The airport is situated about 11 km northeast of Kelowna, with an average driving time of 15 to 20 minutes to downtown or towards Lake Country.
Public Transit Bus (Kelowna Regional Transit)
Local Route 23 Lake Country connects the airport terminal with Berry Transit Exchange, Lakewood Mall, and the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBC Okanagan) exchange hub. At UBCO Exchange, passengers can transfer to the rapid 97 Okanagan Express bus line to reach downtown Kelowna, West Kelowna, Glenmore, or Rutland. The bus stop is situated on Airport Way adjacent to Long-term Parking Lot B. Fares can be paid in cash or through BC Transit's Umo card/app.
Regional Bus to Vernon
Route 90 UBCO Connector (Vernon Regional Transit) connects North Okanagan communities and Vernon with the UBCO transit exchange, providing a convenient transfer connection to the airport area.
Intercity Coach (Ebus)
Intercity bus operator Ebus offers scheduled interregional motorcoach services linking YLW with Kamloops, Vernon, Merritt, and the Lower Mainland (Vancouver area). The designated departure bay is located on the terminal curb outside the south building entrance (meeting zone #7). Advance booking on their online platform or by telephone is mandatory.
Taxis and Chauffeured Vehicles
Taxis line up curbside directly outside the main arrivals exit. Authorized taxi fleets include Apple Cabs, Comfort Cabs, Kelowna Cabs, and West Cabs, alongside Okanagan Limousine services. Please note that an airport regulatory surcharge of $2 CAD applies to any taxi trip exceeding three kilometres from the airport grounds.
Ride-Hailing Apps (Uber / Lyft)
Both Uber and Lyft are fully authorized to pick up and drop off passengers at YLW. Passengers requesting a ride should head to the designated Ride Share Pick-Up area located at the north end of the terminal exterior, just outside the arrivals concourse. The $2 CAD surcharge also applies to app-based trips exceeding three kilometres.
Private Shuttles and Ski Transfers
Several specialized private shuttle operators provide pre-booked door-to-door transport, commonly used for wine tours and ski resort transfers: Big Mountain Little Shuttle, Big White Shuttle (direct transfers to Big White Ski Resort in winter), Cheers Okanagan Tours, Kelowna Concierge, and direct connections to SilverStar Mountain Resort.
Check complete ground transportation details on YLW's website