Lac-Simon is 1 hour 30 minutes from Ottawa and 2 hours from Montreal. The route is simple — Autoroute 50 to Exit 205, then Route 321 north through Chénéville. Here's the breakdown for trip planning.
From Ottawa: about 1 hour 30 minutes
From Ottawa, cross to Gatineau and take Autoroute 50 east. About 50 minutes gets you to Exit 205 (Route 321 / Papineauville). Take Route 321 north: the last 35-40 minute stretch passes through Chénéville before you reach Lac-Simon. Door-to-door is 1 hour 30 minutes in normal traffic.
From Montreal: about 2 hours
From Montreal, take Autoroute 15 north, then Autoroute 50 west at Mirabel. Autoroute 50 west takes you to Exit 205: about 1 hour 20 minutes from Montreal. Then Route 321 north to Chénéville and Lac-Simon. Door-to-door is 2 hours in normal traffic. The second half of the drive is rural and light, so delays are rare once you're past Mirabel.
From Gatineau: about 1 hour 15 minutes
Gatineau is the shortest approach at about 1 hour 15 minutes. Autoroute 50 is direct from Gatineau to Exit 205 (about 45 minutes), then 30-35 minutes on Route 321 through Chénéville. Useful for a day trip or weekend from the National Capital Region.
Seasonal conditions
Summer (June to September): dry roads, light traffic, no issues. Route 148, which parallels Autoroute 50 along the Ottawa River, is worth the detour for the view. Winter: AWD recommended.
Where to stop along the way
Groceries: the last full-service grocery before the chalet is the Metro in Chénéville (45 Rue Albert-Ferland), about 10 minutes from Lac-Simon. Load up for the full stay. Parc national de Plaisance: 10-minute detour via Exit 197 (one exit before 205 coming from Ottawa), good for a leg-stretch in summer. Fromagerie Montebello (664-A Rue Notre-Dame, Montebello): natural stop coming from Montreal, or a short detour via Exit 210 coming from Ottawa. Fresh cheese and local yogurt. Gas: the last station before the chalet is the Ultramar in Chénéville (115 Rue Principale).