Getting Around Kelowna
Kelowna sits on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia's southern interior, with the City of West Kelowna across the water and communities like Lake Country and Vernon to the north and Peachland to the southwest. For a visitor, the practical picture is simple: this is a city where buses, bikes, taxis and ride-hailing do most of the work, and where a car is handy if you want to explore the valley beyond the downtown core.
No Rail, Metro or Tram
Kelowna has no rail, metro or tram network for visitors to use. The city's historic rail link arrived in the 1920s, and the old Kettle Valley Railway trestles in the area were destroyed by wildfire in 2003 and later rebuilt as a recreational trail rather than a working railway. Today, getting around without a car means buses, taxis, ride-hailing, bicycles or your own two feet.
Buses and Public Transit
Kelowna's regional transit system is operated by BC Transit and serves Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country. Most routes run daily throughout the day, and the best times to travel are early mornings and late afternoons on weekdays. The busiest, most frequent routes — such as the Lakeshore, University and Rutland routes — are the most efficient and numerous options.
- Fares and payment: The cash fare is $2.50 (as of 2022). Drivers are generally courteous and will, on request, call ahead to your next bus to help you make a timely transfer.
- Route 97: A limited-stop, frequent route running between the UBC Okanagan campus (UBCO) and West Kelowna, with stops in Rutland and downtown Kelowna. At most hours it is the only way to cross Okanagan Lake by bus between Kelowna and West Kelowna or Peachland.
- Crossing the lake: If you're staying on one side and visiting the other, plan around Route 97 — it's the backbone of lake-crossing transit.
- Regional connections: Route 90 links Vernon and Kelowna with a stop in Lake Country, and Route 70 connects Penticton with Kelowna via Summerland, Peachland and West Kelowna on weekdays.
- Watch out when school is in session: Buses can fill up and you may miss one or two, so build in extra time.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are readily available in Kelowna, with several local companies operating in the city. Ride-hailing is also an option through services such as Kabu and Lucky to go. Note that at the airport, only Lucky to go is authorized to pick up ride-hailing passengers, so plan accordingly if you're arriving by plane.
- Taxi companies: Current Taxi, Kelowna Cabs, Kelowna Eco Taxi and West Cabs all serve the area.
- Ride-hailing: Kabu and Lucky to go operate in Kelowna.
Walking and Cycling
The downtown area is pedestrian-friendly, especially along the waterfront, and the downtown core is easily reached on foot once you're there. Kelowna also has an extensive network of bike lanes, and cycling is a practical way to get around if you stick to them.
- Cycling tips: Use bike lanes when they aren't blocked by parked vehicles, and take care at intersections. Cycling on local highways is not recommended.
- Bike maps: The City of Kelowna website has a detailed map of the bike network.
- Parking downtown: If you drive, there are two major parkades in the downtown core — one on Pandosy Street and one at the library by the RCMP station — so parking shouldn't be a chore.
Driving and Traffic
Highway 97 is the main route through Kelowna, connecting north to Vernon and Highway 1, south to Penticton and Highway 3, and west to Merritt via the Okanagan Connector (Highway 97C). Highway 33 provides secondary access to points south and east. Traffic on major roads can be heavy during the summer months, particularly at the approaches to the floating bridge, and a lack of advance left-turn signals contributes to accidents at major intersections. Rush hour, usually around 4:30–6 PM, can be a challenge in the downtown core and on the main arteries such as Highway 97C, Highway 33 and Lakeshore Road.
If you'd rather not drive your own vehicle, several car rental agencies operate in the city, and there's also a motorcycle and scooter rental option.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is the main gateway, with direct flights from several Canadian cities and some international and seasonal destinations. Once you land, you have several ways to reach the city:
- Public transit: BC Transit routes 23 and 90 stop about 250 m west of the terminal, though with limited trips. For far more options, walk about 700 m west along Airport Way to Innovation Drive, where all trips of routes 23 and 90 stop in both directions. To reach downtown Kelowna, you'll need to transfer at UBC Okanagan (UBCO), the southern terminus of both routes. Route 97 is the quickest bus between UBCO and downtown.
- Intercity bus: Ebus stops at the airport terminal as well as downtown on Lawrence Avenue.
- Taxi: Taxis are available at the airport.
- Ride-hailing: Only Lucky to go is authorized to service the airport.
- Car rental: Multiple car rental agencies are located at the airport if you'd prefer to drive yourself.
Arriving by Intercity Bus
If you're coming to Kelowna from elsewhere in the region or further afield, several intercity bus services connect the city with other destinations. Ebus runs daily from Vancouver (with stops in Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Surrey), from Kamloops (with stops in Chase, Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Enderby, Armstrong and Vernon), and from Calgary, Banff, Golden and Revelstoke via Salmon Arm. Red Arrow offers premium service from Abbotsford and Vancouver, Rider Express serves Vancouver with seasonal service from Kamloops and Calgary, and Silver City Stagelines runs several days a week between Trail and Kelowna with stops in Nelson, Castlegar, Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway and Rock Creek.
On the Water
Given its lakeside setting, Kelowna also has several boat launches along the shore with parking facilities. Be prepared to queue in the summer months, and expect the lake itself to be busy, especially with small watercraft.