Located just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, Catalina Island makes for one of the best day trips from Los Angeles or a fun weekend away. Visitors will be intrigued with one of the best island getaways on this one day Catalina Island itinerary. With a variety of unique activities, Catalina Island has something to offer for everyone.
Disclaimer: Special thanks to the Catalina Island Tourism Board for hosting me on my trip to Catalina Island! As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you!
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History of Catalina Island
Catalina Island’s history dates back thousands of years, as the Pimuvit people originally inhabited the area. In 1592, Juan Cabrillo explored the area, and explorer Sebastian Vizcaino officially named the island Santa Catalina.
In the 1800s, the island saw various uses, including ranching and mining. William Wrigley, Jr. (yes, the gum guy) purchased the majority of the island to turn it into a tourist destination in 1919.
Later, Catalina Island became a training ground for the Chicago Cubs baseball team and has been featured in several motion pictures. Today, the island is known for its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and preserved areas. These things make it a popular vacation spot or day trip from around Southern California.
When to Spend Take a Day Trip to Catalina Island
Catalina Island is a fun place to visit any time of the year. Each season brings its own unique things to do. We opted to visit in the fall in order to avoid the crowds of summertime yet still take advantage of the warm weather.
Visiting in wintertime will bring the best prices but also the wettest weather. Spring is another less visited time, with the peak season being the gorgeous California summer.
How to Get to Catalina Island: The Catalina Express
To get to Catalina Island on a day trip or for the weekend, you will need to embark on the Catalina Express. The ride to the island will take about an hour, and this is the safest and fastest way to the island.
This high-speed and high-tech vessel has about 30 departures per day. Ferries depart from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point to Twin Harbors and Avalon on Catalina Island. The most popular departure is Long Beach to Avalon. We got to ride on the Jet Cat Express which holds 381 passengers.
Tickets start at $68.50 (children) and $84 (adults) round-trip, depending on the type of ticket and starting point you choose. You can find the most accurate prices and times here. Once onboard, ticket holders have access to comfortable airline-style seats and a full bar.
Ticket Types
There are three types of tickets passengers are able to book: Regular, Commodore Lounge, and Captain’s Lounge. Thanks to being partially hosted by the Catalina Island tourism board, we had Commodore Lounge tickets for our ride to Catalina Island. You can find the most accurate pricing on the Catalina Express Website.
Regular Tickets
Regular tickets come with access to inside cabin seating and outside upper deck seating. Visitors can buy light snacks and beverages. These tickets start at $84 for adults round trip, including all taxes and fees.
Commodore Lounge
The Commodore Lounge tickets come with priority check-in and boarding, reclining seats in a private area, and complimentary beverages and snacks. These tickets cost another $20/person each way.
Captain’s Lounge
The Captain’s Lounge tickets are for use for up to eight passengers. This is the perfect space if you are traveling as a group. It comes with all the same perks as the Commodore Lounge, but you have a private area stateroom for up to eight people. This is an additional $60 total for six passengers or $80 total for eight passengers each way.
Our Commodore Lounge Experience
During our journey to Catalina Island, we had Commodore Lounge tickets each way, and it definitely made our experience! Upon arrival at the terminal in Long Beach, we had a dedicated check-in line where we could pay and pick up our physical tickets. At check-in, they will give you tickets for both legs of the journey, so make sure to have a safe place to keep them.
Once it was time to board the ship, you had a dedicated line for the Commodore Lounge. Commodore Lounge passengers get to board first, and you are directed right to the private indoor seating area. Once in there, you have bar service at your seat, where you have the option for a beverage of your choice and a snack. We opted for Bloody Mary’s in the morning and gin and tonics on the way home. Our snack choices were Chex Mix or Chips Ahoy.
Teacher Tip: Sit on the right side of the ferry in the morning to avoid the sun.
On the way back is where I feel like the extra money for the Commodore Lounge is definitely worth it. Again, you have a dedicated line to board the ferry first. The line for the ferries headed back to the mainland got very long very quickly, so it was helpful to have a short line to stand in, and the opportunity to get out of the chilly weather first.
Parking at the Ports
If you drive to the ports, you will need to pay for parking. Here are the costs per day at each port location.
