From downtown Nanaimo to the Departure Bay ferry terminal, a taxi or your own car is the easiest choice, about 4 km and 10 minutes by road. BC Transit buses also reach the terminal if you would rather not drive.
Driving to 680 Trans-Canada Highway
The terminal address is 680 Trans-Canada Highway, and BC Ferries describes it as a 5 minute drive north of the city centre. Set that address in a navigation app and follow the signs on the way in.
Parking is run independently of the ferry service and has 526 spaces, 177 short term and 349 long term. BC Ferries lists rates from $1.00 per 30 minutes for short term parking up to $18.00 per 24 hours for long term. Payment is by the HONK or PayByPhone apps or by credit card. These rates can change, and availability is posted live on the BC Ferries terminal page, which is worth a look before a busy sailing.
BC Transit to Departure Bay
Routes 20 and 20A connect downtown Nanaimo with the Departure Bay terminal, and route 25, the Ferry Shuttle, links downtown, the terminal and the north end exchanges at Country Club and Woodgrove. Route 1 does not go to the terminal, so do not rely on it for this trip.
Find the next departure in the BC Transit trip planner and check the weekend schedule, since service is lighter then. Allow extra time with luggage.
Timing your arrival and taking a cab
Passengers with a reservation should be at the terminal 30 to 60 minutes before sailing. Without a booking, ticket sales close 5 minutes before departure for vehicles and 10 minutes for foot passengers. The terminal is closed overnight, so you cannot wait on the property outside service hours.
A taxi saves the parking step, particularly for a long stay across the strait. The Nanaimo taxi page lists local operators, and the taxi fare estimator gives a rough fare for the distance.