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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.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Apr (cold, many services closed)
Airports
YQB · YYY
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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-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.

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.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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 →

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.

St. Lawrence north shore viewsCap-au-Saumon and Cap de la Tête au Chien lighthousesPort-au-Persil hamletRivière-du-Loup ferryWhale watching on the St. Lawrence
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.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

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

−17°C

12 rd

Feb

−6°C

−16°C

10 rd

Mar

1°C

−9°C

11 rd

Apr

8°C

−2°C

11 rd

May

16°C

4°C

12 rd

Jun

21°C

9°C

12 rd

Jul

24°C

12°C

12 rd

Aug

23°C

12°C

12 rd

Sep

18°C

8°C

12 rd

Oct

11°C

3°C

13 rd

Nov

4°C

−3°C

13 rd

Dec

−3°C

−12°C

13 rd

High / low °C · 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 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 & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
La Malbaiego

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive Route 138 west

Bigger town with more restaurants, shops and services; useful on a rainy day.

Baie-Saint-Paulgo

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

go

Door 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

go

Door 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.

Les Éboulementscaution

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive Route 138 west

Village and viewpoints; thin on services, best combined with La Malbaie.

Saint-Hilarion

caution

Door 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.

Saint-Irénéecaution

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive Route 138 west

Small coastal village; a short stop, not a full day.

Saint-Urbain

caution

Door 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

overnight

Door 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 & 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 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.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
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

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or gîte double room1 × 1 night × C$170C$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Rivière-du-Loup ferry, adult one way2 × C$21C$42
Rivière-du-Loup ferry, car one way (up to 6.4 m)1 × C$50C$50
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$63
Trip total≈ C$348 per person per day, bed includedC$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

CoffeeC$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
Casual meal, main dishC$18–30 (≈ US$14–25)
Grocery basics for a picnicC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
Campground site, one nightC$30–55 (≈ US$25–40)
Fuel, 1 LC$1.60–1.90 (≈ US$2)
eSIM or data add-on, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low-crime rural area; the real risks are driving Route 138 at night, cold water along the shore, and trails with no cell signal. Tell someone your route before hiking.
  • 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

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Fill in, then print or save as PDF

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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 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

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Apr (cold, many services closed) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 9 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry and bus timetable fixtures for Saint-Siméon, Rivière-du-Loup and Intercar stops.
  2. Walking clusters for the village centre, Port-au-Persil and Baie-des-Rochers with trailheads and parking.
  3. Place pages for the lighthouses, quays and municipal park with access notes and seasonal status.
  4. Off-season service checks so winter and shoulder-season pages do not promise open restaurants.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources