Major city · Canada
Matane
Give Matane one night, two if you fish or hike: it is a ferry and Route 132 stopover, not a destination in itself.
Matane sits on the south shore of the St. Lawrence where Route 132 meets the road into the Gaspé Peninsula, and it is the Quebec side of a year-round ferry to Baie-Comeau and Godbout. The town is small, the salmon river runs through it, and shrimp and smoked fish are the local food. Most travellers pass through on the Gaspé loop or break the drive between Rimouski and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Apr (cold, many sights closed)
- Airport
- YYY
- Nights
- 1–2
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Matane911 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Matane, 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
- SafetyMatane is a quiet small town and feels safe day and night.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 811 Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)
- 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.
- AirportYYY Mont-Joli regional airport (About 1 h west by road; limited flights, often expensive).
- Getting aroundMatane is spread along Route 132 and the shore, so a car is the practical way to reach the wildlife reserve, the gardens and the east-end smokehouse.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee and a pastryC$4–8 (≈ US$3–6)
- Sit-down mealLobster dinner in seasonC$30–50 (≈ US$25–40)
- BeerBeer at a brew pubC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
- Museum or sight ticketLighthouse museum entryC$4 (≈ US$3) adult, C$2 (≈ US$2) child
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
- Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$300 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · 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 →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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
- YYY Mont-Joli regional airport (About 1 h west by road; limited flights, often expensive)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
Feb
Avoid
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
Mar
Avoid
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
Apr
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
May
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Jun
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jul
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Aug
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Sep
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Oct
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Nov
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Dec
Avoid
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jan (−17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C) low), wettest Dec (15 rain days), driest Feb (12). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Matane: 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°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
−17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C)
14 rd
Feb
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
−16°C (3°F)3°F (−16°C)
12 rd
Mar
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
12 rd
Apr
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
12 rd
May
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
13 rd
Jun
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Jul
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
13 rd
Aug
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
13 rd
Sep
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
13 rd
Oct
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
14 rd
Nov
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
14 rd
Dec
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
15 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Matane is spread along Route 132 and the shore, so a car is the practical way to reach the wildlife reserve, the gardens and the east-end smokehouse. The centre around avenue Saint-Jérôme is walkable. Orléans Express buses stop on avenue du Phare Est; National has a rental desk on avenue du Phare Ouest.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Matane Wildlife Reserve
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Route 195 southeast, about 40 km (25 mi) to the reserve gateRoute 195 southeast, about 25 mi (40 km) to the reserve gate
Moose centre and trails; open June–August, check gate hours.
Mont-Joli
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Route 132 west by car, or Orléans Express bus
Regional airport and a break on the drive west.
Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
goDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Route 132 east along the coast
Gateway to Gaspésie National Park and the Chic-Chocs.
Baie-Comeau
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h 20 min crossing
Société des traversiers du Québec ferry across the St. Lawrence
North shore; reserve a vehicle space in summer.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Avenue du Phare Ouest (west end)
Hotels, fish markets and the lighthouse museum; closest to the ferry terminal.
Avenue Saint-Jérôme (town centre)
Restaurants, bakery, brew pub and the salmon observation centre within walking distance.
Matane-sur-Mer (east along the shore)
Motels with sea views and the smokehouse; you need a car.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- 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
| Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × C$160 | C$160 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160 | C$320 |
| Ferry Matane → Baie-Comeau, adult foot passenger2 × C$22 | C$44 |
| Car on the same ferry1 × C$55 | C$55 |
| Car rental, one day1 × C$70 | C$70 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20 | C$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$69 |
| Trip total≈ C$379 per person per day, bed included | C$758≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee and a pastry | C$4–8 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Fish and chips or a seafood plate | C$18–35 (≈ US$14–30) |
| Lobster dinner in season | C$30–50 (≈ US$25–40) |
| Beer at a brew pub | C$7–10 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Lighthouse museum entry | C$4 (≈ US$3) adult, C$2 (≈ US$2) child |
| Salmon observation centre entry | C$3 (≈ US$3) adult, free under 13 |
| 18 holes at the golf club | C$42 (≈ US$35) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Most attractions run mid-June to early September only; outside that window check before you drive out.
- The ferry to Baie-Comeau and Godbout takes vehicles and books up in summer: reserve ahead.
- Cell coverage is patchy in the Matane wildlife reserve and on the Appalachian trail.
- Route 132 is a two-lane coastal road with moose near dawn and dusk.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)
- 811
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
MataneMatane
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Info-Santé (24 h health advice)811
Embassy
No consulate in Matane; the US consulate general is in Quebec City, and most other countries keep embassies in Ottawa.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Ferry Matane → Godbout, adult: about C$22 (≈ US$16), 2 h 10 min
- Ferry Matane → Baie-Comeau, adult: about C$22 (≈ US$16), 2 h 20 min
- Orléans Express bus Matane → Rimouski: about 1 h 30 min
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
- Où est le traversier ? — Where is the ferry terminal? (oo eh luh tra-vair-SYAY)
- Je voudrais le poisson — I would like the fish (zhuh voo-DREH luh pwa-SON)
French is the everyday language here; a bonjour goes a long way.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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 Matane. 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–Sep · avoid Nov–Apr (cold, many sights closed) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Ferry terminal to bed contract: sailing times, vehicle reservation cutoff, taxi fallback.
- Walking cluster around avenue Saint-Jérôme with cutoffs for the salmon centre, bakery and brew pub.
- Place pages for the lighthouse museum, gardens and wildlife reserve with seasonal dates.
- Hostile-weather and off-season fixtures so gates can go green.
Sources
- officialVille de Matane
- officialTourisme Matane
- officialSociété des traversiers du Québec
- officialOrléans Express
- officialSépaq — Réserve faunique de Matane
- secondaryWikivoyage: Matane, revision 5252587 (CC BY-SA 4.0)