Going on a Road Trip in an Electric Car in Gaspésie

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.

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.

Over 83 lodging establishments allow you to charge your car overnight while you sleep.

Photo: Riôtel Matane

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.

La Mitis: Sainte-Flavie to Métis-sur-Mer

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 and Mitis Distillery (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 and the International Garden Festival. Then hit the road again and head towards Matane. Along the way, you can enjoy a few foodie stops.

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

Reford Gardens. Photo: Roger St-Laurent

La Matanie: Baie-des-Sables to Les Méchins

Once you arrive in Matane, you can plug in your car downtown and visit the Centre d'observation de la montée du saumon 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.

La Matanie 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:

• Les Studios de la Mer (Saint-Ulric)
• Villa Carpinteri (Saint-Ulric)
• Auberge Bruine Océane (Matane)
• Riôtel Matane (Matane)
• Hôtel Quality Inn & Suites Matane (Matane)
• Motel Le Portage (Matane)
• Hôtel-Motel Belle Plage (Matane)
• Motel La Marina (Matane)
• Manoir des Sapins (Sainte-Félicité)

Marine of Matane. Photo: Dany Vachon

La Haute-Gaspésie: Cap-Chat to Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine

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 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 La Haute-Gaspésie before entering La Côte-de-Gaspé. Discover a lighthouse, smoked salmon and hang-gliding, among other things. Between the Chic-Choc Mountains and the sea, La 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:

Cap-Chat. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis

La Côte-de-Gaspé: Grande-Vallée to Gaspé (Prével)

After driving between the sea and the mountains, you will arrive in La Côte-de-Gaspé, 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 Site of Gespeg, the Musée de la Gaspésie and the Gaspé Berceau du Canada.

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 in Gaspé:

Cap Bon Ami. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis

Continue your journey and discover Rocher-Percé. 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! Also, 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 Rocher-Percé!

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight in Percé:

Percé. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis

La Baie-des-Chaleurs (Bonaventure) also covers a large area. Several towns offer charging stations, including Paspébiac and New Richmond. If you stop in Paspébiac, be sure to visit the Paspébiac National Historic Site to learn more about local fishing history.

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 Aventure, 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.

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Riôtel Bonaventure (Bonaventure)
• La Maison de Jade (Bonaventure)
• Camping Cime Aventure (Bonaventure)
• L'Auberge du Café Acadien (Bonaventure)
• La Ruelle Hébergement  (Saint-Siméon)
• Hôtel le Francis (New Richmond)
• Motel et Restaurant Au Fin Gourmet (New Richmond)

Paspébiac National Historic Site. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis
La Baie-des-Chaleurs (Avignon): Gesgapegiag to L'Ascension-de-Patapédia

If you decide to continue your journey in La Baie-des-Chaleurs (Avignon), 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. In the Matapédia-et-les-Plateaux area, exceptional lookouts offer amazing views of the surrounding hills and rivers.

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Auberge du Marchand (Maria)
• Manoir Belle Plage (Carleton-sur-Mer)
• Maison Cullen (Carleton-sur-Mer)
• Hostellerie Baie Bleue (Carleton-sur-Mer)
• Camping Carleton-sur-Mer (Carleton-sur-Mer)
• [ÈST] Éco-cabines (Nouvelle)
• Les Chalets de la Mer (Nouvelle)
• Camping Zec Rivière-Nouvelle (Nouvelle)
• Auberge du Château Bahia (Escuminac)
• Hôtel Interprovincial (Pointe-à-la-Croix)

Carleton-sur-Mer Lighthouse. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis

La Matapédia: Routhierville to Saint-Moïse

Featuring magnificent rural scenery, La Matapédia 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 La Matapédia, you can also go river canoeing or kayaking, as well as taste local delicacies such as raspberry wine from Vallée de la Framboise economuseum or chocolates and frozen treats from Chocolaterie BelJade.

Where to stay and charge your battery overnight:

• Auberge l’Ambassadeur (Amqui)
• Sélectôtel Amqui Pastali (Amqui)
• Camping Bois et Berges (Val-Brillant)
• Auberge du Lac malcom (Sayabec)
• Camping Auberge du Lac Malcom (Sayabec)
• Camping Monts Notre-Dame (Saint-Cléophas)

Vallée de la Framboise. Photo: Geneviève Gagné

With all this information, you can now enjoy a road trip in your electric car in Gaspésie!

See also:

• Which Itinerary Should You Choose for Your Tour of Gaspésie?
• How many days are needed to tour the Gaspésie?