This Catalina Island guide covers how to get to Santa Catalina Island, what to do in Avalon, when to visit Two Harbors, and how to plan a day trip or an overnight stay. Catalina sits about 22 miles off the Southern California coast, close enough for a day trip and distinct enough to feel like a real getaway. This Catalina Island guide is for first-time visitors who want a simple plan without missing the island’s best experiences.
Catalina is 22 miles long and 8 miles across at its greatest width, with Avalon as the main town and Two Harbors as the smaller village at the isthmus. Most visitors arrive by ferry in Avalon, spend the day on foot, and return the same evening or stay overnight. The island is compact, walkable in Avalon, and easy to navigate once you understand the ferry, the golf-cart culture, and the difference between Avalon and the wild interior.
At a Glance
- Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families, hikers, snorkelers, and boaters.
- How long: One day covers Avalon highlights. Two days add Two Harbors, a tour, or a longer hike.
- Getting there: Passenger ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point, or Newport Beach. The Catalina Express ride is about an hour. Helicopter service takes about 15 minutes.
- Getting around Avalon: Walk, bike, golf cart, taxi, or public transit. Avalon is only about three square miles.
- First move: Book your ferry early, especially for weekends and summer. Check current schedules and fares before you go.
How to Use This Catalina Island Guide
This Catalina Island guide starts with ferries, then covers Avalon, beaches and water activities, the Casino, hiking and the interior, Two Harbors, and where to stay. If you have one day, focus on Avalon plus one tour or beach session. If you have two days, add Two Harbors or a longer hike.
For mainland planning, pair this guide with our weekend getaways near Los Angeles guide, which covers Laguna Beach, Big Bear, and other Southern California escapes that combine well with a Catalina trip.
Getting to Catalina Island: Ferries and Helicopter
The majority of visitors take a passenger ferry to Catalina Island. Catalina Express offers year-round service from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point, with up to 30 daily departures and a fleet of eight fast, modern boats. The ride is about an hour. Catalina Express also offers service to Two Harbors from San Pedro.
The Love Catalina getting-here page lists the ferry options clearly: Catalina Express from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point to Avalon, plus Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach to Avalon. The Catalina Flyer crossing takes about 75 minutes on a large catamaran. Helicopter service via Maverick Helicopters takes about 15 minutes, with daily departures to Avalon from Long Beach, San Pedro, Burbank Airport, and John Wayne Airport. People can also reach Catalina by private boat or private aircraft.
Choose your port by where you are coming from. Long Beach and San Pedro are most convenient to Long Beach Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Dana Point is most convenient for South Orange County and the greater San Diego area. Newport Beach is convenient to John Wayne Airport and Orange County locations.
Terminal locations and parking:
- San Pedro: Berth 95, San Pedro, CA 90731, at Swinford and Harbor Boulevard.
- Long Beach: Catalina Landing, 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, CA 90802.
- Dana Point: 34675 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, CA 92629.
- Newport Beach (Catalina Flyer): Balboa Pavilion area. Check current parking and drop-off details before you go.
Onsite parking is available for a fee at all three Catalina Express ferry terminal locations. Check current ferry fares, schedules, parking fees, and baggage rules before booking. Book round-trip ferry tickets in advance for weekends, holidays, and summer dates.
Avalon: The Main Town
Avalon is the only incorporated city on Catalina, situated on the leeward side of the island around Avalon Bay. The city serves about 3,300 residents and welcomes over one million visitors each year through its harbor, with most visitors arriving through the Cabrillo Mole Ferry Terminal. Avalon is compact and walkable, with shops, restaurants, hotels, and activities clustered around the waterfront.
Start your Avalon day at the Green Pleasure Pier, the hub for commercial and recreational ocean activities, including fishing, scuba diving, parasailing, and kayaking. From there, walk the waterfront to the Casino, browse Crescent Avenue shops, and stop at the beach. Avalon’s compact layout means you can cover the main sights on foot without a car.
Avalon has a distinctive transportation culture. The autoette, a smaller vehicle that travels at lower speeds than traditional automobiles, is the most common method of transportation in the city. The city closely regulates both the size and number of vehicles permitted, which helps keep Avalon walkable. Visitors can rent golf carts for a scenic loop above town, take a taxi, or use public transit. Check current rental, taxi, and transit details before you go.
For a coastal comparison on the mainland, see our Laguna Beach vs. San Diego guide for how two Southern California beach destinations differ in pace, price, and activities.
Beaches and Water Activities
Catalina’s beaches are small, clear, and close to town, which makes them ideal for a day trip. Descanso Beach Club is Catalina’s only beachside restaurant and bar, where you can book a cabana or chaise lounge. Other Avalon beaches include the main Avalon Beach near the pier and smaller coves around the waterfront.
Water activities are the heart of a Catalina visit:
- Snorkeling and diving: Casino Point Dive Park, near the Casino, is a protected marine area with kelp forest, garibaldi, and clear water. Divers can rent equipment and take a tour under the sea at Casino Point. Check current rental and tour details before you go.
- Kayaking and paddleboarding: Rent kayaks or paddleboards at the Green Pleasure Pier or Descanso Beach and explore the Avalon waterfront and nearby coves.
- Glass-bottom boat: A glass-hulled boat drifts over Avalon’s protected kelp forest, with garibaldi and other marine life visible through the floor. Check current schedules and fares before booking.
- Parasailing, fishing, and boat rentals: Available from the Green Pleasure Pier and nearby operators. Check current options, prices, and age or safety requirements before booking.
- Swimming: Avalon beaches are swimmable in summer and early fall. Water temperatures are cooler than the mainland in spring. Check current conditions before swimming.
The City of Avalon offers multiple parks, picnic areas, and public beaches for residents and visitors. See the City of Avalon community parks page for park locations and facility details.
The Catalina Casino: Avalon’s Landmark
The Catalina Casino is the most visible landmark in Avalon Bay. Commissioned by William Wrigley Jr., the Casino opened in 1929. Despite the name, there is no gambling at the facility. The name comes from the Italian word for a gathering place.
The Casino holds the Avalon Theatre on the lower level and the world’s largest circular ballroom on the top level. The theater was the first built specifically for films with sound. The ballroom once hosted big-band dancing and now hosts events, including the annual New Year’s Eve Celebration, the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, and weddings.
Take a tour to see the Art Deco murals, the ballroom, and the theater. The Casino offers General Admission and VIP Backstage Tour experiences. Films are shown in the Avalon Theatre on Friday and Saturday evenings. Check current tour times, ticket prices, and movie showings before you go.
Hiking and the Wild Interior
Most of Catalina is wild interior managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy. The Conservancy manages the island’s wildlands, and its guides lead trips into the interior. The island is home to the endemic Catalina Island fox, bald eagles, bison, and more than 80 bird species. Bison are descendants of a small herd left on the island by a movie crew in the 1920s. View bison from a safe distance and never approach them.
For a serious hike, the Trans-Catalina Trail runs about 38.5 miles from Avalon to Two Harbors, with campsites at Black Jack, Little Harbor, Two Harbors, and Parsons Landing. The Conservancy’s guided 5-day Trans-Catalina Trek covers the full trail with gear shuttled between camps, meals prepared, and water provided. The hike is moderately challenging and recommended for fit travelers with some hiking experience. Hikers should be ready to carry a daypack of essentials and lunch items up to 11 miles in a single day, with significant elevation gains and losses up to 3,500 feet a day.
Day hikers need a free hiking permit from the Catalina Island Conservancy and should pick up a map before setting out. Permits can be obtained at Conservancy locations in Avalon, including the Conservancy House and the Catalina Island Interpretive Center. Check current permit, map, and trail rules before hiking. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and sturdy shoes. Poison oak grows in creek beds and canyons, and rattlesnakes live on the island. Stay on marked trails and carry plenty of water, especially on hot days.
Easier Avalon-area walks include the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, a hillside garden with native Catalina plants and views over Avalon, and the walk to the Casino and around the waterfront. The garden is a good half-day option for visitors who want native plants and island views without a full backcountry hike. Check current garden hours and admission before you go.
For mainland hiking preparation, see our beginner-friendly hikes in Orange County guide for easy coastal trails that build fitness for Catalina’s hillier routes.
Two Harbors: The Quieter Side
Two Harbors is the smaller village at the island’s isthmus, primarily a boaters’ destination with moorings, a campground, a restaurant, dive and recreation rentals, and a general store. It feels far quieter than Avalon, with a rustic, off-the-grid atmosphere.
Reach Two Harbors by Catalina Express from San Pedro, by the seasonal Cyclone boat between Avalon and Two Harbors, or by hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail. Once there, you can kayak, snorkel, hike, or simply relax at the beach. Two Harbors is a good overnight option if you want to camp, boat, or hike the western side of the island. Check current ferry schedules, lodging, and campground availability before you go, because Two Harbors services are more limited than Avalon’s.
1-Day Itinerary: Avalon Highlights
This Catalina Island guide keeps a one-day plan walkable and realistic.
- Morning: Ferry to Avalon. Walk the waterfront, Green Pleasure Pier, and Crescent Avenue.
- Midday: Catalina Casino tour, then lunch on the waterfront.
- Afternoon: Descanso Beach Club for swimming, snorkeling, or a kayak session.
- Late afternoon: Golf-cart loop above Avalon for panoramic harbor views, or Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden.
- Evening: Dinner in Avalon, then the return ferry. Check current return ferry times and book round-trip tickets in advance.
If you have limited time, skip the golf-cart loop and spend more time at Descanso Beach or on a glass-bottom boat tour.
2-Day Itinerary: Add Two Harbors or a Tour
Day one follows the Avalon plan above, with an overnight stay in Avalon. Day two offers two options:
- Option A — Two Harbors: Ferry or boat to Two Harbors for kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and a quieter beach day. Return to Avalon for the evening ferry, or stay overnight in Two Harbors if your schedule allows.
- Option B — Interior tour: Book a Bison Expedition or another interior tour into Catalina’s rugged interior to see bison, island foxes, and panoramic viewpoints. Pair the tour with an afternoon beach session or Casino tour.
Overnight visitors get the best of Catalina: quiet mornings before the day-trip ferries arrive, sunset over Avalon Bay, and time for a longer hike or water activity without rushing for the last boat.
Where to Stay
Avalon offers hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, vacation rentals, and campgrounds. Staying in central Avalon puts you within walking distance of the waterfront, Casino, and restaurants. For a quieter stay, look at accommodations above town or in Two Harbors.
Catalina Express offers boat-and-hotel packages that combine round-trip ferry transportation with a hotel stay. Packages vary in price, activities, and amenities. Check current package details, rates, and cancellation policies before booking. Campers should book campsites in advance, especially for summer weekends and Trans-Catalina Trail campsites. Check current campground fees and reservation rules before you go.
Best Time to Visit Catalina Island
Catalina is a year-round destination, but the experience changes by season. Summer (June to August) brings the warmest water, the most ferry departures, and the biggest crowds. Fall (September to October) offers warm water, fewer crowds, and comfortable hiking weather. Winter (December to February) is quieter and cooler, with lower hotel rates and good hiking conditions. Spring (March to May) brings wildflowers, green hills, and mild temperatures.
Pack for the island: layers for the ferry ride and evening breeze, swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, water, and sturdy shoes for hiking. Even in summer, evenings can be cool on the water. Bring motion-sickness remedies if you are sensitive to boat travel.
Practical Info: Fees, Dogs, and Safety
- Ferry fares: Check current Catalina Express and Catalina Flyer fares, schedules, and baggage rules before booking.
- Helicopter: Check current Maverick Helicopters schedules and fares before booking.
- Parking: Onsite parking is available for a fee at Catalina Express terminals. Check current parking fees before you go.
- Dogs: Check current dog rules for ferries, beaches, hotels, and trails before bringing a dog. Dogs are not allowed on all beaches or trails.
- Hiking permits: Day hikers need a free hiking permit from the Catalina Island Conservancy. Pick up a permit and map before setting out.
- Bison: View bison from a safe distance. Never approach, feed, or disturb wildlife.
- Water: Bring water on hikes. Water sources are limited in the interior. Carry more water than you think you need on hot days.
- Cell service: Expect limited service in the interior. Download maps, ferry tickets, and lodging details before you leave Avalon.
FAQ
How long is the ferry to Catalina Island? The Catalina Express ferry ride is about an hour from Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point. The Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach takes about 75 minutes. Helicopter service takes about 15 minutes. Check current schedules before booking.
Can you do Catalina Island as a day trip? Yes. Most visitors arrive by ferry in Avalon, spend the day on foot, and return the same evening. A day trip covers Avalon highlights, the Casino, and a beach or water activity. Two days is better if you want Two Harbors, a longer hike, or an interior tour.
Do you need a car on Catalina Island? No. Avalon is walkable, and visitors use golf carts, bikes, taxis, and public transit. The city closely regulates vehicles, and most visitors do not bring a car. Book golf-cart rentals in advance for weekends and summer.
What is the Catalina Casino? The Catalina Casino is a 1929 Art Deco landmark in Avalon with a movie theater and the world’s largest circular ballroom. There is no gambling. The name comes from the Italian word for a gathering place. Tours cover the theater, ballroom, and murals.
Is Two Harbors worth visiting? Yes, if you want a quieter, more rustic side of Catalina. Two Harbors offers kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, camping, and boating without Avalon’s crowds. It is best as a second-day trip or an overnight stay.
Conclusion
This Catalina Island guide gives you a simple plan: ferry to Avalon, walk the waterfront, tour the Casino, swim or kayak at Descanso Beach, and add Two Harbors or an interior tour on day two. Book your ferry early, get a hiking permit if you head inland, and check current schedules, fares, and tour times before you go. Catalina is close, compact, and easy to love — the hardest part is choosing between one more beach hour and the last ferry home.
