The BC Transit bus is the simplest option without a car. Route 8 serves Cedar, but it starts at the Vancouver Island University bus exchange, so a ride from the city centre usually means a transfer. Drivers can head south out of Nanaimo on the Island Highway and reach Cedar in well under an hour.
Bus to Cedar on Route 8
Route 8 is the Cedar and VIU route. It begins at the VIU exchange, and the Tourism Nanaimo bus guide says to reach that exchange on Routes 4, 5 or 40. From downtown, then, plan on one bus to the university and Route 8 from there.
Service on rural routes is thinner than in the city, and times differ on weekends and holidays. Open the BC Transit Nanaimo trip planner for the exact departures, the full journey time and the current fare. Fares and DayPASS options are listed on the same site.
Driving out to Cedar
Cedar lies south of Nanaimo, reached from the Trans-Canada Highway. A navigation app will give the current drive time and the best turnoff for where you are headed in the community. Avoid the weekday peaks, roughly 7 to 9 in the morning and 4 to 6 in the afternoon, when traffic through Nanaimo slows.
Parking in Cedar depends on the place you are visiting. Look at the signs on arrival, and check the venue’s own site if it publishes parking notes. In wet or icy weather, allow extra time and check DriveBC for road conditions.
Taxi from Nanaimo
A cab is the practical choice if the bus timing does not suit you or you are carrying bags. Get a ballpark figure from the taxi fare estimator, and find local operators on the Nanaimo taxi page. Book ahead for early starts, since cars are scarcer in the rural stretch south of the city.