One of the top camping experiences ever. This place is so gorgeous and fun! It IS somewhat expensive for a weekend but you won't regret it (site was $340 plus $250 ferry) The views are incredible and the beach is gorgeous. There's rentals for kayaks, paddle boards, and some cliff jumping. It feels like adult summer camp. The walk to the site was fine. It's not too far but can be a little challenging if you have a lot of gear. We just used our backpacking backpacks to haul everything. Our friends used their wagon. You can do a gear haul for $7 each way I think, you pay when you check in if needed. We did one of the safari tents and it was a great location. I did feel like lots of bugs though- they can get through the floor cracks and spiders. Also there are little foxes that swipe food so recommend to put in a cooler, or tie it up! We used the bins provided and the ants took over! So seal really well. Super nice to have the restaurant and general store in town too. We got drinks and dinner one night as well as Icecream. This is a must do if you live in socal. read more

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We stayed here recently since we were doing the trans Catalina trail. Our campsite was near the beach which should have been lovely but our stay was horrible. After a long day of hiking we needed some rest. But there was a loud party at a near campsite. Loud techno music until well past 2am. There's no camp host or anyone else you can ask for help. Amplified music is not allowed at any time and quiet hours are after 10pm. But this is not at all enforced. I got hardly any sleep on this site. The loud party until well past 2am and in the morning I woke up from the portapotty door slamming that started at 5.30 am since hikers had to get up early. We complained at the visitor center the next day since they run the campground. They were not surprised and informed us that the same group had a similar party the previous night and they had received similar complaints from other campers. WTF???? They knew about the issue but didn't care? Why didn't they ask the group violating the campground rules to leave? or why didn't they check in on the campsite to make sure the group wouldn't party again like they did the first night? The campsites are expensive and I didn't ask for much, just a place to get some rest between long hiking days. Loud music is probably also not good for the wildlife. There's a lot of talk about the environment on this island but really it's mostly a money grab. read more

STEEP hill! If your doing the TCT you may want to be higher up, so there's less down/up hill walking. Most sites have good views of the ocean. #46 #11 are my favorites if you want shade and gorgeous views, and if you're okay without a shelter then #1 (which includes #2) or #4 (which includes #3) are amazing; #4 being my favorite as there's a bit of privacy that #1 and 2 don't have. Running water, outdoor shower, and porter potties were okay and clean. Part of the beach is sandy but most is rocky, so I recommend water shoes. Ordered firewood, and highly recommend so you don't have to haul it uphill and down hill to camp. If you can afford it, the tent cabins looked nice, have forts and chair and zero set-up. Everyone was very nice and most people were hiking on our two night stay so it was very quiet. We camped at #41 night one, no one was camped near us, good views, pretty level, but sneaky seagulls! We camped #1 (&2) night two, rain made everything muddy, but slept to the sound of the ocean, there was a fire ban that night due to high winds so they refunded us our firewood, another reason to order firewood from them. Recommend, but it's a workout! read more

Amazing location, very rustic, but has everything you need. The views higher up in the campground are amazing and only a short walk to the water. A much more nature oriented Catalina trip then I've had in the past. I enjoyed kayaking and hiking in the area and really enjoyed the access to nature. read more

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Pretty good, water clean and purified and bathrooms nice for being porta potties. Campsites are clean and spacious. Staff accommodating and nice. Also just a word of advice, don't come here in spring or when it's raining, the mud is absolutely horrible (I was adamant that to come on my birthday) read more

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What's not to love about Two Harbors Camping? Long hikes up to the spot, rough and tumble camping. Porta potties with bees. Dusty classic Catalina camping. Camp fires pits, cold water showers, summer good clean living. Yah it's rustic and good. read more

Had the BEST time staying at Two Harbors camp grounds this past weekend (Friday-Sunday in July 2022). I was a little worried reading some of the other reviews, but everything either has been cleaned up or the other reviewers perhaps have too high of expectations for a campground. We took the 12:30 ferry in. My boyfriend and I each checked 2 large bags and carried on 1 smaller backpacks. One bag was a cooler full of drinks, food and ice packs to get us through the weekend, which I'm really glad we did. Another bag we checked was a tent. And then our 2 suitcases which had all our camping stuff and clothing etc. Once we got off the ferry there's a window right off the dock that you check in for the campgrounds, pay for gear haul ($6 per bag round trip!!) and you can also buy wood for $12/bundle which will be delivered directly to your campsite (I think you can also buy cheaper wood in the general store but have to carry it up yourself). Everyone at check-in was also SO NICE and helpful. Once checked in, you can explore two harbors - which basically consists of the dive shop, the lunch/dinner restaurant, the take-out breakfast/lunch restaurant and the general store. And then you can walk up to the campgrounds, it's about a half mile walk up hill. The walk itself is not difficult, although it's also not easy. I chose to carry my tent up myself, but defiantly was glad I paid the $6/bag for the rest to be delivered. We were site 14, which is right at the top when you arrive at the camp grounds, has a nice view of the ocean. Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table, under a shade structure (which you can hang your hammock from as well). The campgrounds is sorta setup in levels, once you get to the top, you have to walk down past the 3 levels to get down to the beach. So the longer the walk from town, the closer you are to the beach at the camp grounds. There's garbage cans all over the camp grounds which is nice. And a bunch of portapotties. I would suggest looking at a map and not picking a campsite right across from the porta potties (noise + smell). The porta potties were pretty well kept, clean seats, clean floors and toilet paper stocked. Then there's sinks and spickets around the campgrounds -we used this for cleaning, I think you can drink from it but we brought drinking water (and you can also buy for $5/gallon at the general store). There's also some showers, we found a really nice open shower that wasn't even very cold, so got a nice rinse off on Saturday afternoon. We packed breakfasts, coffee and lunches so that we didn't have to go back into town so often (and didn't have to overpay for coffee or takeout sandwiches) and also packed our own drinks to drink at camp. And then we went into town for dinner both nights, we ate at Harbor Reef restaurant, which apparently takes reservations -but we ended up sitting at their outdoor tables right on the beach, which don't take reservations - and we were able to get a seat right away both nights (we ate early, around 6pm both nights), would definitely recommend as it's so pretty, but bring a sweatshirt it got a bit chilly as the sun started to set. read more

Two Harbors Campground - Campsite 14. Ocean views - Campgrounds Near Me - Two Harbors, California

I just spent the past 2 nights in one of the large 6 person tent sites for my fiancé's birthday. We have been desert camping for years and have recently gotten into free diving and scuba. This camp site is beautiful and secluded but could be challenging without proper planning and prepping. Packing: The ferry allowed 3 items per person: 2 luggage and 1 non luggage item. Coolers are allowed but the water has to be drained and the lid taped shut. We used large backpacking backpacks and a collapsible wagon to carry our personal, cooking and diving gear. The wagon has to be collapsed to go on the ferry so pack everything in bags (not loose items) to make transitioning on and off the ferry easier. It is a half mile hike up hill to the camp site. The hike to the campground also has some large washed out ruts so if you plan to use a wagon it should have large wheels. (Normal suitcases might not make it!) There is also a baggage delivery service that I think is $5/bag. We didn't use this so I can't comment on it. Campground: The large tens cabins come with a propane camping stove, propane and battery powered lantern. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit with grill top. Firewood is available for purchase. The campground has running potable water, porta potties and open air outdoor showers (but the water was cold as hell). The campground is in a hilly area, so depending which site you get it may be a steep downhill walk to the beach, but these sites have the best views of course! Weather: We came in January and were lucky enough to get a warm and sunny weekend. It was comfortable during the day in light pants and t-shirt but chilly at night. Plan to bring warm jackets and sleeping bags as it gets pretty cold overnight (4am is the coldest!). The water was cold but we were able to snorkel comfortably in wet suits. One friend had a 3mm wet suit and was pretty cold, I would recommend a 5mm or 7mm for winter snorkeling. Rentals: THE RENTAL PLACE IS PRETTY AWFUL... They rented us broken scuba gear and didn't even check our PADI certifications. I would highly recommend against renting scuba gear from them, it's dangerous if you have broken equipment. The kayak rentals are insanely expensive and not offered for 24 hours any longer. The young lady working there was downright rude on every occasion that we had to deal with her. Next time we won't plan to rent from them. General Store / Food: They have a decent selection of snacks and some refrigerated / frozen food. Be prepared to spend more than 2x what you would normally. I bought 4 bags of chips and 2 apples and it was $35. A 6 pack of model was $15 and the CHEAPEST bottle of wine was $13. There is a restaurant but we didn't eat there and I'm sure it's just as expensive. We prepped our own food and saved tons of money. We typically bring vacuum sealed meat, frozen veggies, sausages, frozen hash browns, frozen one pot pasta packs, liquid eggs, instant coffee packs etc.. We were able to pack for 6 people for 3 days in one cooler. Activities: There is plenty to do in this area. We did a short 4 mile (round trip) hike to the ridge and got some beautiful views! Snorkeling along the rocks near the campsite was my favorite! I saw Garibaldi, perch, sheep's head, calico bass, halibut, sea anemones, lobster and kelp all within a quarter mile swim from the beach. We also saw one buffalo and a few fox! Pretty cool. Overall it was fun! It was a lot of walking up and down hill so be prepared for that. It was a lot of work but I would love to go back! read more

