Ferries across the St. Lawrence: routes, schedules and tips

The St. Lawrence River defines Quebec — and crossing it by ferry is, in several places, the only practical way to travel between its two shores. The Quebec government operates a network of ferries under the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ), supplemented by a few privately operated routes. For road-trippers, cyclists, and travellers exploring the lower St. Lawrence and Côte-Nord regions, these ferries are essential infrastructure — and they can be a scenic highlight in their own right.

This guide covers the six crossings most useful to visitors, the reservation and fare systems, typical sailing times, and how to plan a trip that uses the ferries to shorten driving or reach otherwise-inaccessible regions.

The STQ system

STQ operates most Quebec ferries. The ticketing, schedules, and reservation systems are consistent across routes. Key points:

• Free ferries: some short crossings are free (Tadoussac, Quebec City-Lévis)
• Paid ferries: most longer crossings charge per vehicle and per passenger
• Reservations: recommended in summer for vehicle crossings; book at traversiers.com
• Arrive early: 30-45 minutes before scheduled departure for paid crossings; earlier in peak season
• Walk-on pedestrians: usually don’t need reservations
• Seasonal variations: some routes run May-November only; schedules shift seasonally

The six key ferry crossings

1. Quebec City ↔ Lévis (free, 12-15 minutes)

The most famous Quebec ferry. Not essential for crossing the river (there are bridges downstream), but essential for the view. Pedestrians board free; vehicles pay a small fee.

• Frequency: every 20-30 minutes, 6 am to 2 am
• Duration: 12-15 minutes
• Fare: Free for pedestrians, $8 per car
• Terminal: Terminal du Vieux-Port (Quebec City side), Lévis Marina (south shore)

Why take it: the view of Château Frontenac from the water is iconic. Time the return trip with sunset for the best photos. Works well as an evening activity — take the ferry to Lévis for dinner, walk the lookout, take the ferry back.

2. Tadoussac ↔ Baie-Sainte-Catherine (free, 10 minutes)

A functional ferry that has to exist — Route 138 (the main road along Quebec’s north shore) ends at Baie-Sainte-Catherine and picks up again at Tadoussac. Without the ferry, you couldn’t drive Route 138 east from Quebec City.

• Frequency: every 20-40 minutes, 24/7 in summer, reduced winter schedule
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Fare: Free for all
• Terminal: Route 138 dead-ends into both terminals — you literally drive down the highway onto the ferry

Why take it: you must, if you’re driving to Tadoussac, Saguenay Fjord, or any point east along Route 138. Beluga whales are often visible during the crossing in summer — keep your eyes on the water near the fjord mouth. This is the cheapest beluga-watching you’ll ever do.

3. Rivière-du-Loup ↔ Saint-Siméon (paid, 65 minutes)

The south-to-north crossing in the lower St. Lawrence. Useful for travellers heading from Bas-Saint-Laurent to Charlevoix.

• Frequency: 5-7 crossings daily April-January; suspended in deep winter (typically Jan-April)
• Duration: 65 minutes
• Fare: Car + driver ~$55, passengers $20 each
• Operator: Traverse Rivière-du-Loup

Why take it: saves 4+ hours of driving if you’re on the Bas-Saint-Laurent side and want to reach Charlevoix or Saguenay without going back through Quebec City. Whale watching possible mid-crossing. Book vehicle space 1-2 weeks ahead in summer.

4. Matane ↔ Baie-Comeau / Godbout (paid, 2h15)

The longest of the major Quebec ferries. Critical for drivers navigating between Gaspésie and the north shore — there is no road around the St. Lawrence estuary at this latitude.

• Frequency: 2-3 crossings daily, reduced in winter
• Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Fare: Car + driver ~$80-100, passengers $45 each
• Terminal: Matane (south), Baie-Comeau or Godbout (north — boats alternate)

Why take it: essential for a Gaspésie + Côte-Nord road trip. Also saves significant driving if you’re on Gaspésie and want to reach Labrador (via the eventual end of Route 138 in Côte-Nord).

Book well ahead in summer. This ferry runs near capacity from June through September. Dining room on board, cabins available for longer crossings.

5. Trois-Pistoles ↔ Les Escoumins (paid, 90 minutes)

A secondary south-to-north crossing, useful for travellers who want to reach the north shore from the middle of Bas-Saint-Laurent.

