Stanstead
Estrie · Canada
Stanstead is a town in the Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality in the Estrie region of Quebec, located on the Canada–United States border across from Derby Line, Vermont.
Read more — WikipediaFor Stansted Airport, see London Stansted Airport. Stanstead is an incorporated municipality that comprises the three villages of Beebe Plain, Rock Island and Stanstead in the Eastern Townships of Quebec in Canada. The villages are notable primarily for being divided by the international boundary with the U.S. (part of Beebe is in Derby Line, Vermont, and part in Stanstead, Québec). The border splits a street (15px CanUsa Street), a former tool-and-die factory (Butterfield's, Rock Island), a famous library and opera house (Haskell's) and a number of old houses right down the centre or center.
The best months to visit are June–August (Skiing: December–February).
July is the hottest month, with highs around 25°C (77°F).
January is the coldest month, with lows around -16°C (3°F).
The wettest month is December, with rain on about 16 days.
July is the sunniest month, with about 8.4 hours of sunshine a day.
In October, it’s warmer here than in 43% of places in Canada.
- Autumn foliage · Stowe, Vermont · Sep 25 – Oct 15 · 77 km away
16-day forecast
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 47%
- Wind
- 4 km/h NW
- Gusts
- 16 km/h
- Cloud cover
- 0%
- Pressure
- 1034 hPa
- UV index
- 0 (now)
- Sunrise / Sunset
- 07:15 / 17:47
Next 48 hours
Pollen forecasts are only available in Europe.
Best time to visit Stanstead
Average conditions for each month, from long-term climate normals (1961–2020).
Month by month
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | -5° | -3° | 3° | 10° | 18° | 23° | 25° | 24° | 19° | 12° | 5° | -2° |
| Average low | -16° | -15° | -9° | -1° | 5° | 10° | 13° | 12° | 8° | 2° | -3° | -11° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 79 | 67 | 80 | 81 | 98 | 113 | 116 | 123 | 97 | 100 | 100 | 97 |
| Rain days | 14 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Sunshine per day (h) | 2.8 | 4 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 7.2 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| Humidity (%) | 72 | 70 | 68 | 64 | 65 | 72 | 74 | 78 | 79 | 75 | 78 | 77 |
| Wind (km/h) | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| Go score | 8 | 15 | 13 | 26 | 60 | 75 | 76 | 75 | 65 | 33 | 5 | 4 |
The go score (0–100) favours daytime highs of 22–27 °C, mild nights, plenty of sunshine and few rainy days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000) · CRU CL 2.0 (1961–1990) About this data: Climate normals
What to do in Stanstead, month by month
When each activity is at its best, judged from the climate averages.
| Activities | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing & city walks | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Hiking | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Skiing | Good | Good | Fair | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good |
| Photography & sunsets | Poor | Poor | Poor | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Poor | Poor | Poor |
Good Fair Poor · Estimated from long-term averages of temperature, rain days, sunshine and sea temperature.
How each activity is rated
- Sightseeing & city walks — Good: highs of 15–27 °C and few rain days. Fair: 11–33 °C.
- Hiking — Good: highs of 10–24 °C and few rain days; a wider window with trails or national parks nearby.
- Skiing — Only with ski resorts within 40 km. Good: daytime highs at resort altitude at or below freezing.
- Photography & sunsets — Good: at least 7 hours of sunshine a day and few rain days. Fair: 5 hours or more.
Stanstead: tourist crowds by month
How busy it gets through the year — and the months with good weather and fewer visitors.
Updated: About this data: Crowds & prices
Stanstead travel guide
What to see, do and eat, and where to stay — from an open, community-written travel guide.
For Stansted Airport, see London Stansted Airport. Stanstead is an incorporated municipality that comprises the three villages of Beebe Plain, Rock Island and Stanstead in the Eastern Townships of Quebec in Canada. The villages are notable primarily for being divided by the international boundary with the U.S. (part of Beebe is in Derby Line, Vermont, and part in Stanstead, Québec). The border splits a street (15px CanUsa Street), a former tool-and-die factory (Butterfield's, Rock Island), a famous library and opera house (Haskell's) and a number of old houses right down the centre or center.
While the Canadian portion of these villages is majority francophone, this was historically United Empire Loyalist country and many of the original settlers therefore were English-speaking. It is common to hear both languages in use on the Canadian side. The same is not true in the US, even while in the same town. The proximity of this region to the border (which divides the villages) meant that, before the tightened restrictions imposed in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US, it was not uncommon for Canadian residents to make many small grocery or department store purchases in Newport (Vermont) as the closest town. While in a foreign country, Newport is geographically closer than Magog or Sherbrooke. It is possible to make a local international telephone call between Beebe Plain (Rock Island, +1-819-876-) in Canada and Beebe Plain (Derby Line, +1-802-873-) in the US. Anything further into foreign territory is long distance.
For Americans wanting to get into Canada quickly, the Derby Line/Stanstead crossing is ideal. The wait at the border is much less than that at the major border station down by the highway. But don't be fooled by the absence of physical barriers running through the border. In fact, one street has some houses on the American side (Derby Line, Vermont) and the rest on the Canadian side (Stanstead). Don't cross Canusa street to visit your friend who lives right across you; you need to report to border agents (with valid passports and visas) before having a meal with them. Crossing the street without proper inspection into either side can put you in serious trouble with the authorities of the country you are trying to enter. The lone exception is visiting the bi-national Haskell Free Library and opera house (purposely built to straddle the border). You can hop across the border freely within the confines of the library, but you must exit via the door you entered from.
There is no public transit. A car is the most viable option. There is also a cycling trail on what had been an international rail line before the railway tracks were removed in the 1990s.
Carrollcroft, Charles Carroll Colby's 1859 classic revival style granite villa house, houses original furnishings and historical artefacts of the era.
Museum devoted to the 160-year history of Stanstead Grey Granite, including the architecturally-notable buildings which used the stone. A second museum on-site claims the largest HO-scale Lionel miniature model train museum collection in Canada.
International library established by American sawmill owner Carlos Haskell and his Canadian wife Martha Stewart Haskell. The library has an English and French collection of more than 20,000 books; a black line across the library floor denotes the international border.
Bicycle and pedestrian trail on a 19-km (12-mile) segment of a former rail line (abandoned 1993) which once led to Newport (Vermont). No horses or motorised vehicles. Bicycles may be rented at Vélo Ayer’s Cliff (1191 Main, Ayer’s Cliff, +1 819-838-5240).
Semi-private 18-hole golf course, clubhouse open seasonally.
Farmer-style market with foods, baked goods and handicrafts.
Bed and breakfast inn with seasonal restaurant on three hectares near Tomifobia River in Rock Island village, outdoor pool and spa.
Sherbrooke is the largest city in the region Magog is winery and downhill ski country. This is a good area for horseback riding or viewing the fall colours. Derby Line and Newport are small-town but local. (They are, however, foreign. Bring your passport.)
Landmarks nearby
Mountains, castles, museums, beaches and heritage sites within 25 km.
Stanstead: practical information
Plugs, money, emergency numbers, safety and typical prices: what to know before you go.
- Voltage
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Driving
- Drive on the right
Canadian Dollar
CAD · $
1 USD ≈ 1.4 CAD
- Languages
- English, French
- Calling code
- +1
- Emergency911
- Meal, casual restaurantCA$28.00≈ $20.00
- CappuccinoCA$6.50≈ $4.60
- Beer (0.5 l)CA$9.70≈ $6.90
- Bottled water (1.5 l)CA$2.90≈ $2.00
- Taxi, 5 kmCA$20.00≈ $15.00
- Public transport ticketCA$3.70≈ $2.60
- Mid-range hotel, per nightCA$215≈ $155
Estimated from Canada’s consumer price level — real prices vary by place and season. Prices are about 90% of US levels.
- Dec 25Christmas Day
- Jan 1New Year's Day
No earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 100 km since 1975.
How to get to Stanstead
Nearest airports
- BTVPatrick Leahy Burlington International AirportBurlington103 km
- PBGPlattsburgh International AirportPlattsburgh116 km
- YHUMontréal / Saint-Hubert Metropolitan AirportMontréal118 km
- YULMontreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International AirportMontréal139 km
Distances
- Ottawa286 km 4 h 57
- Toronto599 km 10 h 23 · 1 h 25
- Montréal129 km 2 h 15
- Calgary3,149 km 54 h 35 · 4 h 41
- Edmonton3,098 km 53 h 42 · 4 h 37
estimate
Hotels in Stanstead
Hotels and holiday rentals with live nightly prices.
We may earn a commission when you book through this map, at no extra cost to you.
Places with a climate like Stanstead
Matched on temperature and rainfall across the whole year.
Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge
Obihiro
Kitami
Duluth
Green Bay
Kouvola
Wildlife around here
The species recorded most often within 25 km, and the months they’re seen.
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Population history
1881–2024Climate in Stanstead
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Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Stanstead?
Based on climate normals, the best time to visit Stanstead is June–August (Skiing: December–February).
What is the weather like in Stanstead in October?
In October, Stanstead averages a high of 12°C (54°F) and a low of 2°C (35°F), with 100 mm of rain on about 14 days.
What is the rainiest month in Stanstead?
December, with rain on about 16 days.
What is the nearest airport to Stanstead?
Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), about 139 km away.
What power plugs are used in Canada?
Plug types A, B, at 120 V.
What currency is used in Canada?
Canadian Dollar (CAD).
What is the emergency number in Canada?
911.
Is Canada safe to visit?
US travel advisory: Exercise normal precautions. UK travel advice: No travel warnings.
When is Stanstead most crowded?
The busiest months are June–September.
When is Stanstead least crowded?
The quietest months are November–January and March.
What time zone is Stanstead in?
America/Toronto (UTC-4).
What is the population of Stanstead?
About 2,857.