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Major city · Canada

Saint-Urbain

Base here only if you have a car and want Grands-Jardins and the Traversée trailhead: 1–2 nights. Without wheels, sleep in Baie-Saint-Paul and day-trip.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for hiking, biking and fishing; late Sep–early Oct for fall colour; Jan–Mar for snowshoeing and snowmobile trails
avoid Nov (trails muddy, little open) and the April thaw, when forest roads and trails are soft or closed
Airports
YQB · YUL
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-Urbain is a village of about 1,470 people in the Gouffre river valley, 15–20 min north of Baie-Saint-Paul on route 381. It is the southern gateway to Parc national des Grands-Jardins and the start of the 75 km Traversée de Charlevoix hike. There is almost no town life: you come for trails, fishing, mountain biking and forest cabins, and you need a car to do any of it.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Saint-Urbain, 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 pastry in Baie-Saint-PaulC$5–9 (≈ US$4–7)
  • Sit-down mealDinner main in CharlevoixTipping 15–20% is expected.C$25–45 (≈ US$19–35)
  • Street or quick mealCasual lunch, soup or sandwichC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
  • BeerLocal cider or craft beer, 500 mlC$8–14 (≈ US$6–11)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Budget bedCampsite pitch, a night, per roomC$35 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedGîte or B&B room, a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedGîte or B&B room, a night, per roomC$240 (≈ US$180)

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.

Gateway to Parc national des Grands-JardinsLa Traversée de Charlevoix trailheadGouffre river salmon fishingRang St-Jérôme mountain bike trailsCharlevoix astrobleme crater rim
Airports
YQB Québec City Jean Lesage (About 1 h 20 min by car via route 138 and route 381; the nearest practical airport) · YUL Montréal-Trudeau (About 4 h by car; most overseas arrivals land here, then drive or take the train to Québec City)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Saint-Urbain: 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

−18°C

14 rd

Feb

−5°C

−17°C

11 rd

Mar

1°C

−10°C

12 rd

Apr

8°C

−2°C

12 rd

May

17°C

4°C

13 rd

Jun

22°C

9°C

13 rd

Jul

25°C

12°C

13 rd

Aug

24°C

11°C

13 rd

Sep

18°C

6°C

13 rd

Oct

11°C

1°C

14 rd

Nov

3°C

−5°C

14 rd

Dec

−4°C

−13°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

A car is effectively required. Route 381 runs north from Baie-Saint-Paul through the village toward Grands-Jardins and Saguenay; route 138 along the St. Lawrence is the coast road. There is no local bus inside the municipality. Fill up in Baie-Saint-Paul: fuel and groceries thin out fast north of the village.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Parc national des Grands-Jardins

go

Door to door: About 30–50 min to the main trailheads

Drive route 381 north from the village, then the park access road

Entry fee per vehicle; book day access in peak summer and fall.

Baie-Saint-Paulgo

Door to door: 15–20 min

Drive route 381 south, about 15 km

Restaurants, galleries, the contemporary art museum and the Intercar stop.

La Malbaiego

Door to door: About 45–55 min

Route 138 east along the coast

Astrobleme interpretation centre and the Manoir Richelieu area.

Les Éboulementsgo

Door to door: About 30 min

Route 362 or 138 south-east

Crater-centre views over the St. Lawrence; combine with a coast drive.

L'Isle-aux-Coudres

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min including the crossing

Drive to Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, then the free ferry

Ferry runs year-round; check the sailing times before you leave.

Saint-Hilarion

caution

Door to door: About 25 min

Route 138 east, then the local road

Small village with valley views; little to do beyond a short stop.

Saint-Irénéego

Door to door: About 40 min

Route 362 along the coast

Beach and Domaine Forget concerts in summer.

Saint-Siméon

overnight

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Route 138 east, then the Tadoussac ferry

Whale-watching base; too far for a relaxed return day.

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-Édouard)

Gîtes, a butcher, a cidermaker and the emu farm; walkable, but you still need a car for trails.

Rang St-François / route 381 north

Chalets, the Traversée de Charlevoix trailhead and Camping des Pointes; quiet, dark at night, no services.

Lac Moreau area (about 55 km north on route 381)

Outfitter lodge and fishing circuit; the last stretch is a 14 km forest road, high-clearance helps.

Baie-Saint-Paul (15–20 min south)

The practical base if you have no car: restaurants, shops, buses and more 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$90–140 (≈ 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
Gîte or B&B room1 × 2 nights × C$160C$320
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$160C$640
Car hire, one day, compact1 × C$70C$70
Fuel, about 120 km of local driving1 × C$18C$18
Parc national des Grands-Jardins day entry, per vehicle1 × C$12C$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$110
Trip total≈ C$303 per person per day, bed includedC$1,210≈ US$900

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

Prices of common things

Coffee and a pastry in Baie-Saint-PaulC$5–9 (≈ US$4–7)
Casual lunch, soup or sandwichC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
Dinner main in CharlevoixTipping 15–20% is expected.C$25–45 (≈ US$19–35)
Local cider or craft beer, 500 mlC$8–14 (≈ US$6–11)
Gouffre river fishing day permitSold through the river association; confirm the current rate.C$30–60 (≈ US$25–45)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are driving route 381 at night, weather turning on exposed trails, and no phone signal north of the village. Tell someone your route and carry water and layers.
  • No car means no trails: there is no local transit and taxis are limited.
  • Cell coverage drops on route 381 north of the village and on forest roads; download offline maps.
  • Moose and deer on route 381 and 138 at dawn and dusk, especially Sep–Oct.
  • Winter: many chalets have no running water or electricity, and forest roads may need winter tyres or snowshoes.
  • Trail and park closures after heavy rain: check Parc national des Grands-Jardins and Traversée de Charlevoix status before setting out.
  • Small earthquakes are felt in Charlevoix; they are usually harmless, but know the 911 number.

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.

Saint-UrbainSaint-Urbain

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 embassies in the village. US consulate general in Montréal or Québec City; other countries: embassies in Ottawa, consulates in Montréal.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Québec City → Baie-Saint-Paul, Intercar bus: about 1 h 30 min; check the timetable and fare
  • Baie-Saint-Paul → Saint-Urbain: no public bus; taxi or your own car, about 15 km
  • Ferry Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive → L'Isle-aux-Coudres: free for passengers and cars; about 15 min

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay VOO ahn-GLEH)
  • C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kohn-BYEN)
  • Où est le départ du sentier ? — Where is the trailhead? (oo ay luh day-PAR doo sahn-TYAY)
  • J'ai une réservation — I have a reservation (zhay oon ray-zair-vah-SYON)

Print this card before you drive route 381: signal is patchy north of the village.

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-Urbain. 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 hiking, biking and fishing; late Sep–early Oct for fall colour; Jan–Mar for snowshoeing and snowmobile trails · avoid Nov (trails muddy, little open) and the April thaw, when forest roads and trails are soft or closed · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 8 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YQB: drive times to the village, car-hire desks, and a Baie-Saint-Paul fallback if you arrive after dark.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: village centre, rang St-François trailheads, rang St-Jérôme bike parking, Lac Moreau.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Grands-Jardins entry, Traversée trailhead, Gouffre fishing reception) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter fixtures: snowmobile trail status, chalet water and power notes, and road-closure checks for route 381.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources