Saguenay Transport Hub

Saguenay Transport Hub

Saguenay is not one compact downtown. It is a large regional city built from Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie and surrounding sectors, so a good transport plan starts with the exact borough. Chicoutimi is the strongest visitor base for downtown services, restaurants and Intercar’s central road terminal. Jonquière is the rail anchor and Intercar’s home base. La Baie is closest to Saguenay-Bagotville Airport (YBG), the cruise pier and the fjord-side airport corridor.

The main airport is Saguenay-Bagotville Airport (YBG), at 7000 chemin de l’Aéroport, Saguenay, Québec, G7B 0E4. It is in La Baie, southeast of central Chicoutimi and not far from the military airfield area. The airport is close enough for taxi, Uber or rental car to be practical, but travelers should not assume a high-frequency airport shuttle. STS route planning and local taxi contacts matter, especially for late arrivals and winter trips.

For onward travel, Saguenay has two real non-air anchors: Intercar for buses to Québec City, Montréal, Longueuil, Côte-Nord and Lac-Saint-Jean corridors, and VIA Rail at Jonquière for the Montréal-Jonquière train. VIA is scenic and useful when the timetable fits, but it is not a fast Québec City transfer; VIA itself says Jonquière-Québec requires a Montréal connection. Intercar is usually the practical first choice for Québec City.

Contents

Fast Facts

Item Detail Practical use
Main airport Saguenay-Bagotville Airport (YBG), 7000 chemin de l’Aéroport, Saguenay, G7B 0E4 Best airport for Saguenay, La Baie, Chicoutimi and Jonquière
Airport phone 418-677-2651 Use for terminal, parking and service questions
Airport rental car National Car Rental at 7000 Ch de l’Aéroport, La Baie, +1 418-677-2061 Best airport-based self-drive option found in current sources
Local transit agency Société de transport du Saguenay (STS), customer service 1330 rue Bersimis, Chicoutimi, 418-545-2487 Covers Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie and other Saguenay sectors
STS cash fare CAD 4.00 for age 5+ with exact change Good emergency fare if you have no card loaded
STS ticket fare CAD 3.70 unit ticket; CAD 18.50 for five; CAD 44.40 for twelve Better value for repeated rides
STS monthly pass CAD 83.50 adult; CAD 69.00 youth; CAD 55.50 senior Useful for longer stays, students and work trips
Intercar Chicoutimi terminal 55 rue Racine Est, Chicoutimi Main downtown Saguenay road terminal for Québec City and Montréal services
Intercar Jonquière terminal 2249 rue Saint-Hubert, Jonquière Useful for Jonquière stays and Intercar company base
VIA Rail Jonquière station, staffed, with taxis and washrooms listed by VIA Scenic Montréal-Jonquière train, 3 departures per week

Arrival Strategy

If You Fly Into YBG

Saguenay-Bagotville Airport is the cleanest arrival point. The airport’s official site lists passenger services, arrivals/departures, parking, taxi companies and car rentals, while Bonjour Québec lists the airport address as 7000 chemin de l’Aéroport, Saguenay, G7B 0E4. The airport is in La Baie, so the first decision is whether your final address is La Baie, Chicoutimi, Jonquière, Arvida, Laterrière or a rural edge.

La Baie trips are short and usually easiest by taxi, Uber or hotel pickup. Chicoutimi trips are longer but still straightforward by car. Jonquière is the longest common urban transfer and should be preplanned at night. The airport’s accessibility plan names Taxis Unis in Chicoutimi and Taxi 2151 in La Baie as local taxi references, and it notes that a rental-car company is located inside the airport terminal with vehicles only a few meters away.

For public-transit-minded travelers, check STS before arrival rather than after landing. Transit app route data lists STS route 6 as a Chicoutimi / La Baie / Base de Bagotville route with airport-oriented stop naming, but final timing should come from STS tools on the travel day. In winter, with luggage or after evening arrivals, a taxi or rental car is usually the safer first-day plan.

