Red Gap is the name of the shopping centre at the heart of Nanoose Bay, so a trip here is usually a short local drive rather than a long one. Anyone arriving by Highway 19 from Nanaimo or Parksville will find it close to the highway.
What Red Gap is and where it is
The Red Gap Centre is on Collins Crescent and acts as the commercial hub of Nanoose Bay. Nanoose Bay itself lies along Highway 19, about 26 kilometres north of Nanaimo and about 16 kilometres south of Parksville. Because the centre is inside the community, the drive from anywhere in Nanoose Bay is short.
Type Red Gap Centre or Collins Crescent into a map app for the last turns. That will account for current roadworks and any local detours better than a fixed set of directions.
Coming from Nanaimo or Parksville
From Nanaimo, drive north on Highway 19 and watch for signs for Nanoose Bay. From Parksville, drive south on the same highway. The distances above give a sense of scale, and your own start point will change the total. Traffic on the highway is usually lighter outside commuter hours and busier on summer weekends.
Bus, bike and ride options
Bus service in a small community like this is limited, and the details change. The BC Transit trip planner for the Nanaimo region will tell you whether a route reaches Nanoose Bay on your travel day and what the fare is. If it shows nothing suitable, a ride is the simple fallback.
For a cab, Parksville taxi and Nanaimo taxi are the closest local services. Shopping trips with bags are an easy case for a taxi, since you can load up at the centre and go straight home.
Cycling to Red Gap is possible from nearby streets, but Highway 19 is a busy road and not an easy one for casual riders. Look at a cycling map before you set out and choose quieter roads where you can.
If you are arriving from the mainland
People coming from Vancouver reach the island by BC Ferries, usually landing at Nanaimo, and then drive or ride north on Highway 19. The BC Ferries schedule shows sailing times and the booking options. Plan the leg from the ferry terminal to Nanoose Bay separately, since it depends on which terminal you arrive at.