BC Cycle Tourism Society
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, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Qualicum Beach to Quadra Island.

For scale
As the crow flies95 km
Biking whole way114 km · 6 h 57 m
By car118 km · 1 h 25 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 · five legs
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 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: Campbell River – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo →YBL (Campbell River)127 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 YBL (Campbell River) to Campbell River, about 8.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island).
Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike
Two city buses, a coach bus, and a ferry.
🚫  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 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 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
🚌Island LinkIsland Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Campbell River138 kmDoes not carry bikes
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island).
Option three · six legs✈ the splurge
Four ways to travel, one destination.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚎BC Transit9 IntercityRavensong Exch (Qualicum Beach) →Bay B at Woodgrove Exch (Nanaimo)32 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. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – Campbell RiverVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →YBL (Campbell River)173 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
🚲Travel the short hop from YBL (Campbell River) to Campbell River, about 8.3 km.
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Quathiaski Cove (Quadra 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: Quadra Island to Qualicum Beach (best: ferry + rental car + bus)

Connections from Qualicum Beach: Denman Island (best: bus + carpool + ferry) · Burnaby (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain) · Seattle, WA (best: bus + ferry) · Calgary, AB (best: bus + ferry + SkyTrain)

Connections from Quadra Island: Comox (best: ferry + rental car) · Vancouver (best: ferry + rental car) · Merritt (best: ferry + rental car + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + rental car + SkyTrain)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Qualicum Beach