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: ferries, water taxis, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Quadra Island to Nanaimo.
For scale
As the crow flies134 km
Biking whole way164 km · 9 h 53 m
By car161 km · 1 h 52 m
We found three 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 · two legs
Fill in the gap with a rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) →Campbell River2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Campbell River to YBL (Campbell River), about 8.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimo)YBL (Campbell River) →Downtown Nanaimo127 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 two · three legs📅 seasonal
A ferry and a water taxi make a fun combination.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲First, get from Central Quadra Island to Heriot Bay (Quadra Island), about 6.8 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
⛴️BC FerriesHeriot Bay (Quadra) – Whaletown (Cortes)Heriot Bay (Quadra Island) →Whaletown (Cortes Island)11 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Whaletown (Cortes Island) to Manson's Landing (Cortes Island), about 7.4 km.
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary Islandor Discovery Launch Water Taxi (Campbell River – Cortes Island) (doesn't run every day)Manson's Landing (Cortes Island) →Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River)19 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 YBL (Campbell River), about 8.7 km.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimo)YBL (Campbell River) →Downtown Nanaimo127 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.
🚲You arrive at Departure Bay (Nanaimo).
Not an option · two legs🚫 not possible with a bike
Ferry to Campbell River, 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 FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) →Campbell River2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Downtown Nanaimo Exchange.
Not an option · three legs🚫 not possible with a bike📅 seasonal
Ferry to Whaletown, water taxi to Coast Marina, 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
🚲First, get from Central Quadra Island to Heriot Bay (Quadra Island), about 6.8 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
⛴️BC FerriesHeriot Bay (Quadra) – Whaletown (Cortes)Heriot Bay (Quadra Island) →Whaletown (Cortes Island)11 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Whaletown (Cortes Island) to Manson's Landing (Cortes Island), about 7.4 km.
🛥️Qaya Way West TransportationCampbell River – Savary IslandManson's Landing (Cortes Island) →Coast Marina (Island Hwy) (Campbell River)19 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.
🚲You arrive at Downtown Nanaimo Exchange.
Option five · three legs✈ the splurge
One long leg does most of the travelling.
CarrierRideYour bike
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) →Campbell River2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲Travel the short hop from Campbell River to YBL (Campbell River), about 8.3 km.
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Campbell RiverYBL (Campbell River) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)173 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – NanaimoVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →YCD (Nanaimo)52 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
🚲At the far end, Central Nanaimo is about 13 km from YCD (Nanaimo). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
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 Quadra Island (best: rental car + ferry)
Connections from Quadra Island: Lund (best: ferry) · North Vancouver (best: ferry + rental car + bus) · Princeton (best: ferry + rental car + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + rental car + SkyTrain)
Connections from Nanaimo: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: bus) · Saanich (best: bus) · Vernon (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Nanaimo