If You Arrive By Intercity Bus

Intercar is the dominant regional bus operator for Saguenay. Its schedule page shows Saguenay departures from Jonquière, Arvida, Chicoutimi downtown and Laterrière toward Québec City, Longueuil, Montréal downtown and Montréal airport. The same page shows everyday and selected-day departure patterns; for example, Saguenay departures include morning and early-afternoon departures from Jonquière and Chicoutimi, with Québec City reached before Montréal on the southbound route.

For central Chicoutimi hotels, use the Chicoutimi downtown terminal at 55 rue Racine Est. For Jonquière hotels or VIA Rail connections, use the Jonquière terminal area at 2249 rue Saint-Hubert when your ticket allows it. Do not treat all Saguenay stops as interchangeable: the city is wide, and a wrong borough can mean a 20-40 minute taxi ride.

If You Arrive By Rail

VIA Rail serves Jonquière, not Chicoutimi. VIA’s Montréal-Jonquière route page lists an average duration of 10 hours 58 minutes, a 508 km distance and 3 departures per week. That makes the train useful for slow regional travel, scenic trips and Montréal-linked itineraries, but it is not a frequent commuter rail service.

If your final address is Chicoutimi or La Baie, arrange a taxi, Uber, STS bus or pickup from Jonquière. VIA’s Jonquière station page lists the station as staffed and includes taxis, washrooms and Interac direct payment among services. That is helpful, but late arrivals still deserve a pickup plan.

Saguenay-Bagotville Airport

Address, Services and Flights

Saguenay-Bagotville Airport is the regional air gateway. Bonjour Québec lists it at 7000 chemin de l’Aéroport, Saguenay, Québec, G7B 0E4, phone 418-677-2651. The airport’s own home page shows live arrivals and departures and, at the time checked, displayed HYD flights from Québec and Montréal. The regional tourism access page describes YBG as the main and most important airport in the region, with flights linking Montréal-Trudeau, Québec Jean Lesage and other destinations.

Because regional schedules can change seasonally, always confirm the airline and airport departure board before building a same-day connection. If your itinerary relies on reaching an Intercar departure or VIA train after a flight, leave a buffer rather than assuming a quick terminal exit.

Airport To Chicoutimi, Jonquière And La Baie

La Baie is the closest urban sector. Chicoutimi is the most common visitor base, and Jonquière is the rail/intercity-bus sector to the west. For practical planning, keep these transfer bands in mind:

Route Best mode Planning note
YBG to La Baie Taxi, Uber, hotel pickup or rental car Shortest airport transfer; Taxi 2151 is the local La Baie reference named in airport accessibility documents
YBG to Chicoutimi Taxi, Uber, rental car or STS if timing works Good default for first-time visitors staying downtown
YBG to Jonquière Taxi, Uber, rental car or pickup Longer cross-city ride; prebook after dark or in winter
YBG to fjord / rural lodging Rental car or arranged transfer Check road conditions and parking before arrival

Airport Parking And Rental Car

The airport says its parking facilities can accommodate more than 500 cars and are illuminated, camera-monitored and patrolled by 24/7 security personnel. For car rental, National lists its YBG location at 7000 Ch de l’Aéroport, La Baie, QC G7B 3N8, phone +1 418-677-2061, with after-hours return available and counter pickup inside the airport process.

Renting at the airport makes sense if your trip includes Fjord-du-Saguenay, Lac-Saint-Jean, national parks, industrial sites, family visits or winter luggage. For a purely Chicoutimi/Jonquière urban stay, compare rental cost and parking against STS plus taxis.

STS Local Transit

Network Shape

STS is the local transit provider for Saguenay. Bonjour Québec describes it as serving the former municipalities of Chicoutimi, Jonquière and La Baie, covering a large portion of the city including industrial, commercial and residential zones. That is the right mental map: the network is not a metro grid, but a bus system linking several separated urban sectors.

