Parksville

Parksville is a city in Central Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Informally considered a twin city with neighbouring Qualicum Beach, it's a popular vacation area in summer with a number of provincial parks, sandy beaches, and family fun parks.

Understand

Service sector and resource processing jobs make up the largest part of the Parksville economy. The three largest types of occupations in Parksville are the service industry; the construction industry; and the business, financial, and administration industries. These are the largest sectors of the city's economy largely due to the summer tourism industry, and a large influx of retirees moving into the area. There is also a fair amount of fishing and forestry in the surrounding areas of Parksville. There is an industrial park in the south-east section of the city, which includes many small tradesman shops.

• 1 Parksville Visitor Centre (Parksville Chamber of Commerce), 1275 Island Hwy E, ☏ +1 250-248-3613. Victoria Day long weekend-Labour Day long weekend: Daily 9AM-5PM; Labour Day-Victoria Day long weekend: M-F 9AM-5PM. (updated Jun 2020)

History

The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore the area in 1791. In Spanish maps, the Englishman River is called "Rio de Grullas," (River of Cranes, i.e. herons) while French Creek is named "Punta de Leonardo."

The first European settler in the Parksville area was John Hirst, who pre-empted 120 hectares (300 acres) of land on both sides of the Englishman River in 1873. The River, as it was known, remained an outpost until the turn of the century when a road was built from Nanaimo.

A post office followed in 1877, with mail distributed from the cabin of Nelson Parks (to which Parksville owes its namesake). At that time, logging was a major industry and the extension of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo (E & N) Railway in 1901, to McBride Junction spurred Parksville’s growth and the beginning of a tourism boom, mainly Vancouver Islanders who travelled to Parksville to enjoy the beaches. Motels, stores, resorts and campgrounds soon followed.

Get in

By car

Parksville is located just off of the Island Highway (Highway 19), about 30 minutes north of Nanaimo, take Exits 46 and 51. The nearest ferry terminal with connections to Vancouver and the Lower Mainland is in Nanaimo.

By bus

• IslandLink Bus, info@islandlinkbus.com. Service from Nanaimo and Tofino. (updated Jan 2023)
• Tofino Bus (Vancouver Island Connector). Seasonal service operating between mid-May to mid-October with route operating several days per week on Vancouver Island between Victoria and Tofino with stops in Langford, Duncan, Chemainus, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Coombs, Port Alberni and Ucluelet. (updated Jun 2024)

By plane

• Nanaimo Airport is about 50 km (31 mi) from Parksville and has daily scheduled flights by larger Canadian airlines.
• Qualicum Beach Airport is about 9 km (5.6 mi) from Parksville. It has scheduled flights by small airlines.

Get around

By public transit

• BC Transit (Regional District of Nanaimo Transit System), ☏ +1-250-390-4531. Operates buses connecting communities within the Regional District of Nanaimo, including: Bowser, Lantzville, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Parksville, and Qualicum Bay, and Qualicum Beach. $2.50 cash fare, children 5 and under free. (updated Mar 2022) Routes in Parksville include:
  • Route 88 provides service around Parksville. Operates Monday to Saturday with numerous trips.
  • Route 91 between Nanaimo's Woodgrove Centre and Qualicum Beach with stops in Nanoose Bay and Parksville. Operates Monday to Saturday with numerous trips and Sunday with a number of trips.

By taxi

• Oceanside Taxi, ☏ +1 250-954-8294. (updated Jul 2022)

By ride hailing

• Uber. (updated Jul 2022)

See

• 1 Little Qualicum Cheeseworks & MooBerry Winery (Morningstar Farm), 403 Lowrys Rd, ☏ +1 250 954-3931. 9AM-5PM daily. Small working farm that produces and sells about 12 varieties of cheese. There’s a gift shop with samples so you can try before you buy. It also includes a tasting counter for the MooBerry Winery associated with the farm that makes blackberry wine. Visitors are free to walk around most of the buildings, take a look at the animals (cows, horses, rabbits, a donkey), watch the cows get milked, relax at the cafe or take a walk on the trail (about 30 minutes) that provides views of Mt. Arrowsmith. Free. (updated Jul 2017)

Do

Scupltures made for the sand sculpture contest of the Parksville Beach Festival

• Parksville Beach Festival, on the beach. 3 weeks in August. Annual sand sculpture contest and festivities. 
• 1 Paradise Mini Golf and Fun Park, 375 Island Hwy W, ☏ +1 250-248-6237, toll-free: +1-866-325-1874. Open early-Mar to mid-Oct. Summer hours: 9:30AM-10PM; spring and fall hours: 10AM-7/8PM. Popular family attraction with two attractive mini golf courses, bumper boats and a giant shoe that can't be missed from the highway. There's also a concession stand and gift shop. $8.75/$6.50 (adult/child) for one course, $11.60/$8.60 for both courses. Bumper boats are $6.75/$5.90 for five minutes, additional rides are $3.75 each. $15.75/$12.75 for both courses and one ride on the bumper boats. (updated Jul 2017)
• 2 Parksville Community Park & Beach, Island Hwy & Cornfield St N (access is from Cornfield St N). Large park with access to Parksville Beach and the 0.5-km boardwalk. Close to the beach is a kids playground and waterpark, as well as a skatepark. There are also sports fields and tennis courts. (updated Aug 2015)
• 3 Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, Island Hwy (19A) & Resort Drive, ☏ +1 250 474-1336. Very popular park and beach. The sandy beach stretches for 2 km and the water is quite shallow so it tends to be warmer. There’s also hiking in the forest, campsites and the Rathtrevor Beach Nature House that has information displays, snacks, gift shop and special events during the summer. Day use is free. (updated Aug 2015)

Eat

• 1 Black Goose Inn, 1051 Resort Drive, ☏ +1 250-586-1001. Su-Th noon-8PM, F Sa noon-9PM. Traditional British cuisine with 'Order at the Bar' service. (updated Jun 2020)
• 2 Chameleons, #3 220 Island Hwy W, ☏ +1 250-586-5500. (updated Jun 2020)
• 3 Kalvas The Log House Restaurant, 180 Moilliet Street, ☏ +1 250-248-6933, ddarmadi@hotmail.com. Fresh seafood and premium steaks. (updated Jun 2020)
• 4 Lefty’s Fresh Food Restaurants, 101-280 East Island Hwy (next to the Thrifty Foods), ☏ +1 250 954-3886. Su-Th 8AM-8PM, F Sa 8AM-9PM. Local chain (the other located in Qualicum Beach) that does breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast options include pancakes, toast, granola and a variety of egg dishes. Lunch covers sandwiches, salads, burgers and pizza. Dinner options include pizza and a variety of meat, fish and pasta dishes. Portion sizes are good and both locations have small patios. $10-20 for breakfast and lunch, $15-25 for dinner. (updated Aug 2015)

