To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia
My bike and I are in
and we’d like to be in
.
We show what transit connections accept bikes. Check with the operator for prices, schedules, and reservations.
Same place twice. You’re already there, so enjoy the ride.
Good news: buses, ferries, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Campbell River to Vancouver.
For scale
As the crow flies175 km
Biking whole way243 km Β· 12 h 57 m
By car373 km Β· 5 h 30 m
We found five ways to get you there.
π Riding a coach? Most BC coach operators want your bike bagged or boxed. Our field note walks through packing it, including an inexpensive packable bike bag we like: How to bike-and-bus in BC ›
Note: Most carriers carry only a handful of bikes, and summer weekends fill up fast. Reserve where you can. Where you can't, go early or have a backup plan.
Option one · two legs
One long leg does most of the travelling.
CarrierRideYour bike
π²Travel the short hop from Campbell River to Campbell River, about 0.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.
πBudgetOne-way rental: Campbell River β Nanaimoor National Car & Truck Rental (One-way rental: Campbell River β Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)Campbell River βDowntown Nanaimo134 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches β bookable onlineBike rides inside β SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
π²Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
β΄οΈHulloHullo (Nanaimo β Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) βCXH (Vancouver)61 kmBook online ahead β 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way β $25 in personNo e-bikes β no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
π²You arrive at CXH (Vancouver).
Option two · three legs
Option one, plus a city bus at the finish.
CarrierRideYour bike
π²First, get from Central Campbell River to YBL (Campbell River), about 8.3 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
πNational Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River β Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Campbell River β Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)YBL (Campbell River) βDowntown Nanaimo127 kmOne-way between Island branches β no drop chargeBike rides inside β SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
π²Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km.
β΄οΈBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay β Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) βHorseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free β no reservation neededE-bikes OK β no charging on board
πTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay βDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β first come, first servedE-bikes OK
π²You arrive at Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie).
Option three · three legs📅 seasonal
Option one, plus a coach bus at the finish.
CarrierRideYour bike
π²First, get from Central Campbell River to YBL (Campbell River), about 8.3 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
πNational Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River β Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Campbell River β Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)YBL (Campbell River) βDowntown Nanaimo127 kmOne-way between Island branches β no drop chargeBike rides inside β SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
π²Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km.
β΄οΈBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay β Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) βHorseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free β no reservation neededE-bikes OK β no charging on board
πSquamish ConnectorSquamish β VancouverHorseshoe Bay βVancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack β otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
π²You arrive at Vancouver Canada Place.
Option four · four legs
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
π²Travel the short hop from Campbell River to Campbell River, about 0.3 km.
πBudgetOne-way rental: Campbell River β NanaimoCampbell River βDowntown Nanaimo134 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches β bookable onlineBike rides inside β SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
π²Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 1 km.
πBC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch βDuncan46 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
πBC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan βLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)54 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
π²Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
πWilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector β Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) βDowntown Vancouver101 kmRides in the hold β bagged or boxed$42 per bike β 50 lb maxReserve bike spot β recommended
β΄οΈ Downtown to downtown via the TsawwassenβSwartz Bay ferry crossing.
π²You arrive at Downtown Vancouver.
Show five moreShow fewer
Not an option · two legs🚫 not possible with a bike
Coach bus to Nanaimo, then a ferry into Vancouver.
🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
πIsland LinkIsland Express BusCampbell River βDowntown Nanaimo Exchange138 kmDoes not carry bikes
π²Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km.
β΄οΈHulloHullo (Nanaimo β Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) βCXH (Vancouver)61 kmBook online ahead β 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way β $25 in personNo e-bikes β no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
π²You arrive at CXH (Vancouver).
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike
A coach bus, two city buses, and a ferry.
🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
πIsland LinkIsland Express BusCampbell River βDowntown Nanaimo Exchange138 kmDoes not carry bikes
πBC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown Nanaimo Exchange βDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
β΄οΈBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay β Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) βHorseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free β no reservation neededE-bikes OK β no charging on board
πTransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay βDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes β first come, first servedE-bikes OK
π²You arrive at Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie).
Not an option · three legs🚫 not possible with a bike
A coach-bus relay: three buses, two changes.
🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
πIsland LinkIsland Express BusCampbell River βDowntown Nanaimo Exchange138 kmDoes not carry bikes
πIsland LinkVictoria Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange βDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)92 kmDoes not carry bikes
πWilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector β Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) βDowntown Vancouver101 kmRides in the hold β bagged or boxed$42 per bike β 50 lb maxReserve bike spot β recommended
β΄οΈ Downtown to downtown via the TsawwassenβSwartz Bay ferry crossing.
π²You arrive at Downtown Vancouver.
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal
Two coach buses, a city bus, and a ferry.
🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.
CarrierRideYour bike
πIsland LinkIsland Express BusCampbell River βDowntown Nanaimo Exchange138 kmDoes not carry bikes
πBC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown Nanaimo Exchange βDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee β 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only β lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
β΄οΈBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay β Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) βHorseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free β no reservation neededE-bikes OK β no charging on board
πSquamish ConnectorSquamish β VancouverHorseshoe Bay βVancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack β otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
π²You arrive at Vancouver Canada Place.
Option 9 · one leg✈ the splurge📅 seasonal
Treat yourself: wings over the water.
CarrierRideYour bike
π©οΈHarbour AirVancouver Harbour β Campbell River (new, seasonal from Jul 2026)Campbell River Harbour βCXH (Vancouver)176 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee β bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter β other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking
New route, seasonal from July 2026.
π²You arrive at CXH (Vancouver).
Route facts last checked August 2026. We check that every leg here carries bikes, but policies and seasons change. Check times and book with the operator. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Explore more
Heading back: Vancouver to Campbell River (best: ferry + rental car)
Connections from Campbell River: Lund (best: just ride) · Galiano Island (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain) · West Kelowna (best: rental car + ferry + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: rental car + ferry + bus)
Connections from Vancouver: Gibsons (best: bus + ferry) · Powell River (best: bus + ferry) · Port McNeill (best: ferry + bus + rental car) · Haida Gwaii (best: train + ferry)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Campbell River and Vancouver