Route 20 or 40 Quebec City?

miketoronto · #1 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 2:29 AM**

You guys know which route is better to drive from Montreal to Quebec City?
I would like to take Route 40 along the St Lawrence. But all the official tourist guides say to take route 20 along the south shore.

Is there a reason for this? Is the 40 not a real highway and just a regular road?

Any info would be good.

MonkeyRonin · #2 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 2:39 AM**

Well 20 = 401, so thats probably why they'd say that.. and just looking from Google maps, they appear to be the same size (2 lane each way near QC). so, you might as well take 40 if thats what you want, and if its too slow or whatever, you can always just cross the St. Lawrence.

malek · #3 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 2:54 AM**

the reason is that the 20 is shorter. There's also less cops

The 40 is a less boring drive and you get to pass thru Trois Riviere. If driving slowly at 100 is your thing then take the 40.

Presswood · #4 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 3:06 AM**

U get to pass on the pont pierre laporte bridge if u take the 20 , u get a nice view from there , its exciting !

Kilgore Trout · #5 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 4:01 AM**

definitely take the 20. it's faster and you get to cross over the jacques-cartier bridge when you leave montreal (spectacular view) and the pierre-laporte bridge when you enter quebec city (also spectacular).

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Well 20 = 401, so thats probably why they'd say that.. and just looking from Google maps, they appear to be the same size (2 lane each way near QC). so, you might as well take 40 if thats what you want, and if its too slow or whatever, you can always just cross the St. Lawrence.

not really feasible, unfortunately, since there is only one bridge over the st. lawrence between montreal and quebec city. also, since the highways are pretty far inland, switching sides would add another 30 minutes or more onto the trip: you have to pass through trois-rivères and then a bunch of winding country roads to get between the 20 and the 40.

MolsonExport · #6 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 2:20 PM**

Take the 40. It is newer, and in my view, more scenic (certainly more wilderness). The 20 to QC from Montreal is rather dull, except at each end-point (i.e., the Champlain/JC-Bridges and the P. Laporte Bridge)

PhilippeMtl · #7 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 4:40 PM**

If you take Hwy 20, you will have a great idea about what we call ''Quebec profond''.

Avoid ''Super Madrid Big Foot'', the only place I know where you can have poutine on a chinese buffet!

Martin Mtl · #8 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 8:48 PM**

The traffic is faster on the 20, but also denser. There are much more places to stop for food or gaz on the 20, than the 40 (long streches with nothing but pretty scenery - it's not bad either). Coming to Quebec City by the Pierre-Laporte bridge IS A MUST. Therefore, you don't have much choice: go for the 20.

bluenoser · #9 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 9:10 PM**

Hmm I just drove the 20 yesterday from Q.C. to Ontario. Pretty straightforward - not too much traffic but not a lot to see, either - other than the Pierre-Laporte with the old Quebec Bridge to the side. A must-see for any engineer with an interest in safety and history!

One noteable restaurant along the way had a huge sign advertising: "We Speak English!"

PhilippeMtl · #10 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenoser

Hmm I just drove the 20 yesterday from Q.C. to Ontario. Pretty straightforward - not too much traffic but not a lot to see, either - other than the Pierre-Laporte with the old Quebec Bridge to the side. A must-see for any engineer with an interest in safety and history!

One noteable restaurant along the way had a huge sign advertising: "We Speak English!"

Le Madrid Super Big Foot.

ArchiCAD · #11 Posted: **Jan 2, 2007, 9:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by miketoronto

You guys know which route is better to drive from Montreal to Quebec City?
I would like to take Route 40 along the St Lawrence. But all the official tourist guides say to take route 20 along the south shore.

Is there a reason for this? Is the 40 not a real highway and just a regular road?

Any info would be good.

20 and 40 are both Autoroutes.
Divided freeways.
Why would the 40 be a regular road?

Like questioning whether Interstate 5 is a country lane or a freeway.

habsfan · #12 Posted: **Jan 3, 2007, 2:23 AM**

i always take highway 20. It's faster!

miketoronto · #13 Posted: **Jan 3, 2007, 2:44 AM**

How much faster are we talking though?

Because the map thing says its only 15min faster

WHY-T · #14 Posted: **Jan 3, 2007, 8:17 AM**

We always took the 20 in all the times we visited QC, maybe I'm a bit biased since I live on the South Shore of Mtl already. It is an easy direct route through mostly farmlands and rural villages. There's also more services along the road.

I went by the 40 once, the travel time is about the same. However, you'll go through Trois-Rivieres, at which point there is a disjoint in the highway (a short junction/merge with the highway leading up to Laviolette Bridge) and you'll have to go through some on and off ramps before finding yourself back on the 40. Also, like others have said, it is mostly natural sceneries, forests,...

harls · #15 Posted: **Jan 3, 2007, 2:09 PM**

Funny, I just made this trip this weekend.. it's faster for me to take the 40 as my in-laws live in Ste-Foy about a kilometer from the highway. Depending on the time of day and if it's a holiday, taking the 20 means you might have to contend with bridge traffic...if highway 30 was built that wouldn't be an issue.

I agree that the Pierre Laporte bridge is definately a must see, though.

habsfan · #16 Posted: **Jan 3, 2007, 2:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by miketoronto

How much faster are we talking though?

Because the map thing says its only 15min faster

depending on how fast you dirve, i'd say anywhere between 15 and 25 minutes!

Martin Mtl · #17 Posted: **Jan 3, 2007, 3:40 PM**

I think coming from Toronto, 25 minutes shorter on the 20 is exagerated. It's really comparable. By the way, if you decide to take the 20, you should not cross the Ste-Lawrence on the bridges (even if crossing the jacque-Cartier bridge is an wonderful experience), which would force you to go through central Montreal. Instead, you just follow the metropolitain boulevard until the Hyppolyte-Lafontaine tunnel, which end up directly on the 20. You then just go full speed ahead toward Quebec. But don't miss the exit toward the tunnel at the Anjou inter-change... On your way back, I strongly suggest thet you enter Montreal through the Jacque-Cartier bridge, even if it forces you to go through downtown. It's worth it. Then it's very easy to take the Ville-Marie expressway toward the Decarie boulevard and then back on the 20. You can also timed your travel to stop downtown for a snack. It's very easy to go back on the Ville-Marie expressway from anywehere you are downtown (like going back on the Gardiner).

miketoronto · #18 Posted: **Jan 3, 2007, 4:37 PM**

Thanks for the info. We are actually staying an evening in Montreal before going on to Quebec City.

To be honest, if it were up to me, I would take VIA RAIL. At this time of the year, I would rather not be on the highways. But my friends want to save the 250 bucks it would cost for the train ticket. So what can I do.

icescraper · #19 Posted: **Jan 6, 2007, 12:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by miketoronto

Thanks for the info. We are actually staying an evening in Montreal before going on to Quebec City.

To be honest, if it were up to me, I would take VIA RAIL. At this time of the year, I would rather not be on the highways. But my friends want to save the 250 bucks it would cost for the train ticket. So what can I do.

Mike take the 40 if you care for scenary, 20 for speed. - ice