This part of the Trans-Canada takes you through early seigniorial St Lawrence communities. You drive near or even alongside the ever-widening St Lawrence as you go eastward. Ferries can take you to or from the north shore at various points. A side trip on Route 132, which meanders along the south shore through small towns and past 400 year old stone farmhouses is highly recommended.
Just east of Levis is a series of overhead hydro lines connecting Northern Quebec power dams with Quebec City, Montreal and the US, with a span of 1.5 km over the river.
From Quebec City eastwards, the St Lawrence River widens significantly. The river here is a tidal estuary, where freshwater mixes with Atlantic tidal saltwater. This is a major stopping-off point on the East Coast migratory route for birds. Montmagny is renowned for its snow geese which visit in October on their way south from Baffin Island.
The North Shore is characterized by forest and rugged mountains overlooking the river, the South Shore is characterized by gentle farmland plains. The St Lawrence Lowlands provide diverse range of hardwood trees including maple and birch, mixed in with white spruce, balsam fir in higher areas and black spruce and eastern white cedar in wetter areas. This attracts many species of song birds, and the area is rich in hawks (who feed on small rodents). Along the highway you may notice some orchards.
The next crossing of the river is by ferry connecting Riviere du Loup on the South Shore with St Simeon on the North Shore. The ferry takes 1:15. During the winter, the Trans-Canada is subject to Nor’Easter wind conditions, and there are gates to block this stretch of the highway at Levis and Riviere du Loup.
At La Pocatiere (Exit 439) you can get off the highway and observe the opposite shore, now 20 km away. You can observe two valleys with a hill in the middle, which marks the 40 km wide Charlevoix Crater caused by the impact of a 2 km meteor over 350 million years ago. The southern half of the crater, was eroded away by the creation of the St Lawrence River valley.
Riviere du Loup is a seaside town of 15,000, roughly the opposite bank from where the massive Saguenay pours its nutrients into the St Lawrence. There are several variations on why the town was named, though the French word for seals, “Loup,” seems the most plausible. There are some parks along the shoreline where you can observe the birds and sea mammals along the river. If you head about 10-15 km east of Riviere du Loup, to where the Saguenay River mouth is opposite, you can observe lots of whales, especially beluga whales. They prefer this area as a rich feeding ground, fed by two rivers.
Saint-Jean-Port-Joli – church on main road
To discover the river and Quebec’s earliest history by car, drive the panoramic Route 132 that winds along the South Shore, and discover stunning scenery and a host of charming ancestral villages (many dating back to the period between 1600 and 1680) await you!
These villages were laid out on the French seigneurial system, under the Anciens Regime (ie before the British) and have long narrow plots rising up from the river, used to provided transportation and the water supply. Roads connected farms to the seigneur’s flour mill and the church.
We have information on a number of the villages along Route 132 along the south shore:
The Trans-Canada Highway was built away from the St Lawrence to keep these historical villages in their pristine state. There is an industry association for these villages, Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec, though the good parts of their website are French-only.
Use mouse to drag/move map. Click on “+” or “–” to zoom in or out. “Satellite” combines map & photo.
