Denman Island, BC
 
 
 


 

 

Getting to Denman Island

To visit Denman Island, you need to get to the Buckley Bay ferry terminal on Vancouver Island, where you will board the ferry for the 10-12 minute scenic sail to Denman.

Below you will find information about driving here, ferry schedules, trains, and regional and local bus routes.

Driving to Denman

To drive to the Denman Island ferry in Buckley Bay, simply take the Inland Island Highway 19 on Vancouver Island:

  • From Victoria to Buckley Bay: 2.5 hrs.
  • From Nanaimo to Buckley Bay: 1.5 hrs.
  • From Courtenay to Buckley Bay: 20 min.

All times are approximate.

BC Ferries

The Denman Island Ferry departs from Buckley Bay at approximately hourly intervals.

Leaves Denman Island
Leaves Buckley Bay
  6:40am   7:00am
  7:20am   7:40am
  8:00am DC / ** 8:20am
** 8:40am   9:00am
  9:40am   10:00am
  10:40am   11:00am
  11:50am   12:10pm
  12:45pm   1:05pm
  1:40pm   2:00pm
  2:40pm   3:00pm
DC 3:40pm   4:00pm
  4:40pm   5:00pm
  5:40pm   6:00pm
  6:40pm   7:00pm
  8:00pm   8:30pm
  9:40pm   10:00pm
  10:40pm   11:00pm

"DC" denotes "Dangerous Cargo" ferry runs, Thursday only-- no passengers.
"**" denotes "Daily except Sunday".

Map depicting BC Ferries routes:

Ferry Ticket Prices
Season Adults Child
(5-11 yrs)
Vehicle Oversized
Vehicle
Motorcycles
Peak $6.05 $3.20 $14.65 $21.35 $7.75
Low $5.80 $3.05 $12.85 $19.35 $6.85

For more information about schedules and fares, please visit the BC Ferries website.

Hot tip!
Don't be confused if you arrive at the ferry terminal and the ferry seems off-schedule. This tends to happen in the summer months when the ferry shuttles back and forth between Denman Island and Buckley Bay to accommodate the increase in traffic during the busy tourist season. Please be patient—the ferry will come straight back and immediately load for the next sailing.


Comox Airport

Flights into nearby Comox, British Columbia (located about 30 km north of the Denman) make getting to Denman Island a breeze. The flight from Vancouver to Comox is approximately 25 minutes, and you can also fly direct Comox-Calgary. For more information, schedules and fares, visit Pacific Coastal (1-800-663-2872), or West Jet (1-800-538-5696).


Traveling by Train

Take the scenic train route through Vancouver Island to get to Buckley Bay! The train stops a short walk away from the ferry landing, making the train an accessible way to travel to Denman Island. Check train schedules with Via Rail (1-888-842-7245).


Bus Service to Denman Island

Islandlink Bus Service currently provides 3 shuttle services daily between Campbell River/Comox/Courtenay and Departure Bay, and include a pick-up stop at the Denman Island ferry in Buckley Bay. If you're headed to the Vancouver International Airport, you can also catch a lift to there from Horseshoe Bay on the mainland. Check the Islandlink website for complete details, or call 1-877-954-3556.

Greyhound offers direct transportation to the Buckley Bay ferry landing. There are 2 daily buses that go straight from the Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo to Buckley Bay. Check the Greyhound schedules for complete information or call 1-800-661-TRIP.


Local Transportation

There is also a local bus route that will take you to/from Buckley Bay to/from Courtenay, B.C. This is a handy service that allows you to make a day trip to Courtenay/Comox while enjoying the benefits of local transportation, namely reduced travel costs and fuel consumption. Adult fare is just $1.50. Check local bus schedules. Phone: 339-5453.