In brief
Catalina Express sails from Catalina Landing at 320 Golden Shore in Downtown Long Beach; the trip to Avalon takes “approximately 1 hr”, passengers should arrive at least an hour before departure, and the adult round trip is $99 including a $10 island fee for travel before October 6, 2026 and $103 from that date. Parking at the terminal is run by ABM Parking Services at a daily maximum of $24.95 or $26.95, and the page that prints those figures gives no year.
- Check-in: be at the ticket window at least one hour before departure and checked in, tickets in hand, 30 minutes before; seats are forfeited if you are not checked in 15 minutes before2.
- Parking: “Through April 7, $24.95 daily max per 24hr period. Starting on April 8, $26.95 daily max per 24hr period”; overnight parking is available without a reservation1.
- Luggage: two pieces up to 50 lbs and 23″ x 23″ x 37″ each, plus one carry-on; bikes and surfboards need a reservation at $3.50 each way4.
- Schedule: for September 8 to October 19, 2026 the Long Beach table shows 6:00 a.m., 9:50 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. departures every day, with more on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays3.
- Fares: the one-way figures ($42 adult, $37.75 senior, $30.75 child) appear only on the Long Beach-Avalon page and do not reconcile with the schedule page’s round-trip table23.
This page collects what Catalina Express itself publishes about the Long Beach terminal as of October 2026: where it is, what parking costs, how early to arrive, what the October 6 fare change does and what the luggage rules allow. For how the ferry fits with the cruise terminal, the airport and the rest of the city’s access points, start with the section pillar, Getting In and Out of Long Beach.
Where the operator’s own pages are silent, this page says so rather than filling the gap: they print no walking distance from the A Line, no luggage storage and no year on the parking rates.
The short answer
| If you are… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Driving for a day trip | Park at the terminal lot run by ABM Parking Services: a daily maximum of $24.95 or $26.95, depending on a date the page gives without a year1 |
| Leaving the car overnight | The page says overnight parking is available with no reservation, for no more than 30 days without a written license agreement1 |
| Taking the 9:50 a.m. sailing | At the ticket window by 8:50 a.m., checked in with tickets in hand by 9:20 a.m.; seats are forfeited at 9:35 a.m.23 |
| Traveling before October 6, 2026 | Adult round trip $99 total ($89 fare plus $10 island wharfage fee and tax)3 |
| Traveling on or after October 6, 2026 | Adult round trip $103 total ($93 plus $10)3 |
| Bringing a bike, surfboard or paddleboard | Reserve in advance: $3.50 each way per article, space available4 |
The terminal
Catalina Express describes the Long Beach port as the Catalina Landing at Downtown Long Beach, “along the waterfront beside the Pike and the Aquarium of the Pacific near Shoreline Village”. The address is 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, CA 90802. The page also says ATMs are available at all of its locations and that sightseeing tours can be booked at the port1.
The ticket window “opens one hour prior to the first sailing and closes after the last scheduled departure of the day”1. On the September 8 to October 19, 2026 Long Beach table, whose first listed sailing is 6:00 a.m., that rule puts the window’s opening at 5:00 a.m. if 6:00 a.m. is the first sailing; the schedule page says its table “does not reflect all sailings”13.
Catalina Express also sails from San Pedro and Dana Point; the Long Beach and San Pedro fares to Avalon share one table on the schedule page3. This page covers Long Beach only.
Parking at the terminal
The lot is operated by ABM Parking Services (562.432.5166), not by Catalina Express, and the page asks people not to call that number for Catalina reservations1.
| Rate shown on the terminal page | Amount |
|---|---|
| “Through April 7” | $24.95 daily maximum per 24-hour period |
| “Starting on April 8” | $26.95 daily maximum per 24-hour period |
Source:1. Rates as printed; the page adds “Prices are subject to change.”
Good to know The terminal page prints “Through April 7” and “Starting on April 8” without a year. It does not say which figure applies in October 2026, so the page does not say which figure applies; confirm with ABM Parking Services before you drive down1.
The same page says overnight parking is available and “no parking reservations necessary”, that all major credit cards are accepted, that a vehicle “may not park in excess of 30 days without prior written license agreement”, and that overnight bus parking is available by contacting the parking vendor1. It links a “Shuttle Service” page that opens in a new window; the details are not on the terminal page itself1.
The other downtown garages and their rates, which matter if the terminal lot is full or you would rather pay by the hour, are in Downtown Long Beach Parking by Trip.
Check-in and boarding times
The Long Beach-to-Avalon page states the check-in rules in four lines2:
- “All passengers must check-in at the ticket window.”
