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 Parksville to Hornby Island.
For scale
As the crow flies33 km
Biking whole way66 km · 4 h 18 m
By car67 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
Make some friends in a carpool.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityIsland Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Courtenay97 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 Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Denman Island West to Gravelly Bay (Denman Island), about 9.4 km.
⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyGravelly Bay (Denman Island) →Shingle Spit (Hornby Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Shingle Spit (Hornby Island).
Option two · eight legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Fill in the gap with a rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityIsland Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Comox – NanaimoDowntown Nanaimo →Comox Airport (YQQ)88 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownComox Airport (YQQ) →Courtenay8.3 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.
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Denman Island West to Gravelly Bay (Denman Island), about 9.4 km.
⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyGravelly Bay (Denman Island) →Shingle Spit (Hornby Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Shingle Spit (Hornby Island).
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 Transit9 IntercityIsland Hwy W at Wembley Centre (Parksville) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit1 Nanaimo Rapid LineBay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange12 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
Only two trips on Sundays.
⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Denman Island West to Gravelly Bay (Denman Island), about 9.4 km.
⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyGravelly Bay (Denman Island) →Shingle Spit (Hornby Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Shingle Spit (Hornby Island).
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: Hornby Island to Parksville (best: ferry + bus + carpool)
Connections from Parksville: Nanaimo (best: bus) · Campbell River (best: bus + rental car) · Port McNeill (best: bus + rental car) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)
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)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Parksville and Hornby Island