Note:
| KM | (metres) | |
| 0 | Exit #96 Rue Fraserville NE to community of Riviere-du-Loup (Riviere-du-Loup) | 121 |
| 4 | Exit #499 Highway #20 junction with Highway #185 (Trans-Canada Highway) East to community of Riviere-du-Loup , all services. South east to Quebec / New Brunswick, border. South east city of Edmundston… (Riviere-du-Loup) | 91.1 |
| 5 | EB Rest area on south side of highway, picnic tables, toilets, telephone | 93.9 |
| 7 | Exit #496 North to Notre-Dame-du-Portage (1 km). Accommodation & services. S to access the Riviere-du-Loup airport (2 km) | 103.3 |
| 18 | Exit #488 junction with route #289 South to community of Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska (3 km) | 87.2 |
| 22 | Exit #480 Route de la Station, N to community of Saint-Andre (3 km). South to community of Saint-Joseph-de-Kamouraska (8 km) | 121 |
| 29 | overpass: Route de St-Germain | 90.5 |
| 29 | Exit #474 Route Mississipp N to community of Saint-Andre. Rue de l’Eglise S to community of Sainte-Helene (1 km) (Sainte-Helene) | 107.9 |
| 31.5 | overpass: 2E Range / Route de St-Germain | 76.2 |
| 34.5 | Climbing escarpment | 68 |
| 35 | Exit #465 Route de Kamouraska (N) to Kamouraska (5 km) and Route Rochette (S) to community of Saint-Pascal (1 km), services (Saint-Pascal ) | 29.6 |
| 36.2 | crossing small river with extensive waterfalls accessible from Saint Pascal (Saint-Pascal ) | 29 |
| 38 | Overpass Route du Pain de Sucre (no access) | 29.9 |
| 44 | Roadside Highway Turnout Rest Area Both sides of highway, picnic tables, toilets, telephone. | 47.5 |
| 47 | Exit #456, route #287 S to Saint-Phillippe-de-Mer, N to Saint-Denis (5 km) | 36.9 |
| 50 | Wetlands and peat bogs to NE of highway | 26.5 |
| 54 | Exit #450 Chemin du Haute-SR-la Riviere, NW to Riviere Quelle airport, services, SE to community of Saint-Pacome | 22.6 |
| 55 | Crossing Riviere Quelle | 18.3 |
| 62 | Overpass: Toute Verbois (no access) | 5.8 |
| 64 | Exit #439 SE to community of La Pocatiere. Information Centre, North side of highway. | 3.4 |
| 68 | Exit 436, 2E Rue Guimond, connecting to route #132, #230 SE to community of La Pocatiere (1 km) services (La Pocatiere) | 3.4 |
| 73 | Exit #430, junction with route #132 Scenic route along south shore of St Lawrence. W to Village des Aulnaies (1km), Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies (4 km) (La Pocatiere) | 17.4 |
| 87 | Route De L’elglise (no access), Ste Louise 1 km N of hwy | 32.9 |
| 93 | underpass Route Elgin (no access) campground 3km N | 53.9 |
| 100 | Exit #414, route # 204 S to community of Saint-Aubert, Saint-Damase-de-L’islet, La-Dene-Lieve campground . N to community of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, all services & accommodation, camping | 52.4 |
| 102 | Crossing the River Port-Joli | 20.4 |
| 106 | overpass Chemin du Moulin (no access) | 29.3 |
| 111.3 | overpass Chemin Morin (no access) east to L’Iletville | 28.3 |
| 113 | Exit #400 route #285 / Route De L’eglise, S to community of Saint-Eugene (2 km). North to community of L’Islet (1 km),services, and L’Islet sur Mer (3 km), services & accommodation (L’Islet) | 39.3 |
| 114.4 | EB Rest Area South side of highway, Information, picnic tables, toilets, telephone. | 55.5 |
| 114.5 | WB Rest Area, North side of highway, Information, picnic tables, toilets telephone. | 56.4 |
| 116 | Overpass Route Cendree-Lafeuille (no access) | 47.9 |
| 117 | Crossing Riviere de Perdrix (“Partridge” River) | 43.3 |
| 118 | Overpass Route Des Quatre-Chemins (“Four Ways”) | 41.5 |
| 120 | Exit #388 Route Petit-Cap to Route 132, N to community of Cap-Saint-Ignace, all services & accommodation | 41.1 |
| 123 | Overpass, Route Ballavance (no access) | 23.2 |
| 139 | Exit #378, route #283 S to Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire. NW to community of Montmagny, all services, Point-Aux Campground (4 km) (Montmagny) | 15.5 |
| 139.4 | bridge over Riviere du Sud (Montmagny) | 14.9 |
| 141 | Exit #376, route 228 Chemin du Coteau N to Montmagny, all services & accommodation (Montmagny) | 29.9 |
| 144 | Exit #369, Route de St-Pierre N to route 132, Rue Principale S to Saint-Pierre Montagny (4 km) | 29.9 |
| 149 | Exit #364 Route de St-Francois N to Route 132 and town of Berthier-sur-Mer | 32 |
| 149.6 | Emergency U-turn | 33.2 |
| 157 | Exit #356 Montee de la Station, N to Route 132 and town of Saint-Vallier | 42.4 |
| 161.5 | Underpass 3E Range (no access) and Emergency U-turn | 29.9 |
| 165 | Exit #348 to Route 281 N to St-Michel de Bellechasse (1 km) (St-Michel de Bellechasse ) | 61.6 |
| 166.9 | WB Rest area with restaurant with bathrooms | 82 |
| 166.9 | Emergency U-turn | 81.1 |
| 167 | EB Rest areas with bathrooms | 87.8 |
| 172 | Exit #341 Route de Beaumont, S to town of Saint-Charles 97 km), N to Route 132, town of Beaumont (2 km), services and Camping Carol campground (2 km) | 78.9 |
| 175 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median | 88.7 |
| 176 | Exit #337 Rue de l’Anse S (N) and #279 S to town of St Charles (10 km)to accomodation, services and camping along #132 along St Lawrence River | 71.6 |
| 177.3 | Emergency U-turn | 74.1 |
| 181.4 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median | 76.5 |
| 183 | Exit #330 Chemin St Roch (S) access to Camping Transit (4 km), and Route Lallemand (N) access to services, accommodation, camping | 86.9 |
| 185 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median | 80.2 |
| 186 | Exit #327 half cloverleaf interchange, Route MRG-Bourget (Levis) | 82.9 |
| 187 | WB Exit #325 Boulevard Alphonse-Desjardins, N to Levis, all services & accommodation, golfing, and passenger ferry to Quebec City (5 km) (Levis) | 67.4 |
| 187.4 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median | 64.3 |
| 188 | Exit #325, 3/4 cloverleaf interchange, Route President Kennedy #173, N to Levis, all services & accomodation, golfing, and passenger ferry to Quebec City (5 km), south to community of Pintendre (3 km) (Levis) | 61.6 |
| 192 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median (Levis) | 54.9 |
| 193.3 | Chemin Des Iles, with St-Romuald refinery, Golf De L’Auberivière to north, water purification plant to south (Levis) | 53.6 |
| 194.3 | crossing Riviere Etchernin, small rapids may be visible to south (Levis) | 27.7 |
| 195 | Exit #318 half-cloverleaf interchange, services both sides, 4E Avenue (N) to community of Saint-Romuald (2 km), and Rue Commerciale (S) to Saint-Hen Chrysostome (3 km) (Levis) | 46.6 |
| 196.7 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median (Levis) | 47.2 |
| 198 | passing through forested park both sides (webcam 14) | 44.5 |
| 199.3 | Exit #314 Truck weight station, WB exit for Chemin De Sault & Highway 73 (thru traffic stay in left lanes) | 48.5 |
| 200 | Emergency U-turn (Levis) | 47.5 |
| 200.6 | Railway overpass (Levis) | 46 |
| 201 | Exit #312, major interchange with Autoroute #73 (webcam 8) North to Ste Foy, Quebec City, and Quebec City Airport, south to town of Charny, east to Levis (Levis) | 44.5 |
