Catalina Island Ferry: Every Boat on Your Day

Two companies sail to Catalina Island: the Catalina Express from Long Beach (about 1 hour), San Pedro (1 hour 15 minutes) and Dana Point (1 hour 30 minutes) to Avalon, and from San Pedro to Two Harbors; and the Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach to Avalon (about 75 minutes). A round trip costs $103 an adult on the Express from Long Beach or San Pedro, $111 from Dana Point and $94 on the Flyer. Pick the island, the port and the day to see every boat both ways and the last one back.

How to use it

Choose Avalon or Two Harbors, the day you go and, if you like, one port. With any port, the answer gives the last boat back that day and the first one over; each port that has boats gets its card: every departure from the mainland and from the island, when each one gets in (the last one back in red), the crossing time and the round-trip fares. With one port, the answer also counts the hours a day trip gives you on the island. The link under the answer keeps your island, port and day.

The two boats

• Catalina Express, from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point to Avalon, and San Pedro to Two Harbors: Long Beach/Avalon trips take approximately 1 hr. San Pedro/Avalon trips take approximately 1 hr 15 min. Dana Point/Avalon trips take approximately 1 hr 30 min. Some San Pedro boats stop at the other harbour on the way, which adds 1 hour 15 minutes. Its printed schedule is not the whole story: This does not reflect all sailings. Please visit our reservation system to see all added sailings. This planner reads that reservation system, every day of it.
• Catalina Flyer, from the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach to Avalon: Approx. 75 minutes. Its page prints no times (Several Daily Departures, Please See Booking Widget For Full Schedule.); its booking calendar shows one boat a day, 9:00 AM from Newport Beach and 4:30 PM back from Avalon. Arrive at least one hour before scheduled departure. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure.

The winter schedule, October 20, 2026 to March 31, 2027

From the Catalina Express's printed winter sheet, which its booking calendar follows day by day:

• Long Beach: over at 6:00 AM, 9:50 AM, 2:00 PM and 5:50 PM (6:30 PM on Fridays); back from Avalon at 7:50 AM, 11:50 AM, 3:55 PM and 7:45 PM (8:30 PM on Fridays). Every day.
• San Pedro to Avalon: 8:45 AM every day but Tuesday and Thursday, and 2:55 PM by way of Two Harbors on Monday and Friday to Sunday; back at 10:30 AM by way of Two Harbors and 6:00 PM on Monday and Friday to Sunday. No San Pedro boat on a Tuesday or a Thursday, except Thanksgiving (November 26).
• San Pedro to Two Harbors: 8:45 AM by way of Avalon and 2:55 PM; back at 11:45 AM and 4:45 PM by way of Avalon, on the same days.
• Dana Point: over at 9:30 AM every day and 2:45 PM on Fridays and Sundays; back at 11:45 AM on Fridays and Sundays and 5:00 PM every day.

The booking calendar adds boats the sheet does not print: extra Long Beach boats both ways on October 23–25 and November 13–15, San Pedro and Two Harbors boats on November 25, December 24, 30 and 31, and an extra Dana Point round trip on November 25, December 24 and 26. It leaves out the 2:55 PM from San Pedro on Sunday, October 25 (a 4:00 PM instead) and on the Sundays of March 7, 14 and 21, 2027, and moves the 8:45 AM to Two Harbors on October 25 (9:45 AM) and November 13 (9:30 AM). The Catalina Flyer's calendar has no boat from December 1 to 25, 2026.

First boat over and last boat back, winter 2026–27

A Wednesday and a Saturday in the third week of each month, plus Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas: the first boat over – the last boat back (in brackets, the boats over that day), from each company's booking calendar. A dash: no boat that day.

The fares

Round trip, as each company prints them. The Catalina Express's include the island's fee: Round-trip tickets include $10.00 Island wharfage fee and tax. ($8.00 to Two Harbors). The Catalina Flyer's too: Catalina ferry prices includes a $9.50 wharfage per person paid to Avalon ($4.75 per one way).

The ages differ: on the Express an adult is 12–54, a senior 55 and older, a child 2–11; on the Flyer an adult is 13–59, a senior 60 and older, and a child is 12 and under, babies included. One way on the Flyer is half: $47, $44.50 and $39.50. A bike or a surfboard is $7 on the Express and a bike $20 on the Flyer. The Express's Captain's Lounge costs $60 more each way ($80 from Dana Point) and its Commodore Lounge $20; the Flyer's VIP access $40 a person.

How far ahead to book

The Express says it plainly: Reservations recommended. On October 17, 2026 its booking calendar answered every later day with We are currently accepting reservations through March 31, 2027, so a spring or summer 2027 trip cannot be booked yet; the planner says so for those days. The Flyer's calendar showed days to January 3, 2027, and some of its holiday boats already had no seats left. Book as soon as your day is set, and on the day get to the dock early.

