Revered for its endemic plants and plentiful wildlife, the “Galapagos of North America” has no lodgings, stores, or restaurants—only a wild coastal landscape and come-hither scenery. Turn right onto Spinnaker Drive and follow to the "Island Tours/Island Packers" sign on your right just past the Ventura Harbor Village shopping area. For more information on biking on the mainland visit Ventura County Bike Information and Santa Barbara County Bike Information. On a trial basis, flights are available to San Miguel Island as well. Turn right at our sign. Get information on Channel Islands National Park Travel Guide - Expert Picks for your Vacation hotels, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and activities. Boat trips run April through early November, 4-8 days per month. Advanced planning is highly recommended. Step 2: Research which Island you would like to visit. Location: Ventura Frequency of Trips: Flights are year round on demand. Turn right onto Spinnaker Drive and follow to the "Island Tours/Island Packers" sign on your right just past the Ventura Harbor Village shopping area. Directions to Island Packers1691 Spinnaker Dr. For maps visit Maps. The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District. www.flycia.com Getting There in Channel Islands National Park Most people travel to the islands by boat from Ventura. Santa Rosa Island 305 Durley Avenue Travel Time from Ventura Harbor: 1 hour Turn right at our sign. When on one of the islands, you feel far from civilization. Channel Islands National Park, which consists of five of the eight islands found along the coast of Southern California, is known for its unique plants and wildlife. The visitor center is located at the very end of Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Traveling to Channel Islands National Park Located approximately 29 miles away from Santa Barbara, California on the mainland, you will find Channel Islands National Park, a collection of 5 jaw-dropping islands. Turn right onto Olivas Park Drive to Harbor Boulevard, where Olivas Park Drive runs straight into Spinnaker Drive. They offer a variety of tour options, detailed below. Step 1: Look for any advisories on the National Park Service official website for the Channel Islands. It is on the south side of the large gray building. Landing Conditions: Flights land on a dirt airstrip. Rome2rio makes travelling from Ventura to Channel Islands National Park easy. Frequency of Trips: Flights are year round on demand. Once ashore, visitors must walk uphill 1/4 mile with 131 long steps to the top of the island. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Los Angeles to Channel Islands National Park via East Ventura station, Ventura Harbor, and Santa Cruz Island in around 4h 49m. Once ashore, visitors must climb 157 stairs to the top of the island. Island Packers also has a satellite office in the Channel Islands Harbor at 3600 S. Harbor Boulevard in Oxnard, California. Find all the transport options for your trip from Ventura to Channel Islands National Park … They offer Channel Islands tours to each of the five islands in addition to various wildlife cruises and special trips, including bird-watching cruises. These five islands off the Southern California coast comprise one of America’s most undeveloped—and utterly magical—national parks. (805) 987-1301 For more job information at Channel Islands National Park, please contact the park's personnel officer by phone at (805) 658-5730 or by email at Personnel Officer. To get to the Channel Islands by boat, Island Packers is the official Channel Islands National Park concessionaires, providing regular boat service, both one-day trips, and longer excursions. Non-landing trips are available. There are several ways to get to Channel Islands National Park in California. Allow a full day to visit one island. At the end of the freeway exit, turn left onto Harbor Boulevard, then proceed on Harbor to Spinnaker Drive. Parking is free. Although there are no park fees, getting there is expensive -- anywhere from $56 to $160 per person, the higher price being for a trip by air to Santa Rosa. Free parking is available at the beach parking lot. Turn left and park in parking lot for free. The main office for Island Packers is located in the Ventura Harbor. Ventura, CA 93001 Anacapa Island is the smallest island, but still offers camping and gentle hiking trails … Bicycles are NOT allowed on the islands. At the end of the freeway exit, turn right onto Castillo. Boat trips are 3 hours. Camarillo is located 86 miles north of Los Angeles and 14 miles south of Ventura. The visitor center is located at the very end of Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. Oxnard is located 65 miles north of Los Angeles and 35 miles south of Santa Barbara. However, you can take the taxi to Santa Ana Amtrak Station, take the train to Ventura Amtrak, take the drive to Ventura Harbor, take the ferry to Santa Cruz Island, then take the travel to Channel Islands National Park. Private Boat Transportation (805) 642-1393 Operator: Island Packers There is no direct connection from Newport Beach to Channel Islands National Park. Channel Islands Aviation