In short. The Gaspé loop follows Route 132 for 885 km around the peninsula. Allow 7 to 10 days, go from mid-June to mid-September, book Forillon, Percé, and Gaspé campsites early, fill up where there are services, and plan for hills, tight corners, and wind. Dogs are not allowed on Bonaventure Island.
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Route at a glance
The Gaspé region begins at Sainte-Flavie, where Route 132 splits in two, or at Mont-Joli via Autoroute 20. From Québec City, Sainte-Flavie is about 500 km (around five hours). Tourisme Gaspésie measures the loop with the north coast first, so the distances below follow that direction.
| Stop (north coast first) | Kilometres from Sainte-Flavie |
|---|---|
| Matane | 63 |
| Sainte-Anne-des-Monts | 150 |
| Cap-des-Rosiers (Forillon, north area) | 347 |
| Gaspé | 388 |
| Percé | 475 |
| Bonaventure | 603 |
| Carleton-sur-Mer | 664 |
| Matapédia | 735 |
| Back at Sainte-Flavie | 885 |
Several roads cut across the interior: Route 299 from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to New Richmond (145 km, through Parc national de la Gaspésie), Route 198 from L'Anse-Pleureuse to Gaspé (about 133 km), Route 195 from Matane to Amqui (57 km), and Route 197 between Rivière-au-Renard and Gaspé. They save time, but they skip the coast, they are hilly, and moose can be on the road at dawn and dusk.
Which direction should you drive it?
Either way works, and Tourisme Gaspésie says you can admire magnificent views on both sides of the road. A few practical points:
- North coast first (via Matane and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts) is the direction the official distance table uses. You reach Forillon first. The sea is then on your left, so viewpoints are across the oncoming lane.
- Chaleur Bay first (via the Matapédia Valley) reaches Percé first and finishes on the north coast with the sea on your right. In our view this makes it easier to pull over at viewpoints in a long vehicle, since you do not cross traffic. This is our judgment, not an official recommendation.
- Arriving from New Brunswick? You can join the loop at Matapédia, near Campbellton, which makes Chaleur Bay first the natural choice.
Whichever you pick, book your campsites in the order you will arrive. Percé, Forillon, and Gaspé are the hardest to book in summer, so fix those dates first.
Suggested 8-day itinerary
This plan goes north coast first from Sainte-Flavie. Distances come from Tourisme Gaspésie's table, and side trips are extra.
| Day | Route | Distance | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sainte-Flavie to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts | 150 km | Reford Gardens at Grand-Métis, Matane, the coast road |
| 2 | Parc national de la Gaspésie (side trip) | about 80 km return | Route 299 south, about 40 km each way to the Mont-Albert area, with hiking |
| 3 | Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to Forillon (north area) | 197 km | Lighthouses, cliffs, Cap-des-Rosiers |
| 4 | Forillon National Park | Local | Hikes, Cap-Gaspé, whale and seal cruises |
| 5 | Forillon to Percé, via Gaspé | about 128 km | Musée de la Gaspésie, first views of Percé Rock |
| 6 | Percé and Bonaventure Island | Local | Gannet colony, Percé Rock, the geopark |
| 7 | Percé to Carleton-sur-Mer | 189 km | Bonaventure, Chaleur Bay, optional Miguasha |
| 8 | Carleton-sur-Mer to Sainte-Flavie | 221 km | Matapédia Valley. Québec City is a further 500 km |
Shorter or longer
- 5 days: skip the Parc national de la Gaspésie side trip, spend one night at Forillon, and combine Percé and Bonaventure Island into one busy day.
- 10 days: add a day in Parc national de la Gaspésie, a second night at Forillon, and extra time at Percé for hiking.
RV considerations
Hills, corners, and wind
Route 132 follows the water and crosses headlands, with grades and tight corners in places. RV rental operators warn of strong west winds on the Gulf coast, steep grades near Cap-des-Rosiers, and tight corners around Percé. Use lower gears on descents, secure everything inside, and give yourself slow driving time. A smaller rig is easier on a first trip.
Size and parking
Percé and the small harbour villages have limited parking for long vehicles. Park at your campground when you can, and walk or shuttle in. Ask each campground for the maximum length it takes, including at Forillon, where some visitors report that sites suit smaller rigs better.
Fuel and services
Tourisme Gaspésie lists "Village-Relais" municipalities, which offer gas stations, garages, lodging, and restaurants, as good places to stop year-round. Travel planners note that fuel stations become fewer after Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and can close early in the shoulder seasons. Fill up in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Gaspé, and Percé, and do not let the tank drop below half on the north coast. Our fuel planner shows how to check your range.
Wildlife on the road
Moose are a hazard on interior roads and on Route 132 at dusk and dawn. Plan to be off interior roads by dusk.
Language
French is the main language. Signs, menus, and many services are in French, though many tourism sites offer English. Percé's national park, for example, says it can serve you in English.
Pets
Dogs are allowed in all Quebec national parks except Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, where only service dogs are permitted. Forillon is run by Parks Canada and allows leashed pets in its campgrounds, but confirm the current rules before you travel.
Weather
Coastal weather can change quickly, and fog is possible on the Gulf. Pack layers even in summer.
If you continue to Montréal or Québec City afterward, check the tunnel rules for RVs with propane in our propane guide.
