Major city · Canada
Franquelin
Stop for one night on Route 138 between Tadoussac and Baie-Comeau: the forest museum, nine short trails and a whale-watching shore. No town, no nightlife.
Franquelin is a small North Shore municipality on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about 30 km west of Baie-Comeau, built around the Thompson and Franquelin rivers and the old logging trade. It is a road stop, not a destination: one night covers the Village Forestier d'Antan museum, a coastal trail and the St. Lawrence shoreline. Two nights only if you want to hike several of the nine trails or fish.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, some services closed)
- Airports
- YBC · YYY
- Nights
- 1
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 Franquelin911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)811
- Intercar bus information+1 418-665-3443
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 Franquelin, 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
- SafetyA quiet rural municipality; the real risks are the road (moose at dawn and dusk, long fuel gaps), cold water along the shore…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 811 Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h) · +1 418-665-3443 Intercar bus information
- 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.
- AirportcheckYBC Baie-Comeau Airport (About 40 km (25 mi) east; regional flights, mostly via Montreal or Quebec City (check)).YBC Baie-Comeau Airport (About 25 mi (40 km) east; regional flights, mostly via Montreal or Quebec City (check)).
- Getting aroundA car is effectively required.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee and a pastry at the village bakeryC$4–8 (≈ US$3–6)
- Sit-down mealSit-down meal in Baie-ComeauC$20–35 (≈ US$15–30)
- Street or quick mealConvenience-store sandwich and drinkC$8–15 (≈ US$6–11)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–40 (≈ US$11–30)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryC$10–15 (≈ US$8–11) (check)
- Budget bedReady-to-Camp prospector tent, a night, per roomC$90 (≈ US$70)
- Mid-range bedInn or motel room, a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedInn or motel room, a night, per roomC$240 (≈ US$180)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$250 (≈ 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 →
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
- YBC Baie-Comeau Airport (About 40 km (25 mi) east; regional flights, mostly via Montreal or Quebec City (check)) · YYY Mont-Joli Airport (About 250 km (155 mi) southwest; larger regional airport on the Gaspé side (check))YBC Baie-Comeau Airport (About 25 mi (40 km) east; regional flights, mostly via Montreal or Quebec City (check)) · YYY Mont-Joli Airport (About 155 mi (250 km) southwest; larger regional airport on the Gaspé side (check))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
Feb
Avoid
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
Mar
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Apr
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
May
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Jun
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jul
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Aug
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Sep
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Oct
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Nov
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Dec
Avoid
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jan (−18°C (0°F)0°F (−18°C) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Franquelin: 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
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
−18°C (0°F)0°F (−18°C)
12 rd
Feb
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
−17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C)
10 rd
Mar
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
11 rd
Apr
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
11 rd
May
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
12 rd
Jun
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Jul
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
13 rd
Aug
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
12 rd
Sep
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
12 rd
Oct
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
13 rd
Nov
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
13 rd
Dec
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
−13°C (9°F)9°F (−13°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 effectively required. Route 138 is the only through road and runs along the coast; the village streets are short and walkable, but the trails, hamlets and the tunnel are spread over several kilometres. Intercar coaches stop on Route 138 between Quebec City and Baie-Comeau, but they will not get you to the trailheads.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 30 min
Route 138 east, about 30 km (19 mi)Route 138 east, about 19 mi (30 km)
Biggest town on this stretch: fuel, groceries, restaurants, sea kayaking and the Côte-Nord beer festival.
Godbout
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Route 138 west, about 30 km (19 mi)Route 138 west, about 19 mi (30 km)
Small harbour village with shoreline whale-watching points and a ferry link across the St. Lawrence (check the season).
Door to door: 3.5–4 h
Route 138 west, about 300 km (186 mi)Route 138 west, about 186 mi (300 km)
Whale-watching hub at the Saguenay fjord mouth; too far for a return day.
Door to door: 2.5–3 h
Route 138 west, about 200 km (124 mi)Route 138 west, about 124 mi (200 km)
Ferry across to the Gaspé side; a long day, better as a stop on the way west.
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 des Cèdres / rue des Érables)
The only real cluster: inn, bakery, convenience store and the museum, all within a few minutes on foot.
Pointe-Mistassini and Pointe St-Nicolas hamlets
Scattered shoreline houses and cottages; quieter, but you need a car for everything.
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$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
- High
- C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Inn or motel room1 × 1 night × C$160 | C$160 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150 | C$300 |
| Fuel, 100 km of local driving1 × C$15 · check | C$15 |
| Museum entry, Village Forestier d'Antan2 × C$12 · check | C$24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$15 | C$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$53 |
| Trip total≈ C$291 per person per day, bed included | C$582≈ US$450 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; long-distance transport excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee and a pastry at the village bakery | C$4–8 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Bakery pizza or a meat pie | C$6–14 (≈ US$5–11) |
| Convenience-store sandwich and drink | C$8–15 (≈ US$6–11) |
| Sit-down meal in Baie-Comeau | C$20–35 (≈ US$15–30) |
| Museum entry | C$10–15 (≈ US$8–11) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$15–40 (≈ US$11–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Services are thin: one bakery, one convenience store and one inn in the village. Fuel and a full grocery shop are in Baie-Comeau or Godbout.
- Cell coverage and fuel gaps exist along Route 138; fill up before you leave the bigger towns.
- Moose and deer on the road at dawn and dusk, especially in summer and autumn.
- Black flies and mosquitoes are heavy in June and July; bring repellent.
- Winter closes or buries most trails; the area is snowmobile country from roughly December to April.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)
- 811
- Intercar bus information
- +1 418-665-3443
Pocket card
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FranquelinFranquelin
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Info-Santé (24 h health advice)811
- Intercar bus information+1 418-665-3443
Embassy
No consulate here. Nearest US consulate-general is in Montreal; other countries: embassies in Ottawa, consulates in Montreal or Quebec City.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Intercar Quebec City → Baie-Comeau (stops on Route 138): about C$100–140 (≈ US$75–110), 9–10 h (check)
- Fuel, Baie-Comeau → Franquelin → Godbout: about C$10–15 (≈ US$8–11) (check)
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 départ du sentier ? — Where is the trailhead? (oo ay luh day-PAR du sen-TYAY)
- Puis-je payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (pweezh pay-YAY par KART)
- J'ai besoin d'aide — I need help (zhay buh-ZWAN ded)
French is the everyday language; a few words go a long way.
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 Franquelin. 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, snow, some services closed) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YBC: last connecting flight times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: village centre, museum and Thompson River, Pointe-Mistassini shoreline.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Village Forestier d'Antan, St. Nicolas tunnel, the nine trails) and eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialTourisme Côte-Nord
- officialVillage Forestier d'Antan de Franquelin
- officialAuberge Franquelin et Motel
- officialIntercar
- secondaryWikivoyage: Franquelin, revision 5250063 (CC BY-SA 4.0)