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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.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Nov–Apr (cold, many sights closed)
Airport
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.

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.

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.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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 →

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 ferry to the north shoreMatane River salmon fishingShrimp and smoked fishChic-Choc mountain views
Airports
YYY Mont-Joli regional airport (About 1 h west by road; limited flights, often expensive)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

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

−17°C

14 rd

Feb

−6°C

−16°C

12 rd

Mar

0°C

−10°C

12 rd

Apr

6°C

−3°C

12 rd

May

14°C

3°C

13 rd

Jun

19°C

8°C

12 rd

Jul

22°C

12°C

13 rd

Aug

21°C

12°C

13 rd

Sep

16°C

8°C

13 rd

Oct

10°C

3°C

14 rd

Nov

3°C

−3°C

14 rd

Dec

−3°C

−11°C

15 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

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 & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Matane Wildlife Reserve

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Route 195 southeast, about 40 km to the reserve gate

Moose centre and trails; open June–August, check gate hours.

Mont-Joli

go

Door 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

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Route 132 east along the coast

Gateway to Gaspésie National Park and the Chic-Chocs.

Baie-Comeau

overnight

Door 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 & 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.

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$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
High
C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × C$160C$160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Ferry Matane → Baie-Comeau, adult foot passenger2 × C$22C$44
Car on the same ferry1 × C$55C$55
Car rental, one day1 × C$70C$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$69
Trip total≈ C$379 per person per day, bed includedC$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 pastryC$4–8 (≈ US$3–6)
Fish and chips or a seafood plateC$18–35 (≈ US$14–30)
Lobster dinner in seasonC$30–50 (≈ US$25–40)
Beer at a brew pubC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
Lighthouse museum entryC$4 (≈ US$3) adult, C$2 (≈ US$2) child
Salmon observation centre entryC$3 (≈ US$3) adult, free under 13
18 holes at the golf clubC$42 (≈ US$35)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Matane is a quiet small town and feels safe day and night. The real risks are the coastal road (moose at dawn and dusk, winter ice), cold water on the St. Lawrence, and remote trails in the wildlife reserve: tell someone your plan.
  • 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

One page · print or save as PDF

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 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

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

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry terminal to bed contract: sailing times, vehicle reservation cutoff, taxi fallback.
  2. Walking cluster around avenue Saint-Jérôme with cutoffs for the salmon centre, bakery and brew pub.
  3. Place pages for the lighthouse museum, gardens and wildlife reserve with seasonal dates.
  4. Hostile-weather and off-season fixtures so gates can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources