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 Whitehorse, YT to Quadra Island.
For scale
As the crow flies1,336 km
Biking whole wayno route found
By carno route found
We found two 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 · five legs✈ the splurge
Fill in the gap with a rental car.
CarrierRideYour bike
✈️Air NorthVancouver (YVR) – Whitehorse (YXY)or Air Canada (Vancouver (YVR) – Whitehorse (YXY))YXY (Whitehorse) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)1487 kmHard case or bike box — a box needs a signed release; 32 kg max$50 plus taxAdd your bike to the booking ahead — space availableE-bikes only with a small battery — removable, 160 Wh max, carried in the cabin
Nonstop, two or three flights a day, year-round.
🚝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. 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, about 1.5 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.
🚙BudgetOne-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimoor National Car & Truck Rental (One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)Downtown Nanaimo →Campbell River134 kmOne-way between BC Budget branches — bookable onlineBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from Campbell River to Campbell River, about 0.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bee-Line Taxi might help.
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island).
Option two · six legs✈ the splurge
One long leg does most of the travelling.
CarrierRideYour bike
✈️Air NorthVancouver (YVR) – Whitehorse (YXY)or Air Canada (Vancouver (YVR) – Whitehorse (YXY))YXY (Whitehorse) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)1487 kmHard case or bike box — a box needs a signed release; 32 kg max$50 plus taxAdd your bike to the booking ahead — space availableE-bikes only with a small battery — removable, 160 Wh max, carried in the cabin
Nonstop, two or three flights a day, year-round.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) →Horseshoe Bay17 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
🚲Travel the short hop from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Downtown Nanaimo, about 1.3 km.
🚙National Car & Truck Rental (Vancouver Island)One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimoor Budget (One-way rental: Campbell River – Nanaimo) (counter a short ride away on the 20/20A Hammond Bay / Dover)Downtown Nanaimo →YBL (Campbell River)127 kmOne-way between Island branches — no drop chargeBike rides inside — SUV or minivan, seats folded, wheels offConfirm one-way and vehicle when booking
🚲Travel the short hop from YBL (Campbell River) to Campbell River, about 8.3 km.
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island).
Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike✈ the splurge
A plane, a SkyTrain, two ferries, 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
✈️Air NorthVancouver (YVR) – Whitehorse (YXY)or Air Canada (Vancouver (YVR) – Whitehorse (YXY))YXY (Whitehorse) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)1487 kmHard case or bike box — a box needs a signed release; 32 kg max$50 plus taxAdd your bike to the booking ahead — space availableE-bikes only with a small battery — removable, 160 Wh max, carried in the cabin
Nonstop, two or three flights a day, year-round.
🚝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.
⛴️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.
⛴️BC FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island).
Not an option · seven legs🚫 not possible with a bike✈ the splurge
Seven legs, end to end.
🚫 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
✈️Air NorthVancouver (YVR) – Whitehorse (YXY)YXY (Whitehorse) →Vancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond)1487 kmHard case or bike box — a box needs a signed release; 32 kg max$50 plus taxAdd your bike to the booking ahead — space availableE-bikes only with a small battery — removable, 160 Wh max, carried in the cabin
Nonstop, two or three flights a day, year-round.
🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Airport (YVR) (Richmond) →Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK
🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) →Horseshoe Bay17 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
🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange3.3 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 FerriesCampbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra)Campbell River →Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)2.9 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board
🚲You arrive at Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island).
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: Quadra Island to Whitehorse, YT (best: ferry + rental car + SkyTrain)
Connections from Whitehorse, YT: Skagway, AK (best: plane + SkyTrain + bus) · Port Alberni (best: plane + SkyTrain + ferry) · Mayne Island (best: plane + SkyTrain + bus) · Fernie (best: plane + bus)
Connections from Quadra Island: Lund (best: ferry + water taxi) · Port Renfrew (best: ferry + bus) · Chase (best: ferry + rental car + SkyTrain) · Skagway, AK (best: ferry + rental car + bus)