Guides › British Columbia (BC), Canada › Powell River, BC
City guide

Powell River, BC

Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, which is part of the larger Georgia Strait between Vancouver Island and the Mainland.

Type CityPopulation 15,000

Why go

  • City in British Columbia, Canada.
  • Served by Powell River Airport (YPW).
  • Home to roughly 15,000 people.

History

Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, which is part of the larger Georgia Strait between Vancouver Island and the Mainland. With two intervening long, steep-sided fjords inhibiting the construction of a contiguous road connection with Vancouver to the south, geographical surroundings explain Powell River's remoteness as a community, despite relative proximity to Vancouver and other populous areas of the BC Coast. The city is the location of the head office of the qathet Regional District.

Airports

Powell River Airport (YPW) 1.5 km to the centre
Powell River, BC V8A 1W7 — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Pacific Coastal Airline) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Vancouver (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Pacific Coastal Airline 8P (BE1, Saab 340) · 1 route: Vancouver

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Texada Island Airport (YGB) 15 km to the centre
Powell River D, BC V0N 2H0 — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Courtenay Airpark (YCA) 37 km to the centre
Courtenay, BC, CA — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Powell River (Westview)
Ferry terminal · 0.8 km from the centre
Outdoor
Texada Island (Blubber Bay)
Ferry terminal · 8.2 km from the centre
Outdoor
Texada Island (Blubber Bay) ↔ Powell River
Ferry route · British Columbia Ferry Services
Outdoor
Texada Island (Blubber Bay) to Powell River (Westview)
Ferry route · BC Ferries
Outdoor
Powell River (Westview) to Texada Island (Blubber Bay)
Ferry route · BC Ferries
Outdoor
Comox (Little River) ↔ Powell River
Ferry route · British Columbia Ferry Services
Outdoor
Comox (Little River) to Powell River (Westview)
Ferry route · BC Ferries
Outdoor
Powell River (Westview) to Comox (Little River)
Ferry route · BC Ferries
Outdoor

Where things are

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Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Powell River Airport (YPW). Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: YPW has direct flights to 1 destination on 1 airline (incl. Vancouver). By water: 2 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Powell River (Westview), 0.8 km); routes include Texada Island (Blubber Bay) ↔ Powell River, Texada Island (Blubber Bay) to Powell River (Westview), Powell River (Westview) to Texada Island (Blubber Bay).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Powell River, BC. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach
Intercity coach