Cabrillo Mole· Start here
Most Avalon day-trippers and hotel visitors arriving by passenger ferry
East end of Crescent Avenue, Avalon, CA · Main arrival pier for Avalon waterfront, beaches, restaurants, tours, and the Conservancy Trailhead.
Two Harbors Pier / Isthmus Cove
Visitors heading to Two Harbors, camping, watersports, diving, or the Trans-Catalina Trail
Two Harbors, Santa Catalina Island, CA · Small west-isthmus settlement; walking from one side of the isthmus to the other takes about 15 minutes.
Pebbly Beach Heliport
Scheduled helicopter passengers
Pebbly Beach Road, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, CA · Not central Avalon; arrange a ride if you have luggage.
Airport in the Sky
Private-aircraft arrivals with pre-arranged onward transportation
Airport in the Sky, Santa Catalina Island, CA · In the island interior; it is not a practical walk-in entrance for Avalon.
Santa Catalina Island, California 90704, USA
Ferry
Catalina Express from Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point · Cabrillo Mole, Avalon
0 min walk
Best first-visit arrival. Reserve seats as soon as your date is firm; summer, holiday-weekend, and Friday–Sunday departures often sell out.
Ferry
Catalina Express from San Pedro · Two Harbors Pier / Isthmus Cove
0 min walk
Use for Two Harbors, camping, diving, kayaking, and the Trans-Catalina Trail; direct sailing is about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Ferry
Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach/Balboa · Cabrillo Mole, Avalon
0 min walk
Regular Avalon alternative; price the exact date in the operator's live booking system rather than relying on reseller fares.
Shuttle
Island Express Helicopters from Long Beach or San Pedro · Pebbly Beach Heliport, Avalon
20 min walk
About 15 minutes from Long Beach; arrange onward transport if carrying luggage, as the heliport is east of central Avalon.
Other
Private aircraft · Airport in the Sky
Interior gateway, not a walk-in town arrival. Arrange onward transport or a planned hike/tour; transient operations are limited to attended hours.
Step 1
Reserve the crossing
Catalina itself has no general admission or island-entry fee. Book the passenger ferry as soon as your date is fixed; do not buy secondhand Catalina Express tickets, which are non-transferable and prohibited for resale.
Step 2
Arrive at the mainland ferry terminal
For Catalina Express, arrive at least 60 minutes before sailing.
Step 3
Check in and receive/confirm boarding
Be checked in and ticketed at least 30 minutes before departure. Ferry staff may request government ID to verify age eligibility.
Step 4
Board before the gate closes
Seats can be forfeited if you are not checked in 15 minutes before departure; boarding gates close 5 minutes before departure.
Step 5
If entering Conservancy wildlands, obtain a hiking permit
A free Catalina Island Conservancy hiking permit is compulsory before entering its hiking lands. In Avalon, get current closure advice and permits at the Trailhead Visitor Center, 708 Crescent Avenue.
Fine
Not allowed
No public cloakroom policy is stated. Do not assume luggage storage is available at the terminal; use hotel luggage storage or paid local baggage delivery if needed.
Source: catalinaexpress.com
Catalina Express ferry ports are wheelchair-accessible, and a smaller transfer wheelchair is available on request. Boarding ramps can be steep, and some vessel restroom doors are too narrow for larger mobility devices. Avalon’s waterfront is largely level and walkable, but residential streets are steep. Two Harbors is relatively flat but has fewer services. Conservancy backcountry trails are not step-free: expect dirt, uneven ground, exposure, and long gaps between facilities.
Source: catalinaexpress.com