GETTING HERE
Although Nelson is relatively isolated in the Selkirk Mountains, there are a number of ways to get here. Check out Nelson & Kootenay Lake Tourism for further transportation details.
PLANE:
Castlegar Airport is located a short 35 minute drive from Nelson and offers daily flights to and from Vancouver and Calgary with Air Canada. Shuttle service from Castlegar Airport to Nelson can be easily arranged with Queen City Shuttles.
BUS:
Greyhound makes regular stops in Nelson.
CAR:
It’s a scenic drive to Nelson from wherever you’re coming from. The Kootenays are very much an “inland island”. 3 of the 5 roads leading to Nelson include a free ferry (from Crawford Bay, Shelter Bay and Needles). Don’t miss taking the world’s longest free ferry if you’re arriving from the east. Details on departure times can be found here.
Distances and driving times to Nelson are as follows:

CITY | DISTANCE | TIME |
---|---|---|
Banff | 508km | 5.5 hrs |
Castlegar | 44km | 35 mins |
Calgary | 618km | 6.5 hrs |
Revelstoke | 252km | 3.5 hrs |
Spokane | 239km | 3 hrs |
Kelowna | 346km | 4 hrs |
Seattle | 689km | 7.5 hrs |
Vancouver | 658km | 8 hrs |