Drink

• 1 Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company, #109 425 Standford Ave E, ☏ +1 250-951-0125, info@arrowsmithbrewing.com. Craft brewery features a 20-seat tasting room and store. Features tasting flights, growler fills, bottle sales and tours through the facility. (updated Jun 2020)
• 2 Rod & Gun Club, 163 Alberni Highway, ☏ +1 250-248-6511 (bar), + 1 250 954 1881 (grill). Historic pub restaurant since 1898. (updated Jun 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Arbutus Grove Motel, 1182 East Island Highway, ☏ +1 250-248-6422, toll-free: +1-888-667-7250. Old-style roadside motel that has been renovated. All rooms come with microwaves and fridges, high speed internet and LCD TVs, and some rooms have full kitchens. Reviewers indicate the rooms are a bit small but the motel is excellent value for what you get. $85-105 (high season), $60-95 at other times. 
• 2 Bayside Oceanfront Resort, 240 Dogwood Street, ☏ +1 250-248-8333, toll-free: +1-800-663-4232, reservations@baysideresortparksville.com. Located right on the beachfront in pretty grounds with fantastic views across the ocean. Choose from standard or oceanfront rooms, or an executive suite, all of which are spacious and comfortable with private balconies and large windows. The resort has an indoor pool and hot tub as well as a large fitness room and squash courts. (updated Jun 2020)
• 3 Beach Acres Resort, 25-1051 Resort Dr, ☏ +1 250 248-3424, toll-free: +1-800-663-7309. Check-in: 11AM, check-out: 4PM. Beautiful ocean front resort next to famous Rathtrevor Park and a mile of warm sandy beach. Accommodations are 2 bedroom cottages or townhomes and duplex cottages 50 feet from the beach. All accommodations have full kitchens, fireplaces and ground level access. Plenty of parking and space for the children to room. 7 golf courses nearby. $112-375. 
• 4 Beach Club Resort, 181 Beachside Dr (close to Parksville Beach), ☏ +1 250 248-8999, toll-free: +1-888-760-2008. $269 and up during the summer. (updated Aug 2015)
• 5 Madrona Beach Resort, 1145 Resort Drive, ☏ +1 250-248-5503, toll-free: +1-800-663-7302, info@madrona-resort.com. All oceanviews on Rathtrevor Beach. Large beach front 2 bedroom 2 bathroom townhouse units with full kitchen, in-suite laundry, fireplace, walk-out patio and bbq. $179-375 (high season), $79-235 at other times. (updated Jun 2020)
• 6 Ocean Sands Resort, 1165 Resort Drive, ☏ +1 250-954-0662, toll-free: +1-877-733-5969. Situated on 4 acres of oceanfront property overlooking Rathtrevor Beach. The resort consists of one and two bedroom oceanfront or poolside condominium units. Each unit has a fully equipped kitchen, gas fireplace and large balcony either overlooking the ocean or pool. $199-399 (high season), $89-209 at other times. (updated Jun 2020)
• 7 Ocean Trails Resort, 1135 Resort Drive, ☏ +1 250-248-3636, toll-free: +1-888-248-6212, info@ocean-trails.com. Bright, modern, one, two and three bedroom vacation condominiums with fully equipped kitchen, in-suite laundry, fireplace, and private deck. The facility offers a year round hot-tub, seasonal outdoor pool, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, group BBQ and recreation area, basketball and many treed and grassy areas to sit and enjoy your stay. The property is pet free and non-smoking. $250-425 (high season), $160-225 at other times. (updated Jun 2020)
• 8 The Tide's Inn, 411 Island Highway West, ☏ +1 250-248-6171, toll-free: +1-877-337-3529, info@paradiseseashellmotel.com. Motel is situated adjacent to Paradise Adventure Mini-Golf and Paradise RV Park. Suites and modified kitchens (small fridge, microwave, sink & counter area) are available at reasonable rates. (updated Jun 2020)
• 9 Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort, 1175 Resort Dr, ☏ +1 250-248-4674, toll-free: +1 877-977-8669, fax: +1 250-947-2507, reservations@sunriseridge.ca. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Spread out in a studio, spacious 1, 2, or 3 bedroom suite, or waterfront villa. Rooms $119-139, Suites $179-439. 
• 10 Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre, 1155 Resort Drive, ☏ +1 250-248-2072, toll-free: +1-800-663-7373, info@tigh-na-mara.com. Spaced amongst 22 forested and oceanview acres of West Coast forest, the 192 accommodation units all offer immediate access to private outdoor space and are connected exclusively by open-air corridors, stairs and ramps. Access to 3 km of sandy beach, local trails or in the comfort of your unit. (updated Jun 2020)

Cope

• The nearest hospital is in Nanaimo.

Go next

Routes through Parksville

Tofino via ← Coombs ←	W  E	→ ENDS at
Campbell River ← Qualicum Beach ←	N  S	→ Nanaimo → Vancouver / Victoria via