Catalina Express Ferry from Long Beach
The classic crossing: a high-speed catamaran from the Downtown Landing in Long Beach to Avalon or Two Harbors in about an hour, with several departures a day and a garage next to the terminal.
California
Catalina Island: Avalon & Two Harbors
Catalina is the rare island close enough for a day trip and different enough to feel like a real escape: a small Mediterranean-style harbor town with almost no cars, an Art Deco Casino that has defined the bay since 1929, a backcountry of bison and island foxes protected by a conservancy, and a quiet west end at Two Harbors where the main sounds are surf and wind.
This guide covers the whole trip properly: the Catalina Express crossings from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point, the Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach and the helicopter hop, then 23 things to do from the glass-bottom boat and the zip line to the Trans-Catalina Trail, 11 places to stay across Avalon, Two Harbors and the mainland ports, and six guides to planning, ferries and history.
Don't miss
Avalon Casino VIP Backstage Tour
Step inside the round Art Deco landmark that defines Avalon Bay: the 1929 theatre with its painted murals, the grand ballroom and the hidden corners most visitors never see.
Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden
A tiled memorial tower and a native-plant garden in Avalon Canyon: a flat, shady walk or short shuttle from town, with views over the bay and the island's rare endemic plants.
Descanso Beach Club
Avalon's best beach day: a short walk from the Casino to a sandy cove with cabanas, a bar and grill, kayaks and paddleboards, a fire-pit evening and the base for the zip line tour.
Glass-Bottom Boat Tour
The classic Avalon boat ride: peer through the hull into kelp forest and fish-filled water at Casino Point, with a guide pointing out garibaldi, sheephead and the island's underwater park.
Things to do in Catalina Island: Avalon & Two Harbors
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Catalina Express Ferry from San Pedro
The Berth 95 terminal in San Pedro is the island's other main gateway: about an hour to Avalon, big parking lots, and an easy drive from LAX and the South Bay.
Catalina Express Ferry from Dana Point
The southern gateway: ferries from Dana Point Harbor take a little over an hour to Avalon, perfect for Orange County and San Diego visitors who want to skip the freeways to Long Beach.
Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach
A daily day-trip boat from the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach: about 75 minutes to Avalon aboard the Catalina Flyer, with a morning outbound and an afternoon return.
Helicopter Transfer to Catalina Island
Skip the ferry: a roughly 15-minute helicopter hop from Long Beach to Avalon with a coastline-and-island view that is a sightseeing flight in itself.
Avalon Casino VIP Backstage Tour
Step inside the round Art Deco landmark that defines Avalon Bay: the 1929 theatre with its painted murals, the grand ballroom and the hidden corners most visitors never see.
Catalina Island Museum
A compact, well-curated museum under the Casino that tells the island's story: Tongva heritage, the Wrigley years, Catalina tile and the movies shot on location.
Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden
A tiled memorial tower and a native-plant garden in Avalon Canyon: a flat, shady walk or short shuttle from town, with views over the bay and the island's rare endemic plants.
Avalon Pleasure Pier and Crescent Avenue Waterfront
The free heart of Avalon: the 1909 Green Pleasure Pier, the curved Crescent Avenue promenade, the harbor, the shops and the bay views that make the town feel like a Mediterranean village.
1 to 3 hoursDetails →
Mount Ada and Avalon Scenic Tour
A guided drive up through Avalon's hills to the Wrigley family's former winter home on Mount Ada, with panoramic views, local history and a look at the town from above.
Descanso Beach Club
Avalon's best beach day: a short walk from the Casino to a sandy cove with cabanas, a bar and grill, kayaks and paddleboards, a fire-pit evening and the base for the zip line tour.
Glass-Bottom Boat Tour
The classic Avalon boat ride: peer through the hull into kelp forest and fish-filled water at Casino Point, with a guide pointing out garibaldi, sheephead and the island's underwater park.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Hotel Atwater
Central Avalon
A classic Avalon hotel in the middle of town, a short walk from the ferry landing, the Pleasure Pier and the restaurants of Crescent Avenue and Metropole Street.
Check rates →The Pavilion Hotel
Avalon Waterfront
A beachfront Avalon hotel with a courtyard feel, steps from the sand and the Pleasure Pier, popular with families and groups who want a bright, social base on the bay.
Check rates →Aurora Hotel
Avalon
A small, friendly Avalon hotel with a boutique scale, a quieter side-street setting and an easy walk to the beach, the pier and the town's restaurants.
Check rates →Hotel St. Lauren
Central Avalon
A boutique-style stay in central Avalon, close to the pier and the Casino, with a polished feel that suits couples and travelers who want a touch of comfort.
Check rates →Hotel Metropole
Metropole Marketplace, Avalon
A well-known Avalon hotel on the Metropole Marketplace side of town, with a lively location near shops, restaurants and the waterfront, and a popular choice for groups and couples.
Check rates →Hermosa Hotel
Avalon
A historic Avalon lodging with old-school island character, an easy walk to the beach and the pier, and the budget-friendly appeal of simple rooms and cottages.
Check rates →The Avalon Hotel on Catalina Island
Avalon
A small, centrally located hotel in Avalon with an easy walk to the ferry, the beach and the restaurants, suited to travelers who want a simple, well-placed base.
Check rates →Banning House Lodge
Two Harbors
A historic lodge on a bluff above Isthmus Cove in Two Harbors, with sweeping views, a quiet atmosphere and a base for hiking, snorkeling and stargazing on the island's west end.
Check rates →Hotel Maya Long Beach
Queensway Bay, Long Beach
A waterfront hotel on Queensway Bay in Long Beach, close to the Catalina Express landing, the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village, with marina views and a resort feel on the mainland side.
Check rates →DoubleTree by Hilton San Pedro Port of Los Angeles
San Pedro, Port of Los Angeles
A harbor-area hotel in San Pedro, a short drive from the Catalina Express terminal, the cruise ports and the waterfront, handy for an early ferry or a pre-cruise night.
Check rates →Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa
Dana Point
A clifftop resort in Dana Point with ocean views, a spa and a short trip to Dana Point Harbor, the base for travelers using the southern Catalina Express route.
Check rates →Catalina Island: Avalon & Two Harbors guides
Catalina Island for First-Timers: Planning Your Visit to Avalon
How to plan a first trip to Catalina: choosing a ferry, deciding between a day trip and an overnight, the best things to do in Avalon, and what to know before you go.
Catalina Ferry from Long Beach: Terminal, Parking and Tips
A practical guide to taking the Catalina Express from Long Beach: where the terminal is, parking, the crossing, luggage, seasickness and ideas for the day.
Catalina Ferry from San Pedro: Berth 95, Parking and Planning
How to take the Catalina Express from San Pedro: the Berth 95 terminal, parking, one-way options, local stops and the best way to combine ports.
Catalina Ferry from Dana Point: The Southern Route Explained
Plan a Catalina trip from Dana Point Harbor: crossing time, schedule, parking, what to do in Dana Point and how to combine this route with others.
Two Harbors, Catalina: A Guide to the Island's Quiet West End
How to visit Two Harbors: getting there, where to stay, snorkeling and kayaking, hiking to Parsons Landing, the village bar and a few days of island solitude.
The History of Catalina Island: From the Tongva to Wrigley
A short history of Catalina Island, from the Tongva and Spanish explorers through the Banning brothers and Wrigley's Avalon to the Conservancy and today's visitors.
