The village centre of Qualicum Beach is small and easy to cross by car, bus or taxi. From Parksville it is about 12 kilometres and 15 minutes by road, and the town core is built around Memorial Avenue and Second Avenue.
Driving to the village core
Enter your exact destination in a map app and let it pick the route for current traffic. Starting points differ too much for one set of turns to work for everyone, and a live map handles detours better than a list. Coming from the south, expect to leave the inland highway and follow signs toward the beach side of town.
Parking near Memorial and Second
Parking near the beach and the shops fills up quickly in summer, and spaces get scarcer the closer you try to get to the water. Streets a few blocks away usually have room. Read posted signs for time limits, because the Town of Qualicum Beach sets those rules, and check the town website if you plan to stay all day.
Taking the bus from Parksville
BC Transit’s Route 9 Intercity connects Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Woodgrove Exchange. It was renumbered from Route 91 in January 2025, so older timetables may use the old number. Look up your date in the BC Transit trip planner for departure times and fares, since weekend schedules are lighter than weekday ones. Note the last trip home before you leave, so you are not stuck at the stop in the evening.
A taxi when the bus does not fit
If the last bus has gone or you are carrying shopping, a taxi is the simple fix. The Parksville taxi page covers rides between Parksville and Qualicum Beach, and the taxi fare estimator gives a rough fare before you call. For an evening out in the village, book a pickup time ahead of the last course, as there are fewer cars on the road late at night.