7 stunning day trips from Montreal worth taking if you don't have a car
Fully immerse yourself in nature.
The beach at Mont-Orford in Quebec.
If you've been looking for a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of city life, but don't have a car to venture outside of Montreal, then we've totally got you covered. Well… Navette Nature does.
A Montreal shuttle company known as NaNa (Navette Nature) for short, offers monthly recurring shuttles to countless parks and nature reserves across Quebec — this way, you can enjoy a day trip from Montreal even if you don't have a vehicle.
According to Navette Nature, their aim is to make green spaces accessible to people without any form of personal transportation. NaNa operates using a standard school bus, which remains the cheapest (and safest) option for guests looking to immerse themselves in a day of pure nature bliss.
The shuttle transports you to your destination of choice, and from there you can take advantage of the many activities offered (not included with your shuttle ticket).
For those hoping to bring equipment and food, you can opt to leave it in the storage area on the bus. According to Nanette Nature, any and all equipment is allowed so long as it fits in the shuttle's storage (except for bikes).
NaNa has weekend departures from Berri-UQAM's central bus station. A few days before your departure, you will receive a specific platform number, this way you know exactly where and when to meet.
So, if you're eyeing a day trip from Montreal, then here are seven destinations you can enjoy this summer with direct shuttles from NaNa.
Yamaska National Park
Dates: June 22, July 14, August 3, and September 14
Cost: $27.50 - $49.75
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour 30 minutes
Reason To Go: Guests will depart from Berri-UQAM at 8:30 a.m., arriving at the Le Maxine Discovery Centre in Yamaska at 9:45 a.m. You will be able to enjoy breathing in the pure air of nature while taking part in many of the outdoor activities Yamaska has to offer, including a visit to the Choinière reservoir and observing countless animal and plant species. The shuttle will then depart from Yamaska at 4 p.m. for a 5:30 p.m. arrival in Montreal.
Parc de la Gorge Coaticook
Dates: June 22, July 28, and September 15
Cost: $35.25 - $65.75
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour 15 minutes
Reason To Go: Departing from Montreal's Berri-UQAM central station at 8:00 a.m., guests will arrive at the Accueil du Camping in Coaticook at 10:15 a.m. From there, you will be able to enjoy much of what the Eastern Townships has to offer, including mountain biking, hiking, and walking across the stunning Coaticook Canyon Bridge, a suspension bridge that is 170 metres long and 50 metres high. You will then depart from the drop-off point in Coaticook at 5 p.m. for a 7:15 p.m. arrival in Montreal.
Oka
Dates: June 23, July 7 and 21, August 4, 10 and 25, September 8
Cost: $22.53 to $38.95
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour
Reason To Go: Departing from the central bus station at Berri-UQAM at 8:30 a.m., you can enjoy a day at Parc National d'Oka where you can visit the historical sites, including the Calvaire, and of course, the beach, which offer exceptional views of Lac des Deux Montagnes and the Adirondacks. You will then depart Oka at 4 p.m. for a 5:15 p.m. arrival in Montreal.
More about the day trip to Oka
Montebello
Date: June 8
Cost: $34 - $63.75
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour 30 minutes
Reason To Go: In partnership with Tourisme Outaouais and Parks Canada, Navette Nature will depart from Montreal's bus station at Berri-UQAM at 8:30 a.m. From here, you'll be transported to Montebello where you can enjoy the quaint town, visit the Manoir Papineau and stroll through the Village of Montebello. You will then depart Montebello at 4 p.m. for a 5:30 p.m. arrival time in Montreal.
Mont-Orford National Park
Dates: June 30, July 20, August 24, and September 29
Cost: $34 - $63.75
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour 30 minutes
Reason To Go: Guests will depart from Montreal's Berri-UQAM central station at 8:30 a.m. You will then arrive at the Le Bonnalie Discovery Centre at Mont-Orford at 10 a.m. The national park offers tons of activities and gorgeous views of surrounding nature, not to mention you can also spot loads of animal species including the white-tailed deer and the Great Blue Heron. Following your day at Mont-Orford, you will depart from the discovery centre at 5 p.m. for a 6:30 p.m. arrival in Montreal.
Mont-Tremblant
Dates: June 29 and September 1, 14 and 29
Cost: $35.25 - $65.75
Distance from Montreal: 2 hours 45 minutes
Reason To Go: Guests will depart from Berri-UQAM's central bus station at 8 a.m. You will then be dropped off at the Lake Monroe Discovery Centre. From here, you'll be able to venture throughout Mont-Tremblant, enjoying loads of outdoor activities including hiking, boating and biking. The shuttle bus will then depart Mont-Tremblant at 5 p.m. for a 7:45 p.m. arrival in Montreal.
Plaisance National Park
Dates: August 10
Cost: $30.13 - $60.25
Distance from Montreal: 2 hours 15 minutes
Reason To Go: Departing from Berri-UQAM at 8 a.m., guests will be dropped off at the Centre de découverte et de services. From here you can enjoy the pleasantness of Plaisance's landscape, which is made up of bays, ponds and marshes. During the spring and summertime, you can observe tons of ducks, herons, osprey, and dozens of other species too. For those looking for a calm and relaxing day, a walk along the Ottawa River is a must.
It's important to note that Navette Nature is still updating its summer destination list and more dates will become available in the coming weeks.
For more information on Navette Nature, feel free to visit their FAQ page here.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your trip.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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