| KM | (metres) |
| KM | (metres) | |
| 0 | Exit #312, major interchange with Autoroute #73 (webcam 8) North to Ste Foy, Quebec City, and Quebec City Airport, south to town of Charny, east to Levis (Levis) | 44.5 |
| 0.4 | Railway overpass (Levis) | 46 |
| 1 | Emergency U-turn (Levis) | 47.5 |
| 1.7 | Exit #314 Truck weight station, WB exit for Chemin De Sault & Highway 73 (thru traffic stay in left lanes) | 48.5 |
| 3 | passing through forested park both sides (webcam 14) | 44.5 |
| 4.3 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median (Levis) | 47.2 |
| 6 | Exit #318 half-cloverleaf interchange, services both sides, 4E Avenue (N) to community of Saint-Romuald (2 km), and Rue Commerciale (S) to Saint-Hen Chrysostome (3 km) (Levis) | 46.6 |
| 6.7 | crossing Riviere Etchernin, small rapids may be visible to south (Levis) | 27.7 |
| 7.7 | Chemin Des Iles, with St-Romuald refinery, Golf De L’Auberivière to north, water purification plant to south (Levis) | 53.6 |
| 9 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median (Levis) | 54.9 |
| 13 | Exit #325, 3/4 cloverleaf interchange, Route President Kennedy #173, N to Levis, all services & accomodation, golfing, and passenger ferry to Quebec City (5 km), south to community of Pintendre (3 km) (Levis) | 61.6 |
| 13.6 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median | 64.3 |
| 14 | WB Exit #325 Boulevard Alphonse-Desjardins, N to Levis, all services & accommodation, golfing, and passenger ferry to Quebec City (5 km) (Levis) | 67.4 |
| 15 | Exit #327 half cloverleaf interchange, Route MRG-Bourget (Levis) | 82.9 |
| 16 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median | 80.2 |
| 18 | Exit #330 Chemin St Roch (S) access to Camping Transit (4 km), and Route Lallemand (N) access to services, accommodation, camping | 86.9 |
| 19.6 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median | 76.5 |
| 23.7 | Emergency U-turn | 74.1 |
| 25 | Exit #337 Rue de l’Anse S (N) and #279 S to town of St Charles (10 km)to accomodation, services and camping along #132 along St Lawrence River | 71.6 |
| 26 | Emergency cross-over lanes in median | 88.7 |
| 29 | Exit #341 Route de Beaumont, S to town of Saint-Charles 97 km), N to Route 132, town of Beaumont (2 km), services and Camping Carol campground (2 km) | 78.9 |
| 34 | EB Rest areas with bathrooms | 87.8 |
| 34.1 | WB Rest area with restaurant with bathrooms | 82 |
| 34.1 | Emergency U-turn | 81.1 |
| 36 | Exit #348 to Route 281 N to St-Michel de Bellechasse (1 km) (St-Michel de Bellechasse ) | 61.6 |
| 39.5 | Underpass 3E Range (no access) and Emergency U-turn | 29.9 |
| 44 | Exit #356 Montee de la Station, N to Route 132 and town of Saint-Vallier | 42.4 |
| 51.4 | Emergency U-turn | 33.2 |
| 52 | Exit #364 Route de St-Francois N to Route 132 and town of Berthier-sur-Mer | 32 |
| 57 | Exit #369, Route de St-Pierre N to route 132, Rue Principale S to Saint-Pierre Montagny (4 km) | 29.9 |
| 60 | Exit #376, route 228 Chemin du Coteau N to Montmagny, all services & accommodation (Montmagny) | 29.9 |
| 61.6 | bridge over Riviere du Sud (Montmagny) | 14.9 |
| 62 | Exit #378, route #283 S to Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire. NW to community of Montmagny, all services, Point-Aux Campground (4 km) (Montmagny) | 15.5 |
| 78 | Overpass, Route Ballavance (no access) | 23.2 |
| 81 | Exit #388 Route Petit-Cap to Route 132, N to community of Cap-Saint-Ignace, all services & accommodation | 41.1 |