is located in the Camarillo Airport in Camarillo, California. Boat visitors are skiffed onto the beach—be prepared to waterproof gear and possibly to get wet. Click here for driving directions to Channel Islands Aviation. The weather on Channel Islands National Park is … Private boaters may land on all five islands within the park throughout the year. Most people depart for the islands from Ventura or Oxnard, both of which are an hour and a half north of Los Angeles. Camarillo, CA 93010 Plane, train, and bus service are all available to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Channel Islands National Park provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities and a delightful break from the congestion and clamor of urban life. Comprised of five ecologically rich uninhabited islands—Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara—the park is only a hop, skip and a jump from the Southern California mainland, yet feels … Click here for driving directions to Island Packers. All federal land passes can be obtained or purchased at parks that charge an entrance fee. While the LA airport is convenient for most travelers since thousands of flights go in and out of it daily, the Santa Barbara airport is closest to the park. The visitor center is located in the Ventura Harbor in Ventura, California. Channel Islands National Park is comprised of 5 islands off the Southern California coast, all offering different views, landscapes and opportunities for adventurous families. When the pier is closed, landings are via skiff onto the beach. Boat trips are 4 hours. Parking is free. The federal lands passes, including versions for seniors, active military, and the disabled, cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal lands. Stay to the right where there is a fork in the road and continue until you see the "Marine Emporium" sign on your left. Even though Channel Islands National Park is just about 30 miles away from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area (with an estimated 17+ million people! Channel Islands National Park is located off the coast of Southern California. Travel Time from Camarillo Airport and Ventura Harbor: Flights are 25 minutes. Ventura is located 70 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. Turn left onto Durley Avenue. Plane, train, and bus service are all available to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Camarillo, CA 93010 More. Please do not park in the 20 minute zones. Frequency of Trips: Year round, variable schedule 3-7 days per week Located off the coast of Southern California, Channel Islands National Park is an untouched, pristine group of islands that offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor exploration on just a simple day trip. Public boat transportation is available year-round by the park concessionaire Island Packers. The visitor center is located in the Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, California. There are no services on the islands. At the end of the freeway exit, turn left on Victoria and continue to Channel Islands Boulevard . Landing Conditions: Visitors must climb from the boat up a steel-rung ladder to a dock. There are also 90 minute free parking spots in the harbor parking lot. Till this day we fly the National Park, The Nature Conservancy and NOAA as well as the public to the Channel Islands National Park aboard our Britten-Norman Islander. Directions to the Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park1901 Spinnaker DriveVentura, CA 93001(805) 658-5730. All areas must be accessed by foot, private boat, or kayak. Take a left at the next signal light which is Castillo Street. One of California’s nine national parks, the Channel Islands is a shining and distinctive example of California’s coastal landscapes and wildlife. Parking is free. Visitors must climb from the boat up a steel-rung ladder to a dock. ), it remains as being one of the lesser visited National Parks in the United States, ranking at #43 out of 60 parks in attendance. For information on transportation to the islands visit Island Transportation. Operator: Island Packers and Channel Islands Aviation Landing Conditions: Visitors must climb a steel-rung ladder to the top of the pier from a skiff. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. When the piers are closed, landings are via skiff onto the beach. But the only way to reach the park itself is via plane or boat. All aircraft must maintain a minimum 1000-foot altitude above land and sea surfaces within the park. At the end of the freeway exit, turn right on Las Posas. More... Year round, variable schedule 3-7 days per week. Travel Time from Ventura and Oxnard Harbors: 1 hour Anacapa Island There is no transportation available on the islands. To get to the Channel Islands, you can take an Island Packers boat, book a flight with Channel Islands Aviation, or use a private boat. Alternatively, you could also call the visitor center and ask them at (805) 658-5730. The islands are Anacapa, Santa … The Channel Islands National Park is the California Central Coast’s back yard with a total of eight islands, four of which border Ventura and Santa