Eastern Townships Day Trip from Montréal: Drive, Towns and Plan
The Eastern Townships (Cantons-de-l'Est) are a car trip from Montréal. Pick the wine route, Magog or a town, and see when a day isn't enough and to stay over.
The Eastern Townships (Cantons-de-l’Est) work as a day trip if you drive and pick one area, not the whole region. Do the Brome-Missisquoi wine route with Knowlton, or Magog and Lac Memphrémagog with Mont-Orford, and leave the rest for another trip. Guides agree that a car is the way to do it. The bus reaches Magog and Sherbrooke, and after that you’re stuck without wheels. The region also doesn’t fit in one day, so five of the 17 guides read suggest staying over. Facts below come from the region’s tourism site, the operators and the towns, checked on 7 November 2026. Where an official page wouldn’t load, the fact is left out and said so.
Which version of the day suits you
| If you are | Plan | Car needed |
|---|---|---|
| Here for wine and autumn colour | Brome-Missisquoi wine route, lunch in Knowlton | Yes |
| Here for a lake day | Magog, Lac Memphrémagog, then Mont-Orford | Yes, or the bus to Magog and stay in town |
| Here to walk and eat in a village | Sutton or North Hatley, one village only | Yes |
| Without a car | Limocar bus to Magog, then stay in Magog | No, but you’ll cover little |
| Travelling with kids in winter | Check the zoo and ski resort dates first | Yes |
| Wanting to see three or more towns | Stay one night | Yes |
Each of these takes a long day. Brome Lake is about 75 minutes from Montréal according to its tourism office, and the other towns are farther along. For the other trips from the city, see best day trips from Montréal.
Getting there: a car, or the bus to Magog
Recommended by 6 of 17 guides read for the car, 3 of 17 for the bus.
The guides that take a position all say to drive. One puts it flatly: there’s no practical transit link between the wine route, Sutton, North Hatley and Magog. Another says the bus reaches Sherbrooke, but not the vineyards or the small towns. The ones that mention the bus add that getting between villages is hard without a car.
The bus that does exist is Limocar. Its express line runs Montréal to Sherbrooke with 12 buses a day, and its page says the trip takes about two hours. Stops include Bromont, Granby, Cowansville and Magog. The Magog stop is a Couche-Tard at highway exit 115, at 2911 chemin Milletta, so you’d be on the edge of town. Limocar’s timetable and fare pages didn’t load when this was checked, so the departure times and the fare weren’t confirmed. Check the Limocar rates page before you plan around it.
The region’s tourism site also lists a “nature shuttle” from Montréal to some parks (practical information). The Navette Nature page showed a 12 December outing for Montérégie-est and Cantons-de-l’Est, but gave no pickup point or price.
If you drive in winter, check road conditions first. The region’s tourism site points to the Québec 511 line and to The Weather Network for this.
The Brome-Missisquoi wine route
Recommended by 14 of 17 guides read.
The Route des vins de Brome-Missisquoi is the most common pick. The region’s tourism site describes it as 160 km with 24 stops and 25 winemakers, driven or cycled, and says it holds 60% of Québec’s wine production. It also says autumn events run along the route. Each estate sets its own opening days, and the guides that give a pace say to plan three or four tastings.
The route is a loop around Dunham and the villages near it, so it pairs well with Knowlton. Guides suggest a designated driver, or a van tour from Magog or Knowlton if you’d rather taste without worrying. The route’s page lists estates in Saint-Armand, Dunham, Frelighsburg, Cowansville, Brigham, Shefford, Lac-Brome (Knowlton) and West Brome, so pick two or three in the same area and don’t zigzag.
Autumn colours and harvest
Recommended by 10 of 17 guides read.
Autumn is the season the guides push hardest. The harvest, new ciders and the colour all land in the same weeks on the wine route, and the roads and restaurants fill up. The region’s tourism site keeps a colour map with stages from “Beginning Soon” to “End”. It doesn’t give peak dates, so check the map for the week you’re going. Guides put the peak between late September and mid-October, and one says to book rooms two to three months ahead for October weekends.
It’s early November now, so the colours are over for this year. The village outings and wine route still work, but the estates and shops keep shorter hours, so call ahead.
Sutton and Mont Sutton
Recommended by 10 of 17 guides read.
Sutton is the hiking and skiing town. Tourism Eastern Townships calls it a mountain village in the Brome-Missisquoi area, with a four-season trail network and heritage tours you can download to follow on your own. Mont Sutton runs downhill skiing in winter, and in summer it lists mountain biking, zip lines and a chairlift ride. Several guides describe the village itself as small, with galleries and cafés.