| 83 | Overpass Route Des Quatre-Chemins (“Four Ways”) | 41.5 |
| 84 | Crossing Riviere de Perdrix (“Partridge” River) | 43.3 |
| 85 | Overpass Route Cendree-Lafeuille (no access) | 47.9 |
| 86.5 | WB Rest Area, North side of highway, Information, picnic tables, toilets telephone. | 56.4 |
| 86.6 | EB Rest Area South side of highway, Information, picnic tables, toilets, telephone. | 55.5 |
| 88 | Exit #400 route #285 / Route De L’eglise, S to community of Saint-Eugene (2 km). North to community of L’Islet (1 km),services, and L’Islet sur Mer (3 km), services & accommodation (L’Islet) | 39.3 |
| 89.7 | overpass Chemin Morin (no access) east to L’Iletville | 28.3 |
| 95 | overpass Chemin du Moulin (no access) | 29.3 |
| 99 | Crossing the River Port-Joli | 20.4 |
| 101 | Exit #414, route # 204 S to community of Saint-Aubert, Saint-Damase-de-L’islet, La-Dene-Lieve campground. N to community of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, all services & accommodation, camping | 52.4 |
| 108 | underpass Route Elgin (no access) campground 3 km N | 53.9 |
| 114 | Route De L’elglise (no access), Ste Louise 1 km N of hwy | 32.9 |
| 128 | Exit #430, junction with route #132 Scenic route along south shore of St Lawrence. W to Village des Aulnaies (1km), Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies (4 km) (La Pocatiere) | 17.4 |
| 133 | Exit 436, 2E Rue Guimond, connecting to route #132, #230 SE to community of La Pocatiere (1 km) services (La Pocatiere) | 3.4 |
| 137 | Exit #439 SE to community of La Pointiere. Information Centre, North side of highway. | 3.4 |
| 139 | Overpass: Toute Verbois (no access) | 5.8 |
| 146 | Crossing Riviere Quelle | 18.3 |
| 147 | Exit #450 Chemin du Haute-SR-la Riviere, NW to Riviere Quelle airport, services, SE to community of Saint-Pacome | 22.6 |
| 151 | Wetlands and peat bogs to NE of highway | 26.5 |
| 154 | Exit #456, route #287 S to Saint-Phillippe-de-Mer, N to Saint-Denis (5 km) | 36.9 |
| 157 | Roadside Highway Turnout Rest Area Both sides of highway, picnic tables, toilets, telephone. | 47.5 |
| 163 | Overpass Route du Pain de Sucre (no access) | 29.9 |
| 164.8 | crossing small river with extensive waterfalls accessible from Saint Pascal (Saint-Pascal ) | 29 |
| 166 | Exit #465 Route de Kamouraska (N) to Kamouraska (5 km) and Route Rochette (S) to community of Saint-Pascal (1 km), services (Saint-Pascal ) | 29.6 |
| 166.5 | Climbing escarpment | 68 |
| 169.5 | overpass: 2E Range / Route de St-Germain | 76.2 |
| 172 | overpass: Route de St-Germain | 90.5 |
| 172 | Exit #474 Route Mississipp N to community of Saint-Andre. Rue de l’Eglise S to community of Sainte-Helene (1 km) (Sainte-Helene) | 107.9 |
| 179 | Exit #480 Route de la Station, N to community of Saint-Andre (3 km). South to community of Saint-Joseph-de-Kamouraska (8 km) | 121 |
| 183 | Exit #488 junction with route #289 South to community of Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska (3 km) | 87.2 |
| 194 | Exit #496 North to Notre-Dame-du-Portage (1 km). Accommodation & services. S to access the Riviere-du-Loup airport (2 km) | 103.3 |
| 196 | EB Rest area on south side of highway, picnic tables, toilets, telephone | 93.9 |
| 197 | Exit #499 Highway #20 junction with Highway #185 (Trans-Canada Highway) East to community of Riviere-du-Loup, all services. South east to Quebec / New Brunswick, border. South east city of Edmundston… (Riviere-du-Loup) | 91.1 |
| 201 | Exit #96 Rue Fraserville NE to community of Riviere-du-Loup (Riviere-du-Loup) | 121 |
| KM | (metres) |
