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 and rental cars can carry you and your bike from Hornby Island to Parksville.
For scale
As the crow flies33 km
Biking whole way66 km · 4 h 18 m
By car68 km · 1 h 17 m
We found two 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⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
A shared ride helps bridge the gap.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyShingle Spit (Hornby Island) →Gravelly Bay (Denman Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Gravelly Bay (Denman Island) to Denman Island West, about 9.4 km.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestDenman Island West →Buckley Bay2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayBuckley Bay →Courtenay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Courtenay →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange97 kmOnly some rides take bikes — look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable — check Poparide for driver-listed dates and times
Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).
🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Island Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville)24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Island Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville).
Option two · eight legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyShingle Spit (Hornby Island) →Gravelly Bay (Denman Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Gravelly Bay (Denman Island) to Denman Island West, about 9.4 km.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestDenman Island West →Buckley Bay2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayBuckley Bay →Courtenay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownCourtenay →Comox Airport (YQQ)8.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – NanaimoComox Airport (YQQ) →Downtown Nanaimo88 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay (Nanaimo), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Island Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville)24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Island Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville).
Not an option · six legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Six legs, end to end.
🚫 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
⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyShingle Spit (Hornby Island) →Gravelly Bay (Denman Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Gravelly Bay (Denman Island) to Denman Island West, about 9.4 km.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestDenman Island West →Buckley Bay2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayBuckley Bay →Courtenay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Island Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville)24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Island Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville).
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: Parksville to Hornby Island (best: bus + carpool + ferry)
Connections from Hornby Island: Port Alberni (best: ferry + bus + carpool) · Gabriola Island (best: ferry + bus + carpool) · Tofino (best: ferry + bus + carpool) · Port Hardy (best: ferry + bus + rental car)
Connections from Parksville: Nanaimo (best: bus) · Campbell River (best: bus + rental car) · Port McNeill (best: bus + rental car) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Hornby Island and Parksville