Catalina Island sits just 22 miles off the Southern California coast, but anchored in a quiet cove with nothing but stars overhead, it feels a world away from the marina. For yacht owners, it's one of the best overnight adventures you can do without crossing an ocean — it just takes a bit of planning.
From San Pedro, Long Beach, or Newport, the crossing is roughly 22–30 nautical miles — an easy morning run. From San Diego, plan on a longer 65–70 nm trip; many skippers break it up with a stop in Oceanside or Dana Point and cross the next morning.
Either way, cross in the morning. The channel can be glassy at 7 AM and running 3 to 4 feet by early afternoon.
Peak season. Warm weather, clear water, and a busy island. Moorings fill fast on weekends, especially around Fourth of July and Labor Day. Aim for a Sunday–Thursday crossing.
The sweet spot for most Catalina regulars. Crowds thin after Labor Day, the water is still warm, and September and October offer some of the most reliable weather of the year. The caveat: Santa Ana winds can roll through — Catalina Harbor on the windward side of the isthmus is your best shelter if conditions deteriorate.
Fewer boats, better mooring availability, green hills, and active wildlife. Crossings can be rougher, so watch the weather window. On a calm winter weekend you may have entire coves to yourself.
Catalina has two main harbor areas with very different systems, plus a string of primitive coves along the leeward shore.
The island's main town and busiest anchorage, with 361 moorings — most privately owned, available first-come, first-served for everyone else. Check in at the harbor entrance on arrival. Larger yachts can anchor west of the red jetty light on the Casino breakwater in 80 to 120 feet of water.
The cruiser's favorite, at the island's isthmus. Over 700 moorings and anchorage options across more than a dozen coves, including Isthmus Cove, Cherry Cove, Fourth of July Cove, Emerald Bay, and Catalina Harbor. Call Harbor Patrol on VHF Channel 9 when you arrive. If you can't reach them, take the nearest open mooring and settle up the next morning. Boats over 100 feet need to anchor rather than moor here.
| Harbor | Under 30 ft | Over 100 ft | Checkout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon | ~$37/night | ~$149/night | 9 AM |
| Two Harbors | ~$39/day | ~$152/day | 9 AM |
For the most secluded experience, there are 17 primitive boat-in campsites at 9 locations along the leeward shore between Avalon and Two Harbors. These are anchor-in only — no moorings. You'll anchor off and dinghy ashore.
| Cove | From Avalon | From Two Harbors |
|---|---|---|
| Ripper's Cove | 8.6 nm | 4.0 nm |
| Paradise Cove | 8.4 nm | 4.25 nm |
| Lava Wall | 8.1 nm | 4.5 nm |
| Gibraltar | 7.1 nm | 5.5 nm |
| Cabrillo | 7.0 nm | 5.75 nm |
| Goat Harbor | 6.2 nm | 6.4 nm |
| Italian Gardens | 5.25 nm | 7.4 nm |
| Long Point Beach | 4.875 nm | 7.75 nm |
| Willow Cove | 2.75 nm | 9.9 nm |
Anchoring is only permitted 100 yards outside the mooring area at Two Harbors. At Isthmus and Fourth of July Coves, anchoring with less than 100 feet of chain is prohibited.
All camping on Catalina requires a reservation — there is no walk-up option. Online reservations open every year on January 5th at 8:00 AM Pacific for the whole season. For January and February, book by phone starting December 1st.
For boat-in sites, your reservation is your permit — keep the confirmation handy, as a ranger patrols daily. It also serves as your interior hiking permit; check with the Catalina Island Conservancy for any additional backcountry requirements.
The primitive sites have zero infrastructure: no running water, toilets, trash cans, shade, or campfires. Everything goes in on your dinghy and comes back out the same way.
If your boat has a watermaker, the crossing is the best time to use it. Run it in clean, deep, open water mid-channel and arrive at Catalina with full tanks.
Not sure your system is ready? See our watermaker troubleshooting guide or request a pre-trip check below.
The island's only real town is worth a half-day. Walk the waterfront and head to the iconic Casino building — built in 1929 as a ballroom and movie theater, not a gambling hall, and one of the finest Art Deco buildings on the West Coast. The Descanso Beach Club nearby is great for a low-key afternoon.
Smaller, quieter, and more nautical: a general store, the Harbor Reef Restaurant as the social hub, and kayak rentals through the Two Harbors Dive and Recreation Center.
Catalina's kelp forests are some of the best diving on the West Coast, with visibility of 40 to 60 feet on a good day. Try the Casino Point Dive Park in Avalon or the coves around Two Harbors.
The Trans Catalina Trail runs 37.2 miles from Avalon to Starlight Beach, but even a few miles gives sweeping Pacific views. Watch for the bison herd (here since a 1924 film shoot), island foxes found nowhere else on earth, and bald eagles.
Reservations open online every year on January 5th at 8:00 AM Pacific time for the full season. January and February camping can be booked by phone starting December 1st through Two Harbors Visitor Services at (310) 510-4205.
Call Harbor Patrol on VHF Channel 9 when you arrive to be assigned a mooring. If you can't reach them, take the nearest open mooring and settle up the next morning. Weekend mooring reservations open on Thursdays. Checkout is 9 AM.
Rates are based on vessel length. Avalon runs roughly $37/night for boats under 30 feet up to $149/night for boats over 100 feet. Two Harbors runs about $39/day under 30 feet up to $152/day over 100 feet. Checkout is 9 AM at both.
No. The 17 primitive boat-in sites have no water, toilets, or trash service. Bring at least one gallon per person per day, a required portable toilet, and pack out everything. Boats with a watermaker should top off tanks offshore during the crossing.
Fall (September through November) is the best all-around season: thinner crowds, warm water, and reliable weather. In summer, go midweek and leave the dock early. Watch for Santa Ana winds in fall.
Catalina gets better every time you go. Book your campsite on January 5th, sort your mooring strategy before you leave the dock, and bring more water than you think you need. The rest takes care of itself.
Heading to Catalina or beyond? Tell us about your boat and we'll make sure your watermaker and onboard water are ready before you cast off.