Montreal to Mont-Tremblant

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

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Mont-Tremblant, the Laurentians resort town built around Quebec's highest peak in the region, is a popular year-round escape from Montreal — a ski destination in winter, a hiking and lake resort in summer. There is no train, but a scheduled coach, seasonal shuttle buses and simply driving all cover the roughly two-hour journey comfortably.

No train to Mont-Tremblant

The Laurentians once had a passenger railway running north from Montreal, but it closed decades ago and its former corridor is now Le P'tit Train du Nord, a long-distance cycling and walking trail rather than an active line — a scenic way to experience the route under your own power, but not a transport option for getting there with luggage. For practical purposes, this is a road-only journey: coach, shuttle or car.

The scheduled option: the coach

Regional operator Autobus Galland runs scheduled coach services from Montreal's central bus terminal, the Gare d'autocars de Montréal, north into the Laurentians, with stops serving the Mont-Tremblant area. The journey takes around 2–2.5 hours depending on the exact stop and road conditions, and is a straightforward, affordable option for travellers without a car. Fares are modest by North American standards, and while advance booking is not essential outside peak ski weekends, it is sensible to check the current timetable carefully, since frequency drops outside the main tourist seasons. If you are arriving from overseas, our Montreal airport to the city guide covers getting from Trudeau Airport into downtown before you head to the bus terminal.

Seasonal ski shuttles

During the winter ski season, dedicated shuttle services run more directly from Montreal to the Mont-Tremblant resort village, often timed around lift opening and closing hours and sometimes bookable as part of a ski package alongside lift tickets and accommodation. These tend to be more convenient than the scheduled coach for skiers heading straight to the slopes, though they typically only operate during the winter months — outside ski season, the regular Galland coach or driving are the realistic options.

Driving yourself

Self-driving is the most flexible way to make the trip and a popular choice, particularly for families or groups splitting the cost of a rental car. The route follows Autoroute 15 north from Montreal before joining Route 117 into the resort area, covering around 130–140 km in roughly 1.5–2 hours under normal conditions. Winter driving adds real complexity: snow and ice are common on the approach roads through the ski season, and traffic on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons during peak winter weekends can add significantly to the journey time as Montrealers head to and from the resort. See our guide to driving in Canada for winter driving conditions and general road tips.

Cycling Le P'tit Train du Nord

For a genuinely different way to experience the old rail corridor, Le P'tit Train du Nord linear park follows the former railway bed for roughly 230 km through the Laurentians, largely flat and well maintained, with old station buildings converted into cafés and rest stops along the way. Cyclists sometimes combine this with the Galland coach or a car, riding one direction and taking motorised transport back, or tackling a shorter section near Mont-Tremblant itself as a half-day outing rather than the full multi-day trail. It's a reminder that the old railway, while gone as transport, still shapes how visitors move through this part of Quebec.

Which should you choose?

For visitors without a car, the Galland coach is the simplest year-round option, while a seasonal ski shuttle is worth checking for winter trips timed around the slopes. Choose driving yourself if you want the flexibility to explore the wider Laurentians, are travelling as a group, or plan to combine Mont-Tremblant with other stops such as Quebec City further along your trip. Just budget extra time for winter road conditions rather than assuming summer driving times apply.

What to expect at the resort

Mont-Tremblant's pedestrian resort village, built in a colourful, vaguely European style around the base of the mountain, is walkable and largely car-free once you arrive, with a gondola and chairlifts serving the ski runs in winter and mountain-bike trails and hiking in summer. Beyond the resort itself, Lac Tremblant and the surrounding Laurentian lakes are popular for swimming, kayaking and simply relaxing in the warmer months, and the wider region is dotted with smaller villages worth a detour if you have a car. Parking at the resort can be costly and fills on peak weekends, which is one reason many winter visitors without their own car prefer the coach or a ski shuttle over driving.

Practical tips

• Book ski shuttles and lift tickets together where possible during peak winter weekends, when both can sell out.
• If driving in winter, check current road conditions before setting out — Quebec's Autoroute 15 corridor is well maintained but can still see heavy snowfall.
• In summer, an early departure avoids the worst of weekend lake traffic on Route 117.
• The resort village is compact enough to manage without a car once you have arrived, even if you drove up.

Combining it with other Quebec trips

Mont-Tremblant pairs naturally with a wider Quebec itinerary — see our guides to Montreal to Quebec City and Montreal to Ottawa for other directions from the city, or our Canada by train guide if you are using VIA Rail elsewhere on your trip, since the Laurentians corridor itself is road-only.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a train from Montreal to Mont-Tremblant?

No. The old Laurentians railway closed decades ago and its route is now a cycling trail, Le P'tit Train du Nord. The journey today is by coach, shuttle or car.

How long does it take to get from Montreal to Mont-Tremblant?

Around 2–2.5 hours by coach, or roughly 1.5–2 hours driving in normal conditions, covering about 130–140 km.

Is there a direct ski shuttle in winter?

Often, yes — seasonal shuttle services run during the ski season, sometimes bookable alongside lift passes and accommodation, though they are not guaranteed to operate year-round.

Do I need a car once I reach the resort?

No. Mont-Tremblant's resort village is pedestrian-friendly and largely car-free, though a car is useful for exploring the wider Laurentian lakes region.