Major city · Canada
Baie-Johan-Beetz
Go for one night if you are already driving Route 138 between Havre-Saint-Pierre and Natashquan; skip it as a destination on its own.
Baie-Johan-Beetz is a village of about 80 people on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 283 km east of Sept-Îles by road. Route 138 is the only way in by land, and it reached the village in 1996. What is here: a red-roofed 1897 hotel, a small church, two short coastal trails, a campground on the point, and the Piashti River. Treat it as a one-night stop on the Whale Route, not a base.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Apr (snow, closures, limited services)
- Airports
- YZV · YHR
- 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.
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 Baie-Johan-Beetz911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
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 Baie-Johan-Beetz, 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 the drive (moose at dusk, long gaps with no fuel or phone signal) and cold water.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- 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.
- AirportYZV Sept-Îles Airport (About 283 km (176 mi) west by Route 138; the practical air gateway for this coast.).YZV Sept-Îles Airport (About 176 mi (283 km) west by Route 138; the practical air gateway for this coast.).
- 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.
- CoffeeCoffee or a snack in the villageC$3–7 (≈ US$3–6)
- Budget bedCampground pitch (tent), a night, per personC$25 (≈ US$19)
- Mid-range bedOutfitter inn room, a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedOutfitter inn room, a night, per roomC$200 (≈ US$150)
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 →
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
- YZV Sept-Îles Airport (About 283 km (176 mi) west by Route 138; the practical air gateway for this coast.) · YHR Chevery Airport (Regional coastal service further east; check schedules and whether it is running.)YZV Sept-Îles Airport (About 176 mi (283 km) west by Route 138; the practical air gateway for this coast.) · YHR Chevery Airport (Regional coastal service further east; check schedules and whether it is running.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
Feb
Avoid
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
Mar
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Apr
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
May
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Jun
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Aug
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Sep
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Oct
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Nov
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Dec
Avoid
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)), coolest Jan (−18°C (0°F)0°F (−18°C) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Baie-Johan-Beetz: 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°F)18°F (−8°C)
−18°C (0°F)0°F (−18°C)
12 rd
Feb
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
−17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C)
10 rd
Mar
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
11 rd
Apr
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
11 rd
May
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
12 rd
Jul
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
Aug
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
Sep
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
12 rd
Oct
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
13 rd
Nov
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
13 rd
Dec
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
−13°C (9°F)9°F (−13°C)
13 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
You need a car. Route 138 is the only road, and the village, the campground, the wharf and both trailheads sit along it. Spar Mica starts at km 1290 of Route 138; Quetachou Falls is 8.1 km east of the Piashti River bridge. A seaplane base at the wharf on the west shore of Johan-Beetz Bay serves the area. Intercar runs a bus several days a week between Sept-Îles and Havre-Saint-Pierre, 2 h 45 min, and stops at Havre-Saint-Pierre — not in the village — so the bus does not get you here.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Havre-Saint-Pierre
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive Route 138 west
67 km (42 mi). Fuel, groceries, the Mingan Archipelago boat departures and the nearest full services.42 mi (67 km). Fuel, groceries, the Mingan Archipelago boat departures and the nearest full services.
Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
goDoor to door: 2.5–4 h
Drive to Havre-Saint-Pierre, then a boat or water taxi to the islands
Limestone monoliths and seabird colonies. Book the boat; sailings depend on weather.
Aguanish
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Drive Route 138 east
Sandy beaches at the river delta; Pontbriand Bay and Pontbriand Park sit on the boundary between the two municipalities.
Natashquan
goDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Drive Route 138 east
83 km (52 mi). The last services before Route 138 ends at Kegaska, 135 km (84 mi) further on.52 mi (83 km). The last services before Route 138 ends at Kegaska, 84 mi (135 km) further on.
Anticosti Island
overnightDoor to door: Half a day or more
Reach a departure port, then ferry or plane
The island sits about 59 km (37 mi) offshore here, but access is from elsewhere on the coast. Plan it as its own trip.The island sits about 37 mi (59 km) offshore here, but access is from elsewhere on the coast. Plan it as its own trip.
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.
Village core (rue Johan Beetz / rue de l'Église)
Château Johan-Beetz, the outfitter's rooms and the church are all within a few minutes on foot. Best if you have no car to move around at night.
Pointe à la Perche (municipal campground)
South of the village on the point, opened 2021, with trail access and water views. Register at the tourist office.
Route 138 west end (Camping des Caraïbes Nordiques)
Near the Tanguay Street junction; convenient if you arrive late and leave early.
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
| Château Johan-Beetz room1 × 1 night × C$190 | C$190 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150 | C$300 |
| Fuel, Havre-Saint-Pierre and back plus local driving1 × C$60 | C$60 |
| Groceries for two days (buy before you arrive)1 × C$80 | C$80 |
| eSIM or data add-on for a week2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$102 |
| Trip total≈ C$391 per person per day, bed included | C$782≈ US$600 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; fuel and the drive in are the big variables. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Campground pitch, per night | C$25–45 (≈ US$19–35) |
| Coffee or a snack in the village | C$3–7 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Grocery basics for one day, two people | C$35–60 (≈ US$30–45) |
| Fuel, per litre on the north shore | C$1.70–2.00 (≈ US$2) |
| Boat trip to the Mingan islands, from Havre-Saint-Pierre | C$70–120 (≈ US$55–90) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Services are thin: one grocery and one SAQ agency. Fuel and a full shop belong in Havre-Saint-Pierre or Natashquan.
- Cell coverage exists in and around the village but drops over long stretches of Route 138 toward Sept-Îles and Kegaska.
- Campgrounds and the hotel run a summer season only; outside it, check before you drive.
- Moose and deer on Route 138, especially at dusk and dawn.
- No hospital in the village: the nearest full services are in Havre-Saint-Pierre.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Baie-Johan-BeetzBaie-Johan-Beetz
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No consulate here. US citizens: the nearest consulate is in Québec City or Montréal; other countries: embassies in Ottawa. For a lost passport, contact your embassy first, then the tourist office for local help.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Drive, Havre-Saint-Pierre → Baie-Johan-Beetz: 67 km (42 mi), about 1 h42 mi (67 km), about 1 h
- Drive, Baie-Johan-Beetz → Natashquan: 83 km (52 mi), about 1 h 15 min52 mi (83 km), about 1 h 15 min
- Intercar bus, Sept-Îles → Havre-Saint-Pierre: 2 h 45 min, several days a week; does not serve the village
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- Avez-vous une chambre pour ce soir ? — Do you have a room for tonight? (ah-vay VOO ewn SHAHM-bruh poor suh SWAHR)
- Où puis-je acheter de l'essence ? — Where can I buy gas? (oo pweezh ash-TAY duh lay-SAHNSS)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYAN sah KOOT)
- J'ai besoin d'aide — I need help (zhay buh-ZWAN ded)
French is the everyday language. A bonjour on entering a shop is expected.
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 Baie-Johan-Beetz. 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 (snow, closures, limited services) · 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
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Field-check the Route 138 fuel and grocery gaps so the drive-in plan is honest.
- Confirm summer-only opening dates for the Château, both campgrounds and the outfitter before publishing dates.
- Place pages for Spar Mica, Quetachou Falls, the municipal wharf and the church, with parking and trailhead notes.
- A coastal weather and sea-state fixture, because boat trips to the archipelago are the main reason people stop.
Sources
- officialMunicipality of Baie-Johan-Beetz
- officialTourisme Côte-Nord
- officialSentiers de la Côte-Nord — Minganie trails
- officialIntercar
- secondaryWikivoyage: Baie-Johan-Beetz, revision 5239857 (CC BY-SA 4.0)