How to Get to Fernie, BC → By Plane, Car & Public Transport

While Fernie, BC is an incredible mountain town in Canada that is absolutely worth visiting, unfortunately, getting here isn’t always very straightforward.

I’ve lived here for over two years now and spent countless hours coming and going from all different parts of the country. So in this post, I decided to detail every way you can get to Fernie by car, public transport and plane to make it super easy for you to pick the best option for you.

Regardless of where you are coming from, I will give you all the details and insider tips for how to get to Fernie, BC!

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Quick Summary

Here are some important stats for those of you who need to make a quick decision. But make sure to read the sections of this post that apply to you because I’ve given you some helpful tips that will save you time and money!

1. Where is Fernie in Canada?

Fernie is located in the southeast of B.C. in Canada, 50 km / 31 miles west of the Albertan provincial border and 70 km / 43 miles north of the U.S.A border crossing at Roosville.

This small mountain town that I get to call home is a part of the East Kootenay region and is surrounded by the Lizzard Range of the Canadian Rockies.

Read More!

Where to Stay in Fernie • Local Guide to the Best Accommodation

2. Flying to Fernie, BC

While Fernie doesn’t have its own airport, the closest airport to Fernie is the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook (YXC) which is around a 1.5-hour drive away.

Cranbrook is my preferred option for flying to Fernie since it’s a small airport without too far of a drive. However, they only operate flights to and from Vancouver or Calgary which means unless you’re coming from one of those places, you may have a lengthy connection.

The closest international airport to Fernie is in Calgary, Alberta (YYC), which is about a 3-4 hour drive away. While the drive is significantly longer, there are many more flight options to get to and from Calgary, plus getting to Fernie is still pretty straightforward.

Lastly, if you’re visiting from the United States, you may want to consider flying into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell, Montana. Kalispell is around a 2-hour drive south of Fernie which makes it closer than Calgary, and often has cheaper and quicker direct flights from other U.S destinations.

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3. How to Get to Fernie From Calgary

Getting from Calgary to Fernie should take between 3 – 5 hours depending on what option you choose and the road conditions at the time. You can rent a car from Calgary Airport with most of the major rental car companies or jump on a shuttle. I’ll go into all the details below.

Driving from Calgary to Fernie

Driving from Calgary to Fernie takes around 3.5 hours but I like to allow at least 4 hours in winter as you never know what the conditions will be like.

If you look up the route on Google Maps, you’ll see a few different choices. The easiest (and safest in winter) route is to follow Hwy 2 south from Calgary until you reach a junction with Hwy 3. Here you simply turn right and follow it west all the way to Fernie.

Most of the drive is on multi-lane highways that are well maintained through all seasons of the year, which is why it’s my choice when driving after dark or in the winter months.

You may see that Google Maps suggests taking Hwy 22 at Nanton. Hwy 22 is also a perfectly fine option and is even a little bit more scenic (although the mountains are still quite far away). I like driving this route in summer if I’m travelling during the daytime, but while it can save you around 15 minutes, there are a few reasons I personally avoid it in less-than-ideal conditions.

Hwy 22 is much smaller than Hwy 2 and 3, with a single lane in each direction for the majority of the drive, plus there are quite a lot of large hills. Despite this, many logging trucks still take this route which means it’s not uncommon to get stuck behind a slow vehicle for quite a long period of time.

Since it’s a little bit more of a remote highway, snow plowing can be quite delayed and there is also lots of wildlife in the area, especially at dusk. One time I was driving home and came across a whole herd of elk in the middle of the road, hidden in a dip. Luckily there weren’t any other cars around and I was able to stop in time!

Whichever route you choose you will have to cross one mountain pass at Crowsnest. At 1,358 m / 4,455 ft, Crowsnest Pass isn’t too high, but if you’re going to encounter unfavourable conditions during your drive, it will probably be here.

TOP TIP: You can always check the road conditions and webcams for the journey here and here. Note that you will cross from BC to Alberta so you will need to look at both websites.

Shuttles to Fernie

If you don’t want to drive yourself, the next best option for getting to Fernie from Calgary is to book a shuttle.

There are two companies that run shuttles between Calgary Airport and Fernie, Tunnel 49 and Resort Tours.

Tunnel 49 is the cheaper option as they have a shared shuttle which leaves Calgary at 1 pm and departs from Fernie at 8 am daily. The ride takes around 3.5 hours and costs around $235 per person.

If you have a larger group, you may also want to look into booking a private shuttle. You can do this through Tunnel 49 or Resort Tours (from $1,350).

Read More!

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Public Transport from Calgary to Fernie

Unfortunately, there’s no regular public transport between Calgary and Fernie which means getting to Fernie without a car can get a bit more tricky if you’re on a budget.

