THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step aboard the Catalina Express ferry from San Pedro for a one-hour journey across the Pacific to Avalon on Catalina Island. This ferry ride offers stunning ocean views and easy access to the island’s car-free charm and outdoor pursuits.
Step aboard the Catalina Express ferry from San Pedro for a one-hour journey across the Pacific to Avalon on Catalina Island. This ferry ride offers stunning ocean views and easy access to the island’s car-free charm and outdoor pursuits.
The salty breeze whips through your hair as the Catalina Express ferry slips away from the Catalina Sea and Air Terminal in San Pedro, its engines humming with purpose. The Pacific Ocean sprawls endlessly ahead, a restless companion daring you to look deeper. For the next hour, your journey is defined by the steady rhythm of waves pushing the ferry forward, while gulls wheel overhead, their calls slicing through the marine air.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Catalina Express · San Pedro, California
The salty breeze whips through your hair as the Catalina Express ferry slips away from the Catalina Sea and Air Terminal in San Pedro, its engines humming with purpose. The Pacific Ocean sprawls endlessly ahead, a restless companion daring you to look deeper. For the next hour, your journey is defined by the steady rhythm of waves pushing the ferry forward, while gulls wheel overhead, their calls slicing through the marine air.
San Pedro, a gritty waterfront district in Los Angeles, serves as your departure point. Known for its maritime heritage, including the iconic USS Iowa battleship and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, it offers a rugged contrast to the tranquility awaiting you across the sea. As the coastline fades, Catalina Island draws nearer—the island’s crescent-shaped Avalon Bay beckons with a promise of pedestrian-friendly streets and outdoor escapes.
Catalina Island’s geology traces back millions of years, sculpted by volcanic activity and oceanic forces. Its terrain presents a unique blend of rugged cliffs, rolling hills, and beaches edged by kelp forests. Avalon itself is a compact town where cars are rare, and the pace slows, inviting exploration by foot or rented golf cart. The island’s culture, shaped by early indigenous Tongva people and later Hollywood stars who sought refuge here, mingles with modern outdoor pursuits and dining.
Practical travelers will appreciate the Catalina Express’s reliable schedule, completing the roughly 22-mile crossing in about 60 minutes. The ferry offers indoor and outdoor seating options, allowing you to adjust to sun or shade as the sea air shifts. Arriving at the Cabrillo Mole, you’re steps from downtown Avalon’s cafés, shops, and waterfront trails.
Ideal timing to catch this ferry aligns with mild weather—spring through fall—the boat’s glass windows framing the Pacific’s changing moods. Booking in advance is crucial as the route is popular year-round, and boarding requires arriving at least an hour early. Bring a light jacket for the breezy deck, comfortable shoes if you plan to explore Avalon on foot, and a charged camera to capture shifting seascapes and island vistas.
The Catalina Express ferry ride is more than a transport—it’s an entrance into an island experience where the ocean dares your curiosity and every wave propels you closer to a world apart. Whether your day on Catalina Island unfolds in hiking, dining, or simply wandering, the ferry marks the threshold to adventure that blends ease with the untamed pulse of the Pacific.
easy.
1 hour.
Suitable for all fitness levels; minimal physical exertion required as this is a ferry ride.
The ferry crossing typically takes about 60 minutes depending on sea conditions.
All sales are final with no refunds available for cancellations.
Yes, both the terminal and ferry are fully wheelchair accessible.
Yes, the ferry accommodates surfboards, bikes, and strollers.
While the ferry has seating, food and drinks are usually brought onboard by passengers as there is limited service.
A mobile QR code is accepted, so a digital ticket on your device is sufficient for boarding.
Catalina Island’s Avalon was once a retreat for Hollywood stars during the 1920s and became a popular getaway for Los Angeles residents.
The island limits vehicles to protect its fragile ecosystem and fosters sustainable tourism to preserve natural habitats.
Catalina Express operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The salty breeze whips through your hair as the Catalina Express ferry slips away from the Catalina Sea and Air Terminal in San Pedro, its engines humming with purpose. The Pacific Ocean sprawls endlessly ahead, a restless companion daring you to look deeper. For the next hour, your journey is defined by the steady rhythm of waves pushing the ferry forward, while gulls wheel overhead, their calls slicing through the marine air.
The salty breeze whips through your hair as the Catalina Express ferry slips away from the Catalina Sea and Air Terminal in San Pedro, its engines humming with purpose. The Pacific Ocean sprawls endlessly ahead, a restless companion daring you to look deeper. For the next hour, your journey is defined by the steady rhythm of waves pushing the ferry forward, while gulls wheel overhead, their calls slicing through the marine air.
San Pedro, a gritty waterfront district in Los Angeles, serves as your departure point. Known for its maritime heritage, including the iconic USS Iowa battleship and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, it offers a rugged contrast to the tranquility awaiting you across the sea. As the coastline fades, Catalina Island draws nearer—the island’s crescent-shaped Avalon Bay beckons with a promise of pedestrian-friendly streets and outdoor escapes.
Catalina Island’s geology traces back millions of years, sculpted by volcanic activity and oceanic forces. Its terrain presents a unique blend of rugged cliffs, rolling hills, and beaches edged by kelp forests. Avalon itself is a compact town where cars are rare, and the pace slows, inviting exploration by foot or rented golf cart. The island’s culture, shaped by early indigenous Tongva people and later Hollywood stars who sought refuge here, mingles with modern outdoor pursuits and dining.
Practical travelers will appreciate the Catalina Express’s reliable schedule, completing the roughly 22-mile crossing in about 60 minutes. The ferry offers indoor and outdoor seating options, allowing you to adjust to sun or shade as the sea air shifts. Arriving at the Cabrillo Mole, you’re steps from downtown Avalon’s cafés, shops, and waterfront trails.
Ideal timing to catch this ferry aligns with mild weather—spring through fall—the boat’s glass windows framing the Pacific’s changing moods. Booking in advance is crucial as the route is popular year-round, and boarding requires arriving at least an hour early. Bring a light jacket for the breezy deck, comfortable shoes if you plan to explore Avalon on foot, and a charged camera to capture shifting seascapes and island vistas.
The Catalina Express ferry ride is more than a transport—it’s an entrance into an island experience where the ocean dares your curiosity and every wave propels you closer to a world apart. Whether your day on Catalina Island unfolds in hiking, dining, or simply wandering, the ferry marks the threshold to adventure that blends ease with the untamed pulse of the Pacific.