- San Pedro: $20/Day
- Long Beach $23/day
- Dana Point: $20/day
Transportation around Catalina Island
Walking
The main town of Catalina Island, Avalon, is a very walkable town. Visitors can easily walk to all of the main sites and the paths are very smooth. There is some uphill walking in certain locations, but nothing too strenuous.
Golf Carts
Another popular mode of transportation around Avalon is to rent a golf cart. Only a certain amount of cars are allowed on the island, so many locals utilize golf carts to get around. Golf carts can take visitors a little higher into the hills to take in the views of Avalon. I would recommend renting one for an hour or two if you have time. There are a ton of locations around the town you can rent from.
Where to Stay in Catalina Island
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Catalina island hotels here!
Many people opt to take a day trip to Catalina Island but staying for the weekend will enable you to see everything the island has to offer. All of the hotels are boutique hotels, and there are no chain hotels on the island. Both the Hermosa Hotel, the Avalon Hotel, the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel, and The Edgewater are popular options.
Another popular option is to book a “Best of Winter” package which includes various things, depending on which hotel and package you book!
What to do During a One Day Catalina Island Itinerary
There are so many amazing things to do during a one day Catalina Island itinerary. If you have the time, I recommend taking more time than a day trip to Catalina Island and spend an entire weekend exploring. This guide will give you the best recommendations on how to spend a day on Catalina Island.
Casino Tour
Cost: $35 and up
Hours: 10am-4pm, Closed Thursdays
This morning, start out with a tour of Catalina’s iconic Casino. While this is not a casino you go gambling at, “casino” actually means “gathering place” in Italian. It opened in 1929 and since then has been a popular “playground for all” on the island. Present-day, visitors can watch movies in the theater, attend events at the ballroom, or hang out at the officers club.
I highly recommend a casino tour during your one day Catalina Island itinerary. This will cover the entire history of the casino and take you through all sorts of areas not accessible to the general public, such as the projection room, the green rooms, Wrigley’s private viewing room, and the Casino Ballroom.
The tour lasts about an hour, but you also get plenty of time on your own after the tour to explore the small exhibits and take in the views of Catalina from the Casino promenade. If you prefer to not take a tour, you can also pay $20 to enter the Casino and explore some of the areas on your own. However, you will not get the full experience and access unless you book a guided tour!
Catalina Museum for Art and History
Cost: $18
Hours: 10am-5pm, Closed Mondays
Next, on this one day Catalina Island itinerary, head to the California Museum for Art and History. You get $2 off admission with your Casino ticket! This awesome museum is located a short walk from the Casino. The exhibits in this museum preserve and portray the history of Catalina Island.
Visitors can opt just to visit the museum and take in all of the artifacts and rotating exhibits, or there are often lectures and special events to attend. You will want to check the website for more information about currency events. Either way, it is a fun place to spend about an hour exploring what the museum has to offer.
Lunch at El Galleon
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-9pm
Once you have gotten your fill of the history of the island, head to El Galleon for lunch. This restaurant offers the perfect view of the harbor to take in as you fuel up on lunch during this one day Catalina Island itinerary.
They have a wide assortment of American-style fare. We opted to grab a roast beef dip sandwich that was the perfect size lunch before we headed back out for the day. If you know you are headed to Catalina on a busy weekend, I would recommend booking a table ahead of time on their website as it can get quite popular.
Catalina Coffee and Cookie Co
Cost: $
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 6am-4:30pm, Fri-Sun: 6am-8pm
After a delicious lunch at El Galleon, stop at the Catalina Coffee and Cookie Co to grab a cookie for dessert. Alternatively, you could stop here in the morning when you get here to grab some coffee and pastries to start your one day Catalina Island itinerary. Either way, I would recommend grabbing something sweet here, as everything was delicious!
Conservancy Eco Tour
Cost: $149/person
Hours: 9am, 9:30am, 9:45am, 1pm, 1:30pm, 1:45pm
Departs From: Trailhead Store: 708 Crescent Ave. Avalon, CA
This afternoon, head out on the highlight of this one day Catalina Island itinerary: The Conservancy Eco Tour. Throughout this journey, visitors will travel around the 165 miles of paved and unpaved roads of the island, creating an awesome adventure. We opted to do the three hour tour and it was the best decision!
