Major city · Canada
Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu
Go for one night or a half-day if you are already driving Route 223: riverfront village, a cable ferry to Saint-Charles, sugar shacks in season. Not worth a dedicated trip.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Oct for boating, cycling and the ferry; Mar–Apr for sugar-shack season
- avoid Nov–Apr (ferry stops, most seasonal businesses close, ice bridge replaces the crossing)
- Airports
- YUL · YMX
- Nights
- 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.
Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu is a small riverside municipality in La Vallée-du-Richelieu, about 46 km east of Montréal by car. It is a boating and cycling stop on Route 223, with a cable ferry across the Richelieu to Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, a parish church, a handful of sugar shacks and two riverfront inns. Most travellers see it as a half-day or one-night stop between Montréal, Beloeil and Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, not a destination on its own.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, 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 river currents, fast traffic on Route 223 and winter ice.
- 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.
- AirportYUL Montréal–Trudeau (About 60–75 min by car via Autoroute 20 and Route 223; no direct transit to the village).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical way to move: Route 223 runs along the river and links the village to Beloeil and Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$2–5 (≈ US$2–4)
- Beerdraught in a barC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–35 (≈ US$11–30)
- Budget bedCampsite pitch (tent), a night, per personC$35 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedGîte room (B&B), a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedGîte room (B&B), 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.
- Airports
- YUL Montréal–Trudeau (About 60–75 min by car via Autoroute 20 and Route 223; no direct transit to the village) · YMX Montréal–Mirabel (About 1 h 15 min by car; limited passenger service)
Weather and climate
Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu: 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
−5°C23°F
−14°C7°F
12 rd
Feb
−3°C27°F
−13°C9°F
10 rd
Mar
3°C37°F
−7°C19°F
11 rd
Apr
12°C54°F
1°C34°F
11 rd
May
20°C68°F
8°C46°F
12 rd
Jun
25°C77°F
13°C55°F
12 rd
Jul
27°C81°F
16°C61°F
12 rd
Aug
26°C79°F
15°C59°F
12 rd
Sep
21°C70°F
10°C50°F
11 rd
Oct
13°C55°F
4°C39°F
12 rd
Nov
6°C43°F
−1°C30°F
13 rd
Dec
−2°C28°F
−10°C14°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
A car is the practical way to move: Route 223 runs along the river and links the village to Beloeil and Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu. The village core is small enough to walk. The cable ferry crosses to Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu in a few minutes (April–December; check the current season and hours). Cycling along Route 223 is popular but the shoulder is narrow in places.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu
goDoor to door: About 10 min including the crossing
Cable ferry from the rue Richelieu dock
314 m crossing; April–December only, ice bridge in winter.
Beloeil
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Route 223 south by car
Riverfront restaurants and the Autoroute 20 link.
Mont-Saint-Hilaire
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Route 223 south, then Route 116
Nature reserve and orchards; busiest in apple season.
Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu
goDoor to door: About 25 min
Route 223 north by car
Heritage village and the Fête du Vieux Marché.
Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Route 223 north by car
Arts and flavours route along the west bank.
Chambly
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Route 223 south, then Autoroute 20 west
Fort Chambly and the Richelieu rapids; a fuller half-day.
Montréal
goDoor to door: About 45–60 min
Route 223 south, then Autoroute 20 west
Do it as a transfer, not a return day trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Rue Richelieu (Route 223) riverfront
The only real option: two inns and a gîte face the river, walkable to the church and the ferry dock.
Camping Terrasse St-Marc
North end of the village on rue des Terrasses; seasonal sites, traveller pitches, marina and pool.
Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu (east bank)
Across the ferry; a fallback if the west-bank inns are full.
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$150–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
- High
- C$250 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Riverfront inn double1 × 1 night × C$200 | C$200 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160 | C$320 |
| Cable ferry, one way2 × C$4 · check | C$8 |
| Sugar-shack meal, per person2 × C$35 · check; seasonal, reservation usually required | 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$64 |
| Trip total≈ C$351 per person per day, bed included | C$702≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; car and fuel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | C$2–5 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Casual restaurant main | C$18–30 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Sugar-shack meal (seasonal)check | C$30–45 (≈ US$25–35) |
| Cable ferry crossingcheck | C$3–5 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Beer, draught in a bar | C$7–10 (≈ US$6–8) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$15–35 (≈ US$11–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The ferry does not run in winter; an ice bridge is built for cars instead — check conditions before relying on it.
- Route 223 has fast traffic and a narrow shoulder; ride and walk with care.
- Sugar shacks are seasonal (roughly late February to April) and mostly require reservations — call ahead.
- Most businesses are small and family-run: confirm opening hours before driving out.
- Cell coverage is fine in the village but patchy on the back roads.
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.
Saint-Marc-sur-RichelieuSaint-Marc-sur-Richelieu
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
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À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Info-Santé (health advice)811
Embassy
No embassies here; the US consulate general and most other missions are in Montréal (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Cable ferry, one way: about C$3–5 (≈ US$3–4), a few minutes (check)
- Taxi, Beloeil station → village: about C$25–35 (≈ US$19–30) (check)
- Driving Montréal → village: 46 km, about 40–60 min29 mi, about 40–60 min
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
- Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît — A table for two, please (ewn TABL poor DUH, seel voo PLEH)
- Où est le traversier ? — Where is the ferry? (oo eh luh tra-ver-SYAY)
- Puis-je payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (pweezh pay-YAY par KART)
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 Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu. 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 for boating, cycling and the ferry; Mar–Apr for sugar-shack season · avoid Nov–Apr (ferry stops, most seasonal businesses close, ice bridge replaces the crossing) · 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
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Ferry season and last-crossing times field-checked for both docks.
- Walking cluster along rue Richelieu: church, inns, ferry dock, library.
- Sugar-shack pages with reservation rules and seasonal windows.
- Cycling notes for Route 223 with shoulder conditions and safe pull-offs.