Major city · Canada
Charette
Skip as a base: Charette is a 2–3 hour stop for the 1909 wooden church and the Chute à Magnan falls, then drive on to Saint-Élie-de-Caxton or Louiseville.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Oct
- avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, some rural businesses closed)
- Airports
- YUL · YQB
- Nights
- 0–1
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.
Charette is a small parish municipality in the Maskinongé Region of Basse-Mauricie, Quebec, built on a rise at the foot of the Laurentians about 140 km northeast of Montreal. It is farmland, forest and a handful of village streets, with a white wooden church from 1909, a waterfall on the Loup river and a rail line that once carried the village's name. There is no hotel strip and no sight that fills a day: travellers come for a short heritage stop, a butcher or honey farm, and the surrounding Maskinongé countryside.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Charette, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $).Canada-wide
- SIM or eSIMRogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores.Canada-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).Canada-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.Canada-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Canada-wide
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are rural driving (ice, deer, dark roads), winter cold and patchy phone coverage.
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 811 Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h) · 310-4141 Sûreté du Québec (non-emergency)
- Sundays & holidaysStatutory holidays close shops and offices, varying by province; many park facilities are seasonal (about mid-May to mid-October).Canada-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportYUL Montréal-Trudeau (About 2 h by car via Autoroute 40 and Route 153; the usual gateway for this region.).
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$2.50–4.50 (≈ US$2–4)
- Sit-down mealVillage restaurant main courseC$16–28 (≈ US$12–25)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–40 (≈ US$11–30)
- Budget bedCountry chalet (up to 6), a night, per roomC$180 (≈ US$140)
- Mid-range bedGîte or B&B room, a night, per roomC$140 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedGîte or B&B room, a night, per roomC$220 (≈ US$160)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$70 (≈ US$55) · Mid C$140 (≈ 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.
- Airports
- YUL Montréal-Trudeau (About 2 h by car via Autoroute 40 and Route 153; the usual gateway for this region.) · YQB Québec City Jean Lesage (About 2 h 15 min by car via Autoroute 40 west and Autoroute 55.)
Weather and climate
Charette: 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
−7°C19°F
−17°C1°F
12 rd
Feb
−5°C23°F
−16°C3°F
10 rd
Mar
1°C34°F
−9°C16°F
11 rd
Apr
9°C48°F
−1°C30°F
11 rd
May
18°C64°F
6°C43°F
12 rd
Jun
23°C73°F
11°C52°F
12 rd
Jul
26°C79°F
14°C57°F
12 rd
Aug
24°C75°F
13°C55°F
12 rd
Sep
19°C66°F
8°C46°F
11 rd
Oct
12°C54°F
3°C37°F
12 rd
Nov
4°C39°F
−3°C27°F
13 rd
Dec
−3°C27°F
−12°C10°F
13 rd
High / low °C°F · 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. The village is on Route 351, with Route 349 and Route 350 crossing the wider area; distances between the church, the falls and the farm shops are 2–8 km on country roads with no useful bus. Two electric vehicle charging points sit in the village (rue Saint-Édouard and rue Notre-Dame). Snowmobiles and ATVs use the same network in winter.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Saint-Élie-de-Caxton
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Route 351 north by car
Village with food, lodging and a lake; the practical base for this area.
Door to door: About 25 min
Route 349/350 southeast by car
Services, restaurants and Autoroute 40 access.
Door to door: About 20 min
Route 349 north by car
Loup river country; forestry and farm landscape.
Saint-Étienne-des-Grès
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Route 350 east, then local roads
La Gabelle dam and Saint-Maurice river recreation.
Door to door: About 30 min
Route 153 south to Autoroute 40
Historic village on the way to Trois-Rivières.
Door to door: About 35 min
Route 350 east by car
Shawinigan suburb; only worth it if you are already heading that way.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Charette village centre
A few rooms and gîtes around rue Notre-Dame and rue de l'Église; inventory is thin, so book ahead or stay in a neighbouring town.
Saint-Élie-de-Caxton
About 10 min north on Route 351; more lodging and food choice, and the usual base for this corner of Maskinongé.
Louiseville
About 20 min southeast; larger town with motels and services on the way to Autoroute 40.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- C$70–110 (≈ US$55–80) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$120–190 (≈ US$90–140) excl. bed
- High
- C$200 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Gîte or B&B room1 × 1 night × C$140 | C$140 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$140 | C$280 |
| Fuel, 150 km of rural driving1 × C$20 · check | C$20 |
| Village meal for two1 × C$60 | C$60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$15 · check | C$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$53 |
| Trip total≈ C$292 per person per day, bed included | C$583≈ US$450 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; fuel and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | C$2.50–4.50 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Village restaurant main course | C$16–28 (≈ US$12–25) |
| Butcher or farm-shop purchase | C$10–40 (≈ US$8–30) |
| Jar of local honeycheck | C$8–15 (≈ US$6–11) |
| Fuel, per litrecheck | C$1.50–1.80 (≈ US$2) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$15–40 (≈ US$11–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No train service: the historic line through Charette does not carry passengers, so plan on driving.
- Rural roads are dark and can ice over from November; watch for deer and farm machinery.
- Many farm shops, butchers and the falls are seasonal or have irregular hours: check before you drive out.
- Cell coverage is patchy in the wooded western part of the municipality.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)
- 811
- Sûreté du Québec (non-emergency)
- 310-4141
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
CharetteCharette
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Info-Santé (health advice)811
- Sûreté du Québec (non-emergency)310-4141
Embassy
No consulate in Charette. US consulate general in Montréal; other countries: embassies in Ottawa or consulates in Montréal.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Montréal → Charette by car: about 140 km, 1 h 45 min (check)about 87 mi, 1 h 45 min (check)
- Québec City → Charette by car: about 168 km, 2 h (check)about 104 mi, 2 h (check)
- Fuel, 100 km of rural driving: about C$12–15 (≈ US$9–11) (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
- Je voudrais ceci, s'il vous plaît — I would like this, please (zhuh voo-DREH suh-SEE seel voo PLEH)
- Où est l'église ? — Where is the church? (oo eh lay-GLEEZ)
- Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-LAY voo ahn-GLEH)
French is the everyday language here; a short bonjour before a question 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 Charette. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Oct · avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, some rural businesses closed) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Field-check opening hours for the church, the falls access and the farm shops before publishing a timed stop.
- Add a walking loop for the village core with the church, the presbytery and the Yamachiche river crossing.
- Confirm which of the two EV chargers is working and its connector type.
- Add a winter variant covering snowmobile trails and road conditions.