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Major city · Canada

Rivière-Saint-Jean

Go only if you are already driving Route 138: one night, two at most, for the barachois, the wharf and the Magpie trails. No town, no nightlife.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, many services closed)
Airports
YZV · YGV
Nights
1–2
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.

Rivière-Saint-Jean is a small riverside municipality in Minganie on Quebec's North Shore, made up of two villages: Rivière-Saint-Jean at the mouth of the Saint-Jean River and the hamlet of Magpie across Magpie Bay. There is no real town centre and no cell network, so it works as a quiet one-night stop on the Route des Baleines between Sept-Îles and Havre-Saint-Pierre, or as a base for salmon fishing and forest trails. Come for the barachois, the wharf and the coastal views, not for services.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Rivière-Saint-Jean, 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.

  • CoffeeCoffee or snack at a general storeC$3–7 (≈ US$3–6)
  • Sit-down mealSimple restaurant mealC$18–30 (≈ US$14–25)
  • BeerBeer at a store / in a barC$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)C$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Budget bedRV parking, no services (max 3 days), a night, per roomC$0 (≈ under US$1)
  • Mid-range bedSt-Jean Pavilion room, a night, per roomC$130 (≈ US$95)
  • High-end bedSt-Jean Pavilion room, a night, per roomC$190 (≈ US$140)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$260 (≈ US$190)

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.

Barachois and municipal wharf at the Saint-Jean River mouthMagpie Bay and the Magpie RiverSalmon fishing on the Saint-Jean RiverRoute des Baleines (Route 138) coastal drive
Airports
YZV Sept-Îles Airport (About 148 km west by Route 138; the usual arrival airport for the region) · YGV Havre-Saint-Pierre Airport (About 2 h 45 min east by Route 138)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Rivière-Saint-Jean: 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

12°C

2°C

12 rd

Jun

18°C

8°C

12 rd

Jul

21°C

12°C

13 rd

Aug

20°C

12°C

12 rd

Sep

15°C

7°C

12 rd

Oct

9°C

2°C

13 rd

Nov

3°C

−4°C

13 rd

Dec

−4°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

A car is the practical way to move: Route 138 is the only main road and links the two villages and the region. Intercar runs a bus several days a week between Sept-Îles and Havre-Saint-Pierre, stopping in the area (check days and times). Trails and the wharf are short walks from the villages.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Route 138 east by car

Beach, waterfront boardwalk and the marine mammal museum; pairs well with a Mingan islands trip.

Havre-Saint-Pierrego

Door to door: About 2 h by car

Route 138 east by car, or Intercar bus

Main service town for the region and the gateway to the Mingan Archipelago; stock up here.

Anticosti

overnight

Door to door: Half a day or more

Ferry or flight from the Havre-Saint-Pierre area (check schedule)

Quebec's largest island, 38.3 km offshore at the shortest point; needs its own trip, not a day return.

Rivière-au-Tonnerre

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Route 138 west by car

Gateway to Minganie; coves, falls and whale watching along the way.

Natashquancaution

Door to door: About 3 h

Route 138 east by car

Long drive for a day; better as a stop if you are continuing east.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Village of Rivière-Saint-Jean (rue Saint-Jean / Route 138)

The main village at the river mouth: church, municipal hall, post office and the St-Jean Pavilion lodging are all here.

Magpie (west side of the Magpie River)

The hamlet opposite Magpie Bay, near the Pourvoirie de la Haute-St-Jean; quieter, mostly fishing and outfitter accommodation.

Rue de l'Église RV parking

No-service RV parking, maximum 3 days; dump station on Rue du Ruisseau.

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$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
High
C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
St-Jean Pavilion room1 × 1 night × C$130C$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150C$300
Fuel, Sept-Îles return (about 300 km)1 × C$45 · checkC$45
Intercar bus, Sept-Îles–Havre-Saint-Pierre leg2 × C$60 · checkC$120
eSIM or data plan for the region2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$64
Trip total≈ C$350 per person per day, bed includedC$699≈ US$550

check

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; long-distance travel to the region excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or snack at a general storeC$3–7 (≈ US$3–6)
Simple restaurant mealC$18–30 (≈ US$14–25)
Beer at a store / in a barC$3–5 (≈ US$3–4) / C$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
Gasoline, per litreC$1.60–1.90 (≈ US$2)
Camping or RV night, no servicesC$0–30 (≈ US$0–25)
Salmon fishing day with an outfitterPermits and rules applyC$150–400 (≈ US$110–300)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are isolation, weather, wildlife and long distances between services. Tell someone your plan, carry water and fuel, and do not rely on a phone signal.
  • No cellular network in the area; there are a few municipal Wi-Fi zones and a phone booth near the general store.
  • Fuel, food and lodging are limited and seasonal: fill up and buy supplies in Sept-Îles or Havre-Saint-Pierre.
  • Distances are long: Sept-Îles is about 148 km west, Havre-Saint-Pierre about 2 h 45 min east by road.
  • Wildlife and tides: keep distance from seals and other marine animals, and watch the tide on the barachois flats.
  • Hunting is active in the backcountry in season: wear bright colours on trails in autumn.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, 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.

Rivière-Saint-JeanRivière-Saint-Jean

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

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

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Info-Santé811

Embassy

No consulates here; the nearest are in Québec City or Montréal. US citizens: US Consulate General in Montréal or Québec City.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Sept-Îles → Rivière-Saint-Jean by car: about 148 km, roughly 2 h on Route 138
  • Intercar Sept-Îles → Havre-Saint-Pierre: runs several days a week, about 2 h 45 min end to end
  • RV parking, Rue de l'Église: no services, maximum 3 days

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mer-SEE)
  • Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay VOO ahn-GLEH)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
  • Où est le quai ? — Where is the wharf? (oo eh luh KAY)
  • J'ai besoin d'aide — I need help (zhay buh-ZWAN DED)

No cellular network in the area; a few municipal Wi-Fi zones and a phone booth near the general store.

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 Rivière-Saint-Jean. 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 · avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, many services closed) · 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. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources