Vernon to Hornby Island 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 Vernon to Hornby Island.

For scale

As the crow flies398 km

Biking whole way673 km · 41 h 48 m

By car638 km · 8 h 38 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 · eight legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

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

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌EbusKamloops – Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)or Ebus (Kelowna/Salmon Arm – Golden)Downtown Exchange (Vernon) →Kelowna (Orchard Park Mall)46 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚌EbusVancouver – KelownaKelowna (Orchard Park Mall) →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)331 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →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. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

🚗PoparideIsland Hwy rideshare (Nanaimo - Courtenay)Downtown Nanaimo Exchange →Courtenay97 kmOnly 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).

🚎BC Transit10 Fanny Bay / Deep Bay / Downtown CourtenayCourtenay →Buckley Bay20 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 FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Denman Island West to Gravelly Bay (Denman Island), about 9.4 km.

⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyGravelly Bay (Denman Island) →Shingle Spit (Hornby Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Shingle Spit (Hornby Island).

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

The same idea as Option one, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌EbusKamloops – Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Downtown Exchange (Vernon) →Kamloops142 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚌EbusVancouver – KamloopsKamloops →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)301 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →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).

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Denman Island West to Gravelly Bay (Denman Island), about 9.4 km.

⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyGravelly Bay (Denman Island) →Shingle Spit (Hornby Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Shingle Spit (Hornby Island).

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

Another way: the same idea as Option one, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌EbusKamloops – Kelowna (via Salmon Arm)Downtown Exchange (Vernon) →Sorrento76 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

🚌EbusVancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1)or Rider Express (Vancouver – Calgary (Hwy 1))Sorrento →Pacific Central Station (Vancouver)369 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.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkPacific Central Station (Vancouver) →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).

⛴️BC FerriesBuckley Bay – Denman WestBuckley Bay →Denman Island West2.5 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Denman Island West to Gravelly Bay (Denman Island), about 9.4 km.

⛴️BC FerriesGravelly Bay (Denman E) – HornbyGravelly Bay (Denman Island) →Shingle Spit (Hornby Island)2 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Shingle Spit (Hornby Island).

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

Another way: the same idea as Option one, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌EbusKelowna/Salmon Arm – GoldenDowntown Exchange (Vernon) →Hudson Ave NE & 6 St NE (Salmon Arm)52 kmRides in the hold — bagged or cloth-wrapped (no plastic), or boxed$30 per bike

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