Get to Catalina by ferry
So you want to become one of the million visitors that visit Catalina Island every year.[1]Catalina Island in Numbers – Catalinaintours.com But what is the best way to get there?
We did the research for you. There are five ferry lines to choose from if you prefer to travel by ferry. While helicopters, planes, and private boat charters are also available, they tend to be much more expensive. For this trip, let's stick with the ferry.
- The Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach to Avalon is the fastest ferry to Catalina.
- The other four options are the regular ferries from the Catalina Express that leave from 4 harbors and arrive at two ports on the Catalina Islands. (Two Harbors and Avalon)
You can view these routes on the map below:
Map with all ferry routes to Catalina
All connections go directly towards Catalina Island. No stops in between, and you can't travel by ferry to the other island(s) around Catalina. (San Clemente Island, for example) Not much to do there any way besides diving and fishing!Β
Booking Catalina Island Tickets
It's super easy to book or check the available routes and prices with our engine below:Β
Catalina Island ferry price
The price to get a round trip to Avalon on Catalina Island in 2024 is the following:Β
- San Pedro – Avalon $ 84Β
- Long Beach – Avalon $ 84, and $ 124 for the Commodore Lounge.
- Dana Point – Avalon $ 88
- Newport Beach – Avalon $ 88
Did you know this ferry used to be free on your birthday?
Until 2017 Catalina Express offered a free ride on your birthday, however, due to the popularity and too many people taking advantage of this offer, they stopped this promotion in December 2017.
High-Speed ferry to Catalina
The quickest crossing is the Catalina Flyer to Avalon.
The High-speed ferry departs from Newport Beach. You can leave your car behind in the parking lot. Here is a list of all Newport Beach parking spots nearby (and, unfortunately, the high hourly rates).
Newport-Avalon
The ferry from Newport Beach to Avalon is a very fast ferry that sails in about 75 minutes to Catalina Island. Important to know: Pets are not allowed on this ferry.
To Catalina island by carΒ
No cars allowed on Catalina Island
This island's popularity stems from its unique feature of prohibiting cars, making it a highly sought-after destination. Upon arrival, you have the option to rent golf carts. However, everything on the island is located within walking distance, rendering the need for a golf cart unnecessary. Except perhaps for Two Harbors, which is located 18 miles away.
San Diego to Catalina Island
When you want to take the ferry to Catalina Island, and you arrive from San Diego, the best ferry to take is the ferry between Dana Point and Avalon. Not only due to the distance but primarily due to the easiness of parking near the ferry terminal.Β
Navigate to: Dana Point Harbor Drive, and it's hard to miss all the parking spots. Also, check out this image we made with all parking spots at Dana Point Harbor.
All other connections are more into the city, meaning that parking gets more expensive and complicated, especially if you travel from San Diego.Β
Cruises from San Diego to Catalina Island
Currently, a limited number of Pacific coastal cruises depart from San Diego, with occasional stops at Catalina Island. However, as of the time of writing, there are no available cruises. It's worth noting that when these cruises are operational, the San Diego to Catalina leg is just a small portion of the overall journey, which can result in exorbitant prices relative to the experiences offered.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Catalina ferry
Yes, you certainly can, however, it's not a very fun day experience as it would take a complete day and it's not the best route on the Island. The hiking routes through the hills are a better option. Those hiking routes however take at least two days, so you would need to make sleeping arrangements.Β
The cheapest crossing is the crossing from San Pedro to Avalon. However, there isn't much difference in the 5 travel options. Are about the same price and distance.
At Downtown Long Beach (next to the Aquarium of the Pacific) you can leave by ferry to Avalon. This ferry takes about 1 hour and has several crossings per day.
Tickets for this ferry can be bought through the links above or through the booking engine on this page. Either way, the price will be more or less $50 for the crossing.Β
- Long Beach: $23 per day or ~$4 per hour.
- San Pedro: $20 per day or ~$2 per hour.
- Dana Point: $20 per day or ~$3 per hour.
- Newport: $27 per day or ~$2 per hour.
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Ferry talk: Share your questions and opinions
Ask, answer, and explore ferry routes with the community's expertise!
References
| ↑1 | Catalina Island in Numbers – Catalinaintours.com |
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I always park at Dana Point at Golden Lantern Parking, a very convenient and easy way to get to Catalina from the San Diego region.
Can't wait for my next trip to Catalina Island!
It's a great Island, getting more popular every year!
We would be coming in from the desert to the east (Palm Springs). Does anyone familiar with greater L.A. roads and traffic (weβre not) know if one of the departure points – San Pedro, Dana Point, Long Beach, Newport Beach – is better than others for us? I.e., would it make sense to drive farther, down to Dana Point, because we might miss some of the L.A. traffic by going east and south of the city? Or is it better just to aim for the closest ferry?
Hi Jeff,
We would go for Newport Beach, as the CA-91W is also a toll route and is now the fastest route to Dana Point due to traffic conditions. Navigate to the Balboa Pier Parking Lot.
The cost break down is great, have I missed the timings? How long will it take? Single Mom of 2 here planning to visit California so my plans need to be time effective.
Hi Kathline,
The time to reach the island is about one hour, you have to calculate a bit of time though for parking your car and checking-in on the ferry, this is also Β± one hour extra., see the following quote below:
~ Jochem