The Best Time to Visit Channel Islands National Park. Take a left at the next signal light which is Gutierrez. Channel Islands National Park is located off the coast of Southern California. All areas must be accessed on foot or by private boat or kayak. Camarillo is located 86 miles north of Los Angeles and 14 miles south of Ventura. Plane, train, and bus service are all available to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Island Packers also has a satellite office in the Channel Islands Harbor at 3600 S. Harbor Boulevard in Oxnard, California. Step 1: Look for any advisories on the National Park Service official website for the Channel Islands. Ventura is located 70 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. 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 (Island Packers) and planes (Channel Islands Aviation) or private boat. Santa Barbara is located 100 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles north of Ventura. Advanced planning is highly recommended. 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. The visitor center is located in the Ventura Harbor in Ventura, California. However, if you consider only the people Private Boat Transportation 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 (Island Packers) and planes (Channel Islands Aviation) or private boat. However, Channel Islands National Park is not very difficult to get to despite its isolation. Turn right at our sign. Operator: Island Packers Once ashore, visitors must walk uphill 1/4 mile with 131 long steps to the top of the island. Flights are extremely expensive, and most of us don’t have a private boat, so the best option is to book a trip with Island Packers. These five islands off the Southern California coast comprise one of America’s most undeveloped—and utterly magical—national parks. The visitor center is located in the Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, California. Certain islands can close without warning for a number of reasons, and this would be on the main page. 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. Public Airplane Transportation Operator: Island Packers and Channel Islands Aviation But the only way to reach the park itself is via plane or boat. Plane, train, and bus service are all available to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Non-landing trips are available. Once ashore, visitors must climb 157 stairs to the top of the island. 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. Please do not park in the 20 minute zones. No restaurants. Even though Channel Islands National Park is just about 30 miles away from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area (with an estimated 17+ million people! Get information on Channel Islands National Park Travel Guide - Expert Picks for your Vacation hotels, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and activities. There are no services on the islands. It is on the south side of the large gray building. 1691 Spinnaker Dr. Visitors must climb from the boat up a steel-rung ladder to a pier at Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. When the piers are closed, landings are via skiff onto the beach. 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. If you’re coming from further away, fly into Los Angeles International Airport or Santa Barbara Airport. At the end of the freeway exit, turn right on Las Posas. On a trial basis, flights are available to San Miguel Island as well. Turn right on Channel Islands Boulevard and continue over a large bridge to Harbor Boulevard. Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details. In fact, it is less than 30 miles off the coast of California and near literally millions of people. Frequency of Trips: Spring through Fall, variable schedule 2-4 days per month. Whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions can be viewed year-round in the Santa Barbara Channel travelling to/from the islands. The visitor center is located at the very end of Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. 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