Each Eco Tour comes with a guide/driver and with a group of up to nine people. Throughout the tour, you will learn all about the island’s history, and see unique plants and wildlife, including bison. The other cool thing about the Eco Tour is that it can take you to parts of the island that are more difficult to reach and many visitors do not see.
80% of Catalina Island actually belongs to the conservancy in order to be able to keep it preserved and not developed. Throughout the ride, visitors will get a rest stop at the Catalina Airport, with time for a snack (get the cookies) and get to watch planes land and depart the treacherous runway.
If you can only do one thing on Catalina Island, make sure to take one of the Catalina Island Conservatory Eco Tours. There are some with other companies, but I recommend booking through the Conservatory as it is a non-profit organization that ensures the conservation of the island.
Drinks at Naughty Fox
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 9am-5pm, Fri-Sat: 9am-7pm
To end this one day Catalina Island itinerary, grab some drinks at the Naughty Fox. They have some awesome appetizers and lots of fun cocktails to try out. It is the perfect way to unwind after the eco tour and before getting on the ferry to head back to the mainland.
If you have extra time, spend some time wandering around Avalon and perusing the various shops and eateries. You can find a ton of fun things in the shops!
More Than One Day on Catalina Island
While this one day Catalina Island itinerary showed the highlights of the island and covered a lot of ground for one day, I highly recommend spending a weekend on the island. If you have more time and can spend at least two days on Catalina, plan to add some of these things to your itinerary.
Ziplining
There is one ziplining course on the island that overlooks Avalon. If you are up for an adventure, you may want to add ziplining to your day. Visitors get to zip across several ziplines through the canyon.
Semi-Submarine
Another popular thing to do on a one day Catalina Island itinerary is to take a trip in a semi-sub. This gives visitors the chance to see the amazing underwater world surrounding Catalina Island. The rides typically take around 45 minutes and you dive about 6 feet around the bay.
Snorkeling or Diving
Something super cool and unique about Catalina Island is that they have a dive park! It is located near the casino and it is completely set up for divers to enter the reef. Everyone just leaves their bags lining the sea wall and heads right into the ocean. We also saw a few snorkelers here too.
Visit Two Harbors
If you want an even more intimate town experience, you can visit Two Harbors, the small town on the other side of the island. While it is possible to get there by road, you will want to take the $36 yellow boat from Avalon to Two Harbors.
Special Events
Throughout the year, Catalina Island puts on a ton of special events. On the day we visited, a triathlon was going on. Other popular events include the Catalina Island Wine Mixer and the JazzTrax Festival. Note you may want to plan a bit in advance on those weekends as things will be a lot busier!
What to Wear on Catalina Island
While Catalina Island is located in Southern California, it can get a bit chilly, especially once the sun goes down and during the winter months. I recommend packing/wearing layers during your time on Catalina Island. I brought an extra jacket to wear on the ferry and it got a bit cold during the eco tour.
Final Tips for a One Day Catalina Island Itinerary
A one day Catalina Island itinerary is the perfect way to see all of the main sites and enable visitors to take a day trip to Catalina Island. If you have the time, I highly recommend you make it a weekend getaway so you can fully explore the island. No matter what, you cannot go wrong with a visit to Catalina Island.
Make sure to spend some time in Long Beach, Los Angeles, or Santa Barbara in conjunction with this trip. You can also spend a day on the Channel Islands for some great hiking opportunities.
If you opt to stay overnight near the port of Long Beach, these hotels are popular options.
- Hilton Long Beach
- Hyatt Regency Long Beach
- The Queen Mary
- Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach
- Hotel Maya -DoubleTree
- Residence Inn by Marriott Long Beach
- Courtyard Marriott Long Beach
3 thoughts on “One Day Catalina Island Itinerary: The Best Day Trip from Los Angeles”
I would love to do the eco tour and zip lining! Wild that I grew up in Southern California and have been all over the world, but not Catalina yet! I’m putting it on my list for next year!
This is a great itinerary for a one-day trip to Catalina Island! For someone short on time, it hits all the highlights – ferry transportation, exploring Avalon, and even a suggestion for a historical or cultural activity (Catalina Casino Tour or Catalina Museum for Art and History).
One thing that piqued my curiosity is the Descanso Beach Club recommendation. It sounds like a luxurious way to spend some afternoon relaxation time. Would you recommend making reservations in advance, especially during peak season?
I always say make reservations in advance because places in California get busy!