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 Trail to Nanaimo.
For scale
As the crow flies461 km
Biking whole way684 km · 46 h 17 m
By car733 km · 9 h 38 m
We found five ways to get you there.
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⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
The coach takes care of the long stretch.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲First, get from Central Trail to Cedar Ave at Spokane St (Trail), about 8.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Creston Cabs might help.
🚎BC Transit98 Columbia ConnectorCedar Ave at Spokane St (Trail) →Castlegar Airport24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Castlegar Airport to Castlegar, about 3.4 km.
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverCastlegar →New Westminster462 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster →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
🚲You arrive at Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way).
Option two · four legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option one, but a city bus instead of the SkyTrain.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲First, get from Central Trail to Cedar Ave at Spokane St (Trail), about 8.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
🚎BC Transit98 Columbia ConnectorCedar Ave at Spokane St (Trail) →Castlegar Airport24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Castlegar Airport to Castlegar, about 3.4 km.
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverCastlegar →Downtown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie)478 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) →Horseshoe Bay19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK
⛴️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 three · five legs⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
A transport smorgasbord: city buses, coach bus, SkyTrain, and ferry.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲First, get from Central Trail to Cedar Ave at Spokane St (Trail), about 8.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
🚎BC Transit98 Columbia ConnectorCedar Ave at Spokane St (Trail) →Castlegar Airport24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Castlegar Airport to Castlegar, about 3.4 km.
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverCastlegar →New Westminster462 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen Ferryor the 900 Bike Bus (seasonal)Bridgeport (Richmond) →Tsawwassen (Delta)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.
⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Duke PointTsawwassen (Delta) →Duke Point (Nanaimo)58 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Duke Point (Nanaimo).
Option four · five legs📅 seasonal⚠ doesn't run every day — check the schedule
Same as Option three, but a coach bus instead of the city bus.
CarrierRideYour bike
🚲First, get from Central Trail to Cedar Ave at Spokane St (Trail), about 8.4 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
🚎BC Transit98 Columbia ConnectorCedar Ave at Spokane St (Trail) →Castlegar Airport24 kmRack on the bus, free — 2 bikes · first come, first servedE-bikes OK
🚲Travel the short hop from Castlegar Airport to Castlegar, about 3.4 km.
🚌Mountain Man Mike'sKaslo – VancouverCastlegar →New Westminster462 kmBikes acceptedCall for a quote — fee and packaging arranged with the booking agent
Runs once a week; hop-on hop-off along the way.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkNew Westminster →Vancouver Canada PlaceRoll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚌Squamish ConnectorSquamish – VancouverVancouver Canada Place →Horseshoe Bay16 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.
⛴️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 five · three legs✈ the splurge
The scenic splurge: hop a flight.
CarrierRideYour bike
✈️Pacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver – TrailYZZ (Trail) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)408 kmRides in the hold — small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Airport (YVR) (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.
🛩️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 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: Nanaimo to Trail (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)
Connections from Trail: Castlegar (best: bus) · Clearwater (best: bus) · Salt Spring Island (best: bus + SkyTrain + ferry) · Terrace (best: bus + SkyTrain + train)
Connections from Nanaimo: North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: bus) · Texada Island (best: ferry + bus) · Osoyoos (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus) · Calgary, AB (best: ferry + SkyTrain + bus)