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 five ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.

🎒 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 · 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 (Orchard Park Mall)331 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚎BC Transit97 OkanaganKelowna (Orchard Park Mall) →UBCO Exchange (Kelowna)9.3 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚎BC Transit90 UBCO/VernonUBCO Exchange (Kelowna) →Downtown Exchange (Vernon)38 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚲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 (Orchard Park Mall)331 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 (Orchard Park Mall) →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).

Option five · six legs✈ the splurge

Fly most of the way, then let transit finish the trip.

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 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚲You arrive at Downtown Exchange (Vernon).

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: Vernon to Gabriola Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry)

Connections from Gabriola Island: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: ferry + bus) · Langley (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Kelowna (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)

Connections from Vernon: Enderby (best: bus) · Pemberton (best: bus + SkyTrain) · Sechelt (best: bus + ferry) · Haida Gwaii (best: bus + train + ferry)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Gabriola Island and Vernon

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia