Nelson is in the BC interior, roughly 600 kilometres east of Vancouver and 100 kilometres north of the US border. It is not quick to reach by any means, but the drive is spectacular.
By car is the standard approach. From Vancouver, the most direct route takes 7–8 hours via the Coquihalla Highway and Highway 3 through the Crowsnest Pass. The Highway 3A route via Balfour and the Kootenay Lake ferry (free, 35 minutes) adds a scenic hour. From Calgary the drive is around 6 hours via Highway 3.
By bus, BC Transit and Greyhound historically served the route from Vancouver and Kelowna, though schedules change seasonally — check current operators before planning. Expect a long travel day.
The nearest airports are West Kootenay Regional Airport in Castlegar (45 minutes west), which has connections to Vancouver; and Cranbrook (2.5 hours east). Flying to either and renting a car is often the most practical approach from eastern Canada or the US.
There is no passenger rail service to Nelson.