Best Things to Do on Catalina Island for a Weekend Trip

Catalina Island is not what you’d expect. Most people assume tourist trap. What you actually find is a small, walkable Art Deco beach town with golf carts instead of cars, hand-painted tiles on every corner, and crystal clear water. An hour from Los Angeles and it feels like you’ve been transported to a little Italian coastal village – except you never left California.

I’ve been to Catalina Island twice, once camping at Two Harbors on the island’s quieter western side, and once exploring Avalon, which is the main town and where most visitors spend their time. I’ve also spent time on Santa Cruz and Anacapa, two other Channel Islands, so I have a bit of a soft spot for all things island life off the Southern California coast.

This post covers the best things to do in Avalon, Catalina Island for a weekend trip – the activities that are actually worth your time, plus what to eat, budget tips, and everything you need to know before you go. If you want the full deep-dive on getting there, where to stay, and first-timer logistics, I’ve got a complete Catalina Island travel guide for that.

How to Get to Catalina Island

Most people take the Catalina Express ferry, which departs from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point. The crossing takes about an hour from Long Beach and San Pedro, and closer to 75 minutes from Dana Point. Round-trip fares run around $90 per adult. Book ahead – these boats sell out, especially in the summer.

If you’re coming from San Diego or South Orange County, Dana Point is by far the closest port and worth the slightly longer crossing time. Coming from LA, Long Beach has the most departure options.

For the full breakdown on ferry tips, parking, and what to expect on the crossing (including the occasional surprise orca sighting), see my complete Catalina Island guide.

Read more: 25 Epic Weekend Trips from San Diego (That Locals Actually Take)

Best Things to Do on Catalina Island

Rent a Golf Cart and Drive the Ridge Roads

Full disclosure: we didn’t rent a golf cart on our Avalon trip. We had four days and walked everywhere, which I loved – until about day three when my knees had other opinions about the hills. If you have a shorter visit, rent a golf cart. It’s one of the best ways to see the island, and the views from the ridge roads above town are spectacular in a way that’s hard to fully appreciate from street level.

Drive up past the Catalina Chimes Tower and along the ridgeline above Avalon. From up there you get the whole picture – the Casino, the harbor, the boats, the colorful hillside houses stacked up around the bay. It’s one of the most photogenic spots on the island and worth taking your time at.

Rental companies operate right near the ferry terminal. Most rent by the hour, with two hours being the sweet spot for a comfortable circuit. Reserve in advance if you’re visiting on a summer weekend – carts go fast. An e-bike is also a great option that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.

And if you’d rather take a golf cart tour with a knowledgeable guide, you can book that here.

Walk the Waterfront and Find the Tiles

Once you’ve gotten the big-picture view from above, come back down and slow down on Crescent Avenue. Grab coffee, wander into a few shops, sit on a bench and watch the harbor. Avalon has an unhurried pace that’s hard to find this close to a major city.

One thing I’d specifically look for: the hand-painted tiles. Catalina is famous for them, and once you start noticing them they’re everywhere – on fountain bases, building facades, staircase risers, street signs. They’re beautiful and completely specific to this place. Keep your eyes low and you’ll find them constantly.

The Green Pleasure Pier is also worth a walk. It’s short, it’s free, and the view back toward the Casino from the end of it is a classic Avalon shot.

Read more: 15 Best Weekend Getaways & Staycation Ideas in California

Snorkel at Lover’s Cove and Casino Point

If there’s one thing you absolutely should not skip on Catalina Island, it’s getting in the water. Lover’s Cove and Casino Point are both part of Marine Protected Areas, which means the marine life here is extraordinary compared to most California beaches. Garibaldi – the bright orange fish that are actually the California state marine fish – are so abundant and so orange they look fake at first. You’ll also see sea bass, stingrays, bat rays, and kelp forests within about ten feet of the shore.

Lover’s Cove is the more relaxed of the two and great for a casual float. Casino Point is where the scuba divers go and where the kelp forest is densest – there are also resident seals that hang around and tend to steal the show entirely.

Snorkel gear rentals are easy to find around Avalon, so there’s no need to haul your own. I’d strongly suggest renting a wetsuit too, even in summer. The water peaks around 67°F in August and drops into the high 50s in winter – refreshing by any California standard, and a wetsuit means you’ll actually stay in long enough to enjoy it.

Snorkeling at Lover’s Cove is completely free, which makes it one of the best value activities on the island.

Read more: 12 Best Beach Towns in California + Where to Stay

Kayak Along the Coastline

We did a guided kayak tour with the Catalina Island Company out to Frog Rock and it’s a great way to see the island from the water. The paddle is easy enough for beginners (there were a few on our tour) and the coastal perspective is completely different from anything you get on land.

Roller Skating at the Wrigley Ballroom

Neither of us had roller skated in probably twenty years, but this was absolutely one of the highlights of the trip!

The Wrigley Ballroom is a stunning historic space and the combination of the music, the setting, and the fact that muscle memory for skating apparently never fully disappears made it a really fun evening. Put it on the list even if it sounds like a weird choice – especially if you’re staying more than one night. Reserve a spot here.

Explore the Island Interior on a Guided Tour

This is the one I wish we’d made time for. Nearly 90% of Catalina’s interior is protected conservancy land, and a guided tour is the only way to explore it.

A naturalist takes you out in an open-air vehicle through canyons, ridgelines, and coastline that most visitors never see. The chance of spotting bison, Catalina Island foxes, and bald eagles is real. There’s nothing else like it in Southern California, and it’s easy to forget you’re on an island an hour from the mainland.

Take the Nautilus Semi-Submarine

If you’re traveling with kids this one is obvious, but honestly it’s fun regardless of whether you have kids in tow. You board a yellow semi-submarine at the Green Pleasure Pier and spend 45 minutes cruising six feet underwater through Lover’s Cove without getting wet. Garibaldi, bat rays, kelp forests – all right outside your porthole.

Take the Cyclone Powerboat to Two Harbors

The Cyclone speedboat runs from Avalon over to Two Harbors on the west end of the island – it only operates May through early October, so we missed it on our late April visit, but it’s first on my list for next time.

Two Harbors is a completely different side of Catalina. Quieter, more remote, more like camping than a beach town. I camped there on my first Catalina trip and it left a big impression. If you’ve done Avalon before, or if you want to see more of the island than just the main town, this is worth building your weekend around.

Read more: Channel Islands Camping Guide & Packing Tips

Take a Helicopter Tour Over the Island

Maverick Helicopters runs a 20-minute aerial tour departing from Pebbly Beach in Avalon, and the perspective you get from up there is unlike anything else on the island. You fly over the Avalon harbor, past the Casino, along the rugged coastline, over Two Harbors where the island narrows to a quarter mile wide, and across the protected interior where the bison roam.

Where to Eat on Catalina Island

The Lobster Trap: Everyone who’s been to Avalon more than once will mention this place first. Fresh seafood, no reservations, and lines that move quickly enough. Arrive early or put your name in and explore while you wait.

Nauty Fox: Order the Ahi Poke Nachos! Their outdoor patio also has one of the best views in town.

Katie’s Kitchen: Our go-to for cheap eats. The Korean dishes here were a surprise – not what I expected to find on a small California island, and they completely delivered.

Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co: The best coffee on the island. If I lived here this would be my first stop every morning. The breakfast sandwiches are a must.

Descanso Beach Club: Good for a long, lazy afternoon on the beach. Order the Buffalo Milk cocktail – it originated on the island and you won’t find it anywhere else.

Read more: The 12 Best Places to Camp in California

Catalina Island Budget Tips: How to Save Money

Catalina has a reputation for being expensive, and it’s not entirely undeserved. But with a little planning you can have a great weekend without blowing your budget.

Visit midweek or in the off-season. Ferry tickets, hotels, and tours are all cheaper outside of summer weekends. September and October are the sweet spot – the weather is still warm, the water is still swimmable, and the island is noticeably quieter. Prices can drop significantly compared to peak summer rates.

Take advantage of the free activities. Some of the best things on the island cost nothing. Snorkeling at Lover’s Cove is completely free (just bring or rent gear). Walking Crescent Avenue costs nothing. Hiking some of the exterior trails around Avalon is free. The harbor views from the ridge roads are free. You could fill an entire day without spending anything beyond a meal.

Use the COAST electric shuttle instead of renting a golf cart. Golf cart rentals run $50–$80+ per hour and add up fast. The COAST on-demand electric shuttle covers all of Avalon for $2 per ride – a good option if you’re on a budget and don’t need to cover a lot of ground quickly. Just download the Ride Circuit mobile app or request a ride by calling 562.534.2820.

Eat lunch at the nicer restaurants instead of dinner. Most Avalon restaurants serve the same menu at lunch for noticeably less than dinner. If there’s somewhere you want to try, go at midday and save the cheaper spots for the evening.

Day trip vs. overnight. A day trip cuts your biggest expense – accommodation – entirely. If budget is the priority, the earliest ferry in and the last ferry out gives you a full day. That said, staying overnight means you get the island after the day-trippers leave on the last boat, and it’s a different experience that a day trip can’t replicate.

Read more: The Ultimate Budget-Friendly California Road Trip Guide

Best Time to Visit Catalina Island for a Weekend

The sweet spot is May through early June and September through October. Warm, clear days, smaller crowds than peak summer, and better prices across the board.

July and August are peak season, so expect the most activity, the warmest water for swimming and snorkeling, and the highest prices. Ferries fill up weeks out.

October is one of the best-kept secrets on the island. The summer crowds are gone, the water is still warm from a whole season of sun, and Avalon gets quiet in the best way. Worth specifically targeting if your schedule is flexible.

One thing worth knowing: on most days a cruise ship is docked in the harbor, and the town gets noticeably busier with day visitors. Around 5pm when they leave, Avalon goes quiet in a way that feels like a completely different place. One of the best arguments for visiting in the off-season – or for just staying long enough to see that version of the island.

Read more: 20 Best Places to Visit in California During Winter

Catalina Island FAQ

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