Best Montreal Day Trips: Local's Guide to Getting Out of the City

But sometimes you need to leave it.

Maybe it's the urge to see actual hills (we're pretty flat here). Maybe it's ski season. Maybe you've been breathing in construction dust for too long and need fresh air.

Whatever the reason, Montreal sits in a perfect spot for day trips. You're an hour from mountains, two hours from Quebec's capital, and close enough to Ontario that you can hit Ottawa before lunch. Montreal's international airport also makes it easy to launch day trips for travelers flying in.

I've done these trips dozens of times, some for work, most for sanity. When I host guests for City Unscripted, these are the escapes I recommend when people want to see beyond the Montreal experiences.

I know which ones are worth the drive and which ones sound better than they are. Here's what actually delivers.

Québec City: The Obvious Choice

Let's start with the big one. Québec City tops every day trips list for good reason: it's one of the oldest cities in North America, completely different from Montreal, and full of actual things to do. As one of Canada's oldest settlements, the old town is unlike anything in Canada.

The drive takes about two and a half hours along the St Lawrence River. You'll follow the water most of the way, which beats staring at highway medians. Most people aim for Old Québec: the walled upper town with the Château Frontenac, narrow streets, and stone buildings that look European because they basically are.

Here's what works: Get there early. Park outside the old town (cheaper and less stressful). Walk the city walls. Hit the Plains of Abraham if the weather's decent. Grab lunch somewhere that isn't directly on the main tourist strip. You'll pay less and eat better. The Petit Champlain quarter is crowded but worth a quick walk.

If food's a focus on your trip, our guide to what to eat in Montreal covers the city's best culinary experiences.

What doesn't work: Trying to "do everything" in Quebec City during a day trip. The city's got museums, the Citadelle, Montmorency Falls outside town, Île d'Orléans nearby. Pick two or three things. You're not moving here.

Winter adds a dimension, literally. The city gets buried in snow, and if you time it right, you might catch the winter carnival. Summer's easier but more packed with tourists.

Takeaway: Quebec City delivers history, architecture, and a different vibe from Montreal. But it's a long day. Leave early, pick your spots, and don't try to see everything.

Mont Tremblant: Year-Round Mountain Escape

Mont Tremblant works in every season, which makes it one of the most reliable day trips from Montreal. It's about an hour and a half north through the Laurentian Mountains.

Winter brings the obvious draw: skiing and snowboarding. The resort's one of the biggest in eastern Canada. If you're new to skiing, Tremblant has a well-known ski school. If you're into winter sports, you know this place. If you're not, the village at the base still offers ice skating, snowshoeing, and the kind of mountain scenery that makes city life feel very far away.

Summer flips the script. The mountain turns into hiking trails with legitimate elevation gain (rare around here). You can rent bikes, kayak on Lac Tremblant, or take the gondola up for views without the workout. The village has restaurants, shops, and a pedestrian setup that's pleasant enough even if it's designed to separate you from your money.

Fall hits peak colors in late September and early October. The drive alone justifies the trip: rolling hills covered in red and orange. It gets busy on weekends, but weekdays stay relatively calm.

A heads-up: Mont Tremblant knows it's popular. Prices reflect that. You're paying resort rates for everything. But the infrastructure's solid, access is easy, and it's close enough that you can make it a regular escape rather than a once-a-trip destination.

Takeaway: Mont Tremblant is the most developed, accessible mountain option near Montreal. It's pricier than other day trips but offers the most variety across seasons.

Eastern Townships: Small Towns and Wine Country

The Eastern Townships sit southeast of Montreal, bumping up against the Vermont border. This is where Montrealers go when they want rolling hills, small villages, and a slower pace.

The region spreads out, so you'll want to pick a focus. North Hatley's a classic: a small town on a lake with good restaurants and the kind of main street you can walk in fifteen minutes. North Hatley is a special place, and the lakeside walk is a great place to unwind. Magog anchors the northern part with lake access and more services. Sutton works if you're into hiking or skiing (Mont Sutton's a solid smaller ski resort).

Wine tours cluster around Dunham and the Brome-Missisquoi area. Wine lovers can do a relaxed wine tour through the Brome-Missisquoi region. The vineyards aren't Napa, but they're decent, the countryside's nice, and it's an easy afternoon. You'll find ice cider too, which is more of a regional specialty.

Summer months and fall are prime time. Spring gets muddy (make sure you're prepared. Winter works if you're skiing or hitting sugar shacks (more on those in a second), but some of the charm comes from driving backroads and poking around small towns, which is less appealing when everything's frozen.

Plan for about an hour and a half drive to reach the main areas. You can bus to Magog, but most destinations need a car for real flexibility.

Takeaway: The Eastern Townships trade dramatic scenery for gentle charm. It's a great place to get off the beaten path without driving far. Best for people who want to wander, eat well, and avoid anything too structured. If you're looking for quieter spots closer to the city, explore hidden gems in Montreal.

Laurentian Mountains: Hiking and Nature

The Laurentians stretch north of Montreal in a band of lakes, forests, and hills. They're older mountains: worn down, rounded, covered in trees. Not dramatic, but accessible and full of trails.

Parc national du Mont-Tremblant (the park, not the resort) offers the most substantial hiking. It's about two hours north and covers huge territory. Trails range from easy lakeside walks to full-day ridge hikes. Many hikes lead to panoramic views and quiet lakes. You'll find waterfalls, backcountry camping if you're staying overnight, and way fewer people than the resort areas.

Closer in, you've got options like Oka National Park (covered separately below) and various regional parks with shorter trails. Lac des Sables near Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts offers swimming and beaches in summer.

Fall brings leaf-peepers in droves. Every road through the Laurentians turns into a color show. Weekend traffic can be heavy in peak season (late September to early October), but the scenery backs it up.

Winter shifts to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The same trails you hiked in summer work under snow, often with fewer people. Several Nordic centers maintain groomed trails if you want that setup.

Takeaway: The Laurentians offer the closest serious nature to Montreal. Great for hiking, decent for skiing, and beautiful in fall. Go midweek if possible.

Ottawa: Museums and the Nation's Capital

Ottawa's about two hours west on a straight shot along the Ottawa River. It's a different kind of day trip: more urban, more museums, more formal. Ottawa is one of the major cities reachable quickly from Montreal, and its ByWard Market functions like the city's farmer's market.

Parliament Hill dominates the downtown. The buildings are impressive, and if Parliament's in session, you can sometimes watch from the public gallery (check ahead). The changing of the guard happens in summer. The area around Parliament (Wellington Street, the Byward Market) gives you restaurants and the core tourist zone.

Museums are Ottawa's real strength. The National Gallery holds major Canadian art. The Canadian Museum of History sits across the river in Gatineau with sweeping Canadian history exhibits. The War Museum works if that's your interest. You can't hit them all in one day, so pick one or two.

The Rideau Canal runs through the city. In summer, it's boats and pathways. In winter, it's the world's longest skating rink: legitimately fun if you're there during cold season and have skates.

Ottawa's cleaner and more orderly than Montreal. Some people find it boring. I find it a decent change of pace, especially when Montreal's wearing me down. The museums are legitimately good, and it's easy to navigate.

Takeaway: Ottawa's the best day trip from Montreal if you want culture, museums, and a break from French. Less scenic than mountain options but more substantial than small-town trips.

Oka National Park: Beach and Easy Trails

Oka sits on Lac des Deux Montagnes about forty-five minutes west of Montreal. It's the closest provincial park with real beach access and maintained trails.

Summer's the main draw here. The beach is genuinely nice: sandy, clean water, lifeguards, facilities that work. It gets packed on hot weekends (every Montrealer knows about Oka), but weekdays stay manageable. You can swim, rent kayaks, or just sit on sand without driving two hours. In summer, the park offers boat rentals on Lac des Deux Montagnes.

The Calvaire d'Oka trail takes you up a small wooded hill with river views at the top. It's not strenuous: an hour or so round trip with several stops at small shrines along the way (historic pilgrimage site). Good for families or anyone who wants a walk without committing to a full hike.

Spring and fall work for hiking but lose the beach appeal. Winter? Pretty quiet unless you're into cross-country skiing or snowshoeing the trails.

Oka also borders the village of Oka, famous for its cheese (Oka cheese, specifically, made by Trappist monks originally). You can visit the monastery if that interests you, though it's less of a tourist attraction and more of a working religious site.

Takeaway: Oka's the easiest beach escape from Montreal. Not wilderness, but solid for a quick nature fix without major travel time.

Saguenay–St Lawrence Marine Park: Whale Watching (Long Day Trip)

Let's be honest up front: This is a stretch as a day trip. The Saguenay–St Lawrence Marine Park sits around five hours northeast of Montreal where the Saguenay River meets the St Lawrence. That's ten hours of driving if you're doing the round trip in one day, which is borderline insane but some people do it anyway.

But people do it, especially for whale watching. The marine park's one of the few places you can see beluga whales from shore, plus minke whales, fin whales, and occasionally humpbacks or blue whales from boats. The viewing season runs roughly May to October, with peak activity in summer.

You've got two main bases: Tadoussac (the classic whale-watching town) and the fjord area around Rivière-Éternité. Tadoussac offers boat tours. Zodiac boats get you close to the water, larger boats give you more stability. The fjord delivers truly breathtaking views. The fjord area offers dramatic scenery even without whales.

Here's my take: If whales are a priority and you're short on time, yes, you can technically do this as a very long day. Leave at 5 AM, book an early afternoon boat tour, drive back in the evening. You'll be exhausted. Honestly? Plan to stay overnight. The area's remote enough that the drive eats your entire day if that's all you do, and you'll miss the point of being somewhere this beautiful.

Takeaway: Saguenay offers unique wildlife and stunning fjord scenery, but it's around five hours each way. Only attempt this as a day trip if you're very committed and don't mind a brutal drive. Otherwise, make it an overnight trip.

Final Thoughts

Montreal sits in a sweet spot. You've got mountains, rivers, forests, small towns, and Quebec City all within a few hours. Most of these trips I've done repeatedly, and they hold up.

My default move? If I want nature, I head to the Laurentians or Oka depending on how much time I have. If I want a full day of something different, Quebec City or Ottawa.

The key is matching the trip to the season and your energy level. A ten-hour round-trip drive to Saguenay hits different than a forty-five-minute cruise to Oka. Both are good, but they're not the same commitment.

Get out of the city when you can. Montreal's great, but the best part about living here might be everything within driving distance. When you get back, explore things to do in Montreal at night to round out your day. And if you're planning broader travels, check out more Canada experiences across the country.