California’s Catalina Island is one of the prettiest and most unique places to plan a camping trip on the West Coast, but securing your campsite can be a challenge! Here’s how to plan your perfect camping trip to Catalina Island.

Why this blog? I’m Maddy and I’ve worked as an outdoor guide and travel writer since 2018! I’m happy to show you around and help you navigate ferries, permitting systems and more to help you plan the best possible adventure for you!

Oh hey there! This blog uses affiliate links. That means if you choose to make a purchase I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

Ultimate Guide to camping on Catalina Island, California

From the best campsites to backpacking routes and more, here’s how to plan a camping trip to Catalina Island.

1) How to book a campsite on Catalina Island

Reservations for camping on Catalina Island open at midnight PST on Jan 1 on this website. Reservations for popular dates do fill quickly, so if your dates are not flexible I recommend booking at the new year mark exactly. While most of these campsites are hike-in, keep in mind that these campsites are not backcountry sites; water is available, as well as pit toilets and/or porta potties. There are also food lockers to keep the island foxes out of your foot.

A quick list and description of the camping options on Catalina Island, from Avalon North:

• Hermit Gulch: based in Avalon. Great basecamp if you’re looking for camping and hiking, but want to maintain proximity to town or if you’re planning a day in Avalon on either end of your Trans Catalina Trail (TCT) hike. Under a mile from the ferry terminal, but you would still need a backpacking bag not a suitcase.
• Black Jack Campground: Primitive Campground, a 11-mile challenging hike from Avalon to camp near the tallest point on the island. Often camped at as part of a TCT thru hike.
• Little Harbor Campground: Touted as one one of the best campgrounds in the West. This campground in hike-in, and about 7 miles from Two Harbors. While there are no shuttles to Little Harbor from Two Harbors, you can get your gear and groceries shuttled in. Most of the booking for anything camping related is done through Catalina Island Company.
• Two Harbors Campground: A quarter-mile from the Two Harbors ferry terminal. Showers available, access to town available. This is the best place to camp if you’re looking for comfort and a unique experience without committing to backpacking.
• Parsons Landing: About a 7-mile hike in. Excellent campground, a little competitive to get a site. You’ll want to pre-order a box of firewood, starters and a 2-gallon jug of water as there’s no water at the site (though you can likely find someone’s leftover water at the site).
• Boat-in campsites: Must also reserve in advance.

FAQ: Can I hike from Avalon to Little Harbor in One Night?

Probably not. I work as an outdoor guide, guiding up to 7-day overnight sea kayaking trips where I average 15 miles a day + hauling gear for people. I think I could’ve made it to Little Harbor in a pinch, but holy crap just barely and it would’ve been nearing dark. If you have experience with long distance thru-hiking or ultrarunning maybe, but you know who you are.

While we were camping here a cop who patrols the road had picked two backpackers up off the side of the road and driven them to the campsite. They had massive brand new Osprey backpacks and only made it to the halfway point by dark. If you’ve never done a 17-mile day with a pack, certainly don’t make this your first.

A little background on Santa Catalina Island

Santa Catalina Island, or simply Catalina Island is located 20 miles off the coast of Long Beach, California and can only be reached via ferry or airplane. Catalina Island is one of the Channel Islands and there are two towns and ferry ports on the island: one in Avalon in the south and one in Two Harbors in the north. Two Harbors makes for a more remote-feeling and rugged destination while Avalon caters more to tourists from LA. Both make for a good time, but also lend to a different vibe for the trip.

2) Backpacking the Trans-Catalina Trail

I experienced Catalina Island in 2026 as a thru-hiker, walking from Avalon to Parsons Landing and back. I can honestly say that this thru-hike is one of my favorite treks I’ve completed. The campsites are great, the scenery is lovely, and being able to stop along the way and eat a hot meal is a game-changer.

That said, this nearly 40-mile trek is hard. Of the six groups that started at the same time as us, only three made it to Parson’s Landing on the last night, with half opting to take an early ferry out. The elevation is steeper to experience than it looks on the elevation profile charts and due to the long and steep inclines and declines, I think blisters are a bigger issue on this trail than on others. Plan accordingly!

Overall, I think backpacking the Trans Catalina Trail is probably the coolest way to experience Catalina Island if you have moderate-extensive backpacking experience and are up for a fun challenge. There are a lot of logistics to consider when it comes to backpacking the TCT, so check out the guide below to get started!

PRO TIP: Keep that pack light! Every thing you add to your backpacking bag adds up, and you definitely don’t want to be out there on 10+ mile days with a 65+ L Osprey backpack stuffed to the brim.

READ: Pocket Guide to Planning Your Trans Catalina Trail Trek

3) How to Get to Catalina Island

Okay so biggest logistical hurdle: getting to Catalina Island. While you can fly in to Catalina Island by helicopter or private plane, most people opt for ferry transport to the island. The Catalina Express is your best bet, with transport to and from Avalon and Two Harbors, departing from San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point.

Keep in mind that your return ferry might not return to the same port you departed from and double check the schedule. The ferry takes around an hour for most trips. While I recommend booking in advance, we found the ferries had space most of the time for last minute schedule changes especially once already on island.

4) Best campsites on Catalina Island

Like anywhere, not all campsites are created equal on Catalina Island. Two Harbors Campground is the best campground for ocean views with limited hiking. Meanwhile, Little Harbor Campground (below, left is the view just above the campground. Spot the small hiker on the center of the headland) is another great option for anyone looking for an extremely scenic hike and beachfront camping. This is about a five-mile hike from Two Harbors, but with formidable elevation.

Lastly, Parson’s Landing has just a few campsites, all ocean front, and is another hike-in campground. Parson’s is sort of legendary when it comes to how nice the campsites are, but remember to reserve a locker with water and fire-starter. Parson’s is about an 8-mile hike from Two Harbors, and you can either take the challenging central route through the interior of the island or the scenic road walk by the ocean.

5) What to pack for camping on Catalina Island

Personally I think the key thing to keep in mind for your Catalina Island camping trip is that less is more: even if you’re heading out for just a night or two, you’re likely going to have to carry your belongings on your back. All of those REI gadgets you purchase for your trip are going to end up costing you (back pain! foot pain! abandoned at campsite so you don’t have to carry it back! it happens!).

In general, you’ll want to pack and think like a backpacker. Here’s a quick, non-comprehensive, list of what you’ll need to get the ball rolling:

• Backpacking bag
• Tent
• Sleeping Pad
• Sleeping Bag
• Camp Kitchen
• Food
• Hiking boots
• Hiking Sandals
• Water
• Trekking Poles
• First Aid

READ: The Ultimate Camping Packing List (+Beginner pro tips)

6) Wildlife on Catalina Island

One of the most interesting things about Catalina Island is the wildlife. At 20 miles from mainland, many of the species here have been separated from mainland for a long time, meaning that Catalina Island is home to a number of endemic, or unique, species. Cool!

For campers, you’ll want to be aware of the island foxes, which linger around campsites to steal food. Please help keep the foxes wild and do not feed the wildlife! Utilize the provided food storage lockers.

Another interesting aspect of Catalina Island is the bison — okay so when I first heard about bison on Catalina Island I did, in fact, pause and have the thought can bison swim? before I backtracked and assumed that humans had brought them there. Bison aren’t swimming 22 miles out there, and it’s not like the water freezes like how the wolves get out to Isle Royale National Park.

Sure enough, the bison were brought over in the 20s and 30s for a movie, and have hung out on the island ever since. In general, you don’t need to worry about the bison. That said, they are wild animals. Do not approach, do not feed, and try and keep a 100 yard distance whenever possible from the bison. They walked right through the campsite we stayed in the first night on Catalina Island and would’ve been impossible for us to fully avoid at that time, so just remember to do your best!

View this post on Instagram

7) How much does it cost to camp on Catalina Island

While camping is traditionally considered a budget-friendly vacation, Catalina Island runs on the more expensive end by nature of being isolated from mainland — it costs more to get everything brought out here. For a weekend trip, I would budget around $200 per person for campsite fees, ferry costs, and a nice juicy burger in Two Harbors on your way out.

Anecdotally I spend way more than that on this trip as someone who had to fly-in. Sarah (Exploren Borgen) and I both flew in, took an uber to a hotel, walked to the ferry, then got breakfast day 1, lunch day 2, and lunch day 3 on the island before ferrying back and staying in another hotel on the back end of the trip. I think the trip probably ran closer to $1500 a person with flights and hotels factored in which is shockingly still not my most expensive camping trip.

Other things to do on Santa Catalina Island:

• Avalon, Catalina Island: 2-Hour Inside Adventure Tour
• Nighttime Flying Fish Adventure Cruise
• Dolphin and Sea Lion Boat Tour
• Catalina Island: Horse Trail Overlook Ride
• From Long Beach: Jet Ski to Two Harbors on Catalina Island

Toss your email below for adventure stories right in your inbox!

Share How to Camp on Catalina Island on social media!