Going on a Road Trip in Gaspésie in an Electric Car

Planning a trip in Gaspésie in an electric car? No problem! Charging stations are located throughout the region—you will not have to travel more than 100 km to reach the next one. Here is some information to help you plan your tour of the Gaspé Peninsula by electric car.

Charging stations

You can charge your car’s battery throughout our region, at charging stations that are located right in the centre of towns or at attractions, restaurants or lodging establishments. To locate these stations, visit Electric Circuit or PlugShare.

Accommodations

Over 30 lodging establishments allow you to charge your car overnight while you sleep.

Ferries

Any electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid vehicle registered in Québec with a green licence plate may travel for free on the Matane-Baie-Comeau-Godbout ferry. Only the driver and passengers will be charged for the crossing.

THE COAST: Sainte-Flavie (or Mont-Joli) to Les Méchins

When you first arrive in Gaspésie via Highway 20, you will be in Mont-Joli, where you can stop to discover Les Murmures de la Ville, a walking tour of over 30 murals showcasing local history. While you do so, you can charge your vehicle in the parking lot near Château Landry. In the same area, you can also visit the Ateliers Plein Soleil weaving economuseum. On your way out of town, stop at Ma Cabane en Gaspésie, the Poissonnerie de la Mitis fish market and the new Distillerie Mitis (which specializes in sugar cane-based spirits) to stock up on regional products before heading east via the roundabout. Once on Route 132, take the time to visit Sainte-Flavie, a charming village that is home to many artists and artisans. Shops, art galleries, restaurants and the Le Ketch microbrewery await you here!

Keep driving east on Route 132 to the Reford Gardens, where you can charge your car if needed and explore one of the wonders of Québec! Discover the magnificent gardens, Estevan Lodge, the International Garden Festival and the ERE 132 Eco Home. Then hit the road again and head towards Matane. Along the way, you can enjoy a few foodie stops. Once you arrive in Matane, you can plug in your car downtown and visit the Observation Centre for the Salmon Run or Parc des Îles, which offers boat rentals, a beach and green space. You can also head to Avenue Saint-Jérôme where you will find a bakery, a café, restaurants, a microbrewery and patios where you can enjoy a good meal and a drink in the sun. The Coast is a series of picturesque villages: boutiques, artisans’ studios, pebble beaches and sunsets await you in this region!

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Le Gaspésiana, Sainte-Flavie
• Domaine Repos du Pirate, Sainte-Flavie
• Riôtel Matane, Matane
• Hôtel Quality Inn & Suites Matane, Matane

HAUTE-GASPÉSIE: Cap-Chat to Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine

Your next stop is Valmont Plein Air in Cap-Chat, which offers a restaurant, cottages, a charging station and the opportunity to kayak down the Cap-Chat River. While your vehicle is charging, you can also go for a stroll along the beach or explore the village. About 15 minutes further east, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is your next destination. You can plug in your car at the tourist welcome bureau and explore the surrounding area. Exploramer, Discovering the Sea is a science museum offering aquariums, touch tanks and interpretive activities at sea. In the heart of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, a seaside boardwalk gives you access to a pebble beach, the Couleur Chocolat chocolate economuseum and several restaurants. What better way to relax than to savour a local beer at the Le Malbord microbrewery while admiring a view of the sea? If you are looking for something more active to do, head to nearby Tourelle to go canyoning or sea kayaking with Eskamer Aventure. You can then continue exploring Haute-Gaspésie before entering the Land’s End region. Discover a lighthouse, smoked salmon and hang-gliding, among other things. Between the Chic-Choc Mountains and the sea, Haute-Gaspésie offers you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, make new discoveries and savour gourmet delights!

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Valmont Plein Air cottages, Cap-Chat
• Auberge La Seigneurie des Monts, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
• Hôtel & Cie, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts
• Auberge Gîte du Mont-Albert, Parc national de la Gaspésie
• Camping Parc et Mer Mont-Louis, Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis

LAND’S END: Grande-Vallée to Port-Daniel-Gascons

After driving between the sea and the mountains, you will arrive in Land’s End, where the St. Lawrence widens into the gulf. In Grande-Vallée, stop first at the lookout to admire a view of the village and then at the rest stop below it where you can plug in your car and discover a covered bridge and lovely park. Then, keep driving east towards Gaspé, stopping along the way to visit museums, interpretation sites, lighthouses and renowned Forillon National Park. Once in Gaspé, you may want to visit the Micmac Interpretation Centre of Gespeg, the Musée de la Gaspésie and the Birthplace of Canada Historic Site. You can also plug in your car at the Gaspé Tourist Welcome Bureau, which is located in the marina. Take advantage of this stop to get tourist information, admire the sailboats moored in the marina or hop on your bike and head to the beach. You can then walk along Rue de la Reine and discover local restaurants and bars.

