Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Canada

Forestville

Stop 1 night if you are driving Route 138 or taking the Rimouski ferry; skip it as a destination on its own.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for the ferry, beaches and bird reserve; Feb–Mar for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing
avoid Nov–Apr if you are not here for snow (many services thin out; the ferry does not run)
Airports
YYY · YQB
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.

Forestville is a small service town on Quebec's North Shore, about 3,270 people, built on forestry and the ferry link to Rimouski. It is a practical overnight stop on Route 138 between Tadoussac and Baie-Comeau, with a beach, a bird reserve you can only see by kayak, a golf course and a curling club. There is no reason to come here for its own sake; there is every reason to sleep here if you are driving the coast or waiting for the ferry.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Forestville, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Sit-down mealRestaurant main courseC$20–35 (≈ US$15–30)
  • BeerBeer in a bar / can at the grocery storeC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) / C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Budget bedCampsite with services, a night, per roomC$35 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$220 (≈ US$160)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$280 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Rimouski ferry crossingÎle-Laval bird reserveZEC de Forestville hunting and fishingRoute 138 North Shore stop
Airports
YYY Mont-Joli (About 2 h 30 min by car via Route 132 and the Rimouski ferry, or a long drive around via Quebec City; check) · YQB Québec City Jean Lesage (About 4 h 30 min by car via Route 138; the usual arrival point for a North Shore road trip)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Forestville: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−8°C

−18°C

12 rd

Feb

−7°C

−17°C

10 rd

Mar

−1°C

−11°C

11 rd

Apr

5°C

−3°C

11 rd

May

13°C

3°C

12 rd

Jun

19°C

8°C

12 rd

Jul

22°C

12°C

13 rd

Aug

21°C

11°C

12 rd

Sep

16°C

7°C

12 rd

Oct

9°C

2°C

13 rd

Nov

2°C

−4°C

13 rd

Dec

−5°C

−13°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. Route 138 is the main street and everything sits along it or just off it; Route 385 heads north to the ZEC and the outfitters. The town is small enough to walk in the centre, but the beach, the campground and the ferry dock are a few km apart.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Tadoussac

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Route 138 west, about 1 h 15 min by car

Whale watching and the fjord; go early, parking fills in summer.

Baie-Comeau

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

Route 138 east, about 2 h 30 min by car

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there and continue east.

Godbout

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Route 138 east, about 45 min by car

Small waterfront village and another ferry link across the river.

Franquelin

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Route 138 east, about 1 h 15 min by car

Quiet coastal stop; combine with Godbout rather than a dedicated trip.

Sacré-Coeur

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Route 138 west then Route 172, about 1 h 30 min by car

Gateway to the Saguenay fjord and the whale route.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Route 138 strip (downtown)

Motels, the Écono Lodge, restaurants and the grocery store; best for one night with a car.

Baie Verte / ferry side

Campground and the pier viewpoint, a few dozen metres from the ferry dock; best if you have an early crossing.

Route 385 (north)

Campgrounds and outfitters along the road toward the ZEC; best for fishing and snowmobile trips.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
C$250 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × C$150C$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Rimouski–Forestville ferry, one way2 × C$25 · check; vehicle supplement extraC$50
Fuel, 300 km of Route 138 driving1 × C$40 · checkC$40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$60
Trip total≈ C$330 per person per day, bed includedC$660≈ US$500

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; sales tax is added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Canteen meal (poutine, burger)C$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
Restaurant main courseC$20–35 (≈ US$15–30)
Beer in a bar / can at the grocery storeC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) / C$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Grocery run for a picnicC$15–30 (≈ US$11–25)
Golf, 18 holes at Le MéandrecheckC$40–70 (≈ US$30–55)
ZEC day accesscheckC$10–20 (≈ US$8–15)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe. The real risks are long driving distances on Route 138, moose on the road at dusk, cold water and winter conditions: tell someone your route before heading north on the forest roads.
  • The Rimouski ferry is seasonal: confirm the sailing dates and book ahead in summer.
  • Access to Île-Laval is prohibited to protect nesting birds: you can only paddle around it.
  • Distances on the North Shore are long and fuel stops are sparse; fill up before heading east or west.
  • Winter driving on Route 138 needs winter tires and daylight planning.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire and ambulance
911
Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)
811

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ForestvilleForestville

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire and ambulance911
  • Info-Santé (health advice)811

Embassy

No consulates here. For US, UK, Canadian and other consular help, look to Québec City or Montréal; in an emergency call 911.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Rimouski → Forestville ferry: about 55 min by catamaran, summer only; fare check
  • Forestville → Tadoussac by car: about 1 h 15 min on Route 138
  • Forestville → Baie-Comeau by car: about 2 h 30 min on Route 138

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
  • Où est le traversier ? — Where is the ferry? (oo ay luh tra-ver-SYAY)
  • Puis-je payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (pweezh pay-YAY par KART)
  • Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)

French is the everyday language; a short bonjour goes a long way.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Forestville. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for the ferry, beaches and bird reserve; Feb–Mar for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing · avoid Nov–Apr if you are not here for snow (many services thin out; the ferry does not run) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-day fixture: sailing times, check-in cutoff and a walk-to-dock plan from the campground.
  2. Four walking and driving clusters with rescue anchors: Route 138 strip, Baie Verte and the pier, the museum and arboriduc, Route 385 and the ZEC.
  3. Place pages with verified access rules (Île-Laval, ZEC, arboriduc) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter fixture for snowmobile and cross-country ski trips, plus a storm-day fallback.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources