Catalina Island Day-Trip
A car-free Mediterranean-feeling island an hour's ferry from the mainland, centered on the town of Avalon.
The call
Worth it if you're watching the budget and you're traveling as a couple.
Short answer
Is Catalina Island Day-Trip worth it?
Catalina Island Day-Trip deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
A genuine change of scene — a ferry to a hilly, golf-cart-and-walking island with a Mediterranean harbor town, snorkeling, and zip-lining.
- 02
The cost and logistics are the catch: ferry tickets, an early start, and a full day committed, with most activities priced as add-ons, so it suits people who want an adventure over a quick outing.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're watching the budget
Catalina Island Day-Trip earns the spend, even on a tight budget.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, Catalina Island Day-Trip is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, Catalina Island Day-Trip is an easy yes.
You want time outdoors
Catalina Island Day-Trip rewards a trip built around nature & scenery.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Ferry ~$75 RT + activities
- Timing
- A clear-weather day with an early ferry to maximize island time.
- Booking
- Book ferry tickets and any tours or activities in advance.
- Allow
- Full day
- Accessibility
- Avalon's flat waterfront is walkable; the hilly interior is harder for limited mobility.
- Getting there
- Roughly one-hour ferries (~$75 round trip) from San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point.