Campgrounds and parks along the route
You will find national and provincial park campgrounds and many private RV parks along the loop. The details below come from the park operators. Sites, hookups, and size limits change, so confirm and book directly.
| Park or area | Where on the loop | Operator | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parc national du Bic | Near Rimouski, before the loop begins | Sépaq | Offers camping and ready-to-camp units. A pleasant first or last night. |
| Parc national de la Gaspésie | Route 299, about 40 km south of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts | Sépaq | Several camping sectors. One sector has unserviced sites for large recreational vehicles, and some sites elsewhere have electricity or water. A dump station is listed. 2026 camping dates were May 16 to October 12. |
| Forillon National Park (Petit-Gaspé in the south, Des-Rosiers in the north) | The tip of the peninsula, at Gaspé | Parks Canada | Tent and RV sites, some with electricity. Parks Canada lists 346 sites with some hookups across three areas. Cap-Bon-Ami is for tents only. The season runs late May to mid-October, and reservations open in the winter. |
| Private campgrounds and RV parks | Throughout, especially around Percé, Gaspé, Bonaventure, and Carleton-sur-Mer | Private | Plentiful, but they fill in July and August. Tourisme Gaspésie lists them, and private RV parks along this route will be listed in our services directory as it grows. |
Some travel planners suggest reserving Percé and Gaspé accommodation two to three months ahead for summer.
Top things to do
Sainte-Flavie to Matane
- Reford Gardens at Grand-Métis, about 50 km west of Matane, combine gardens, history, and culture.
- Réserve faunique de Matane offers guided moose and black bear watching.
Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and Parc national de la Gaspésie
- Exploramer in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is a marine centre about the St. Lawrence.
- Hiking in Parc national de la Gaspésie, which has 25 peaks over 1,000 m and about 140 km of trails. Mont Jacques-Cartier is important caribou habitat, and access to its trail is regulated, so check the rules first.
- Lighthouse to lighthouse along the north coast, where the road squeezes between mountains and sea.
Forillon National Park and Gaspé
- Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse, reported as Canada's tallest.
- Cliffs, trails, seals, and whale watching at the eastern tip, including cruises on Gaspé Bay.
- Gaspé's history. It is where Jacques Cartier first claimed the land for France in 1534, and the Musée de la Gaspésie at Pointe Jacques-Cartier tells the story.
Percé and Bonaventure Island
- Percé Rock is the region's icon. Walking to or around the rock is forbidden, so enjoy it from the village and the viewpoints.
- Bonaventure Island has a northern gannet colony of about 110,000 birds, described by Sépaq as the most accessible in the world, and about 15 km of trails. You can only reach it by boat from the Percé wharf. Boat tickets are sold at kiosks in Percé, and park access is bought separately. Daily visitor numbers are limited, so Sépaq recommends buying access online.
- The Percé UNESCO Global Geopark has a suspended glass platform about 200 m up with a view of Percé Rock.
Chaleur Bay and the Matapédia Valley
- Chaleur Bay is a member of the "Most Beautiful Bays in the World" club, with warm beaches and villages from Bonaventure to Carleton-sur-Mer.
- Miguasha is a UNESCO World Heritage fossil site with 380-million-year-old fish and plants.
- The Matapédia Valley road back to Sainte-Flavie follows a river through forested hills.
When to go
Rental operators call mid-June to mid-September the sweet spot. Roads stay open year-round, but park services and many businesses are seasonal. In 2026, Forillon's campgrounds opened from late May to mid-October (opening dates varied), Parc national de la Gaspésie's camping ran from May 16 to October 12, and the Percé and Bonaventure Island park ran from May 31 to October 12, with high season from June 14 to September 19. Dates change each year, so check the operators for the year you travel. In the shoulder seasons, expect some closures and earlier closing times at fuel stations and restaurants.
Combine it with other trips
- Bas-Saint-Laurent and Rivière-du-Loup is the natural approach drive on the south shore of the St. Lawrence.
- The Côte-Nord can be reached by the Matane to Baie-Comeau ferry run by the Société des traversiers du Québec. Check schedules and reserve.
- The Trans-Canada, Winnipeg to Halifax passes Rivière-du-Loup, which is a short drive from the start of the Gaspé loop.
- Entering from New Brunswick? Join the loop at Matapédia.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Gaspé loop take?
The loop is 885 km. Most travellers allow 7 to 10 days. Five days is possible but rushed.
Which direction is better?
Either works. Tourisme Gaspésie measures the loop north coast first. In our view, going Chaleur Bay first puts the sea on your right, which makes viewpoint pull-offs easier in an RV.
Can a big RV do the Gaspé loop?
Route 132 is paved and RVs drive it every summer. The challenges are grades, tight corners, wind, and limited parking in villages and at some park campsites. Check campground length limits before you book.
Where can I camp?
Forillon National Park (Parks Canada), Parc national de la Gaspésie and Parc national du Bic (Sépaq), and many private campgrounds and RV parks along the route.
Do I need reservations?
In July and August, yes, for park campgrounds and for private parks, and book Percé, Forillon, and Gaspé first. For Bonaventure Island, buy your park access online because daily numbers are limited. Boat tickets are sold at kiosks in Percé.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are allowed in all Quebec national parks except Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé. Confirm the current rules for each park.
Is fuel hard to find?
Services are regular in towns, but stations are fewer along the north coast after Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and some close early in shoulder seasons. Fill up in larger towns.
Sources
Distances, dates, and park details come from these official and operator sources. Season dates and fees change, so confirm with them before you go. Last checked October 1, 2026.
- Tourisme Gaspésie: distances on Route 132
- Tourisme Gaspésie: tips and tricks
- Parks Canada: Forillon National Park
- Parks Canada: camping reservations
- Sépaq: Quebec's national parks
- Tourisme Gaspésie: Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé
- Québec maritime: Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie tour
- Société des traversiers du Québec
- Québec 511 road conditions