What Island Is One Hour Away From California?
From the Author: I tried to book the Catalina Express for October, and the early morning ferries from Long Beach were sold out three weeks in advance. So, even in the off-season, book your ferry in advance.
What Island Is One Hour Away From California?
If you’re wondering what island is one hour away from California, that would be Catalina Island.
Catalina Island is one hour away from California via ferry. I love Southern California. Particularly Los Angeles, the city I’ve called home for the last 25 years. I’ve had the opportunity to explore much of the town and surrounding areas and enjoyed many unique and iconic experiences, like visiting Catalina Island, located 22 miles (35 kilometers) off the coast of mainland California.
There are eight islands — called the Channel Islands — off the coast of California but Catalina is the one most people visit.
How do you get to Catalina Island?
Catalina Island is one high-speed ferry ride off mainland California.
You can get there from four ports in California: Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point, and Newport Beach via the Catalina Express.
Contrary to what some say on the internet, there isn’t a bridge to Catalina Island, nor can you take a car on the ferry. Catalina Island is car-free primarily, with exceptions for some locals.
No time to read this whole article? No worries!
Book the Catalina Express here! ⛴️
Islands Closest to Los Angeles
Below are some of the most asked questions about visiting Catalina Island, the closest island to California.
What is the closest island to California?
Santa Catalina Island is the closest island to California, just 22 miles off the Southern California coast.
What islands are just off Los Angeles?
The two islands just off Los Angeles County are Catalina Island and Santa Barbara Island, 22 and 60 miles, respectively.
Santa Barbara Island and Santa Catalina Island are part of The Channel Islands that lie off the coast of California and include eight islands in total.
What is the name of the island off the coast of California?
Catalina Island, as known as Santa Catalina.
What island is 26 miles off California?
That would be Catalina Island, also known as Santa Catalina Island. However, it is 22 miles off the coast of California, not 26, and is part of the Channel Islands — a group of eight islands right off the coast of California.
Catalina is one of California’s Channel Islands and lies southwest of Los Angeles.
What Islands are just off of California?
The Channel Islands are just off the coast of California.
They include:
- Santa Catalina Island
- Santa Barbara Island
- San Miguel Island
- Santa Rosa Island
- Santa Cruz Island
- San Clemente Island
- San Nicolas Island
- Anacapa Island
What island one hour from Los Angeles looks like Italy?
Catalina Island is often likened to Italy due to its picturesque landscapes, featuring rolling hills, crystal-clear waters, and a Mediterranean-like climate, reminiscent of the idyllic coastal regions of Italy.
What is the largest island off California?
Santa Cruz Island is the largest island off the California Coast. The islands range in size, but Santa Cruz is the largest at 98 square miles (254 square km).
How many islands are off California?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) lists 527 named islands in the state.
Are there islands near California?
Yes, the group of islands near California are the Channel Islands. They are located between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and lie in Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, and Los Angeles County.
What are the closest countries to California?
Mexico is the closest country to California. California and Mexico share a border. The second closest country to California would be Canada to the north.
What is an hour away from Los Angeles?
One of the pros of living in Los Angeles — and there are many — is the unique destinations around Los Angeles. The list is long. There are plenty of day trips to take. But some of the notable places to visit from Los Angeles are Catalina Island, Santa Barbara, Malibu, Laguna Beach, Venice, Long Beach, Los Alamos, Solvang, Ojai, Montecito, and Pismo Beach, just to name a few.
What town in California looks like Switzerland?
June Lake is often referred to as California’s “Switzerland,” yet this charming town surpasses even Switzerland with its unique allure and beauty.
What island in California looks like Greece?
Santa Catalina Island, located 22 miles off the coast of mainland California, is the closest destination California has to Greece.
What part of California is becoming an island?
According to CNN, Monterey Peninsula may become an island.
Located just south of the San Francisco Bay Area, the Monterey Peninsula, home to cities like Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, faces the risk of being cut off from the rest of California due to potentially catastrophic flooding.
What is the smallest island in California?
Santa Barbara Island is the smallest of the California Channel Islands, covering a mere one square mile. Yet, it boasts a significant protected area with nearly 13 square miles of its surrounding ocean waters designated as the Santa Barbara Island State Marine Reserve (SMR).
What is the small island near San Diego?
Coronado Island is a small island near San Diego; it sits just across the Big Bay from downtown San Diego.
Things to Do on Catalina Island
For such a small island there are many things to do on Catalina Island like swim, hike, snorkel, tour the Catalina Island Casino, rent a golf cart (my favorite), or just lounge on the beach. You can spend a day on Catalina Island or a week.
For a more comprehensive guide on things to do on Catalina Island, go here.
Below are my top five hotel picks in Catalina:
Read More of My Tips About Visiting Catalina Island
- Cheapest Way to Get to Catalina Island
- Wrigley Botanical Garden & Memorial on Catalina Island
- Renting a Golf Cart on Catalina Island & What You Need to Know
- Catalina Island in June
- Catalina Island in July
- Catalina Island in August
California Travel Planning Guide
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for California?
100% YES! – With basic coverage averaging $1.50 USD per day, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from SafetyWing, one of the biggest names in travel insurance. (Read more)
💦 Can you drink the water in California?
Yes — But I wouldn’t. It doesn’t taste very good and there are contaminants in it. You’ll want to buy a Water-To-Go Bottle, which filters drinking water while on the go (traveling) and helps keep you hydrated.
🚙 Is it safe to rent a car in California?
Yes — Renting a car in California is one of the best ways to explore this vast, awesome state, and kind of a must! I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks both international companies and local California companies, so you get the best rates. (read more)
🏨 What’s the best way to book my California accommodations?
For California hotels, Booking is the best site, but for hostels, use Hostel World. If you’re considering a California Airbnb, don’t forget also to check VRBO, which has better rates than Airbnb.
🧳 What do I pack for California?
Head to the Ultimate California Packing List to get all the information you need about packing for a trip to California.
🛫 What’s the best site to buy airfare to California?
For finding cheap California flights, I recommend Skyscanner.
