Ferries from Comox (Little River)

Comox is where Vancouver Island connects to the Sunshine Coast's northern half — 85 minutes across the Strait of Georgia to Powell River, on a route that exists because there is no road up that coast.

The crossing

Comox (Little River) to Powell River (Westview) takes about 1 hour 25 minutes, with 4 sailings and 8 across the terminal in both directions. Operated by BC Ferries.

⚠ Four sailings on an 85-minute crossing

This is not a turn-up-and-go route. Four departures across the day on a crossing this long means a missed sailing costs hours, and the alternative — driving round — does not exist, because the Sunshine Coast has no road connection to the rest of the mainland.

To reach Powell River by land you would drive to Vancouver, take the Horseshoe Bay ferry to Langdale, drive the coast to Earls Cove, and take a third ferry to Saltery Bay. Three ferries and most of a day.

Parking

Run by Robbins Parking with about 115 spaces, including the overflow lot. Modest, but this is one of the few smaller terminals on this coast with a proper managed lot rather than a handful of free spaces.

Where this is

Little River is northeast of Comox on Vancouver Island's east coast, about fifteen minutes from Courtenay. The Comox Valley has an airport with mainland flights, which is the practical alternative to this ferry for foot passengers.

Why the route matters

It closes the loop on what BC Ferries calls the Sunshine Coast circuit — Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, up the coast, across to Comox, and back down Vancouver Island. Done as a circle it is one of the better drives in the province, and this is the leg that makes it a circle rather than an out-and-back.

Season

Year round. Summer weekends fill the vehicle deck; reservations are worth having on a route with four sailings.