The most useful visitor areas are Chicoutimi downtown, Jonquière, La Baie, UQAC, major shopping corridors, the hospital area and terminal points. STS customer service is listed at 1330 rue Bersimis, Chicoutimi G7K 1A5, phone 418-545-2487. Use the STS planner, Transit app or customer service for day-of-trip route checks.

Fares And Payment

STS publishes its fare table directly. Cash fare is CAD 4.00 for riders age 5 and up, with exact change. Unit ticket is CAD 3.70. A five-ticket booklet is CAD 18.50, and a twelve-ticket booklet is CAD 44.40. The adult monthly pass is CAD 83.50, youth monthly pass CAD 69.00 and senior monthly pass CAD 55.50. The family day pass is CAD 12.50, with validity rules for one adult, one child, or family group combinations.

For a short visit, cash is simple but not cheapest. If you will ride multiple times, use tickets or the family day pass where it fits. The fare page references the Accès card and PME electronic purse, so longer-stay riders should ask where to reload before depending on bus travel.

Airport And Late Trips

STS can be useful between La Baie, Chicoutimi and Jonquière, but do not assume it matches every flight. Transit app route data identifies route 6 as a Chicoutimi / La Baie / Base de Bagotville route and shows airport-oriented service information, but the airport transfer should be checked live. If the last bus has passed, use taxi, Uber or a pre-arranged ride.

STS GO! is an on-demand style service that can be reserved through customer service at 418-545-2487. The STS page says it is not door-to-door; boarding and drop-off use existing or virtual stops. That can help in some areas, but it is not a private airport transfer.

Intercar Regional Buses

Main Saguenay Stops

Intercar is the main regional bus operator to know. Its terminus map lists Terminus Saguenay / Chicoutimi centre-ville at 55 rue Racine Est, Chicoutimi, and Terminus Jonquière / Terminus Intercar at 2249 rue Saint-Hubert, Jonquière. Intercar’s contact page lists the head office at 2249 rue Saint-Hubert, Jonquière, G7X 5P1, and an administrative office at 4511 boulevard Talbot, Saguenay, G7H 5B1.

For visitors, the Chicoutimi stop is the main downtown pickup. Jonquière is useful if you are staying west of the city, connecting to VIA Rail or starting from Intercar’s home base. Arvida and Laterrière may appear on schedules, but they are not substitutes for the central stop unless your accommodation is nearby.

Routes To Québec City, Montréal And The Airport

Intercar’s schedule page shows Saguenay departures through Jonquière, Arvida, Chicoutimi downtown and Laterrière toward Québec City, Ste-Foy, Longueuil, Montréal downtown and Montréal airport. The English schedule page lists, for example, departures from Jonquière at 09:00 and 13:00 on everyday-pattern services and Chicoutimi downtown at 09:35 and 13:35, with later arrivals in Québec City and Montréal depending on the trip.

Use Intercar for Québec City far more often than VIA. VIA’s Jonquière-Québec page says there are no direct departures from Jonquière to Québec and that the route requires a connection in Montréal. That makes bus the practical Québec City mode unless you specifically want the rail experience.

Booking Advice

Book ahead for weekends, student travel, holidays and weather-risk periods. Save the exact stop name on the ticket. If arriving at YBG and connecting to Intercar on the same day, allow enough time to reach Chicoutimi or Jonquière; the airport is not attached to the downtown road terminal.

VIA Rail Jonquière

What VIA Is Good For

VIA Rail’s Montréal-Jonquière train is the rail option for Saguenay. VIA lists Montréal-Jonquière at 508 km, average duration 10 hours 58 minutes and 3 departures per week. The reverse Jonquière-Montréal page lists 10 hours 48 minutes and 3 departures per week. This is a long regional train, not a fast intercity shuttle.

Use it when the timetable fits, when Montréal is the destination, when scenic travel matters, or when you prefer rail comfort to highway travel. Avoid it for tight same-day Québec City connections unless the schedule proves it works.

Jonquière Station

VIA’s Jonquière station page lists it as a staffed station and names services such as bicycle box, Interac direct payment, taxis, telephones, VIA Gift Card and washrooms. It also lists accessible platform service upon departure and arrival, with a hearing loop at the ticket counter. For travelers with mobility needs, check VIA directly before travel because the page also notes limited accessibility details.

Jonquière station is in the western part of Saguenay. If your hotel is in Chicoutimi or La Baie, plan the last mile. A taxi or Uber can be easier than waiting for a bus after a long train ride.

Taxi, Uber And Private Transfers

Taxi Companies And Regulation

YBG’s accessibility documents name Taxis Unis in Chicoutimi and Taxi 2151 in La Baie as local transport references. That split is useful: use La Baie-area services for airport and nearby pickup, and Chicoutimi-area taxi references for downtown trips. The airport also points travelers toward taxi companies and car rentals on its travelers page.

Quebec taxi rates are regulated. Revenu Québec explains that taxi rates already include applicable taxes. A LegisQuébec taxi tariff page gives historic regulated taximeter components, while current operator pages in Quebec commonly show base fare, per-kilometer and waiting-time components set by the Commission des transports du Québec. For planning in Saguenay, use a local dispatch quote or app quote rather than relying only on a generic calculator.

Uber In Saguenay

Uber publishes a Saguenay city page and says riders can request trips in Saguenay, including rides from the airport. Its taxi-style page states that an average 13-minute Saguenay ride costs CAD 23. Treat that as a rough app cue, not a fixed fare. Driver supply can vary by time, weather and borough, especially outside Chicoutimi.

For a first arrival at YBG, compare three options: taxi dispatch, Uber app quote and hotel-arranged pickup. In winter, after a late arrival, or for Jonquière transfers, prebooking is safer than waiting outside with luggage.

Planning Fare Bands

Use these bands before opening a live app or calling dispatch:

Trip Planning band Notes
YBG to La Baie CAD 15-30 Short airport-sector ride; confirm exact address
YBG to Chicoutimi CAD 35-55 Common first-arrival transfer
YBG to Jonquière CAD 55-80 Longer cross-city transfer; winter and waiting time matter
Chicoutimi to Jonquière CAD 30-55 STS may be cheaper if timing works
Short urban ride CAD 12-25 Uber’s own Saguenay page gives CAD 23 for an average 13-minute ride

Car Rental, Parking And Winter Driving

Car rental is often more valuable in Saguenay than in denser cities. The attractions, industrial zones, fjord viewpoints and Lac-Saint-Jean region spread out quickly. If you are staying only in central Chicoutimi and making one Intercar trip, you may not need a car. If you plan to visit La Baie, Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay, Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, Lac-Saint-Jean, ski areas or rural lodgings, a car saves a lot of coordination.

National’s YBG location gives the simplest airport rental anchor. If no car is available at the airport, check downtown Saguenay rental offices and compare pickup hours. Winter driving deserves respect: confirm snow tires where required, check weather, and keep extra time for Route 175 or fjord-side roads.

Parking is usually easier than in Montréal or Québec City, but downtown Chicoutimi hotels, events and snow-removal rules can still matter. Ask the hotel whether parking is included and whether winter overnight restrictions apply.

Best Areas To Stay

Chicoutimi Downtown

Best for first-time visitors, restaurants, STS access, Intercar’s central stop and a balanced city stay. Choose Chicoutimi if you are not sure which borough you need.

Jonquière

Best for VIA Rail, Intercar’s Jonquière stop, western Saguenay, industrial visits and trips toward Lac-Saint-Jean. Choose Jonquière when the train or west-side work address controls the trip.