- “Please plan on arriving at least one hour prior to departure.”
- Passengers “must be checked in, with tickets in hand, ready to board, at least 30 minutes prior to departure.”
- “If you are not checked in 15 minutes prior to departure, your seats will be forfeited and your credit card will be charged for the full amount of the round-trip fare.”
The page adds: “Gates close 5 minutes prior to the departure time, ending the boarding process.” Seats on the vessel are first come, first served, and children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult23.
The reservations call center is 310-519-1212. The same page prints two sets of hours: agents are available to book “daily from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm”, and changes through the call center are taken “6:30 am to 4 pm daily”2. Changes made more than 48 hours ahead carry no fee; within 24 to 48 hours the page lists $5 per ticket, each way, and within 24 hours changes are made only at the ticket window2.
The schedule
Catalina Express labels its timetable “intended for informational use only” and says it “does not reflect all sailings”; the booking system shows added departures3. For the period September 8 to October 19, 2026, the Long Beach to Avalon table reads3:
| Departs Long Beach | Days |
|---|---|
| 6:00 a.m. | Every day |
| 8:15 a.m. | Friday, Saturday, Sunday |
| 9:50 a.m. | Every day |
| 12:15 p.m. | Friday, Saturday, Sunday |
| 2:00 p.m. | Every day |
| 4:30 p.m. | Friday, Saturday, Sunday |
| 5:50 p.m. | Sunday to Thursday and Saturday |
| 6:30 p.m. | Friday only |
Source:3. The schedule page also lists a second period, October 20, 2026 to January 4, 2027; check its table before planning a trip after October 193. The page says that “Holiday and weekend schedule may vary”3.
Fares, and the October 6 change
Round-trip fares from Long Beach (and San Pedro) to Avalon, as printed on the schedule-and-fares page3:
| Passenger | Fare plus $10.00 island wharfage fee and tax: travel before Oct. 6, 2026 | Travel on or after Oct. 6, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (12-54) | $89.00 + $10.00 = $99.00 | $93.00 + $10.00 = $103.00 |
| Senior (55+) | $80.00 + $10.00 = $90.00 | $83.00 + $10.00 = $93.00 |
| Child (2-11) | $68.50 + $10.00 = $78.50 | $72.00 + $10.00 = $82.00 |
| Infant (under 2) | $0.00 + $10.00 = $10.00 | $0.00 + $10.00 = $10.00 |
Source:3. As of October 2026. Lounge upgrades are listed at $60.00 (Captain’s Lounge) and $20.00 (Commodore Lounge) as an additional one-way cost3.
The footnote matters for anyone pricing a one-way ticket: “Round-trip tickets include $10.00 Island wharfage fee and tax. One-way tickets will be charged the applicable Island wharfage fee and tax”3. Fares are also “subject to change in accordance with the California Public Utilities Commission, including a fuel surcharge”3.
Official pages disagree The one-way figures appear only on the Long Beach-to-Avalon page, which lists one-way fares of $42 (adult), $37.75 (senior) and $30.75 (child), and a Commodore Lounge upgrade “From: $62”2. The schedule-and-fares page prints no one-way fares, only round-trip totals and a Commodore upgrade of $20 one way, so the one-way figures do not reconcile with its round-trip table3. Two $42 one-ways come to $84, below the $89 round-trip fare before the wharfage fee, and the pages do not say whether the $42 includes it. Plan around the schedule-and-fares page and read the one-way price off the booking screen.
Official pages disagree The Travel Policies page says ticket holders “must be in the boarding line no later than 10 minutes prior to departure or their seats will be forfeited”6, while the Long Beach-to-Avalon page says seats are forfeited if you are not checked in 15 minutes before departure2. Plan around 15.
Luggage and what else can travel
The baggage page sets the allowance per passenger: “Two pieces of baggage”, “50 lbs. maximum each bag”, a maximum dimension of 23″ x 23″ x 37″, and “One carry-on to be stowed at the seat”4. Luggage must not be left unattended in the terminals, and passengers are “encouraged to pack for one trip down the ramp to the dock”4.
| Item | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Bicycles, surfboards and SUPs | Carried “on a space available basis” as additional articles; reservations required; “$3.50 each way, per article”; surfboards and SUPs up to 9′ |
| Electric bikes | Pedal-assist only, with a detachable battery; electric motorcycles are prohibited |
| Fishing poles, golf clubs, beach chairs, ice chests, tents, strollers | Carried at the passenger’s own risk, space available, with a baggage waiver from the ticket window or a gate agent |
| Strollers | One fold-up stroller per infant or child, free4; children must be removed from the stroller before boarding2 |
| Two-wheel dollies | Acceptable: two bags, total weight no more than 100 lbs |
| Four-wheel carts, dollies and fixed wagons | Not allowed; collapsible wagons are permitted if empty, collapsed and stored |
| Animals | Leashed and muzzled or in an airline-style carrier; one per passenger; service animals as defined by the ADA are accommodated; no pets in the Commodore Lounge |
Source:4 except where marked. Liability for loss or damage to personal property is limited to “$250 per adult ticket and $125 per child ticket”2. Large or extraordinary freight is directed to Avalon Freight Services, 310.221.62904.
Neither Catalina Express page mentions luggage storage at the Long Beach terminal. For storage options around a trip, see Luggage Storage in Long Beach Before or After a Cruise.
Getting to the terminal without the lot
The terminal page does not give a distance from the A Line or from any bus stop1. What the operators publish separately: Long Beach Transit’s Passport (route 37) runs Friday to Sunday and lists Shoreline & Village among its stops, and the terminal page places the Landing beside the Pike and the Aquarium of the Pacific near Shoreline Village15. The route 37 timetable does not list Catalina Landing as a stop, and it runs only on those three days, so a weekday sailing is a walk or a ride from elsewhere. The stops, the 2026 changes and the A Line stations are in Long Beach Transit in 2026.
Hotels near the terminal and the cruise port are covered in Hotels Near the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, by Walking Minutes. The site earns a commission on some hotel, ticket, transfer and parking links, which does not affect what is recommended.
Tours worth considering
This section contains affiliate links. If you book through them, the site earns a commission at no cost to you. It does not change what is recommended.
For anyone staying in Long Beach, the ferry ticket bought from Catalina Express and the terminal lot described above are the direct route. Two packages sold through Viator bundle the crossing with a shuttle from Anaheim-area or Los Angeles hotels, which is a different trip, and both are non-refundable on Viator’s page as of October 3, 20267:
- You are staying in Anaheim and want the ferry and a guided look at Avalon arranged. See the Catalina Island day trip with the Discover Avalon tour and hotel transfers. The page lists an 8:00 a.m. start, “pickup from your hotel in Anaheim”, the one-hour crossing, an Avalon sightseeing tour, a minimum of two people per booking and “Non-refundable” terms7.
- You are staying in Anaheim or Los Angeles and want the crossing with optional add-ons. See the Catalina Island trip with hotel transfers and optional tours. The page lists pickup from Anaheim Resort hotels or a meeting point at the Catalina Express terminal at 320 Golden Shore, an 8:00 a.m. start, optional Avalon tour, Undersea Adventure and zipline upgrades, and the same non-refundable terms7.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I arrive for Catalina Express in Long Beach?
At least one hour before departure, and checked in with tickets in hand at least 30 minutes before. Seats are forfeited if you are not checked in 15 minutes before departure2.
Where is the Catalina Express terminal in Long Beach?
Catalina Landing, 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, CA 90802, beside the Pike and the Aquarium of the Pacific near Shoreline Village1.
How much is parking at Catalina Express in Long Beach?
The terminal page lists a $24.95 daily maximum through April 7 and $26.95 starting April 8, with no year given; the lot is run by ABM Parking Services on 562.432.51661.
Can I leave my car overnight at the Catalina Express terminal?
Yes. The page says overnight parking is available with no reservation, for no more than 30 days without prior written agreement1.
How long is the ferry from Long Beach to Avalon?
Catalina Express gives “approximately 1 hr.” for Long Beach-Avalon trips3.
How much does Catalina Express cost from Long Beach?
How much luggage can I take on Catalina Express?
Two pieces up to 50 lbs and 23″ x 23″ x 37″ each, plus one carry-on4.
Can I bring a bike or surfboard to Catalina?
Yes, on a space-available basis with an advance reservation, at $3.50 each way per article4.
Related Articles
Sources
- Long Beach Port (Catalina Landing) — Catalina Express. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Long Beach to Avalon Ferry Ticket — Catalina Express. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Schedule & Fares — Catalina Express. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Baggage Guidelines — Catalina Express. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Passport timetable, route 37, effective August 23, 2026 — Long Beach Transit. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Travel Policies — Catalina Express. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Catalina Island w/Discover Avalon Scenic Tour & Transportation and Catalina Island Trip with Hotel transfers & Optional tours — Viator product pages (operator: Extreme Tours by Karmel). Accessed 2026-10-03.