Worked examples

Long Beach on a Friday. Long Beach to Avalon, Friday, November 20: the last boat back is 8:30 PM. Over: 6:00 AM, 9:50 AM, 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM. Back: 7:50 AM, 11:50 AM, 3:55 PM and 8:30 PM. A day trip: in at 7:00 AM on the first boat, out at 8:30 PM on the last — 13 h 30 min on the island.

San Pedro on a Wednesday. San Pedro to Avalon, Wednesday, November 18: the last boat back is 10:30 AM. Over: 8:45 AM. Back: 10:30 AM. The last boat back leaves 30 min after the first one over gets in (in at 10:00 AM, out at 10:30 AM): too short for a day trip — plan a night on the island.

Two Harbors on a Sunday. San Pedro to Two Harbors, Sunday, November 22: the last boat back is 4:45 PM. Over: 8:45 AM and 2:55 PM. Back: 11:45 AM and 4:45 PM. A day trip: in at 11:15 AM on the first boat, out at 4:45 PM on the last — 5 h 30 min on the island.

Dana Point on Christmas Day. Dana Point to Avalon, Friday, December 25: the last boat back is 5:00 PM. Over: 9:30 AM and 2:45 PM. Back: 11:45 AM and 5:00 PM. A day trip: in at 11:00 AM on the first boat, out at 5:00 PM on the last — 6 h on the island.

The Flyer in December. Newport Beach to Avalon, Saturday, December 12: no boats posted. Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach: No Flyer on its booking calendar that day.

Common mistakes

• Planning a San Pedro day trip midweek. On a Wednesday the only boat back to San Pedro leaves Avalon at 10:30 AM, half an hour after the 8:45 AM gets in, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays no San Pedro boat sails at all. For a midweek day trip, go from Long Beach or Dana Point.
• Going to Two Harbors from Long Beach. Boats to Two Harbors leave from San Pedro only, and one each way stops at Avalon on the way.
• Trusting the printed schedule alone. The Catalina Express adds and drops boats on its booking calendar: Holiday and weekend schedule may vary.
• Bringing the kids on their own. Children under 7 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Questions people ask

How much does the Catalina Express cost?

Round trip from Long Beach or San Pedro to Avalon: $103 an adult (12–54), $93 a senior (55+), $82 a child (2–11) and $10 under 2, the island's fee and tax included. From Dana Point $111, $100.50 and $89.50; to Two Harbors $101, $91 and $80.

How long is the Catalina Island ferry ride?

About 1 hour from Long Beach, 1 hour 15 minutes from San Pedro (to Avalon or Two Harbors), 1 hour 30 minutes from Dana Point and about 75 minutes on the Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach. A San Pedro boat that stops at the other harbour takes 1 hour 15 minutes more.

What is the Catalina Express schedule in winter?

From October 20, 2026 to March 31, 2027: four boats each way every day from Long Beach (the first at 6:00 AM, the last back at 7:45 PM, 8:30 PM on Fridays); from San Pedro one or two boats each way, none on Tuesdays and Thursdays; from Dana Point 9:30 AM over and 5:00 PM back every day, two each way on Fridays and Sundays.

Where does the Catalina Flyer leave from, and when?

From the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach. Its booking calendar shows one boat a day, 9:00 AM to Avalon and 4:30 PM back, with no boats from December 1 to 25, 2026. Round trip $94 an adult, $89 a senior (60+), $79 a child (12 and under).

How to get to Catalina Island from Los Angeles or Orange County?

By boat: the Catalina Express from Long Beach or San Pedro (Los Angeles) or Dana Point (Orange County), or the Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach. Long Beach has the most boats, four or more each way every day.

Is there a Long Beach to Catalina ferry every day?

Yes. In winter 2026–27 the Catalina Express leaves Long Beach at 6:00 AM, 9:50 AM, 2:00 PM and 5:50 PM (6:30 PM on Fridays) every day, and comes back at 7:50 AM, 11:50 AM, 3:55 PM and 7:45 PM (8:30 PM on Fridays).

Does the Dana Point to Catalina ferry run in winter?

Yes, every day: 9:30 AM from Dana Point and 5:00 PM back from Avalon, plus 2:45 PM over and 11:45 AM back on Fridays and Sundays. It takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Is there a Two Harbors ferry in winter?

From San Pedro only, every day but Tuesday and Thursday: 8:45 AM by way of Avalon (in at 11:15 AM), back at 11:45 AM; on Monday and Friday to Sunday also 2:55 PM over and 4:45 PM back by way of Avalon.

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