• Frequency: 1-3 crossings daily May to October
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Fare: Car + driver ~$65, passengers $25 each
• Operator: Compagnie de navigation des Basques

Why take it: alternative to Rivière-du-Loup-Saint-Siméon for travellers further east. Good for whale watching en route. Les Escoumins is an uncrowded, excellent whale watching base.

6. Sorel-Tracy ↔ Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola (free, 10 minutes)

West of Quebec City. Connects Montérégie side to Lanaudière side.

• Frequency: every 15-20 minutes
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Fare: Small vehicle fee; free pedestrians
• Operator: STQ

Why take it: less of a tourist route, more a local commute, but relevant if you’re exploring Lac Saint-Pierre UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or connecting Trois-Rivières to Lanaudière backroads.

Smaller ferries worth knowing

• L’Isle-aux-Coudres (Charlevoix): free ferry to Île aux Coudres from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive. 15 minutes. Essential for visiting the island.
• L’Île Verte (Bas-Saint-Laurent): seasonal ferry from L’Isle-Verte village to the island. For specialty trips.
• Anticosti Island (Côte-Nord): the Relais Nordik supply ship from Rimouski or Sept-Îles. Multi-day trips.
• Berthier-sur-Mer ↔ Grosse-Île: tour boats (not public ferries) run to the National Historic Site.
• Îles de la Madeleine: ferry from Souris, PEI — a 5-hour crossing, critical for visiting the islands by vehicle (alternative: fly from Montreal).

Reservations and fares

The STQ reservation system

Use traversiers.com for:

• Matane-Baie-Comeau-Godbout
• Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine (no reservations needed, but schedule info)
• Sorel-Tracy
• Quebec City-Lévis

Private operators have their own systems:

• Rivière-du-Loup-Saint-Siméon: traversierrdl.com
• Trois-Pistoles-Les Escoumins: traversiertr.com

Credit card payments, mostly

All crossings accept credit cards. Most also accept cash. Some smaller crossings may require exact change.

Passenger vs. vehicle fares

For most ferries, the fare structure is:

• Base fare for the vehicle (includes driver)
• Additional fare for each extra passenger
• Reduced fares for children, seniors
• Pedestrian fares are typically modest

Budget example — Matane to Godbout with 2 adults and a car: approximately $150 for the vehicle + 1 passenger.

Planning ferry-based road trips

The Gaspésie + Côte-Nord loop

A classic Quebec road trip combines both shores of the St. Lawrence:

• Drive Quebec City down Route 132 south shore (Bas-Saint-Laurent → Gaspésie loop via Percé)
• From Matane, take the Matane-Godbout ferry to the north shore
• Drive Route 138 west through Côte-Nord to Tadoussac
• Take Tadoussac ferry (free) back to Baie-Sainte-Catherine
• Continue Route 138 back to Quebec City via Charlevoix

This creates a ~7-10 day loop. See our Gaspésie itinerary and Bas-Saint-Laurent-to-Gaspésie road trip for detail.

Quebec City ↔ Charlevoix ↔ Saguenay

• Quebec City → Charlevoix (drive Route 138)
• Charlevoix → Tadoussac (ferry at Baie-Sainte-Catherine, free)
• Tadoussac → Saguenay Fjord → Quebec City (loop back on Route 138)

No paid ferries needed for this loop.

Tips for the crossings

• Arrive early in summer. Peak crossings fill. 45 minutes minimum for paid crossings.
• Bring snacks / have meals. Longer ferries have cafeterias but quality varies.
• Leave the car for the crossing. Most ferries let you out of the car and up on deck during sailing; standing at the rail watching the river is part of the experience.
• Watch for whales. Tadoussac and the longer crossings regularly have belugas, minkes, and occasionally fin or blue whales. Stay on deck.
• Motion sickness: the St. Lawrence can be choppy, especially on Matane-Godbout. Over-the-counter medication if prone.

Combining with other Quebec practical content

See our Quebec in October guide, driving Quebec winter guide, and regional destination guides for Gaspésie, Côte-Nord, Charlevoix, and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

Final word

Quebec’s St. Lawrence ferries aren’t glamorous infrastructure but they make half the province accessible by road. Reserve ahead in summer, take the crossings slowly enough to enjoy the view, and use them to build a road trip that covers both shores of the river — which is really the Quebec road trip experience at its best.