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Nothing cleaner nearby

Clear skies over NanaimoStick around.

3
PM2.5 µg/m³
17
AQI
0
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³

Where are you?

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

You may already have the cleanest nearby air.No meaningfully cleaner place has a verified road route within 3 hours. Widen the range or show worse air for context.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Nanaimo Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Ganges (Salt Spring Island)
Cel-shaded illustration of Ganges (Salt Spring Island)
#1Ganges (Salt Spring Island)PM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

British Columbia· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Main village of the Gulf Islands' largest island, in the rain shadow with cool marine air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 1: Low risk (Duncan station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Duncan station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Orcas Island
Cel-shaded illustration of Orcas Island
#2Orcas IslandPM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Washington· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Largest San Juan Island, in the Olympics' rain shadow with cool marine air and small inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

Still smoky
Lopez Island
Cel-shaded illustration of Lopez Island
#3Lopez IslandPM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Washington· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Flattest and quietest of the San Juan Islands, wrapped in the rain shadow's cool marine air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 2: Low risk (Victoria / Saanich station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Victoria / Saanich station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Anacortes
Cel-shaded illustration of Anacortes
#4AnacortesPM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Washington· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Ferry gateway to the San Juan Islands, wrapped in Puget Sound marine air, with waterfront hotels.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

Still smoky
Whistler
Cel-shaded illustration of Whistler
#5WhistlerPM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

British Columbia· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Coast Mountains resort near 2,200 feet north of Vancouver, with cool alpine air and a huge lodging base.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 1: Low risk (Whistler station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Whistler station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Victoria
Cel-shaded illustration of Victoria
#6VictoriaPM2.5 2~1 h 45 min drive

British Columbia· PM2.5 2 µg/m³

A major British Columbia city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
33% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 2: Low risk (Victoria / Saanich station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Victoria / Saanich station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Burnaby
Cel-shaded illustration of Burnaby
#7BurnabyPM2.5 2.6Checking road route

British Columbia· PM2.5 2.6 µg/m³

A major British Columbia city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2.6 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.6/22 × 7 = 0.8 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
13% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 1: Low risk (Metro Vancouver - NW station)

Observed Jul 27, 8:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Metro Vancouver - NW station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Parksville
Cel-shaded illustration of Parksville
#8ParksvillePM2.5 3Checking road route

British Columbia· PM2.5 3 µg/m³

Vancouver Island beach town on the Strait of Georgia, cooled by marine air, with resorts.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
0% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 1: Low risk (Nanaimo / Parksville station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Nanaimo / Parksville station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Sechelt
Cel-shaded illustration of Sechelt
#9SecheltPM2.5 3Checking road route

British Columbia· PM2.5 3 µg/m³

Sunshine Coast town reachable only by ferry or float plane, wrapped in Salish Sea marine air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
0% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 1: Low risk (Nanaimo / Parksville station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Nanaimo / Parksville station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Squamish
Cel-shaded illustration of Squamish
#10SquamishPM2.5 3Checking road route

British Columbia· PM2.5 3 µg/m³

Fjord-head town between Vancouver and Whistler, wrapped in Howe Sound marine-mountain air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
0% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 1: Low risk (Squamish station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Squamish station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Powell River
Cel-shaded illustration of Powell River
#11Powell RiverPM2.5 3.1Checking road route

British Columbia· PM2.5 3.1 µg/m³

Upper Sunshine Coast town facing the Strait of Georgia, isolated from mainland sources by water.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 3.1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.1/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
3% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 1: Low risk (Comox Valley station)

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Comox Valley station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Richmond
Cel-shaded illustration of Richmond
#12RichmondPM2.5 3.3Checking road route

British Columbia· PM2.5 3.3 µg/m³

A major British Columbia city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 3.3 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.3/22 × 7 = 1.1 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
10% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 2: Low risk (Metro Vancouver - SW station)

Observed Jul 27, 8:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Metro Vancouver - SW station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Pemberton
Cel-shaded illustration of Pemberton
#13PembertonPM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

British Columbia· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Farming valley town north of Whistler, ringed by glaciated peaks with cool mountain-valley air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 1: Low risk (Whistler station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Whistler station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Still smoky
Concrete
Cel-shaded illustration of Concrete
#14ConcretePM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Washington· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Skagit River gateway to the North Cascades, a forested mountain-valley base with cabins and motels.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

Still smoky
Poulsbo
Cel-shaded illustration of Poulsbo
#15PoulsboPM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Washington· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Scandinavian-heritage harbor town on Liberty Bay, wrapped in Puget Sound marine air, with inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

Still smoky
La Conner
Cel-shaded illustration of La Conner
#16La ConnerPM2.5 2.4Checking road route

Washington· PM2.5 2.4 µg/m³

Skagit Valley waterfront village on the Swinomish Channel, wrapped in tidal marine air, with inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2.4 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.4/22 × 7 = 0.8 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
20% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

Still smoky
Sequim
Cel-shaded illustration of Sequim
#17SequimPM2.5 2.5Checking road route

Washington· PM2.5 2.5 µg/m³

Olympic Peninsula town in the mountains' rain shadow, one of the driest, sunniest spots on the Sound.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2.5 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.5/22 × 7 = 0.8 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
17% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

Vanderhoof
Cel-shaded illustration of Vanderhoof
#18VanderhoofPM2.5 0Checking road routesaves 1.0 cigs/wk

British Columbia· PM2.5 0 µg/m³

British Columbia community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

100% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0/22 × 7 = 0 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Nanaimo right now

100% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

Still smoky
Bainbridge Island
Cel-shaded illustration of Bainbridge Island
#19Bainbridge IslandPM2.5 1Checking road routesaves 0.6 cigs/wk

Washington· PM2.5 1 µg/m³

Ferry-commute island across Puget Sound from Seattle, wrapped in steady marine air, with inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
67% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

Still smoky
Friday Harbor
Cel-shaded illustration of Friday Harbor
#20Friday HarborPM2.5 2~6 h drive

Washington· PM2.5 2 µg/m³

San Juan Islands port in the Olympics' rain shadow, wrapped in cool marine air off Puget Sound, with inns and rentals.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 3 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
33% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

AQHI 2: Low risk (Victoria / Saanich station)

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

AQHI from the Victoria / Saanich station; PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

AQHI 1: Low risk (Nanaimo / Parksville)Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

All 53 Canadian cities →
All 146 U.S. cities →

What this means · Nanaimo

Clear skies!

1.0cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

3 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 3 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →