To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia
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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Powell River to Nanaimo.
For scale
As the crow flies86 km
Biking whole way156 km · 9 h 08 m
By car152 km · 2 h 59 m
We found five ways to get you there.
🎒 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 · three legs
The long way round, but it works.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Sunshine Coast ConnectorLangdale – Powell RiverPowell River →Langdale (Gibsons)106 kmReserve bike spot — rack space is limited$20 bike · $40 e-bikeNo box needed — rack on the bus
Includes the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay ferry leg.
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) →Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayHorseshoe Bay →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Departure Bay (Nanaimo).
Option two · three legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesWestview – Little River (Comox)Marine & Duncan (Powell River) →Little River (Comox)30 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownLittle River (Comox) →Comox Airport (YQQ)4.3 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
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.
🚲You arrive at Departure Bay (Nanaimo).
Option three · three legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app
Same as Option two, but a carpool instead of the rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesWestview – Little River (Comox)Marine & Duncan (Powell River) →Little River (Comox)30 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownLittle River (Comox) →Courtenay13 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
One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.
🚗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).
🚲You arrive at Downtown Nanaimo Exchange.
Option four · four legs📅 seasonal
Two coach buses and two ferries.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚌Sunshine Coast ConnectorLangdale – Powell RiverPowell River →Langdale (Gibsons)106 kmReserve bike spot — rack space is limited$20 bike · $40 e-bikeNo box needed — rack on the bus
Includes the Earls Cove–Saltery Bay ferry leg.
⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – LangdaleLangdale (Gibsons) →Horseshoe Bay16 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverHorseshoe Bay →Vancouver Canada Place16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack — otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.
⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) →Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)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
🚲You arrive at Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way).
Show three moreShow fewer
Not an option · three legs🚫 not possible with a bike⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Ferry to Little River, city bus to Courtenay, then a coach bus into Nanaimo.
🚫 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 FerriesWestview – Little River (Comox)Marine & Duncan (Powell River) →Little River (Comox)30 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚎BC Transit11 Airport via Powell R. Ferry / DowntownLittle River (Comox) →Courtenay13 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
One loop serves both the Little River ferry terminal and Comox airport; about 5–7 trips a day, and Sunday service is unconfirmed.
🚲You arrive at Downtown Nanaimo Exchange.
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A city bus, two water taxis, and a coach bus.
🚫 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 Transit14 LundTown Centre Mall Bay A (Powell River) →Lund Harbour23 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
Runs Monday, Tuesday and Friday most of the year, six days a week from mid-May to Labour Day; some stretches are on-request. Front bike rack; e-bikes under 25 kg allowed.
🛥️Lund Water TaxiLund – Savary IslandLund Harbour →Savary Island Government Dock4.1 kmPolicy not on file — check with the operator
Year-round walk-on service, near-hourly in July and August; reservations required. E-bikes not carried (barge by arrangement).
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary IslandSavary Island Government Dock →Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River)40 kmPolicy not on file — check with the operator
Southern run daily June 26 to September 7, calling at Manson's Landing and Hernando; reservations required.
🚲Travel the short hop from Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River) to Campbell River, about 0.4 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.
🚲You arrive at Downtown Nanaimo Exchange.
Option seven · two legs✈ the splurge📅 seasonal
Treat yourself: wings over the water.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲First, get from Central Powell River to Powell Lake (Powell River), about 5.7 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Powell River (seasonal)Powell Lake (Powell River) →CXH (Vancouver)122 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
Seasonal service.
🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Nanaimo HarbourCXH (Vancouver) →Nanaimo Harbour60 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
🚲You arrive at Nanaimo Harbour.
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: Nanaimo to Powell River (best: ferry + bus)
Connections from Powell River: Comox (best: ferry) · Coquitlam (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Oliver (best: bus + ferry) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry)
Connections from Nanaimo: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: bus) · Comox (best: rental car) · Vernon (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Powell River and Nanaimo