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Short answer: Take Catalina Express from Long Beach or the Catalina Flyer from the Balboa Pavilion. From north Huntington Beach (92649), Long Beach is about 12 miles and 25–30 minutes with no traffic, then about 1 hour on the boat. The Pavilion is about 14 miles and 25–30 minutes, then about 90 minutes. San Pedro is about 27 miles, Dana Point about 34. On October 21, 2026, Express is on a shorter timetable through March 31, 2027. Confirm the boats for your date.
Which boat, and how long it takes
Catalina Express sails to Avalon from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point, and to Two Harbors from San Pedro. A via routing adds about 1 hour 15 minutes. The Catalina Flyer leaves the Balboa Pavilion, 400 Main Street, in about 90 minutes, and asks you to arrive one hour early. The Express rows are the timetable posted for October 20, 2026 through March 31, 2027 (the PDF matches through January 4, 2027). Times can change, and added sailings may not be listed. The Flyer page names no year.
| Port | Crossing | Day-trip pair now posted |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach, 320 Golden Shore | about 1 hr | 9:50 a.m. out, 7:45 p.m. back (8:30 Friday). Or 6:00 a.m. out, 3:55 p.m. back. Daily. |
| San Pedro, Berth 95 | about 1 hr 15 min | 8:45 a.m. out and 6:00 p.m. back on Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday. No Tuesday service. No Thursday service except November 26. Wednesday's printed return does not make a same-day trip. |
| Dana Point, 34675 Golden Lantern | about 1 hr 30 min | 9:30 a.m. out and 5:00 p.m. back, every day. The 2:45 p.m. and 11:45 a.m. boats are Friday and Sunday only. |
| Balboa Pavilion | about 90 min | 8:45 a.m. out and 4:30 p.m. back for May–October, plus 12:55 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. departures. November–April: 9:00 a.m. out and 4:30 p.m. back. |
On that Express schedule, a Long Beach or San Pedro round trip is $103 for adults 12–54, $93 for seniors 55+, and $82 for children 2–11, wharfage included. Dana Point is $111, $100.50 and $89.50. Fares can change. The Flyer prints no fare table. Check when you book.
Drive times and parking from 92649
OpenStreetMap, no traffic, from the neighborhood. Rush hour takes longer.
| Terminal | Drive | Parking posted |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | about 12 mi, 25–30 min | $26.95 per 24 hours, no reservation. Price can change. Ticket window opens an hour before the first boat. |
| San Pedro | about 27 mi, 35–40 min | First hour free, then $2 an hour, or $23 a day. Price can change. |
| Dana Point | about 34 mi, 45–50 min | $24 a day on level 3. Reserve with the ticket. Prepaid spots add service fees. Arrive 60 minutes early. |
| Balboa Pier lot | about 14 mi, 25–30 min | City lot at Palm and Balboa, listed for Flyer parking. Open 24 hours, first come. $30.85 a day October–April, $45.35 May–September, $62.20 on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. |
A day in Avalon
Boats dock at the Cabrillo Mole, a short walk to Crescent Avenue. The Catalina Casino opened in 1929, commissioned by William Wrigley Jr., for a movie, dinner and dancing. The Catalina Island Company sells a general-admission visit of the theatre, ballroom and promenade. Check the day's price. Descanso Beach Club, just past the Casino, has cabanas. Treat the restaurant as seasonal and confirm it is open.
Lover's Cove and the Avalon Underwater Park at Casino Point are the snorkel spots. Fish and Wildlife says Casino Point became one of the first underwater parks in the 1960s. It is a no-take zone with a staircase into calm water. Lover's Cove is protected too: take nothing, and hook-and-line fishing is allowed only from the mole. Glass-bottom boats cross the cove. Rent gear in town and ask about a short wetsuit. Golf carts rent by the hour, two hours maximum, only inside Avalon on the shop's map. There is no rental car. The Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden is open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., about 1.7 miles up the canyon. Adults are $13.58, taxes and fees included. A free shuttle leaves 708 Crescent Avenue about every 40 minutes if staff are available. Plan it only if your boat leaves after 5.
Two Harbors, briefly
Two Harbors is the quiet west-end village, with the Harbor Sands beach club. Mainland Express boats leave San Pedro only. This winter they skip Tuesday and Thursday except November 26, and several go via Avalon. The ticket window takes cards, not cash. Confirm a same-day pair. Avalon is the easier day.
Fall and winter schedules
Express posted this thinner list on October 21, 2026. Through October 19 it still ran mid-day Long Beach boats and daily San Pedro service. Summer 2027 was not posted, so check again the week you go.
What to pack
Bring a layer. The Flyer's booking notes say the crossing can be rough, and suggest a seasickness remedy if you need one. Pack a swimsuit and walking shoes. On the Flyer you carry your own bags: two pieces, 30 inches maximum, no pets, and no paddleboards or kayaks. Arrive early, as Dana Point and the Flyer ask.
A sample day from the house
Check-in is 4:00 p.m. and checkout is 11:00 a.m., so use a middle day. See the whale-watching guide for winter boats from these harbors, and the things-to-do guide for a mainland day.
- 8:40 a.m.: leave for the 9:50 a.m. Long Beach boat and park at Catalina Landing.
- 10:50 a.m.: Casino, Descanso, and a snorkel at Lover's Cove or Casino Point if you want the water. Lunch in town.
- Afternoon: garden shuttle if you are on the 7:45 p.m. boat (8:30 Friday). Stay on the waterfront if you are on the 3:55.
- Home: about an hour on the boat, then 25–30 minutes to the house.
Where to stay
This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath house in north Huntington Beach (92649) sleeps 7, about 8 minutes from the beach, with a pool table and a BBQ island. Stays run up to 30 nights, weekly stays get 9% off, and utilities are included.
Catalina day-trip FAQ
Which Catalina ferry is closest to Huntington Beach?
Long Beach, about 12 miles, and the Balboa Pavilion, about 14 miles. Both are about 25–30 minutes with no traffic.
How long is the boat to Avalon?
About 1 hour from Long Beach, 1 hour 15 minutes from San Pedro, 1 hour 30 minutes from Dana Point, and about 90 minutes on the Flyer.
Do the Catalina ferries run in fall and winter?
Yes, on the shorter timetable posted from October 20, 2026 through March 31, 2027. Confirm your date.
Can you visit Two Harbors in a day from Huntington Beach?
Only from San Pedro, and not on a simple out-and-back every day this winter. Confirm a same-day pair.
How much is a Catalina Express ticket?
See the fares above, posted October 21, 2026. They can change, including a fuel surcharge.