When my husband started flight school in San Diego, we knew logging the hours for his commercial license wasn’t going to be cheap.
But we figured something out pretty quickly: he could either fly in circles above San Diego — not a bad view — or we could fly to cool places around Southern California together.
Same flight hours. Nearly the same cost (besides the occasional landing fee). Wildly different experience.
So instead of staying local, we started exploring small airports and tucked-away destinations around Southern California.
Why Catalina Island
Catalina wasn’t technically part of his “training hours” — we flew there right after he earned his commercial license. But he had promised to take me before flight school was over, and this felt like the perfect celebratory trip.
Catalina gives instant vacation energy, even for a day trip.
And for pilots, The “Airport in the Sky” is practically a rite of passage.
Pre-Flight: What to Know Before You Go
Of course, my husband took care of the actual preflight, but I did my research too.
I should point out that we went in October 2019, shortly after the runway renovation was completed (May 2019).
Apparently, the 77-year-old runway had quite the reputation. A few months earlier, at a fly-in camping weekend in Kern Valley, pilots were swapping stories around the campfire about their bumpy Catalina landings on the well-worn strip.
So I was more than happy we were flying in on the newly resurfaced runway. I’m not a fan of bumpy rides — in the air or on land.
My “pre-flight” prep mostly involved packing the essentials:
- Sunscreen
- Hats
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A light sweater for coastal breezes
Catalina Island has so much to offer like snorkeling, sailing, hiking, and eating. We went just for the day, but if you are planning on doing any of those activities or staying overnight you could throw a backpack/tent in the back of the plane.
Our Flight to Catalina
The flight was beautiful. We woke up early and took off from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego in a Cessna 172. We flew up the sunny Southern California Coastline until we hit Dana Point and then cut over (that route minimizes the over-water flight time).
That was my husband’s call — and one I appreciated.
We once got caught in a lightning storm near the John Wayne airport and had to make an unplanned landing so I am always thankful for his on-the-safe-side decisions.
The entire flight took about 1 hour 30 min and I think we were over the water for about 20 min.
A Little Catalina History
If you don’t know anything about Catalina Island, here’s a little bit of history for you: The Wriggly family is big there. Yep, the same ones who own the gum and the stadium in Chicago.
They played a huge part in developing the island and the airport was actually commissioned by them. They leveled two mountain tops to make room for the 3,200-foot runway.
It’s a pretty cool thing to see. Kind of iconic. And people actually shuttle up from Avalon just to check it out.
Landing at the Airport in the Sky
The landing was exciting. As we came in from the east, we flew right over Avalon, one of the two main towns on Catalina Island, and then turned north toward the airport. We overflew the airport to see the windsock and chose to enter the left pattern for runway 04. Despite a strong crosswind from the left, we had a nice landing.
If it’s your first time flying into the Catalina airport, the views will astonish you.
The runway has a change of gradient in the middle which gives the illusion that you are going to roll right off the cliff.
As we were rolling to the taxiway, we saw a herd of bison to the left of the runway which was really cool. Catalina’s bison date back to the 1920s, when they were brought over for a Western film — and never left.
A Day in Avalon
Catalina has two main towns: Avalon and Two Harbors.
You can shuttle down to either one from the airport. We took the Wildlands Express shuttle down to Avalon to spend the day.
We happened to catch the shuttle timing just right, but it’s probably a good idea to check the scheduled times or call the Catalina Island Conservancy ahead of time to reserve a shuttle.
Avalon is a cute little town down by the seaside where you can spend the day walking around. There aren’t many cars on Catalina (per city ordinance) so the main mode of transportation for visitors and residents is typically golf carts (electric), bikes, and walking.
Here’s how we spent the day:
- Coffee Stop: Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co. — because coffee is non-negotiable.
- Wandering: We wandered over to check out the Catalina Casino. We didn’t go in, but if you want to I think they offer tours of the inside.
- Descanso Beach Club: This was the highlight for me. The perfect place to sit and relax by the beach. This beach club was built in 1918 and gives off chill vintage vibes. There was a $2 entrance fee to get in, which is totally worth it. I probably could’ve spent the whole day lounging in the cabanas and chaise lounges (extra charge for those), soaking up the sun and ocean views.
- Lunch: We ate at Lobster trap. My husband got some fresh seafood and I wanted to try a buffalo burger (it’s the thing to do on Catalina) so this little local restaurant hit the spot.
- Afternoon Stroll: Pier walk, ice cream, wandering through shops.
You could easily fill an entire weekend here with:
- Glass-bottom boat tours
- Kayaking or paddleboarding
- Scuba diving
- Electric bike rentals
- Mt. Ada (former Wrigley residence that you can see up on the hill when you’re down in Avalon)
- Botanical Gardens
- Bird Park
- Bell Tower
The Other Side of Catalina
Two Harbors looks like a great little town too and I’d love to go there and check it out on another trip to Catalina. It’s on the western side of the island and seems to have a quieter and more secluded vibe.
You can hike, bike, boat, fish, or snorkel there, and it seems to be the better place to scuba if you’re looking to dive.
Flight Home
One important note: night operations aren’t allowed at Catalina’s airport. Plan accordingly. Be sure to check the shuttle schedule so you don’t miss the last one up the hill.
We grabbed a late afternoon shuttle and went on our way.
But before departure, we made one final stop: Airport In The Sky Restaurant. Specifically, for the famous cookies.
I thought this was a pilot’s secret — one that we learned from the campfire stories of those pilots in Kern Valley — but apparently they are pretty well-known. The cookies did not disappoint.
Cost Breakdown
(October 2019 Pricing)
- Cessna 172 Rental (wet, via Plus One Flyers): approx. $300
- Landing Fee: $35 (If you plan to fly there a lot, they have a club you can join and just pay an annual fee.)
- Wildlands Express Shuttle: $23 per person
Then we spent a bit on lunch, ice cream, coffee, and spending money. So all in all, not too bad for an amazing trip to Catalina Island.
Looks like the Catalina Express ferry currently costs about $94 per adult, so yes, it would’ve been slightly cheaper, but by the time you drive up to Dana Point, pay for parking, take the ferry, etc., it probably ended up being about the same.
And the experience?
Not even comparable.
Is Flying to Catalina Worth It?
If you’re a pilot — absolutely.
If you’re married to one — also yes.
Memories were definitely made that day: landing on top of a mountain, seeing bison beside the runway, and spending the afternoon relaxing by the ocean before flying home at sunset.
Flying wasn’t just how we got there, it was part of the adventure.
