick day trip to another country.
Burlington, Vermont is the number one spot for those that love coffee, craft beer, and beautiful landscapes. For those interested in a unique craft beer experience, Burlington offers various breweries to try out, including Magic Hat, Foam Brewers, and Zero Gravity Brewery. Be sure to pay a visit to the South End, the area of Burlington known for its creativity and artsy stores, also home to the Zero Gravity Brewery.
And of course, no trip to Burlington would be complete without a stroll along the Lake Champlain waterfront.
Granby Zoo
Whether or not you have children, one of the best places to visit around Montreal will be the Granby Zoo. Home to nearly 1500 animals from 200 species and gaining popularity as the biggest zoo in Quebec, Granby Zoo is incredibly popular amongst children and adults alike.
Alongside visiting these magnificent creatures, various activities are offered by the zoo, including presentations about the animals, feeding and enrichment experiences, and even some opportunities to get close to some of the animals (extra fees may apply).
When it’s time for a rest, Granby Zoo offers a selection of cafes and restaurants, with options ranging from pasta to salad to braised pork. Driving from Montreal to Granby Zoo takes approximately an hour, and adult tickets can currently be purchased for $24.99.
Îles-de-Boucherville National Park
For nature lovers, one of the best activities around Montreal is undoubtedly a visit to the Îles-de-Boucherville National Park, a small collection of islands in the province of Quebec. Located only a few miles away from Montreal, in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, the park is home to deer, skunks, foxes, birds, and beavers.
In the summer, the park is a popular location for hikers, cyclists, canoeists, and campers while, in the winter, the park’s beautiful trails are perfect for snowshoeing and skiing. Alongside the draw of its spectacular landscapes, the park also offers tours of the park and its waters, access to the Boucher-de-Grosbois archaeological site, and various discovery trails.
Visitors can reach the park via car, which takes around half an hour. Entrance to the park costs $8.75 for adults, with children going free and equipment rentals available for all activities.
Ottawa
If you fancy taking a trip to another of Canada’s most famous cities, why not take a convenient trip to the capital? Ottawa is the parliamentary hub of Canada, home to Parliament Hill, and contains a great deal of history and architecture for hungry eyes and ears to explore.
There’s plenty to do in the city, such as skating at the world’s largest outdoor skating rink, shopping and food at the old ByWard Market, and visiting one of Ottawa’s annual festivals.
For visitors that want to learn more about the city’s history, a trip to the Canadian Museum of History is essential. To delve even deeper, various walking tours are offered throughout the city, including the infamous haunted walking tour.
It takes around two and a half hours to drive to Ottawa from Montreal, with options via bus for the same travel time. There is also a direct train available, which is slightly quicker at two hours and fifteen minutes. You could also organize your day trip with GetYourGuide.
Sucrerie de la Montagne
The Sucrerie de la Montagne is an authentic sugar shack and Quebec Heritage site, located within a 120-acre maple forest at the top of Mont Rigaud. Unlike other sugar shacks, Sucrerie de la Montagne is open year-round to show visitors what life was like for Quebec and Canadian pioneers. Of course, you can venture to many other sugar shacks to appreciate this traditional Canadian activity.
During February, March, and April, it is sugar season, which gives guests the opportunity to experience all of the maple activities, including a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, an all-you-can-eat feast, live music, and a maple-taffy-on-snow tasting.
Sleigh rides and feasts are also available for visitors year-round. The Sucrerie de la Montagne is about an hour’s drive from Montreal, and rates start at $30 per person.