La Baie

Best for YBG airport, the fjord, cruise-related visits and quiet waterside stays. Choose La Baie when the airport or fjord is the main reason for the trip, but check evening food and taxi availability.

Boulevard Talbot / Hotel Corridor

Best for business travelers with cars, highway movement and chain hotels. This area is practical but less walkable; check STS or taxi plans before booking without a car.

Rural Fjord Or Lake Lodging

Best for scenery, not logistics. Use a rental car or arranged transfer, especially outside summer. Confirm check-in hours and winter road access before arrival.

Sources

  • Saguenay Bagotville Airport home page: https://aeroport.saguenay.ca/en/home
  • Saguenay Bagotville Airport travellers page: https://aeroport.saguenay.ca/en/travellers
  • Saguenay Bagotville Airport accessibility plan: https://aeroport.saguenay.ca/files/accessibilite/2025/plan_accessibilite_ybg_2024_en.pdf
  • Bonjour Québec YBG airport listing: https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-us/listing/transportation-and-service/ybg-aeroport-saguenay-bagotville/0oke
  • Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean access to the region: https://saguenaylacsaintjean.ca/en/practical-information/access-to-the-region
  • National Car Rental YBG: https://www.nationalcar.com/en/car-rental-locations/ca/qc/saguenay-bagotville-airport-ya10.html
  • STS Saguenay home page: https://sts.saguenay.ca/
  • STS Saguenay fares: https://sts.saguenay.ca/tarifs-et-distributeurs/tarifs
  • STS Saguenay trip planner: https://sts.saguenay.ca/planificateur-de-trajet
  • STS GO on-demand service: https://sts.saguenay.ca/infos-pratiques/sts-go
  • Bonjour Québec STS listing: https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-us/listing/transportation-and-service/societe-de-transport-du-saguenay-sts/0rjx
  • Intercar home page: https://intercar.ca/en
  • Intercar schedules and routes: https://intercar.ca/en/schedules-and-routes
  • Intercar terminus map: https://intercar.ca/en/terminus-map
  • Intercar contact page: https://intercar.ca/en/contact
  • VIA Rail Montreal to Jonquiere: https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains/regional-trains/montreal-jonquiere
  • VIA Rail Jonquiere station: https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/quebec/jonquiere
  • VIA Rail Jonquiere to Quebec route note: https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains/ontario-and-quebec/jonquiere-to-quebec
  • Revenu Québec passenger transportation taxes: https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/businesses/consumption-taxes/gsthst-and-qst/special-cases-gsthst-and-qst/transportation-applying-the-gst-and-qst/passenger-transportation-in-quebec/
  • Uber Saguenay ride page: https://www.uber.com/global/fr-ca/r/cities/saguenay-qc-ca/

Saguenay Transport Hub FAQ

What is the main airport for Saguenay?

Saguenay-Bagotville Airport (YBG) is the main airport. The official tourism listing gives the address as 7000 chemin de l’Aéroport, Saguenay, Québec, G7B 0E4.

How do I get from YBG airport to Chicoutimi?

Taxi, Uber, rental car or hotel pickup are the simplest options. Check STS on the travel day if you want a bus, but for late arrivals or winter luggage, pre-arranged car transport is safer.

How much is STS in Saguenay?

STS lists cash fare at CAD 4.00, unit ticket at CAD 3.70, five tickets at CAD 18.50, twelve tickets at CAD 44.40 and an adult monthly pass at CAD 83.50.

Is there train service to Saguenay?

Yes, but it is VIA Rail to Jonquière, not a fast frequent service. VIA lists Montréal-Jonquière at 508 km, about 10 hours 58 minutes and 3 departures per week.

Where should I stay for easy transport?

Choose Chicoutimi for the most balanced base, Jonquière for VIA Rail and west-side trips, La Baie for YBG and fjord access, and Boulevard Talbot or rural lodging only if you have car or taxi plans.