The region’s tourism site also lists a Sutton Saturday market. Its season and hours weren’t confirmed, so check before you go.
Magog and Lac Memphrémagog
Recommended by 9 of 17 guides read.
Magog and Lac Memphrémagog is the lake day. Guides describe a lakeside walk, a beach, boat and kayak rentals and a pedestrian main street with restaurants. The Tourisme Memphrémagog list includes lake cruises, the Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Mont-Orford National Park activities and a downtown parking lot, so you can park once.
Magog is also where the Limocar bus stops, which makes it the base for a car-free day. It’s the option that holds up best in summer, when the lake is the reason to come.
North Hatley and Lac Massawippi
Recommended by 8 of 17 guides read.
North Hatley sits at the north end of Lake Massawippi. Tourism Eastern Townships calls it one of the most beautiful small towns in Québec, says it was founded in 1897, and describes century-old houses turned into inns, B&Bs and restaurants, plus galleries, antique shops and boutiques. It lists a village beach, the Plesant View beach.
The guides that name it also name Manoir Hovey, the lakeside inn. Book a table ahead if you want lunch there, since guides say the village’s restaurants take reservations. Guides that give a plan group it with Magog and Mont-Orford, not with the wine route.
Parc national du Mont-Orford
Recommended by 8 of 17 guides read.
Parc national du Mont-Orford is the hiking choice. Guides mention the summit trail, the lake sectors and a ski area in winter, and say it sits close to Magog. It’s run by Sépaq, which sets the entry fee and sector hours. Sépaq’s park page wouldn’t load when this was checked, so the fee and the hours aren’t stated here. Check it for the day you go.
Ski Mont-Orford, the resort next to the park, says it closed for 2025-26 on 16 April 2026 and has 2026-27 passes on sale. It gave no opening date and no summer hiking date yet.
Winter skiing
Recommended by 8 of 17 guides read.
Winter is a ski day at Mont Sutton, Mont-Orford, Bromont or Owl’s Head, depending on the guide. Mont Sutton’s own page lists 2026-27 season passes. In winter the drive is long and the daylight short, so a full day on snow means leaving early. Neither opening date was stated on the pages read, so look at the resorts’ snow reports first.
Knowlton and Brome Lake
Recommended by 5 of 17 guides read.
Knowlton is the village on Brome Lake (Lac-Brome). Tourism Eastern Townships describes a Victorian village with Loyalist roots, antique shops, the Lac-Brome Museum, and Auberge Knowlton, which it says has run since 1849. It’s the usual lunch stop between the vineyards and Magog in the guides that give a plan.
Recommended by 2 of 17 guides read.
The ducks have a farm. Canards du Lac Brome, at 40 chemin du Centre, says it has raised Peking duck since 1912. It has a boutique, weekend tastings and an interpretation centre. The page doesn’t give hours or seasons, so call 450-242-3825 first.
Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac
Recommended by 4 of 17 guides read.
The Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac is a Benedictine monastery on Lac Memphrémagog, and the guides who name it point to the cheese, cider and fruit spreads in its shop. Tourisme Memphrémagog lists it among the area’s attractions. It’s a working monastery, so check the abbey’s own page for visiting hours before you go.
Granby Zoo and other detours
Recommended by 1 of 17 guides read.
Only one guide names the Zoo de Granby, so it isn’t a core stop. The zoo’s home page said, on 5 November, that the Animal Park was closed and that the zoo would reopen for winter on 26 December. Ticket prices weren’t shown on the pages read, so check its rates page.
The Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook comes up in 1 of 17 guides and is farther from the other stops, so it suits a separate trip.
A realistic one-day route
None of the 17 guides give a timed plan that covers more than one area, and the sources don’t give drive times between the towns. So build the day around one area and check a map for the legs.
For the wine route day, aim to leave Montréal early. Take the Brome-Missisquoi route around Dunham, stop at two or three estates, have lunch in Knowlton, and finish with a walk in Knowlton or Sutton before the drive back. The order guides use runs from the wine route to Knowlton to Magog, but that stretches the day. Skip Magog unless you’re staying over.
For the lake day, drive to Magog, walk the lakefront, then head to Mont-Orford for a hike if the season suits. Add the abbey or North Hatley only if you’ve left room, and not both.
