Salt Spring Island to Tofino with a bike

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 Salt Spring Island to Tofino.

For scale

As the crow flies184 km

Biking whole way352 km · 18 h 50 m

By car350 km · 4 h 59 m

We found seven 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 · four legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

A carpool saves the day.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Central Salt Spring Island to Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island), about 15 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Silver Shadow Taxi Ltd. might help.

⛴️BC FerriesVesuvius – CroftonVesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) →Crofton5.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Crofton to Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan), about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusJoan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan) →Duncan11 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

🚗PoparideHwy 4 rideshare (Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Ucluelet - Tofino)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Tofino (1st Street)Only 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 Tofino (1st Street).

Option two · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

A ferry, three city buses, and a carpool.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz Bayor BC Ferries (Swartz Bay – Southern Gulf Islands)Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) →Swartz Bay (Victoria)9.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Swartz Bay (Victoria) →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)29 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) to Legislature Terminal (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Terminal (Victoria) →Duncan54 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲You arrive at Tofino (1st Street).

Option three · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

The same idea as Option two, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan-Victoria ExpressDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Duncan46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲You arrive at Tofino (1st Street).

Option four · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

A transport smorgasbord: ferries, city bus, SkyTrain, and carpool.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Central Salt Spring Island to Long Harbour (Salt Spring Island), about 9.2 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsLong Harbour (Salt Spring Island) →Tsawwassen (Delta)67 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen Ferryor the 900 Bike Bus (seasonal)Tsawwassen (Delta) →Bridgeport (Richmond)22 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkBridgeport (Richmond) →Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚲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

🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km.

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲You arrive at Tofino (1st Street).

Show five moreShow fewer

Option five · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Option one, plus a ferry at the start.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz BayFulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) →Swartz Bay (Victoria)9.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Swartz Bay (Victoria) to Brentwood Bay, about 13 km.

⛴️BC FerriesBrentwood Bay – Mill BayBrentwood Bay →Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)12 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Daily, with fewer sailings on Sundays.

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDeloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay) →Duncan17 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲You arrive at Tofino (1st Street).

Option six · six legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Option four, plus a ferry at the start.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz BayFulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) →Swartz Bay (Victoria)9.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Swartz BaySwartz Bay (Victoria) →Tsawwassen (Delta)41 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkBridgeport (Richmond) →Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Vancouver Canada Place to CXH (Vancouver), about 0.8 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 1 km.

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲You arrive at Tofino (1st Street).

Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike

A ferry, two city buses, 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

🚲First, get from Central Salt Spring Island to Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island), about 15 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

⛴️BC FerriesVesuvius – CroftonVesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) →Crofton5.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Crofton to Joan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan), about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusJoan & Queen - Saltspring Ferry (North Cowichan) →Duncan11 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.

🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Tofino (1st Street)162 kmDoes not carry bikes

🚲You arrive at Tofino (1st Street).

Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike

A ferry, a city bus, and two coach buses.

🚫 This chain exists, but West Coast Trail Express and 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 FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz BayFulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) →Swartz Bay (Victoria)9.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚌West Coast Trail ExpressJuan de Fuca Trail routeor West Coast Trail Express (West Coast Trail route) or Island Link (Victoria Express Bus)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange157 kmDoes not carry bikes

Runs May 1 to September 30.

🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Tofino (1st Street)162 kmDoes not carry bikes

🚲You arrive at Tofino (1st Street).

Option 9 · three legs✈ the splurge

One long leg does most of the travelling.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesFulford Harbour – Swartz BayFulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) →Swartz Bay (Victoria)9.4 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Swartz Bay (Victoria) to YYJ (Victoria), about 4.7 km.

✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – VictoriaYYJ (Victoria) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)63 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes

✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – TofinoVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →YAZ (Tofino)190 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes

🚲At the far end, Central Tofino is about 12 km from YAZ (Tofino). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

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: Tofino to Salt Spring Island (best: carpool + bus + ferry)

Connections from Salt Spring Island: Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Parksville (best: ferry + bus) · Kamloops (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · New Hazelton (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain)

Connections from Tofino: Ucluelet (best: bus) · Langford (best: carpool + bus) · Merritt (best: carpool + ferry + SkyTrain) · Calgary, AB (best: carpool + ferry + SkyTrain)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Salt Spring Island and Tofino