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Major city · Canada

Richmond

Give Richmond one night, or a half-day stop on the Cantonnière bike trail: the slate downtown and river park are done in 3–4 hours.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for the river and bike trail; late Sep for the fair; Jan–Mar for cross-country skiing
avoid Nov and early Apr (mud, closed seasonal sites); deep cold snaps in Jan–Feb
Airports
YUL · YQB
Nights
1
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.

Richmond is a small Eastern Townships town on the St. François River, about 30 minutes south of Autoroute 20/55 near Drummondville. Its draw is a compact slate-and-brick main street, two old bridges and a riverfront park with kayak tours. No passenger train stops here, so you arrive by car, bus or bike. Most travellers see it in half a day or use it as a quiet one-night base between Drummondville and Sherbrooke.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Richmond, 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 pastryC$4–8 (≈ US$3–6)
  • BeerDraught beer in a pubC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Budget bedHostel or gîte dorm bed, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
  • 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$260 (≈ US$190)

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.

Slate-fronted historic downtownMackenzie Bridge (1905)St. Patrick's Day paradeParc Nautique and St. François RiverExpo Richmond Fair
Airports
YUL Montréal-Trudeau (About 1 h 30 min by car via Autoroute 20 and 55; the usual gateway for the region.) · YQB Québec City Jean Lesage (About 2 h by car; a second option if you fly into Québec City.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Richmond: 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°C

−15°C

14 rd

Feb

−3°C

−14°C

11 rd

Mar

3°C

−7°C

12 rd

Apr

11°C

1°C

12 rd

May

19°C

7°C

13 rd

Jun

24°C

12°C

13 rd

Jul

26°C

15°C

13 rd

Aug

25°C

14°C

13 rd

Sep

20°C

9°C

12 rd

Oct

13°C

4°C

13 rd

Nov

6°C

−1°C

14 rd

Dec

−2°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

Downtown is walkable and bikeable, about 3 km across, but streets climbing from the river are steep. Two bridges cross the St. François: the one-lane Mackenzie Bridge and the higher Pont Frédérick-Coburn. A car helps for Melbourne, the ski centre and day trips; the Cantonnière bike trail runs through town.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Drummondville

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min by car

Autoroute 20/55 north by car, or Autobus La Québecoise

Bigger town with Via Rail connections to Montréal and Québec City.

Sherbrooke

go

Door to door: About 45 min by car

Autoroute 55 south by car, or Autobus La Québecoise

Larger city for food, services and onward buses; the US border is about 90 min past it.

Valcourt

go

Door to door: About 45 min by car

Route 243 and local roads by car

Industrial town with the Bombardier museum; pair with Danville on the way.

Danville

go

Door to door: About 30 min by car

By car toward Val-des-Sources

Pond and bird sanctuary; a short stop rather than a full day.

Windsor

go

Door to door: About 20 min by car

By car upriver

Small town with a historic powdermill and walking trails.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Rue Principale Nord (downtown)

Walk to restaurants, the bridges and the river park; hotel and motel rooms on the strip.

Melbourne side (Route 243)

Quieter, across the river; city hall and the farmers' market are a 20–30 min walk from downtown, with poor pedestrian access on the last kilometre.

Camping and gîtes outside town

Seasonal campgrounds and B&Bs in the surrounding township; 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$150–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
C$250 (≈ US$190)+ 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
Autobus La Québecoise, Sherbrooke–Richmond, one way2 × C$15 · checkC$30
Guided kayak tour, half day2 × C$60 · check; reservations requiredC$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$68
Trip total≈ C$374 per person per day, bed includedC$748≈ US$550

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; car hire and fuel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and pastryC$4–8 (≈ US$3–6)
Poutine or a diner mainC$14–22 (≈ US$11–16)
Pizza, one largeC$18–30 (≈ US$14–25)
Draught beer in a pubC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
Cross-country ski day ticket, adultcheck; snowshoeing about C$11.50C$20 (≈ US$15)
Expo Richmond Fair, adultcheck; children about C$10C$20 (≈ US$15)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet, low-crime small town. The real risks are winter driving on Route 243 and Autoroute 55, steep icy sidewalks, and unlit road shoulders toward Melbourne: drive or take a taxi after dark.
  • No passenger rail service to Richmond; the nearest Via Rail station is Drummondville.
  • Route 243 toward Melbourne has poor pedestrian access on the last kilometre: walk with care or drive.
  • The Mackenzie Bridge is one lane: yield and cross slowly.
  • The St. François River is too shallow for boats other than kayaks and canoes.
  • Don't confuse this Richmond with New Richmond on the Gaspé Peninsula, about 750 km away.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)
811
Sûreté du Québec (non-emergency)
310-4141

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.

RichmondRichmond

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
  • Sûreté du Québec (non-emergency)310-4141

Embassy

No embassy in Richmond; the US consulate general is in Montréal, and most other countries keep embassies in Ottawa or consulates in Montréal (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Sherbrooke → Richmond, Autobus La Québecoise: about C$15 (≈ US$11), roughly 1 h (check)
  • Taxi within Richmond: C$10–20 (≈ US$8–15) (check)
  • Drive Montréal → Richmond: about 1 h 30 min via Autoroute 20 and 55

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
  • 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)
  • Je ne parle pas français — I don't speak French (zhuh nuh PARL pah fran-SAY)

About 25–30% of residents speak English as a first language, the highest share in most of the Eastern Townships, but French is still needed for many transactions.

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 Richmond. 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 for the river and bike trail; late Sep for the fair; Jan–Mar for cross-country skiing · avoid Nov and early Apr (mud, closed seasonal sites); deep cold snaps in Jan–Feb · 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. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for YUL and YQB: drive times, bus fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Rue Principale, both bridges, Parc Nautique, the convent café.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Museum of Slate, Parc Nautique kayak tours, ski centre) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal fixtures for the St. Patrick's Day parade and the Expo Richmond Fair so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources