There are 6 ways to get from San Diego to Channel Islands by bus, ferry, train, tram, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus, ferry
best- Take the bus from San Diego to Long Beach Downtown Transit Gallerybus FlixBus 2017
- Take the ferry from Long Beach to Avalonferry Long Beach
4h 41m$47–74Train, tram, ferry
- Take the train from San Diego to Los Angelestrain
- Take the tram from Union Station - Metro A-Line to Downtown Long Beach Stationtram
- Take the ferry from Long Beach to Avalonferry
6h 22m$69–129Train, line 90 bus, ferry
- Take the train from San Diego to Irvinetrain
- Take the bus from Tustin Metrolink Station-Dock 8 to Golden Lantern-Dana Point Harborbus 90
- Take the ferry from Dana Point to Avalonferry
7h 8m$63–110Fly to Los Angeles International Airport, ferry
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)plane SAN - LAX
- Take the ferry from Long Beach to Avalonferry
4h 39m$196–578Bus, ferry via Long Beach
- Take the bus from San Diego to Long Beach Bus Stationbus Tijuana
- Take the ferry from Long Beach to Avalonferry Long Beach
5h 33m$52–82Fly to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, bus, ferry
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)plane SAN - SBA
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara Airport to Ventura, CAbus
- Take the ferry from Ventura Harbor to Santa Cruz Islandferry
4h 56m$176–352
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Channel Islands is to bus and ferry which costs $45 - $75 and takes 4h 41m.
The fastest way to get from San Diego to Channel Islands is to fly and ferry which takes 4h 39m and costs $190 - $600.
The distance between San Diego and Channel Islands is 141 miles.
The best way to get from San Diego to Channel Islands without a car is to bus and ferry which takes 4h 41m and costs $45 - $75.
It takes approximately 4h 41m to get from San Diego to Channel Islands, including transfers.
What companies run services between San Diego, CA, USA and Channel Islands, CA, USA?
There is no direct connection from San Diego to Channel Islands. However, you can take the bus to Long Beach Downtown Transit Gallery, walk to 1st & Shelter B N, take the line 121 bus to Catalina Landing N, walk to Long Beach, then take the ferry to Avalon. Alternatively, you can take a train from San Diego to Avalon via Los Angeles, Union Station - Metro A-Line, Downtown Long Beach Station, and Long Beach in around 6h 22m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $22–180
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $22–180
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–220
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–220
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Diego to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 56m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $35–85
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Diego to Irvine
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1-323-466-3876
- [email protected]
- Website
- Metro Los Angeles
Tram from Union Station - Metro A-Line to Downtown Long Beach Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Website
- Metro Los Angeles
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Diego to Long Beach Downtown Transit Gallery
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–27
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Phone
- +1 714-560-6282
- Website
- octa.net
Bus from Tustin Metrolink Station-Dock 8 to Golden Lantern-Dana Point Harbor
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- octa.net
- Phone
- +1-800-231-2222
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Mexico
Bus from San Diego to Long Beach Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–35
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Mexico
- Phone
- +1 800-470-8818
- [email protected]
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
Bus from Santa Barbara Airport to Ventura, CA
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $50–70
- Website
- Central Coast Shuttle
- one way non-prepaid
- $60–70
- One-way prepaid 48 hours advance
- $50–60
- Phone
- +1 800.613.1212
- [email protected]
- Website
- Catalina Express
Ferry from Long Beach to Avalon
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–45
- Schedules at
- Catalina Express
- Adult 12-54
- $42
- Senior 55+
- $38
- Child 2-11
- $31
Ferry from Long Beach to Avalon
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–45
- Schedules at
- Catalina Express
- Adult 12-54
- $42
- Senior 55+
- $38
- Child 2-11
- $31
Ferry from Dana Point to Avalon
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Schedules at
- catalinaexpress.com
- Adult (12-54)
- $44
- Senior 55+
- $40
- Child 2-11
- $35
Ferry from Long Beach to Avalon
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–45
- Schedules at
- Catalina Express
- Adult 12-54
- $42
- Senior 55+
- $38
- Child 2-11
- $31
Ferry from Long Beach to Avalon
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–45
- Schedules at
- Catalina Express
- Adult 12-54
- $42
- Senior 55+
- $38
- Child 2-11
- $31
- Phone
- +1 (805) 642-1393
- [email protected]
- Website
- islandpackers.com
Ferry from Ventura Harbor to Santa Cruz Island
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–47
- Schedules at
- islandpackers.com
- Adult day use one way
- $35
- adult camper one way
- $47
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