There are four key airports in the Okanagan Area: Kelowna (YLW), Penticton (YYF), Salmon Arm (YSN), and Kamloops (YKA). Kelowna has excellent access to the central and north Okanagan, and Kamloops has excellent access to Shuswap Lake (sparing Calgarians about 6 hours of driving through the mountains).
The major scheduled airlines (WestJet and Air Canada) service Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops. Kelowna‘s airport is a little ways out from the city, to its north, and cab fare into downtown will run you about $26. Penticton‘s is across the Okanagan River Channel to the west of town, and taxi fares into town will typically run up to $12. Salmon Arm‘s airport is to the community’s southeast, and a taxi ride into town will cost around $10. Kamloops‘ airport is on the Northside, and about 10 minutes from downtown with a taxi ride about $25.
Many people find it an enjoyable and very scenic drive from Calgary‘s or Vancouver‘s International Airports. From Calgary, the northern Okanagan is a 400 kilometre drive through the Rockies in Banff, Lake Louise and the Roger’s Pass.
From Vancouver, its a 300 kilometre drive to the southern Okanagan is a 300 kilometre drive up the Fraser River and through very hilly Manning Provincial Park and Princeton.
Many car rental companies will allow you to do one-way rentals so you can start in one major city and fly out from the other, allowing you to spend more time enjoying all the spots (like the Okanagan) in between. (The drive between Vancouver and Calgary is a solid 12-13 hours, and depends –in winter — on the Roger’s Pass not being closed due to avalanche).
Kelowna International Airport (YLW)
5533 Airport Way,
Kelowna, BC V1V 1S1
(250) 765-5125
Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or 11 km northeast of Kelowna, on the east side of Lake Okanagan.
The airport servers about 2 million passengers annually, with 60 scheduled daily flights.
Kamloops Airport (YKA)
035 Airport Rd
Kamloops, BC V2B 7X1
(250) 376-3613
This regional airport is located under 10 kilometres west northwest of Kamloops, on the north side of the Thompson river. In the winter it provides skiers access to Sun Peaks resort, located north of the community. Kamloops Airport, also known as Fulton Field or Davie Fulton Airport, is a regional airport within British Columbia’s Interior. This airport has regular scheduled connections to major airports in Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton, as well as to many smaller communities around the province.
Penticton Regional Airport (CYYF)
3000 Airport Rd
Penticton, BC V2A 8X1
(250) 770-4422
Penticton Regional Airport, also known as Penticton Airport, is a regional airport located 1.8 nautical miles southwest of Penticton, on the north shore of Skaha Lake.
The airport serves the southern Okanagan and Similkameen Valley. In the winter, the airport brings skiers from Vancouver and Calgary to Apex Mountain Resort, about 30 minutes west of town.