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Les Chalets du Parc, Gaspé
• Auberge sous les Arbres, Gaspé
• Hôtel Baker, Gaspé
• Chalets du Bout du Monde, Gaspé

Would you rather continue your journey and discover Percé? No problem! Once in the village, you can plug in your car at the town hall or at the Percé UNESCO Global Geopark. Showcasing the area’s unique geology, the geopark includes a multimedia exhibition, an indoor playroom for children, hiking trails, a glass platform suspended from the top of Mount Sainte-Anne and a zip line, all of which will delight visitors of all ages! Percé is very walkable: the wharf as well as boutiques and restaurants are located in the heart of the village, where a unique atmosphere prevails. And of course, you will want to admire legendary Percé Rock, which is an impressive sight from every angle!

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Riôtel Percé, Percé
• Camping Baie de Percé, Percé
• Chalets & Camping Nature Océan, Percé

There are nearly 300 km of road between the two borders of the Land’s End region, so there is obviously much more to see and do here. Whale-watching cruises, kayaking with seals, scuba diving, captivating museums and interpretation sites, excursions to Bonaventure Island to see the northern gannets, an illuminated night walk, festivities and much more await you in Land’s End!

CHALEUR BAY: Shigawake to Restigouche

The Chaleur Bay region also covers a large area. Several towns offer charging stations, including Paspébiac, New Richmond and Carleton-sur-Mer. If you stop in Paspébiac, be sure to visit the Site historique national Banc-de-Pêche-de-Paspébiac to learn more about local fishing history. In neighbouring New Carlisle, you can also charge your car as you visit Espace René-Lévesque, a site that pays tribute to former premier René Lévesque, one of Québec’s most influential political figures.

In the Bonaventure area, you can visit the Bioparc de la Gaspésie (a wildlife park) or the Musée Acadien du Québec (an Acadian museum), participate in river activities with Cime Aventures, discover the Grotte de Saint-Elzéar (one of the oldest caves in Québec) or enjoy a little reading on the beach. If you decide to keep driving, New Richmond is the next town in the area to have a charging station. Visit Taylor’s Point Park, which offers activities along Chaleur Bay and a river. If you decide to continue your journey, Maria, Carleton-sur-Mer and Nouvelle offer lots of fun activities. For example, you can discover fossils at Parc national de Miguasha, admire the view from the lookout at the top of Mount Saint-Joseph, go hiking or enjoy a stroll by the sea, relax on a beach, participate in a sea excursion on a catamaran or go fishing for striped bass.

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Riôtel Bonaventure, Bonaventure
• Hôtel Le Francis, New Richmond
• Auberge du Marchand, Maria
• Manoir Belle Plage and Maison Cullen, Carleton-sur-Mer
• Hostellerie Baie Bleue, Carleton-sur-Mer
• Gîte des Oiseaux Migrateurs, Carleton-sur-Mer
• Camping Carleton-sur-Mer, Carleton-sur-Mer
• Restaurant-Motel Interprovincial, Pointe-à-la-Croix

THE VALLEY: Matapédia to Saint-Moïse

Featuring magnificent rural scenery, the Matapédia Valley is a paradise for salmon fishing and quad biking. Stop in Causapscal to discover salmon in their natural environment. The Site des Chutes et Marais is home to a salmon interpretation centre; you can watch salmon on a giant screen (thanks to an underwater camera) as well as explore the trails to the falls and see salmon jumping up the river. In the heart of the village, you can rest and enjoy a picnic in the large municipal park while watching fishermen at work. Nearby, the Site patrimonial de pêche Matamajaw (a fishing heritage site) recounts the era of private fishing clubs mostly frequented by an English-speaking elite. Once back on Route 132, keep your eyes peeled for signs to the Chute à Philomène. You can reach this 33-metre waterfall in just a few minutes, though it does involve walking down (and then up) about a hundred steps! The next charging station is located at the Amqui Tourist Welcome Bureau.

While in the Matapédia Valley, you can also go river canoeing or kayaking, visit the Musée de la Forêt et du Saumon (forest and salmon museum) as well as taste local delicacies such as raspberry wine from Vallée de la Framboise, delicious honey from Miel Vallée Fleurie or chocolates from Auberge Beauséjour.

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Chez Casimir, Matapédia
• Auberge L’Ambassadeur, Amqui

Are you ready for a road trip in Gaspésie? To be in the loop, visit tourisme-gaspesie.com and plan your trip today! #gaspesie