Major city · Canada
Saint-Siméon
Stay 1–2 nights as a Charlevoix stop with a ferry link to Rivière-du-Loup: whale-watch coast, forest trails, no big town.
Saint-Siméon is a village of about 1,200–1,300 people on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, on Route 138 in Charlevoix, roughly 2 hours by car from Québec City and 40 km from Tadoussac. It is the western terminus of a seasonal ferry to Rivière-du-Loup on the south shore, which makes it a useful crossing point rather than a destination in itself. Most travellers use it for one or two nights: a coastal walk, a lighthouse or two, a forest trail, and a ferry or a drive onward.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Apr (cold, many services closed)
- Airports
- YQB · 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 Saint-Siméon911 ▾
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 Saint-Siméon, 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
- SafetyLow-crime rural area; the real risks are driving Route 138 at night, cold water along the shore, and trails with no cell signal.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire and 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.
- AirportYQB Québec City Jean Lesage International (About 2 h by car via Route 138; the usual arrival airport for Charlevoix.).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical way to move between the village, Port-au-Persil and Baie-des-Rochers…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data add-on, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
- Budget bedHostel or campground bed, a night, per personC$35 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedMotel or gîte double room, a night, per roomC$170 (≈ US$130)
- High-end bedMotel or gîte double room, a night, per roomC$280 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$300 (≈ 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 →
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
- YQB Québec City Jean Lesage International (About 2 h by car via Route 138; the usual arrival airport for Charlevoix.) · YYY Mont-Joli (Small regional airport east of the region; check seasonal connections.)
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
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Apr
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
May
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jun
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jul
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Sep
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Oct
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Nov
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Dec
Avoid
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jan (−17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C) low), wettest Oct (13 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Saint-Siméon: 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)
12 rd
Feb
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
−16°C (3°F)3°F (−16°C)
10 rd
Mar
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
11 rd
Apr
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
11 rd
May
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
12 rd
Jun
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
12 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
12 rd
Aug
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
12 rd
Sep
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Oct
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
13 rd
Nov
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
13 rd
Dec
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°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
A car is the practical way to move between the village, Port-au-Persil and Baie-des-Rochers; Route 138 is the main road and the hamlets sit off it on side roads. Intercar buses stop in the village on the Baie-Comeau–Montréal route. The Rivière-du-Loup ferry crosses in about 1 h 5 min. Fuel is available in the village; charging points exist but check they work before relying on them.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 45 min
Drive Route 138 west
Bigger town with more restaurants, shops and services; useful on a rainy day.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
Drive Route 138 west through La Malbaie
Art galleries and a full-service town; pairs well with a Charlevoix loop.
Tadoussac
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive Route 138 east, then the Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine ferry
Whale-watching hub; go early in summer, the ferry queues build.
Rivière-du-Loup
goDoor to door: About 1 h 5 min crossing plus port time
Rivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon ferry
Seasonal; a few crossings a day, so check the timetable and arrive early with a car.
Door to door: About 1 h
Drive Route 138 west
Village and viewpoints; thin on services, best combined with La Malbaie.
Saint-Hilarion
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Drive Route 138 west, then inland
Inland village; go only if you are already touring the Charlevoix interior.
Door to door: About 1 h
Drive Route 138 west
Small coastal village; a short stop, not a full day.
Saint-Urbain
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Drive Route 138 west, then inland
Inland farming village near the Charlevoix crater; combine with Baie-Saint-Paul.
L'Isle-aux-Coudres
overnightDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min plus crossing
Drive to Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, then the free ferry
Island loop with its own pace; better as a night than a rushed return.
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 centre (rue St-Laurent / rue du Quai)
Motels, auberge, campground and the ferry dock within a few minutes' walk; best for one night with a car or a ferry.
Port-au-Persil
Hamlet about 8 km (5 mi) west with a quay, promenade and pottery; quieter, mostly gîtes and chalets.Hamlet about 5 mi (8 km) west with a quay, promenade and pottery; quieter, mostly gîtes and chalets.
Baie-des-Rochers
Hamlet east of the village with a municipal park and wharf; good for trails, fewer beds.
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$90–150 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$150–260 (≈ US$110–190) excl. bed
- High
- C$260 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or gîte double room1 × 1 night × C$170 | C$170 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160 | C$320 |
| Rivière-du-Loup ferry, adult one way2 × C$21 | C$42 |
| Rivière-du-Loup ferry, car one way (up to 6.4 m)1 × C$50 | C$50 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$63 |
| Trip total≈ C$348 per person per day, bed included | C$695≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; transport to the region and ferry fares excluded unless listed. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | C$3–5 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Casual meal, main dish | C$18–30 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Grocery basics for a picnic | C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19) |
| Campground site, one night | C$30–55 (≈ US$25–40) |
| Fuel, 1 L | C$1.60–1.90 (≈ US$2) |
| eSIM or data add-on, about a week | C$20–40 (≈ US$15–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Services thin out outside summer; some restaurants and motels close or cut hours in the off-season.
- The ferry is seasonal and runs a limited number of crossings per day: check the timetable before you plan around it.
- Cell coverage can drop on the side roads and forest trails; download maps offline.
- Wildlife on Route 138, especially at dusk and dawn.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire and 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-SiméonSaint-Siméon
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire and ambulance911
- Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)811
Embassy
No embassies in the village; the US consulate general is in Québec City or Montréal, and most other countries keep embassies in Ottawa. Check before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Ferry Saint-Siméon → Rivière-du-Loup, adult: about C$21 (≈ US$16) one way, about 1 h 5 min
- Ferry, car up to 6.4 m: about C$49.90 (≈ US$40) one way
- Intercar bus, village stop: fare varies by route; book ahead
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mer-SEE)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
- Où est le traversier ? — Where is the ferry? (oo ay luh tra-ver-SYAY)
- Puis-je payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (pweezh pay-YAY par KART)
- Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)
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 Saint-Siméon. 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 services 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
- 9 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Ferry and bus timetable fixtures for Saint-Siméon, Rivière-du-Loup and Intercar stops.
- Walking clusters for the village centre, Port-au-Persil and Baie-des-Rochers with trailheads and parking.
- Place pages for the lighthouses, quays and municipal park with access notes and seasonal status.
- Off-season service checks so winter and shoulder-season pages do not promise open restaurants.
Sources
- officialMunicipality of Saint-Siméon — tourism
- officialTraverse Rivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon
- officialIntercar
- officialTourisme Charlevoix
- secondaryWikivoyage: Saint-Siméon, revision 5242782 (CC BY-SA 4.0)