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Major city · Canada

Rivière-du-Loup

Stay one night as a Saint Lawrence stopover: the falls park and ferry crossing are the draw, not a multi-day base.

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

Rivière-du-Loup is a 20,000-person service town on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence, 200 km northeast of Québec City at the junction of Autoroute 20 and Autoroute 85. It works as a break on the drive to the Gaspé or the Maritimes, or as a ferry hop to the north shore. Two nights is the most most travellers need.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Rivière-du-Loup, 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$2.50–5 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Sit-down mealPub or café main courseC$15–30 (≈ US$11–25)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum adult entrycheck; plus taxC$7 (≈ US$6)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personC$30 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
  • 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$280 (≈ 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.

Parc des Chutes waterfallÎle aux Lièvres and the Brandy Pot lighthouseRivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon ferryBas-Saint-Laurent photo museum
Airports
YRI Rivière-du-Loup Airport (Charter and private aircraft only; no scheduled service. Most arrivals come by car, bus or train.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Rivière-du-Loup: 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

−16°C

12 rd

Feb

−6°C

−15°C

10 rd

Mar

0°C

−9°C

11 rd

Apr

7°C

−1°C

11 rd

May

15°C

5°C

12 rd

Jun

20°C

10°C

12 rd

Jul

24°C

13°C

13 rd

Aug

23°C

13°C

12 rd

Sep

18°C

9°C

12 rd

Oct

11°C

3°C

12 rd

Nov

4°C

−3°C

13 rd

Dec

−3°C

−11°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

The centre is small enough to walk: rue Lafontaine between Laval and Sainte-Anne holds most shops and restaurants. A car is the practical way to reach Parc des Chutes and the highway motels. VIA Rail's Ocean stops at 615 rue Lafontaine, and Orléans Express coaches stop in town.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Trois-Pistoles

go

Door to door: About 35 min

Autoroute 20 east, about 40 km

Small riverside town; pairs with a coastal drive.

Rimouski

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min by car

Autoroute 20 east, about 100 km; Orléans Express also runs it in about 1 h 30 min

Bigger service town with the Pointe-au-Père lighthouse site.

Saint-Siméon (north shore)

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min terminal to terminal

Traverse Rivière-du-Loup–Saint-Siméon ferry, about 1 h 5 min

Seasonal, Easter to early January; car space should be booked ahead.

Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Autoroute 85 / Route 185 southeast, about 60 km

A sign-and-stop curiosity rather than a destination; combine with the drive to New Brunswick.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Rue Lafontaine / downtown

Walkable core: restaurants, shops, hostel and the train station. Best for one night without a car.

Rue Fraser and Boulevard Armand-Thériault

Motels and larger hotels with parking on the highway edge of town; best if you drive on in the morning.

Rue Hayward / waterfront

Ferry terminal and marina side; convenient for an early crossing to Saint-Siméon.

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$140–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
C$230 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × C$150C$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Ferry to Saint-Siméon, adult return2 × C$42 · check; vehicle space is charged separatelyC$84
Île aux Lièvres boat crossing, adult return2 × C$48 · check; taxes extraC$96
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$70
Trip total≈ C$385 per person per day, bed includedC$770≈ US$600

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; sales tax is added at checkout and long-distance travel is excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2.50–5 (≈ US$2–4)
Pub or café main courseC$15–30 (≈ US$11–25)
Three-course mealC$19–39 (≈ US$14–30)
Museum adult entrycheck; plus taxC$7 (≈ US$6)
Ferry, adult one waycheck; child 7–12 C$14.10, senior C$19.10, vehicle C$49.90C$21 (≈ US$16)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet regional town and generally safe to walk at night. The real risks are winter ice, moose on rural highways at dawn and dusk, and cold water along the shore: the Saint Lawrence here is not a swimming river.
  • Winter is long and icy; many seasonal attractions and the ferry shut between early January and Easter.
  • The ferry to Saint-Siméon is seasonal and runs 2–4 round trips a day depending on the season: book the car slot ahead in summer.
  • Île aux Lièvres and the lighthouse inn have very few beds; reserve weeks ahead for July–August.
  • Rural highways here see moose at dawn and dusk: slow down and scan the shoulder.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

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.

Rivière-du-LoupRivière-du-Loup

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies here; US consulate general in Montréal, most other countries in Ottawa. For an emergency passport, start with your capital-city embassy.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ferry Rivière-du-Loup → Saint-Siméon: about C$21 (≈ US$16) adult one way, about 1 h 5 min (check)
  • Coach Québec City → Rivière-du-Loup: about 2 h 30 min–3 h, fare varies by date (check)
  • Taxi across town: short hops only; agree the fare or check the meter

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-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)
  • L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)

French is the everyday language; a bonjour before a question 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 Rivière-du-Loup. 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, ice, many seasonal services 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. Airport-to-bed contract for YRI: confirm there is no scheduled service, so arrivals default to car, coach or the Ocean.
  2. Walking cluster on rue Lafontaine with rescue anchors: train station, tourist office, market square, waterfront.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the museum, Parc des Chutes and the ferry terminal.
  4. Seasonal fixtures for the ferry and Île aux Lièvres so the winter and summer versions of the page differ.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources