Visiting Channel Islands National Park is all about untamed natural beauty and an abundance of local wildlife. This group of five islands off the coast of Southern California is a big draw for anyone in search of seals, seabirds, and stunning sea view trails.
If the sound of all this natural wonder really appeals and you’re wondering how do you get to the Channel Islands National Park, this guide is for you.
Here you’ll find all the information you’ll need to plan your visit. Including the Channel Islands National Park location, taking flights to Channel Islands National Park, the Channel Islands ferry services and much more.
For more on the Channel Islands National Park and how to get there, read on.
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How to Get to Channel Islands National Park
Where is Channel Islands National Park Located?
Channel Islands National Park comprises five of the eight Channel Islands. These are found in the Santa Barbara Channel between the LA neighborhood of San Pedro, and Point Conception near Santa Barbara. The five islands are:
- Anacapa
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Rosa
- San Miguel
- Santa Barbara
The wildlife here is so rich that the islands are also referred to as the ‘North American Galapagos’. Despite this, the islands are only around 20 miles from land, where all the park’s visitor centers can be found. Anacapa is in fact under 15 miles from the mainland, and about an hour away by boat.
Once you arrive on the islands, there is no transport. Bikes aren’t even permitted, so you can only get around on foot or by boat or kayak.
Channel Islands National Park Visitor Centers
There are Channel Islands National Park visitor centers in Ventura and Santa Barbara, both of which are on the mainland.
Ventura Visitor Center
The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center is on Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor area. Ventura is around 30 miles south of Santa Barbara and about 70 miles north of Los Angeles. You can reach both of these cities by planes, trains, and buses, then you can get from there to Ventura by train, bus, and private car.
Santa Barbara Visitor Center
The Outdoor Santa Barbara Visitor Center is on Harbor Way in Santa Barbara. This is about 30 miles north of Ventura, and around 100 miles north of Los Angeles. You can get to Santa Barbara by plane, train, bus or car.
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How to Fly to Channel Islands National Park
If you’re wondering how to get to the Channel Islands in California by air, then the first step is to fly to the south of the state. So, we need to look at the closest airport to Channel Islands National Park and what other options might make sense for your trip.
Firstly, though, let’s take a look at whether flights go directly to the Channel Islands National Park.
Flying to the Islands
You used to be able to fly to the islands, but flights are no longer offered.
It’s also not possible to fly your own private aircraft to the islands, as landing within park boundaries is prohibited. All aircraft must stay at least 1,000 feet above both the ocean and land masses within the park. In fact FAA regulations request that pilots flying over the national park remain at least 2,000 feet above ground level.
Flights used to be available with Channel Islands Aviation, a local operator based at Camarillo Airport. Camarillo Airport is about 45 miles, or 55 minutes’ drive, from Santa Barbara. Although commercial flights are not currently available, it’s possible that they may be reinstated in the future.
For now, the only way to get to Channel Islands National Park is by boat.
However, you still need to get to one of the nearby harbors.
Flying to Nearby Airports
The nearest convenient airports are:
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
The nearest airport is Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, a Tri-County regional airport offering around 20 daily flights. American, Southwest, Alaska and United Airlines operate between the airport and 10 major US hubs, so you can connect to other US and international destinations. The airport is around seven miles from Santa Barbara.
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International, aka LAX, is the closest major airport to the Channel Islands National Park. It’s almost 100 miles southeast of Santa Barbara.
This major hub offers flights to around 70 worldwide destinations and over 85 US cities, and you drive to Santa Barbara from here in around two hours. So, it’s the most convenient airport for many park visitors.
For more information about flying to Channel Islands, read my guide to the best airports for Channel Islands National Park.
Check prices on flights to Los Angeles Airport or Santa Barbara Airport here.
Taking a Private Boat to Channel Islands National Park
If you have your own boat, you can land on any of the five islands within the park throughout the year.
Taking a Ferry to Channel Islands, California
By now you might be wondering – once you’ve reached the mainland destinations of Santa Barbara or Los Angeles, how do I get to Channel Islands National Park?
If you don’t have your own boat, you can take one of the official boats to Channel Islands National Park (ferry or a day cruise). The ferries to the Channel Islands depart from Ventura Harbor or Channel Islands (Oxnard) Harbor. These two harbors are about 15 minutes from each other and both are about half way between Los Angeles to the south and Santa Barbara to the north.
The Channel Island ferries are all operated by Island Packers.
Ferries from Ventura to the Channel Islands
- Anacapa Island
- Santa Cruz Island
- Santa Rosa Island
- San Miguel Island
- Santa Barbara Island
Ferries from Channel Islands (Oxnard) Harbor to the Channel Islands
- Anacapa Island
Ferries to each of islands in Channel Islands National Park
Anacapa Island
When are trips available: Year-round, variable schedule 3-7 days per week
Travel Time from Ventura and Oxnard Harbors: 1 hour
Landing Conditions: Visitors must climb up steps from the boat to and adjustable platform on the dock. Then up a steel-rung ladder to the top of the dock. Once ashore, visitors must climb 157 stairs to the top of the island. Non-landing trips are available.
Santa Cruz Island
When are trips available: Year-round, variable schedule 5-7 days per week
Travel Time from Ventura Harbor: 1 hour
Landing Conditions: For Scorpion Anchorage, visitors must climb up steps from the boat to an adjustable platform on the pier. Then walk up a ramp to the top of the pier. For Prisoners Harbor, visitors must climb up steps from the boat to a steel-rung ladder to the top of the pier. When the piers are closed, landings are via skiff onto the beach.
Santa Rosa Island
When are trips available: Boat trips run April through early November, 2-4 days per week.
Travel Time from Ventura Harbor: 3 hours.
Landing Conditions: Visitors must climb up steps from the boat, then up a steel-rung ladder to a lower landing, and then climb up stairs to the top of the pier at Bechers Bay. When the pier is closed, landings are via skiff onto the beach.
San Miguel Island
When are trips available: Boat trips run April through early November, 4-8 days per month.
Travel Time from Ventura Harbor: 4 hours.
Landing Conditions: Boat visitors are skiffed onto the beach—be prepared to waterproof gear and possibly to get wet. Strong winds and rough seas are possible.
Santa Barbara Island
When are trips available: Spring through Fall, variable schedule 2-4 days per month.
Travel Time from Ventura Harbor: 3 hours
Landing Conditions: Visitors must climb a steel-rung ladder to the top of the pier from a skiff. Once ashore, visitors must walk uphill 1/4 mile with 131 long steps to the top of the island. When the pier is closed, landings are via skiff onto the rocks.
Winter ferries to Channel Islands National Park
If you want to catch a ferry to Channel Islands National Park in winter, you’ll have to choose your island carefully. You can travel to Santa Cruz or Anacapa all year round, and seasonal services operate between three and seven days per week. These trips take around an hour.
For San Miguel and Santa Rosa, ferries operate between April and early November only.
The Santa Barbara Channel Islands ferry from Ventura Harbor is also available spring to fall only. This boat to Channel Islands National Park operates between two and four days per week. The trip to this island takes three hours.
Taking a Cruise to Channel Islands National Park
Day trip cruises are available to Island Packers. These include trips that stop at the islands and trips that cruise around the waters surrounding the islands without stopping to see the wildlife in the area. In summer and winter, they also offer Whale Watching trips.
Diving or Snorkeling in Channel Islands National Park
The other alternative to reach the national park is to take a dive trip.
Dive boats for Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands usually leave from Ventura Harbor. Diving trips to the more northern San Miguel Island and/or Santa Rosa Islands usually leave from Santa Barbara.
For more information about dive trips to Channel Islands National Park, read my Guide to Diving the Channel Islands.
Taking the Train to Channel Islands National Park
If you like to travel by train and aren’t sure how to get to the Channel Islands National Park by train, then this is the section for you.
Though you cannot get onto the islands themselves by train, the good news is that you can easily access the harbor areas via Amtrak services.
Ventura Train Station
There is an Amtrak train station in Ventura on East Harbor Boulevard. This unstaffed station has limited amenities, but is within walking distance of a couple of state beaches. It’s a ten-minute drive from the Amtrak station to the harbor. The easiest way to do this is to get a taxi or Uber.
Ten Pacific Surfliner trains stop at Ventura station daily. You can buy tickets from the machines at the station.
Santa Barbara Train Station
The Amtrak station in Santa Barbara is served by two Amtrak lines – the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight routes.
The station is located on State Street, between downtown Santa Barbara and the coast. Santa Barbara is a staffed station, with a ticket sales office.
It’s a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the Amtrak station to the Visitor Center. However, bear in mind there are no boats to the islands themselves from Santa Barbara. The nearest harbor with ferries to the islands is Ventura, which has its own Amtrak station.
Oxnard Train Station
There is also an Amtrak station in Oxnard. This station is also on both the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight routes. It’s a 15-minute drive from the Oxnard Station to the harbor. Again, a taxi or Uber is your best net for this.
Taking a Bus to Channel Islands National Park
If you’re trying to work out how to go to Channel Islands National Park by bus, then several companies offer services to Santa Barbara, where one of the Visitor Centers is; Ventura, where you’ll find the largest Visitor Center and the main harbor; and Oxnard, where boats to Anacapa also leave from.
These include:
Once you reach either Ventura or Oxnard, you can access the islands by boat. You’ll need to take a taxi or Uber between the bus station and the harbor.
When you arrive on the islands, you can only walk or travel by boat around the national park. Even bikes are not permitted.
Driving to Channel Islands National Park
If you want the freedom of having your own set of wheels while on the Californian mainland, you may be wondering how do you get to the Channel Islands National Park by car.
To get you started, here are some basic directions to the Channel Islands National Park, California from various points in the US.
LA to Channel Islands National Park
If you want to travel from Los Angeles to Channel Islands National Park, then you can drive to either Ventura, Santa Barbara or Oxnard. Santa Barbara and Ventura have visitor centers for the park. Ventura Harbor is where most island ferries depart from. Some ferries also leave from nearby Oxnard Harbor.
Santa Barbara
It’s around an hour-and-a-half’s drive from the city of Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. The distance is about 95 miles. You can travel between LA and Santa Barbara travel via US-101 N. Alternative routes may take longer.
Ventura / Oxnard
The drive to the Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, CA from Los Angeles can take as little as around an hour and five minutes if you travel via US-101 N. By road, the distance between the two destinations is just under 70 miles.
San Diego to Channel Islands National Park
Santa Barbara
As it’s some way south of Los Angeles, it takes longer to get from San Diego to Santa Barbara by car. The drive takes around three hours and 45 minutes. You can travel the distance of about 240 miles via I-15 N and US-101 N.
Ventura / Oxnard
Ventura is a little closer to San Diego. It takes about two hours and 50 minutes to drive between the two, and the distance is around 190 miles. The fastest route is via I-5 N and US-101 N.
Rent a car at Los Angeles Airport or Santa Barbara here
Check out my guide to saving money on rental cars before you book.
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How to Get to Channel Islands National Park
FAQs about Getting to Channel Islands National Park
Where do you fly into for Channel Islands National Park?
Many visitors to the Channel Islands National Park in southern California fly into Los Angeles. This is around 100 miles, or two hours by car from Santa Barbara or Ventura.
Alternatively, you can use Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, which offers connecting flights to around 10 US hubs.
What town is closest to Channel Islands National Park?
Santa Barbara is the closest city to the Channel Islands National Park. The islands have a visitor center here, and also in Ventura. Ferries to all five islands depart from Ventura and Oxnard Harbors. The latter is also known as Channel Islands Harbor.
How do you get to Channel Islands National Park?
The islands’ visitor centers in Santa Barbara and Ventura can easily by reached by private car or public transport, including trains. There are Amtrak stations in both locations.
Once you’ve arrived in the local area, the five islands can only be accessed via Island Packers ferry services, or by private boat. Boats leave from Ventura and Oxnard Harbors.
There is no transport at all available on the islands. The only way to get around is therefore on foot, or by kayak or boat. Bikes are not allowed on the islands.
How long is the ferry from Santa Barbara to the Channel Islands?
You cannot catch a ferry to the Channel Islands from Santa Barbara. Rather, the Island Packers boats depart from Ventura Harbor (all islands) and Oxnard Harbor (Anacapa island).
Travel times vary according to which island you visit. Anacapa is the quickest to get to, with journey times of an hour from the harbors in Ventura or Oxnard. Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park also takes an hour to reach from Ventura Harbor.
It takes about three hours to travel to Santa Rosa or Santa Barbara islands by Islands Packers ferry from Ventura Harbor. If you want to go to San Miguel, this island takes around four hours to get to.
What’s the cheapest way to get to the Channel Islands National Park?
The cheapest way to get to the Channel Islands National Park is by boat. Services are operated by Island Packers, the boat concessionaire authorized by the National Park Service. Ferries travel to all five islands from Ventura and Oxnard Harbors.
In fact, the only way to reach the Channel Islands National Park is by boat – either Island Packers or your own.
How much does it cost to get into Channel Islands National Park, California?
When you’re budgeting for a trip to the Channel Islands National Park in the Santa Barbara area, the good news is that no fee is payable to enter the park.
Travel Insurance for Channel Islands
You should definitely have travel insurance when you travel to Channel Islands. Good travel insurance will cover you for trip cancellation, theft or damage of your property when traveling, medical help if you have an accident in or while visiting the Channel Islands or medical repatriation if you need to get medi-vaced out.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Enjoy Channel Islands National Park!
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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