Getting there
No bridges, no rental cars — you reach Catalina by ferry or helicopter. Here are your options:
Catalina Express
~1 hr (longer from Dana Point)From Long Beach, San Pedro & Dana Point → Avalon (Two Harbors from San Pedro)
The workhorse — multiple daily departures year-round. Free round-trip on your birthday with a paying adult; a Commodore Lounge upgrade adds wider seats and a drink. Reserve ahead in summer.
💵 ~$80–95 round-trip adult; less for kids 2–11 & seniors
Book / details →Catalina Flyer
~1 hr 15 minFrom Newport Beach (Balboa Pavilion) → Avalon
One round-trip per day, roughly March–November (very limited or no winter service — confirm the season). Typically departs ~9am, returns ~4:30pm.
💵 ~$76–90 round-trip adult
Book / details →IEX Helicopters
~15 minFrom Long Beach & San Pedro → Avalon (Pebbly Beach, ~1 mi from town)
The fast, scenic way over — flying Catalina since 1982. Pricey but a memorable shortcut that skips the boat. Per-seat pricing varies, so check the operator.
💵 $$$$ — a splurge (see site)
Book / details →Tip: the crossings are real ocean rides, so pack motion-sickness remedies if anyone's prone — and reserve ahead on summer weekends and event dates, when ferries sell out.
Getting around the island
Forget the car. Avalon is genuinely tiny and walkable — you can cross the whole town on foot in 20 minutes, and most attractions cluster around the harbor. The classic move is to rent a golf cart (the island's beloved substitute for a car) to putter up to the scenic overlooks and the Botanic Garden, or rent bikes. The protected interior (about 88% of the island) requires a Conservancy tour or a free permit to enter — that's where the bison live. Golf-cart rentals run roughly $65–85/hour (most seat 4–6), and a self-guided ~12-mile loop of Avalon's hills takes about an hour.
🦬 The famous bison
Yes, real American bison roam Catalina. About 14 were brought over in 1924 — reportedly for a silent Western film — and simply left behind. The herd grew over the decades and is now carefully managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy at a sustainable size (roughly 80–150 animals) out in the protected interior. You'll most reliably see them on a Bison Expedition Hummer tour or a Conservancy eco-tour — they're rarely seen near Avalon itself.
Best time to go
Catalina's weather is mild all year, so the 'best' time is really about crowds, water temperature and fog. The sweet spot is late spring (late April–May) and especially fall (September–October): warm, sunny, the warmest ocean water for snorkeling, and far thinner crowds than peak summer. Summer (July–August) is peak everything — buzzing and fully open, but the most crowded and priciest, so book ferries and hotels well ahead. Winter (Nov–March) is quiet and cheap with gray-whale watching, though some restaurants and tours run reduced hours. One local quirk: 'June Gloom' (worst in May–June) grays over the mornings before usually burning off by early afternoon — so plan beach and boat time for the afternoon.
Things to do
From the glass-bottom boat and the Casino to zip lines and a bison safari — sorted by distance from you within Avalon.