Transportation Access

Columbia Shuswap Regional District Areas C, G, D, and F offer businesses strategic transportation connectivity across British Columbia and Western Canada. Major highways, regional roads, and proximity to rail and air networks provide efficient access to markets, suppliers, and talent. Local infrastructure supports both light industrial and commercial operations, ensuring goods move quickly and reliably. For entrepreneurs, this means lower logistics costs, streamlined distribution, and timely access to regional, national, and international markets. Transportation connectivity is paired with flexible land and space opportunities, creating an environment where businesses can grow, scale, and thrive while staying connected to customers and supply chains.

Road

  • Intersected by Highway 1 (Trans Canada). Connections to Kamloops/Vancouver (west), and Calgary (east).
    • Sorrento-Vancouver 430 km, 4 hrs 30 mins.
    • Sorrento-Calgary 545 km, 6 hrs 20 mins.
    • The BC Government has committed significant investment to Highway 1 twinning that will ultimately see 4-lane divided connectivity between Vancouver and Calgary. Src: BC Government 
  • Highway 97 / 97A / 97B north south routes link the Shuswap to the Okanagan (Kelowna, Vernon) and provide alternate access points to Highway 1.
    BC Route Maps for Commercial Transport.

Heavy Haul Guidelines and Permits – See Chapter 6, Page 6-15 in the Commercial Transport Procedures Manual for Major Highway Routes. Commercial.

Transport Permits available online.

Air

Local Airports

  • Shuswap Regional Airport (Salmon Arm): A public aerodrome serving Salmon Arm and surrounding Columbia Shuswap Regional District areas. It primarily supports private aircraft, charter flights, flight training, and air taxi operations (no major scheduled commercial airline service).
  • Other small airfields nearby: Shuswap Lake Estates Airfield (near Blind Bay), Ross Creek Airport (Magna Bay), Anglemont Airport, Skwlax Field and Mabel Lake Airport (general aviation use)

Major Commercial Airports (1–2 h drive):

  • Kelowna International Airport (YLW): Largest nearby commercial airport with flights across Canada and seasonal international routes. Approx. 20 non-stop destinations.
  • Kamloops Airport (YKA): Domestic flights with reliable connections to major hubs like Vancouver. Approx. 3 non-stop destinations.

Rail

Ashcroft Terminal (CN Rail Mainline, intermodal/transload) 170 km 2 hrs west. CP and CN mainline access. Services – Intermodal container handling (40′ – 53′), Transloading (truck to rail and rail to truck), Railcar storage and staging, Warehousing and cross docking, Support for bulk and break bulk cargos. One of the few facilities in Canada with access to both major cross-Canada rail lines.