Travelling from Vancouver to Nanaimo: what you need to know
Begin your travels at one of Vancouver's main airports, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH). Explore your options for booking a flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo jetting off from either of these.
The major gateways to Nanaimo are Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA) and Nanaimo Airport (YCD).
The average time for a direct Vancouver to Nanaimo flight is 25 minutes.
The busiest route for flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo is from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Nanaimo Airport (YCD). There are 29 services every week between these two airports. If you want to take off at the first opportunity, the earliest flight from YVR to YCD is the 07:55 Air Canada option. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the final departure is at 21:35 with Air Canada.
Give yourself plenty of time to make your Vancouver to Nanaimo flight. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as August, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than normal. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Vancouver to Nanaimo
To score cheap Vancouver to Nanaimo flights, reserve your journey one month before your planned departure.
The best month for picking up cheap plane tickets from Vancouver to Nanaimo is April. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates that offer the biggest savings.
Snapping up a cheap flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.
Tailor your flights using filters. Select your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' Vancouver to Nanaimo flights.
Flying from Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Depart from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and fly right through to Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA) or Nanaimo Airport (YCD). If you're searching for a direct flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo out of YVR, those are your arrival options.
Leading carriers that offer direct Vancouver to Nanaimo plane tickets from YVR include:
Located around 11 kms (7 miles) from the centre of Vancouver, YVR can be reached in about 25 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport is roughly 35 minutes.
Have an early flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels near Vancouver International Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Vancouver International Airport, 71.77% of flights meet their scheduled arrival time.
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
You can book a direct flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo departing Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH). Nonstop services from CXH will take you to Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA).
Helijet Airways offers direct Vancouver to Nanaimo plane tickets from CXH. Book your preferred seat and reach your destination in a single journey.
CXH is about 3 kms (2 miles) from central Vancouver. It'll take you 5 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 15 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not enjoy an extra night away? Consider checking in to one of these hotels near Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport the day before your flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo:
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
YXX is roughly 64 kms (40 miles) from central Vancouver. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour. If you're considering public transport, you can expect a journey of around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Rest a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your Vancouver to Nanaimo flight with time to spare. These hotels near Abbotsford Airport make it a breeze to get to the terminal if you're flying out first thing:
The on-time performance rating of YXX is 67.97%. In simpler terms, that's how often flights departing this airport arrive at their destination as planned.
Arriving in Nanaimo
Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA)
The distance from Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport (ZNA) to central Nanaimo is roughly 0.48 kms (0.30 miles). It'll take you about 5 minutes to reach the centre driving.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 10 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo. Stay at one of these accommodation options near ZNA instead:
Grab a Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport rental car and discover parts of Nanaimo that aren't the typical tourist stops. Find your perfect set of wheels with Budget.
To get the lowest possible price, book your vehicle from Nanaimo Harbour Seaplane Base Airport at least a couple of weeks in advance. Prices generally rise closer to the day of travel.
Nanaimo Airport (YCD)
Nanaimo Airport (YCD) is roughly 13 kms (8 miles) from the centre of Nanaimo. After your flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo, it'll take you approximately 20 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
You can expect the journey to take about 1 hour 20 minutes on public transport.
Why wait around for a cab? A Nanaimo Airport rental car lets you get going right away. Find the perfect playlist and hit the road with a set of wheels from National or Budget.
Get what you want, not just what's left over. Reserving your ride from YCD three weeks ahead of time often means more savings and a wider selection of vehicles.
More about Nanaimo
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the top stays in Nanaimo right here. Browse these options after locking in your flight from Vancouver to Nanaimo:
Newcastle Island Park and The Bastion are just two of the major attractions to add to your Nanaimo to-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Harbourfront Walkway.
Explore more of Canada
Nanaimo has its own special appeal, but there are so many other parts of Canada just waiting to be discovered. Around 40 miles east of Nanaimo, a visit to Vancouver will fill your itinerary to the brim. Check out popular attractions like Stanley Park, Granville Island and Science World.
If you want to check out another side of Canada, consider Surrey, roughly 55 miles east of Nanaimo. Senator Reid Park, Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park are among the biggest draws.