Gabriola Island to Vernon with a bike

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, trains and flights can carry you and your bike from Gabriola Island to Vernon.

For scale

As the crow flies351 km

Biking whole way546 km · 36 h 08 m

By car529 km · 7 h 02 m

We found six ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.

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 · six legs

Grab a window seat, the scenery's included.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) →CXH (Vancouver)61 kmBook online ahead — 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way — $25 in personNo e-bikes — no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚌EbusVancouver – KelownaPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Kelowna Downtown331 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚎BC Transit97 OkanaganKelowna Downtown →UBCO Exchange (Kelowna)9.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit90 UBCO/VernonUBCO Exchange (Kelowna) →Downtown Exchange (Vernon)38 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at Downtown Exchange (Vernon).

Option two · five legs

The coach takes care of the long stretch.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚌EbusVancouver – KelownaPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Kelowna Downtown331 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚌EbusKamloops – Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)or Ebus (Kelowna/Salmon Arm – Golden)Kelowna Downtown →Downtown Exchange (Vernon)46 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚲You arrive at Downtown Exchange (Vernon).

Option three · five legs

The same idea as Option two, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚌EbusVancouver – Kamloopsor Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Kamloops301 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚌EbusKamloops – Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Kamloops →Downtown Exchange (Vernon)142 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚲You arrive at Downtown Exchange (Vernon).

Option four · five legs

Another way: the same idea as Option two, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚌EbusVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Sorrento368 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.

🚌EbusKamloops – Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Sorrento →Downtown Exchange (Vernon)76 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚲You arrive at Downtown Exchange (Vernon).

Show two moreShow fewer

Option five · six legs📅 seasonal

Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the SkyTrain.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Nanaimo Harbour to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 0.9 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.

🚌Quick Shuttle (Quick Coach Lines / TRAXX)Vancouver – Seattle (SeaTac)Vancouver Canada Place →Surrey31 kmBikes accepted — book as an add-on$42 USD each — about $57 CAD

Runs year-round; winter service drops to Friday–Monday only.

🚌EbusVancouver – KelownaSurrey →Kelowna Downtown310 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚎BC Transit97 OkanaganKelowna Downtown →UBCO Exchange (Kelowna)9.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit90 UBCO/VernonUBCO Exchange (Kelowna) →Downtown Exchange (Vernon)38 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at Downtown Exchange (Vernon).

Option six · six legs✈ the splurge

The scenic splurge: hop a flight.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesNanaimo Harbour – Descanso Bay (Gabriola)Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) →Nanaimo Harbour5.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourNanaimo Harbour →CXH (Vancouver)60 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee — bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter — other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

✈️Air CanadaVancouver (YVR) – Kelowna (YLW)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Kelowna Airport288 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes

🚎BC Transit23 Lake CountryKelowna Airport →UBCO Exchange (Kelowna)2.2 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit90 UBCO/VernonUBCO Exchange (Kelowna) →Downtown Exchange (Vernon)38 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲You arrive at Downtown Exchange (Vernon).

Route facts last checked July 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: Vernon to Gabriola Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry)

Connections from Gabriola Island: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: ferry + bus) · Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Port Hardy (best: ferry + rental car) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)

Connections from Vernon: Kelowna (best: bus) · Abbotsford (best: bus) · Pender Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Haida Gwaii (best: bus + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Gabriola Island and Vernon