On the drive back, expect heavier traffic on October weekends. The guides that mention it say to plan for it.
When to stay overnight
Recommended by 5 of 17 guides read.
Stay a night if you want more than one area, or if you’d rather taste wine without driving after dark. The guides that say so put the sweet spot at two to three days, with Sutton, North Hatley, Knowlton and Magog named as bases. The region’s own site lists hotels and country inns, B&Bs, cottages, campgrounds and spa lodgings across its nine areas, so pick the type to match the trip. Book early for October weekends.
What’s on while you’re there
For events back in the city on the day you return, see the events calendar or events in Montréal in November 2026. The map shows Magog, Mont-Orford, the wine route and the abbey. If you’re weighing other trips, day trips from Montréal compares them, and the Mont-Tremblant, Quebec City and Ottawa guides cover the longer ones. Montréal weather by month helps with timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you do the Eastern Townships as a day trip from Montréal?
Yes, if you drive and stick to one area. Brome Lake is about 75 minutes from Montréal according to its tourism office, and the other towns are farther. Five of the 17 guides read suggest a night or more.
Do you need a car for the Eastern Townships?
Yes, for anything beyond one town. Limocar runs buses from Montréal to Sherbrooke, with a stop at Magog, in about two hours. The guides say there’s no practical transit between the wine route, Sutton, North Hatley and Magog.
What is the best town for a day trip in the Eastern Townships?
Magog is the base for a lake day, and the guides name Sutton and North Hatley for a village visit. Magog was named by 9 of 17 guides, Sutton by 10 and North Hatley by 8. Pick one, since they’re not close to each other.
Is the Brome-Missisquoi wine route worth a day trip?
Most guides say yes, and 14 of 17 name it. The route’s tourism page describes 160 km, 24 stops and 25 winemakers, and each estate sets its own opening days. Bring a designated driver or book a van tour.
When is the best time to visit the Eastern Townships?
Autumn, for 10 of the 17 guides, because the colours and the harvest overlap. Check the region’s colour map for the week you go. Winter works for skiing and summer for the lakes.
Is Granby Zoo open in winter?
The zoo said on 5 November that it would reopen for winter on 26 December. Check its schedule page for the hours, since the ticket prices weren’t shown on the pages read.
Sources: 17 guides in English and French, and 15 official pages
Guides in English
- Best day trips from MontrealTime Out Montréal
- Quebec's Eastern TownshipsMust Do Canada
- 4 delightful day trips from MontréalTourisme Montréal
- Montreal to the Eastern TownshipsCanada Spirit
- 10 must-see places to visit in the Eastern TownshipsAuthentik Canada
- Hit the road to the Eastern TownshipsVacay.ca
- Quebec's Eastern Townships road tripAARP
- Fall road trips from Montreal to small townsMTL Blog
- Day trips from MontrealAir Canada Vacations
- Eastern TownshipsWikivoyage
- 6 delightful day trips from MontréalLonely Planet
- Things to do in Quebec's Eastern TownshipsDrink Tea Travel
- Guide to the Eastern TownshipsDestination Canada
- Eastern Townships weekend itineraryCanada Spirit
- Eastern Townships guideNina Out and About
- 9 wineries less than 2 hours from MontrealMTL Blog
Guides in French
Official pages
- Route des vins Brome-Missisquoi, Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Estcantonsdelest.com
- Practical information, Tourism Eastern Townshipseasterntownships.org
- Limocar network and schedulelimocar.ca
- Limocar rateslimocar.ca
- Navette Naturenavettenature.com
- Tourisme Lac-Brome, the town's charmtourismelacbrome.com
- Canards du Lac Brome, Tourism Eastern Townshipseasterntownships.org
- Lac-Brome (Knowlton), Tourism Eastern Townshipseasterntownships.org
- North Hatley, Tourism Eastern Townshipseasterntownships.org
- Sutton, Tourism Eastern Townshipseasterntownships.org
- Tourisme Memphrémagog, what to dotourisme-memphremagog.com
- Fall colours evolution, Tourism Eastern Townshipseasterntownships.org
- Mont Suttonmontsutton.com
- Ski Mont-Orfordmontorford.com
- Zoo de Granbyzoodegranby.com
Find hotels in Eastern Townships
Browse live availability and compare prices for your dates.
See hotels near Eastern Townships on Booking.comPrices are for the night of Saturday 14 November. You can change the dates on Booking.com. If you book, Roam Montréal earns a small commission from Stay22 at no extra cost to you.