First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
Hiring a campervan in Laval means setting off from the north shore of Montreal, on Île Jésus, with the Laurentians, Lanaudière and La Mauricie straight ahead. Highway 15 runs towards Saint-Sauveur and Mont-Tremblant, Highway 25 towards Joliette and the lakes of Matawinie, and Highway 40 follows the north shore of the St. Lawrence to Trois-Rivières. Quebec's third-largest city, Laval is the last big urban stop before the forests and lakes of the north.
Our partner companies have no depot in Laval itself: vehicles are picked up in the Montreal region, at CanaDream in Mirabel and Cruise Canada in Saint-Eustache, just north-west of Laval, or at Fraserway in Saint-Hubert, on the south shore.
Rental companies near Laval
No branch in Laval: these companies have a branch within 100 km.
Road trips from Laval
1 The Laurentians, from Saint-Sauveur to Mont-Tremblant
- Laval
- Saint-Jérôme
- Saint-Sauveur
- Val-David
- Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
- Mont-Tremblant
- Laval
Highway 15 climbs to Saint-Sauveur, its ski slopes and shops, then Route 117 follows the P'tit Train du Nord, a former railway turned cycle path, through Val-David and its artists' studios to Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts and Lac des Sables. Mont-Tremblant has its pedestrian village at the foot of the slopes and, further north, its national park, where the La Diable sector lines up lakes, waterfalls and campgrounds.
Bring bikes: the trail can be ridden in sections between two stops.
- Distance
- about 300 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
2 Lanaudière, from Joliette to Lac Taureau
- Laval
- Terrebonne
- Rawdon
- Joliette
- Saint-Jean-de-Matha
- Saint-Michel-des-Saints
- Laval
East of Laval, Terrebonne preserves the mills of Île-des-Moulins, followed by Rawdon and Dorwin Falls, Joliette and its summer classical music festival, and the Monte-à-Peine-et-des-Dalles falls near Saint-Jean-de-Matha. Route 131 then climbs into Matawinie, a land of forests and lakes, to the Taureau reservoir and its sandy beaches at Saint-Michel-des-Saints.
Beyond that, forest roads are gravel: check in the contract whether they are allowed.
- Distance
- about 400 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or compact motorhome
3 The Chemin du Roy and La Mauricie National Park
- Laval
- Berthierville
- Trois-Rivières
- Shawinigan
- La Mauricie National Park
- Saint-Élie-de-Caxton
- Laval
Route 138, the Chemin du Roy, runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence through Berthierville and the islands of Lac Saint-Pierre to Trois-Rivières, one of the oldest French-speaking cities in North America, and its old quarter on the riverbank. Shawinigan and its Cité de l'énergie come before La Mauricie National Park, where a scenic parkway winds above Lac Wapizagonke between lookouts and equipped campgrounds. Return via Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, a village of storytellers.
- Distance
- about 450 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Camper van or low-profile motorhome
When to go in Laval?
May, June and September
The best months to leave from Laval: mild days, open campgrounds and clear roads up north. In May and June, black flies can be a nuisance in the forest, especially in the Laurentians and La Mauricie: bring screens and repellent. September, the driest month of the year, heralds the first autumn colours.
July and August
Quebec's peak season: heat, long days and lakes warm enough to swim in, but also thunderstorms that make August the wettest month. The two weeks of the construction holiday, at the end of July, fill campgrounds and national parks: book your vehicle and pitches well in advance.
April, October and November
Transitional seasons, cool and rainy. In early October, the maples of the Laurentians and La Mauricie turn red and orange: a lovely time to travel, with nights close to freezing. Many campgrounds close after Thanksgiving in mid-October and reopen in May; in April, the thaw makes forest roads muddy.
December to March
Winter is long and snowy, with lows below -10 °C in January and February. Winter tyres are compulsory in Quebec from December to mid-March, almost all campgrounds are closed and water freezes in the tanks: the season suits skiing in Saint-Sauveur or Tremblant far better than a motorhome trip.
Climate in Laval, month by month
Most pleasant months: May, September.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -4 °C | -13 °C | 78 mm | 5 h/day |
| Feb | -2 °C | -13 °C | 80 mm | 6 h/day |
| Mar | 4 °C | -6 °C | 85 mm | 8 h/day |
| Apr | 11 °C | 0 °C | 115 mm | 8 h/day |
| May | 19 °C | 8 °C | 83 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jun | 24 °C | 14 °C | 114 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jul | 27 °C | 18 °C | 100 mm | 12 h/day |
| Aug | 25 °C | 17 °C | 123 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 22 °C | 12 °C | 70 mm | 10 h/day |
| Oct | 15 °C | 6 °C | 121 mm | 7 h/day |
| Nov | 6 °C | -2 °C | 87 mm | 5 h/day |
| Dec | -1 °C | -9 °C | 89 mm | 4 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Everything to know before hitting the road
Pick-up in Mirabel, Saint-Eustache or Saint-Hubert
No partner company has a depot in Laval: choose Montreal as your departure city in the search. CanaDream in Mirabel and Cruise Canada in Saint-Eustache are fifteen to thirty minutes from Laval via Highways 13, 15 and 640, already on the road to the Laurentians; Fraserway, in Saint-Hubert on the south shore, means crossing the island of Montreal and the St. Lawrence. The exact address is in your confirmation.
Île Jésus bridges and the Highway 25 toll
Laval is an island: you get on and off it via bridges over the Rivière des Prairies and the Rivière des Mille Îles, often jammed at rush hour, especially on Highways 15 and 13. The Highway 25 bridge, towards eastern Montreal, has a barrier-free electronic toll billed by licence plate: ask the rental company how it recharges this crossing.
