How Far is Catalina Island from Los Angeles — and Is It Worth the Trip for a Weekend Stay?

The song is almost 70 years old now, but once upon a time a band called The Four Preps sang a catchy tune about Catalina: 

Twenty-six miles across the sea

Santa Catalina is a-waitin' for me,

Santa Catalina, the island of romance,

romance, romance, romance.

Here’s the thing: Romance never goes out of style. And neither does the fun of an island vacation. When you’re looking for a great getaway from LA–or Orange County or even San Diego–Catalina Island is a great place to go. 

Some Southern Californians return year after year to this favorite destination. One visit, and you’ll see why Catalina welcomes more than a million visitors annually. Make your Catalina trip most memorable by making plans for great accommodations, good food, and an itinerary that is just right for you. Conveniently located in the town of Avalon, the Aurora Hotel is the perfect home base for any kind of Catalina vacation–whether you’re on a girls or guys trip, a couples weekend, or a family stay. Plan ahead for summer, and read on to learn more about how far Catalina Island is from Los Angeles. It is certainly worth the trip for a weekend stay. 

Know how far you’ll go. From some coastal vantage points in Southern California, if you look across the Pacific on a clear day, you can see the mountainous outline of the island. It looks quite close, and it truly is! When you’re traveling by boat to Catalina, you’re traveling by nautical miles. While that old song sings, “26 miles across the sea,” your travel distance differs, depending on your departure port. Nautical miles measure about 6076 feet, which equals about 1.15 land-measure miles. When you’re navigating by air or sea, the nautical mile is the way to go.  

• From Long Beach, the distance to Catalina is about 25 nautical miles. 

• From San Pedro, it’s about 21 nautical miles. 

• From Newport Beach, it’s about 23 nautical miles. 

• From Dana Point, it’s about 33. 

Whether you leave from a Los Angeles County port or an Orange County port, Catalina is quite convenient and close for many Southern Californians. 

Getting there is part of the fun!  Booking your trip to Catalina starts with a choice: by air or by sea. If you choose to go by sea, you’ll take a ferry from Dana Point, Newport Beach, Long Beach, or San Pedro. Different Catalina ferry operators include Catalina Express and Catalina Passenger Service. As a part of your ferry experience, you might have the chance to see sea life–from playful dolphins to majestic whales. Boat rides across the channel can take about an hour to 75 minutes, depending on your departure point and ocean conditions. 

If you prefer a faster trip, take a helicopter ride with Maverick Helicopters. Flights leave from Long Beach, and they take about 15 minutes from helipad to helipad! There is also the option to charter a trip to the island from other Southern California locations. Be sure to plan ahead for your travels to Catalina, especially during the busier summer months. 

Make Aurora your home base. Once you have your travel set, make sure that you’ve got accommodations at Aurora Hotel reserved too. The hotel’s location is ideal–set atop a walkable hill in the town of Avalon and within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and entertainment. 

There’s a variety of room options available at Aurora as well: 

• Ocean view rooms feature great viewpoints of the Pacific. 

• Some standard rooms have a step-out balcony overlooking Avalon.

• Junior suites are a bit larger, complete with a jetted tub and lots of room to relax. 

• The Celebrity Suite at Aurora is one of the most fabulous hotel rooms on the island, featuring a private sun porch. 

All of the accommodations at Aurora come with great amenities like concierge services, free wi-fi, access to our roof deck, and complimentary continental breakfast. 

Frequent local favorites. Catalina has always been a place where you can enjoy fresh seafood, but in recent years, the culinary scene has grown to feature all kinds of cuisine. There are options for casual dining like tacos, pizza, and fast food, but there are also fantastic places for fine dining, brunch favorites, tasty desserts, and everything in between. Some restaurant recommendations the Aurora often makes include: M Restaurant, Antonio’s Pizzeria, Catalina Coffee and Cookie Company, Maggie’s Blue Rose, the Lobster Trap, and Steve’s Steakhouse. 

Have some island adventures. If you’re taking a weekend trip to Catalina to relax, unwind, and enjoy–you can do all of that from the comfort of the Aurora Hotel. But if you’re looking for a fuller itinerary for your trip, ask the staff at Aurora. A few of our favorite island experiences to try include: taking a Catalina Food Tour, scuba diving or snorkeling with Catalina Divers Supply, or exploring culture at the Catalina Museum. 

Catalina is really worth the trip. Make plans for your island getaway by reserving your travel and your room at Aurora. Check out our website to book your accommodations, or give us a call at 310-510-0454 to learn more.