Barbara: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. More recently, in May 2016, San Miguel Island reopened to the public. Strong winds and rough seas are possible. Operator: Island Packers San Miguel Island There is NO transportation available on the islands. islandpackers.com Take a left at the next signal light which is Gutierrez. Visitors must climb from the boat up a steel-rung ladder to a pier at Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. Frequency of Trips: Year round, variable schedule 5-7 days per week Private boaters may land on all five islands within the park throughout the year. Channel Islands National Park Bookstore There’s a lot to learn about this unique stretch of islands. Flights depart from Camarillo airport. How to Get to Channel Islands National Park The only authorized ferry service is operated by Island Packers Cruises. Follow Castillo until it comes to an end. Travel Time from Camarillo Airport and Ventura Harbor: Flights are 40 minutes. Turn left on Harbor Boulevard and continue until you see the "Marine Emporium" sign on your left. While the mainland visitor centers in Ventura and Santa Barbara are readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. How to Get to the Channel Islands Channel Islands National Park visitor centers can be found in Ventura and Santa Barbara, where visitors can get acquainted with the islands. For information on driving directions to mainland locations visit: For public transportation to mainland locations, visit Public Transportation. A trip to Channel Islands National Park requires an entire weekend (and sometimes that’s not even enough) in order to enjoy all that this unique park has to offer. The information posted here will help you get started on your career with the National Park Service. There is no fee to enter Channel Islands National Park. For example, at time of writing, Santa Barbara and San Miguel islands are both closed. At the end of the freeway exit, turn left on Las Posas. Public airplane transportation is available year-round to Santa Rosa Island by park concessionaire Channel Islands Aviation. (805) 987-1301 Once ashore, visitors must climb 157 stairs to the top of the island. www.islandpackers.com. Santa Cruz Island Directions to the Outdoor Santa Barbara Visitor Center113 Harbor Way 4th FloorSanta Barbara, CA 93109(805) 884-1475. (805) 642-1393 Book Cheap Flights to Channel Islands National Park: Search and compare airfares on Tripadvisor to find the best flights for your trip to Channel Islands National Park. The mainland visitor centers and park concessionaire offices are all accessbile via public transportation. At the end of the freeway exit, turn left on Victoria and continue to Channel Islands Boulevard. When the piers are closed, landings are via skiff onto the beach. Known as “The Galapagos of North America,” Channel Islands National Park is home to nearly 150 endemic species that can only be found on and below its five eyegasmic islands… Choose the best airline for you by reading reviews and viewing hundreds of ticket rates for flights going to and from your destination. Operator: Island Packers and Channel Islands Aviation Ventura, CA 93001 To help you plan the perfect trip the Channel Islands National Park, here's what you need to know: Here's a quick look at entrance information: The park is open 24 hours a day. Here are some of the best things to do to get the most out of your visit to the Channel Islands, whether you have one day, or multiple, to spare! Directions to Channel Islands Aviation305 Durley Avenue Channel Islands is remote--there is no question. To visit one of the five islands, you'll have to take a boat or plane. Public Boat Transportation 1691 Spinnaker Dr. Visitors must climb a steel-rung ladder to the top of the pier from a skiff. Turn right at our sign. When Castillo ends, turn right onto Cabrillo Blvd. No restaurants. www.flycia.com. So if you want to brush up before your hike -- or just get your national parks passport stamped -- head to the Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center, located on the mainland in Ventura. Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details. The islands are open and accessible year round but it is important to check for closure updates on the Channel Islands National Park website before planning your trip. Please do not park in the 20 minute zones. Advanced planning is highly recommended. Ventura is located 70 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. Getting to Channel Islands National Park The Channel Islands are about 70 miles north of Los Angeles near Ventura. Advanced planning is highly recommended. Take a left at the next signal light, which is Harbor Way. However, you can take the train to Ventura Amtrak, take the drive to Ventura Harbor, take the ferry to Santa Cruz Island, then take the travel to Channel Islands National Park. However, if you consider only the people Boat trips run April through early November, 2-4 days per week. Only train, bus, and private car transportation are available from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to Ventura. 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