Right turn on red
In Quebec, turning right on a red light is allowed after a full stop unless a sign says otherwise, but it remains prohibited on the whole island of Montreal. From the Saint-Hubert depot, the road to Laval crosses the island: wait for the green light at every junction there; in Laval, Mirabel or Saint-Eustache, the general rule applies.
Stocking up before heading north
Along Highways 15 and 440, Laval has plenty of large supermarkets, outdoor stores and petrol stations: this is the place to fill the fridge, buy any camping gear you forgot and fill the tank before the Laurentians. Beyond Mont-Tremblant and in Matawinie, shops become scarcer and close earlier.
Your questions about a road trip in Laval
How much does it cost to hire a campervan from Laval?
The price depends on the season, the length of hire, the depot and the vehicle, from a van for two to a large family motorhome, and rises sharply during the summer holidays. Run a search with your dates, choosing Montreal as the departure city: you will see the actual rates of the depots in Mirabel, Saint-Eustache and Saint-Hubert, mandatory fees included, bookable straight away.
How long does it take to drive from Laval to Mont-Tremblant?
Allow about 120 km and a little over an hour and a half via Highway 15 then Route 117, longer on summer Friday evenings and ski weekends, when Montrealers head north. The entrance to Mont-Tremblant National Park, La Diable sector, is another half-hour drive from the village.
Can I do a one-way trip to Toronto or Halifax?
Toronto, 493 km as the crow flies, can be reached in a long day via Highway 20 then Highway 401 along Lake Ontario; Halifax, 803 km as the crow flies, takes several stages through the Lower St. Lawrence and New Brunswick. Both are departure cities of our partner companies. One-way fees may apply: they are included in the price if you enter the return city.
Can I drive to the United States with a campervan hired near Laval?
The Vermont and New York State border is about an hour's drive south of Laval via Highway 15. Some rental companies allow the crossing, sometimes for a surcharge, others forbid it: check the conditions of the offer. You will also need the entry documents required by the United States for your nationality, and should expect food checks at customs.
Can I drive up to Quebec City and Charlevoix?
Yes: Quebec City is about 250 km from Laval via Highway 40, on the north shore of the river, and Charlevoix starts an hour further on, with its steep roads above the St. Lawrence. In a week, the loop can take in La Mauricie on the way out; keep at least two nights to explore Old Quebec without rushing.
They rented in Laval with CoolDrive Nomad
Very good customer experience with Cooldrive. I highly recommend it! Thanks to the team who were attentive and available for organizing my trip to Canada.
Great experience with Cooldrive. I highly recommend it 100%. Reliable, attentive, available, responsive. Thanks to Marléne for her support.
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Laval, Quebec
What licence do I need to drive a motorhome in Quebec?
A valid driving licence issued in your country is enough for a tourist stay in Quebec, for passenger cars as well as most hired motorhomes. If it is written in neither French nor English, carry an international driving permit with it. Each rental company also sets a minimum age and a minimum number of years holding a licence, stated in the conditions of the offer.
Where can I sleep in a motorhome around Laval?
Private campgrounds are concentrated on the North Shore, in the Lower Laurentians and southern Lanaudière, less than an hour from Laval; further north, the Sépaq and Parks Canada national parks offer pitches in the heart of nature, bookable online. In towns, overnight parking is regulated by each municipality: check before you stop.
How do I get to the depots from Montréal-Trudeau Airport?
There is no depot at Montréal-Trudeau Airport, in Dorval. Allow thirty to forty-five minutes by taxi, outside rush hour, to Saint-Eustache or Mirabel via Highways 13 and 640, a little longer to Saint-Hubert. Let the rental company know your arrival time. If you spend your first night in Laval, the orange metro line links it to downtown Montreal.
Are road signs in French?
Yes, Quebec's road signs are in French: "Arrêt" for stop, "Sortie" for exit, "Est" and "Ouest" or "Nord" and "Sud" for the direction of highways. Distances and speeds are in kilometres. On Highway 15, each exit number matches the kilometre marker, which helps you spot Saint-Sauveur or Sainte-Adèle.
Which vehicle should I choose for the Laurentians and La Mauricie?
The main roads are paved and suitable for vehicles of all sizes, including Highway 15 and the scenic parkway in La Mauricie park. A campervan or converted van is easier to park in Saint-Sauveur or near Tremblant's pedestrian village; a family motorhome brings a shower, space and comfort for long stages and rainy days.
How should I store food in the northern parks?
Black bears live in the forests of the Laurentians, Lanaudière and La Mauricie. At the campground, keep food, cooler and rubbish inside the locked vehicle, never under the awning or on the picnic table, and put your waste in the containers provided. A motorhome offers far better protection than a tent: one of its great advantages in national parks.
Why start a motorhome trip from Laval
Laval is the northern gateway to Greater Montreal: within an hour you leave bridges and highways behind for the lakes of the Laurentians; within two, you reach La Mauricie or the heart of Lanaudière. Few large North American cities have so many forests, rivers and national parks on their doorstep, with well-equipped campgrounds and French-speaking villages where it is a pleasure to stop for poutine or maple syrup.
Departure is from the depots in the Montreal region, including CanaDream in Mirabel and Cruise Canada in Saint-Eustache, a stone's throw from Laval and already on the road north. May, June and September are the most pleasant months, summer the liveliest. And for a long journey, Toronto, Halifax and even Edmonton, almost 3,000 km away as the crow flies, are other departure cities of our partners, reachable one way.