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: buses, ferries, trains, rental cars and flights can carry you and your bike from Vancouver to Port Hardy.
For scale
As the crow flies353 km
Biking whole way480 km ยท 27 h 38 m
By car504 km ยท 6 h 54 m
We found six ways to get you there.
๐ 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
A one-way rental fills in the missing piece.
CarrierRideYour bike
โด๏ธHulloHullo (Nanaimo โ Vancouver)CXH (Vancouver) โHullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way)61 kmBook online ahead โ 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way โ $25 in personNo e-bikes โ no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
๐BudgetOne-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimoor National Car & Truck Rental (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)Downtown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)298 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches โ bookable onlineBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒAt the far end, Central Port Hardy is about 10 km from YZT (Port Hardy). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Waivin Flags Taxi might help.
Option two · three legs
Option one, plus a city bus at the start.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressDowntown Vancouver (Dunsmuir at Cambie) โHorseshoe Bay19 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes โ first come, first servedE-bikes OK
โด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ Departure BayHorseshoe Bay โDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free โ no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ no charging on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
๐National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)Downtown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)295 kmOne-way between Island branches โ no drop chargeBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒAt the far end, Central Port Hardy is about 10 km from YZT (Port Hardy). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
Option three · three legs📅 seasonal
Option one, plus a coach bus at the start.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐Squamish ConnectorSquamish โ VancouverVancouver Canada Place โHorseshoe Bay16 kmBook aheadMax 2 bikes per tripSome buses have an outside rack โ otherwise carried in the luggage hold$15 each wayNo e-bikes
Bikes welcome May to September; check schedule outside that window.
โด๏ธBC FerriesHorseshoe Bay โ Departure BayHorseshoe Bay โDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)53 kmRoll on, free โ no reservation neededE-bikes OK โ no charging on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
๐National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)Downtown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)295 kmOne-way between Island branches โ no drop chargeBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒAt the far end, Central Port Hardy is about 10 km from YZT (Port Hardy). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
Option four · six legs
Four ways to travel, one destination.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐Amtrak CascadesVancouver โ Seattle (Cascades)Pacific Central Station (Vancouver) โSeattle Downtown WA194 kmRoll on the bike carReserve bike spotBike fee
Two daily round trips from Pacific Central; reserve bike space when you book. Passport required.
โด๏ธVictoria ClipperVictoria Clipper (Victoria - Seattle)Seattle Downtown WA โVictoria Belleville Terminal119 kmReserve ahead by phone โ space very limited, first booked first served$30 USD each way โ about $41 CADRides on the open deck โ bags and accessories off; waiver at check-in
Daily year-round, with extra sailings in summer. Bike space is very limited; reserve by phone when you book. Passport required.
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Victoria Belleville Terminal to Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria), about 0.7 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.
๐BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) โDuncan54 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan โBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.
๐BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
๐National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)295 kmOne-way between Island branches โ no drop chargeBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒAt the far end, Central Port Hardy is about 10 km from YZT (Port Hardy). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
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Option five · six legs
Same as Option four, but a coach bus instead of the train.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐FlixBus (operated by MTRWestern)Vancouver โ Seattle via Bellingham & EverettPacific Central Station (Vancouver) โSeattle Downtown WA204 kmRack on the bus โ space not guaranteedAbout $19โ37Book bike as add-onNo e-bikes, tandems or trailers
โด๏ธVictoria ClipperVictoria Clipper (Victoria - Seattle)Seattle Downtown WA โVictoria Belleville Terminal119 kmReserve ahead by phone โ space very limited, first booked first served$30 USD each way โ about $41 CADRides on the open deck โ bags and accessories off; waiver at check-in
Daily year-round, with extra sailings in summer. Bike space is very limited; reserve by phone when you book. Passport required.
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Victoria Belleville Terminal to Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria), about 0.7 km.
๐BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) โDuncan54 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressDuncan โBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch46 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch to Downtown Nanaimo Exchange, about 0.5 km.
๐BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / DoverDowntown Nanaimo Exchange โDeparture Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee โ 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only โ lithium battery off the bike and carried on board
๐ฒTravel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
๐National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Port Hardy โ Nanaimo)Downtown Nanaimo โYZT (Port Hardy)295 kmOne-way between Island branches โ no drop chargeBike rides inside โ SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
๐ฒAt the far end, Central Port Hardy is about 10 km from YZT (Port Hardy). Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.
Option six · one leg✈ the splurge
The scenic splurge: hop a flight.
CarrierRideYour bike
๐ฒFirst, get from Vancouver to Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond), about 9 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Garden City Cabs, Kimber Cabs might help.
โ๏ธPacific Coastal AirlinesVancouver โ Port HardyVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) โYZT (Port Hardy)343 kmRides in the hold โ small aircraft, limited spaceAbout $105 per directionNo e-bikes
๐ฒAt the far end, Central Port Hardy is about 10 km from YZT (Port Hardy). 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: Port Hardy to Vancouver (best: rental car + ferry)
Connections from Vancouver: Gibsons (best: bus + ferry) · Powell River (best: bus + ferry) · Enderby (best: bus) · Haida Gwaii (best: train + ferry)
Connections from Port Hardy: Port McNeill (best: bus) · West Vancouver (best: rental car + ferry) · Smithers (best: ferry + train) · Calgary, AB (best: rental car + ferry + bus)
Check out BC Bike Stops in Vancouver and Port Hardy