If you can get the timing right, Mountain Man Mike’s Bus is your best option to get to Fernie by bus. The Calgary to Kaslo route passes through Fernie once a week leaving Calgary at 7 am on Tuesday and Fernie at 2:10 pm on Monday. Tickets cost ~$138 per person and the drive takes 4.5 hours as it makes plenty of stops along the way. Note that you will need to contact them if you intend on bringing larger luggage such as skis.

Calgary – Fort Macleod

For those of you who are looking for a more affordable option, there’s one more route that you might be able to make work if you’re flexible (or have friends willing to pick you up). Both Flixbus and RedArrow run buses from Calgary to Fort Macleod several times a week.

Flixbus runs twice a day from Thursday to Monday and has tickets for just $15 but doesn’t pick up directly from the Airport. Their stops are at Sunridge Mall, 11 Ave SE and Southcenter Mall.

Red Arrow runs daily but costs $75 per person. Note you must pre-book in order for the bus to stop at Fort Macleod. If no one has booked this one, the bus won’t stop!

Unfortunately, both of these buses turn east instead of west at Fort Macleod, meaning getting the last 160km can be tricky.

Friends of mine have used this option when coming to visit as it means I only have to drive an hour and 45 minutes to come and collect them rather than the 4-hour treck to Calgary. However, if you don’t have anyone to pick you up, your only other options for this leg of the journey would be to book a private shuttle from either Tunnel49 or Resort Tours, hitchhike, or try and organize a lift on the Fernie Ride Share Facebook page or Pop a Ride. Thankfully it’s straight down Hwy 3 all the way to Fernie from here!

4. Getting to Fernie From Cranbrook

Getting from Cranbrook to Fernie has many of the same options however, they’re all a little quicker and cheaper! Plus, if you time your arrival correctly you may even be able to take the public bus if you’re on a budget.

Cranbrook to Fernie by Car

Driving from Cranbrook to Fernie takes around 1 – 1.5 hours in winter and is fairly straightforward with no mountain passes and good roads that are frequently plowed when it snows. The Cranbrook airport is actually located a little north of the city which means you can rent a car and get straight out on the road to Fernie in no time.

There isn’t much more to say about this drive other than the fact that there is currently intermittent road work at Jaffray. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem for your trip, most of the time it’s just a reduced speed limit however occasionally they will make it one way.

Public Transport from Cranbrook to Fernie

BC Transit Shuttle

If you plan your trip right, you might be able to take advantage of the BC Transit shuttle that runs between Fernie and Cranbrook twice a week (Wednesday and Friday). The bus is primarily for those who need transport to medical appointments (and these passengers take priority), however as long as there is space, anyone is welcome to use it.

The bus leaves from the Fernie Hospital at 9 am and from Cranbrook Hospital at 2:30 pm or Tamarack Mall in Cranbrook at 3 pm. Tickets cost $2.50 per ride and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance by calling 855 417 4636.

Another thing to note is that there is no storage underneath the bus as it is only a small shuttle bus which means you cannot bring ski gear on board. Only luggage that you can carry on and place on your lap or between your legs will be permitted.

Mountain Man Mike

Another bus that runs between Cranbrook and Fernie is the Mountain Man Mike bus which runs all the way from Calgary to Kaslo. This bus only runs once a week, leaving Cranbrook at 12:30 pm on Mondays and Fernie at 11:30 am on Tuesdays.

Tickets cost $63 per person and the drive takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. Note that you will need to contact them if you intend on bringing larger luggage such as skis as this is an extra cost.

Shuttles from Cranbrook to Fernie

You have three options when it comes to airport shuttles from Cranbrook to Fernie. Tunnel 49 runs a shared shuttle that costs $170.53 per person but requires a minimum of 2 people to run at that price. You can also book a private taxi or whole shuttle through them if you have a larger group.

Alternatively, Resort Tours offers private shuttles to and from Cranbrook for $429. Both these shuttles have space for limited luggage so make sure to ask them about extra fees if you have a ski bag.

The third option isn’t super reliable but can be a good affordable option if it works out. Kootenay Taxi can organize a pickup if they have a vehicle and driver available for your dates. Generally, the cost is from $207 for up to 6 passengers or $325 for up to 11 passengers to or from Cranbrook. They don’t have a website so you’ll need to call (250) 423 4408 to book.

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5. How to get to Fernie from Kalispell

While Kalispell is in a different country to Fernie, getting from Kalispell to Fernie is actually quite an easy process (provided you’re prepared for the border crossing of course).

Driving from Kalispell to Fernie

As I mentioned before, driving from Kalispell is super quite simple as there are no mountain passes and the route takes highways the entire way.

In good conditions you can easily drive from Kalispell to Fernie in under 2.5 hours, the only thing you really need to consider is the border crossing.

You will cross the U.S./Canada border at Roosville, Montana. Even though it’s a fairly small border crossing, it’s open 24/7 and rarely has any queues which makes crossing a painless event.

Something to consider if you plan on renting a car in Kalispell is that some companies may have additional regulations or requirements if you want to take your rental car into Canada (or vice versa). It’s not usually a problem but it’s always a good idea to call ahead to confirm.

Shuttle from Kalispell to Fernie

Resort Tours operates a private shuttle between Fernie and Kalispell with prices starting at $699. They’re fully insured to run the shuttle in both countries which makes the crossing super easy.

If that’s not an option, you can enquire with Tunnel 49 however I’m not sure if they will be able to cross the border.

Unfortunately, there isn’t any public transport that runs between Kalispell and the border nor the border to Fernie.

6. Getting from Fernie to Golden or Radium

Driving from Golden/Radium to Fernie

Driving between Golden and Fernie is another easy but highly rewarding drive. In total, the trip is only around 3.5 hours (2.5 hours to Radium) and simply consists of two highways.

Drive south on Hwy 95 you will pass through Radium Hot Springs and continue all the way until you meet the junction with Hwy 3 (also known as Crosness Hwy). Turn left here and follow it right to Fernie!

There are no mountain passes along the route and both highways are fairly popular meaning they are regularly plowed in winter!

Public Transport

Unfortunately, there are very limited public transport options between Golden, Radium and Fernie but if you plan your trip well, the journey isn’t impossible by bus!

To get from Golden to Fernie you will need to connect two different Health Connection routes by BC Transit: Golden to Cranbrook, and Cranbrook to Fernie.

As I mentioned in the Cranbook section, these buses are designed to take patients from rural towns to their medical appointments and thus these passengers will have priority. That being said, anyone is welcome to use the shuttle provided there is space.

IMPORTANT: You can bring carry-on items however there is no under-buser storage so ski bags or large luggage won’t be accepted this isn’t the best option if you’re trying to move your whole life!

Tickets cost $2.50 per ride (so $5 for the journey) and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance by calling 855 417 4636.

Golden to Fernie

The first bus from Golden to Cranbrook runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, leaving at 8 am.

Getting from Cranbrook to Fernie via BC Transit is only possible on Wednesdays and Fridays so you will need to spend a night here before continuing on your journey. I recommend the Best Western or Motel 6 for an affordable stay near the bus stop.

On your day of departure, head to either Cranbrook Hospital at 2:30 pm or Tamarack Mall at 3 pm. You’ll be dropped off at Fernie Hospital but you may be able to ask for a different location if it’s not busy.

Fernie to Golden

The first step to get to Golden or Radium from Fernie is to get to Cranbrook. The BC Transit bus leaves from Fernie Hospital at 9 am on Wednesdays and Fridays and will drop you off either at the Hospital in Cranbrook or at Tamarack Mall.

I recommend planning your journey for a Wednesday so you only need to spend 1 night here (Best Western or Motel 6 are good options as they’re cheap and close to the Tamarak bus stop).

From Cranbrook to Golden, the bus runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and departs from Cranbrook Hospital at 3:00 p.m. or Tamarak Mall at 3:30 pm.

NOTE: To take the bus from Radium, you may be able to organize a pick-up on the above route by calling them since the bus will already be passing through. However if they won’t let you do this, you will simply have to take the regular BC Transit bus to Invermere and get on there instead.

7. How to Get from Vancouver to Fernie, BC

Driving from Vancouver to Fernie

If you put Vancouver to Fernie into your GPS, it will probably tell you the drive takes 10.5 hours. While that seems doable in a day if you have two drivers, I highly recommend splitting the drive into two days as in reality, it is rarely that quick.

When we moved back to Fernie in 2022 we left Vancouver at 5:30 am thinking we would have plenty of time to make it in one day. Little did we know we would encounter the first big blizzard of the year and be stuck at an accident roadblock for hours… we didn’t arrive until 2 am!

The easiest route begins by taking Hwy 1 out of Vancouver which turns into Hwy 3 at Hope. From here it looks like a straight shot as you stay on Hwy all the way to Fernie, however, this is where the mountains begin! In reality, between Hope and Fernie you will need to go over 5 passes that can sometimes have unpredictable conditions.

I’ve listed each of the passes in order (from Vancouver to Fernie) below along with a direct link to each of their webcams. The highest pass is Kootenay Pass at 1,774 m / 5,820 ft so if you’re going to encounter snow or ice anywhere, it’s probably going to be here.

• Allison Pass
• Sunday Summitt
• Anarchist Summit
• Blueberry-Paulson Summit (Bonanza Pass)
• Kootenay Pass webcam

Driving each of the passes above isn’t necessarily dangerous, it just takes a little more preparation outside of the peak summer season. It’s also good to know that in particularly bad conditions, some of these passes may close.

Most of these roads only have one lane in either direction but are equipped with the occasional pull out which slow cars are encouraged to use. What’s more, you can’t count on there being any phone reception in these areas so you should be prepared with blankets and food in case you find yourself needing to wait for assistance.

If you want to stop for a night in the middle, Osoyoos, Grand Forks or Christina Lake are the best options depending on how you want to split the drive.

For those of you who are planning on driving between Fernie and Vancouver in winter, if you want a more guaranteed route the best option is actually to drive down into the States and cut across using the I90. While you will need to ensure your rental car is able to cross the border, these roads are big highways with minimal elevation change which means it can actually be quicker and safer than driving all the mountain passes in Canada. All you need to do is cross back into Canada at Eastport and you’re nearly in Fernie!

Public Transport from Vancouver to Fernie

The only way to get from Vancouver to Fernie via public transport is to take the Mountain Man Mike bus. You will need to take two different buses and the journey will take quite a while but it is a good way to make the journey if you don’t have a car.

First, the Vancouver to Kaslo route runs on Thursdays and Sundays at a cost of $180 per person (the bus stop is located across from the Downtown train station here). If you want to go all the way to Fernie in the shortest time, catch the Sunday bus. You’ll arrive at 6:10 pm so you’ll need to spend the night here before continuing your journey.

On Monday (the only day this bus runs), you will need to get on the Kaslo – Calgary route and get off at Tim Hortons in Fernie. This trip will cost $118 per person and departs at 7 am. I recommend staying at the Kaslo Hotel as it’s right near the bus stop.

Fernie to Vancouver

To reverse the route, jump on the Calgary to Kaslo route at Fernie on a Tuesday at 11:30 am. You’ll arrive in Kaslo at 4 pm so you’ll need to spend the night (The Kaslo Hotel is right near the bus stop), before continuing on from Kaslo to Vancouver on either Wednesday or Saturday.

The whole route should cost you $298 per person.

8. How to Get Around in Fernie

Walking & Biking

Most of the downtown area of Fernie is pretty walkable and during the summer, you may even see more bikers than cars. Walking from one side of the town to the other takes less than 30 minutes and there is a beautiful paved multi-use pathway that runs alongside the river and continues onto the provincial park.

That being said, there is no designated walking trail between the provincial park and the Fernie Alpine Resort. If you’re up for a hike, it’s possible to hike or mountain bike along the Gorby trail in the Fernie Provincial Park which will lead you right to the base of the Fernie Alpine Resort. That being said, this is a hike and will take quite some time and effort.

Fernie Stoke Shuttle

Once you’re here, we have a local shuttle (the Fernie Stoke Shuttle) that runs all around town and up to the Fernie Alpine Resort during the winter ski seasons.

UPDATE: As of 2025, there is no longer a summer Stoke Shuttle, however the winter shuttle is still operating all season.

The winter Stoke Shuttle runs from 7:45 am – 5:20 pm (with a break for lunch) throughout the entire season according to the opening and closing dates for the Fernie Alpine Resort.

Tickets cost $5 per ride and must be purchased ahead of time on the Stoke Shuttle App. You can also check the timetable and live location there too so you won’t be left waiting in a storm!

From December 13th, 2024 – March 30th, 2025 there will also be a nighttime shuttle available, details will be updated in the official app.

NOTE: The Fernie Stoke Shuttle only has 12 seats and while getting a seat isn’t usually a problem, it’s not suitable for groups of 6 or more.

Taxis & Shuttles

We have two taxi companies in Fernie that both offer cars and shuttles of varying sizes that can take you all around town and beyond.

The main company is called Tunnel 49. While they have the most availability, note that taxi services in Fernie are not like the ones you will find in a larger city.

Cars and drivers are limited which means you may not be able to get a taxi at the last minute or outside of regular business hours. It’s best to call ahead (250 423 5008) to book.

If you don’t have any luck with Tunnel 49 you can try calling Kootenay Taxi (250 234 4408) however their availability is usually even less.

9. Tips for Driving to Fernie, BC

1. Check road closures and current conditions on Drive BC and 511 Alberta (if coming from Calgary).

2. Be prepared for anything. Fernie is located in the Rocky Mountains where weather can be unpredictable at times.

3. Take your time and make stops along the way. There is plenty of great hiking and mountain biking in the surrounding areas.

4. Sometimes the quickest route on Google isn’t necessarily the best, do you research

5. Winter tires are essential in Fernie, we have a world-renowned ski resort for a reason 😉

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Get to Fernie

And there you have it, all the possible ways to get to Fernie! I hope this post helped solve one part of the planning process for you. Whether you plan on renting a car and driving to Fernie or are looking for a public transport option, I’ve given you all the details and local tips in this article.

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other questions and I’ll do my best to help you.

Happy Travels,
Kate

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