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 Parksville to Nelson.
For scale
As the crow flies510 km
Biking whole wayWe can't compute the bike route from the ferry dock but it may be rideable: please consult other sources.
By car883 km · 11 h 13 m
We found four ways to get you there.
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 · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A little bit of everything.
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
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 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 →New WestminsterRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverNew Westminster →Nelson495 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚲You arrive at Nelson.
Option two · six legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A beautiful ferry ride with transit on both sides.
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 / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay →Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) →Nelson511 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚲You arrive at Nelson.
Option three · seven legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Beautiful BC from a coach window.
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
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km.
⛴️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.
⛴️SeaBusTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver)3.5 kmRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
Bikes ride inside the cabin; during weekday rush hours there's room for six bikes a sailing.
🚎TransLinkR2 Marine Dr RapidBusLonsdale Quay (North Vancouver) →Park Royal (West Vancouver)4.5 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressPark Royal (West Vancouver) →Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)7.5 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) →Nelson511 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚲You arrive at Nelson.
Option four · six legs✈ the splurge⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Pack patience, it connects.
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
🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Nanaimo Harbour, about 0.6 km.
🛩️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) – Castlegar (YCG)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Castlegar402 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes
🚲Travel the short hop from Castlegar to Hwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Castlegar), about 2.8 km.
🚎BC Transit99 Kootenay ConnectorHwy 3A at Ootischenia Rd (Castlegar) →Nelson31 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲You arrive at Nelson.
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: Nelson to Parksville (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry)
Connections from Parksville: Nanaimo (best: bus) · Ucluelet (best: bus + carpool) · Port McNeill (best: bus + rental car) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)
Connections from Nelson: Castlegar (best: bus) · Langley (best: bus) · Duncan (Cowichan Valley) (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Prince Rupert (best: bus + ferry + rental car)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Parksville and Nelson