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Getting to Nanaimo

By Lynn Donn

Real Estate Agent with Royal Lepage Nanaimo Realty

June 17, 2013 04:52 AM

Getting to Nanaimo

By Ferry

The BC Ferry Service runs daily sailings between Nanaimo and the mainland from two different terminals. Take your car or walk on for a comfortable, modern, mini-cruise. There’s buffet and self-serve food service, arcade, kids play areas, Internet access, gift shop, plus fantastic scenery right outside to keep you occupied.

Arrive at least 45 minutes (minimum) ahead of time. Ticket sales stop 20 minutes prior to sailing. Reservations are recommended in the summer and holiday weekends.

Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver to Departure Bay, Nanaimo (1 hour 40 minutes)
Tsawwassen to Duke Point, Nanaimo (2 hours)

By Air

Scenic flights to Nanaimo on a float plane Getting to Nanaimo by air is one of the best kept travellers’ secrets. Seaplane service between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo Harbour takes about twenty minutes and the views are stunning. It’s well worth the trip (at least once) to see Georgia Strait, the coastal mountains, and the Vancouver Island coastline from the air.

You can also fly between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Nanaimo Airport (YCD)—only short 18 kilometer drive from downtown Nanaimo—for easy international connections. There’s daily service between Vancouver and Nanaimo as well as direct flights between Calgary and Nanaimo beginning June 2013.

Harbour Air Seaplanes and Tofino Air from downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo Harbour (20 minutes flight time)
Air Canada, Vancouver YVR to Nanaimo YCD, (22 minutes flight time)
Westjet, Nanaimo to Calgary (coming soon)
Island Express, Nanaimo to Victoria, Abbostford and Vancouver

By Car
One of the things you’ll notice about driving in Nanaimo and on the Island in general is the absence of mainland-style, bumper-to-bumper traffic. Most Island destinations are minutes away. The Transcanada Highway connects Nanaimo with Victoria and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to drive.

Some common driving distances to Nanaimo:

From Victoria: 114 km (68 mi)
From Parksville: 36 km (21 mi)
From Tofino: 223 km ( 134 mi)
From Campbell River: 150 km (90 mi)
From Port Alberni: 84 km (50 mi)
From Port Hardy: 391 km (235 mi)

By Bus

Nanaimo Regional transit is your local bus service, serving the area from Cedar (south of Nanaimo) to Qualicum Beach and all the areas in between: Nanaimo, Lantzville, and Parksville. Both regular bus service and HandyDART custom transit services are available.

Fares: