Thetis Island to Salmon Arm 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 Thetis Island to Salmon Arm.

For scale

As the crow flies369 km

Biking whole way559 km · 37 h 09 m

By car624 km · 8 h 19 m

We found six 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 · six legs

A transport smorgasbord: ferries, city buses, SkyTrain, and coach bus.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit6 Crofton-ChemainusChemainus →Duncan20 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

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan →Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 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

🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.4 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 →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚌EbusVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)or Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1))Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) →Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm)393 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.

🚲You arrive at Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm).

Option two · five legs

Beautiful BC from a coach window.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)54 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

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

🚌Wilson's Transportation (BC Connector)BC Ferries Connector — Vancouver / VictoriaDouglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)103 kmRides in the hold — bagged or boxed$42 per bike — 50 lb maxReserve bike spot — recommended

⛴️ Downtown to downtown via the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay ferry crossing.

Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.

🚲You arrive at Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm).

Option three · eight legs

The coach takes care of the long stretch.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

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

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 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

⛴️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 →Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)17 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.

🚲You arrive at Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm).

Option four · eight legs

The same idea as Option three, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km.

🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 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

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

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryTsawwassen (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) →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.

🚲You arrive at Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm).

Show two moreShow fewer

Option five · seven legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule

A lot of connections, but it gets you there.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Chemainus to Pine & Daniel (Chemainus), about 0.9 km.

🚎BC Transit34 Ladysmith-ChemainusPine & Daniel (Chemainus) →Coronation Mall (Ladysmith)8.1 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

🚎BC Transit36 Ladysmith-Duncan ExpressCoronation Mall (Ladysmith) →Duncan24 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

🚲Travel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1.4 km.

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

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

Runs the same Highway 1 corridor as Rider Express, so compare schedules and fares.

🚲You arrive at Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm).

Option six · seven legs✈ the splurge

Every leg of this works, there are just a lot of them.

CarrierRideYour bike

⛴️BC FerriesChemainus – Thetis – PenelakutPreedy Harbour (Thetis Island) →Chemainus6.7 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Victoria Belleville Terminal, about 0.7 km.

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver Harbour – Victoria HarbourVictoria Belleville Terminal →CXH (Vancouver)98 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) – Kelowna (YLW)Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Kelowna Airport288 kmBox or sturdy bag requiredBook ahead for your bikeAbout $50 per directionNo e-bikes

🚌EbusKamloops – Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Kelowna Airport →Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm)87 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚲You arrive at Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm).

Route facts last checked October 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: Salmon Arm to Thetis Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry)

Connections from Thetis Island: Mayne Island (best: ferry + bus) · Langford (best: ferry + bus) · Coquitlam (best: ferry + bus + SkyTrain) · Port Hardy (best: ferry + bus + rental car)

Connections from Salmon Arm: Chase (best: bus) · Kimberley (best: bus) · Mill Bay (best: bus) · Whitehorse, YT (best: bus + plane)

Check out BC Bike Stops in Salmon Arm

To and Fro: moving your bike around British Columbia