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After so many years and great memories I can't hide my frustration so many black crow and pigeons they took over the place can't leave nothing outside and in the morning they are so loud. Jet ski tour took over the ocean and hear that hip hop their N* word mother F* word S* word they keep their chairs locked but their guests can walk around the camp site not cool at all. Last year they were next to the cabanas now they moved to the campground. And last where is the ranger? I wish could have a presence of the ranger. read more

Two Harbors Campground - Crow and pigeons took over - Campgrounds Near Me - Two Harbors, California

Stayed here one night during the week and most of the sites were already booked. I stayed in site #16 which was perfect. It had a clear view of the ocean and was a good distance from sites 17,18,19. I would not recommend 19 since it has no shade and kind of tuck in a make shift corner. The gear haul drop off which the offer for 5 bucks a bag is right next to the site. You will pick it up there and drop it off when ready to leave as well. There is water to drink, a sink, restrooms and an outdoor shower right next to the sites. You can hike down to the beach as well which would only take about 4 minutes. The hike up is less than .5 mile but I would still pay the 5 bucks for the gear haul. You check in At the visitor center and they can give you a map. They will also deliver firewood and a fire start to your campsite for $10 a bundle. Also they have a deal for $20 which consist of a cooler and a bag of ice that will be delivered to your campsite as well with whatever you'd like to fill it with wether it's beer, food, fruit or whatever you want from the store. There were foxes that made an appearance. We also saw a baby scorpion and bunch of spiders not too many to freak out about tho. Will definitely stay here again. read more

Two Harbors Campground - View from site 16. - Campgrounds Near Me - Two Harbors, California

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One of the worst experiences I've had in which we were deeply offended and felt unwelcomed... My partner and I had been looking forward to this trip for months, we even bought equipment specifically for this trip so that we could fit all our gear on the Catalina Express within their limitations. Getting to the campground may appear a short distance from the harbor, but it is a very very steep hike. Luckily we paid the $7 per bag to have our stuff driven to the campground, I can't imagine carrying it all up the steep hill. We got to our site a little before check-in but we were able to set up camp and enjoy the beach just beneath our site. The views from our site were beautiful, we were in site #1 right on the water, however the sites were piled on top of one another so it did lack a sense of privacy. The amenities were not much greater than primitive camping, stinky porta potties and one sink to share with a dozen other campers. A couple hours after the official check-in time we wanted to cook an early dinner. We had friends with us just for the day who needed to catch the 6:30 boat and so it was important we cook by a certain time. After realizing we still did not have the wood we pre-ordered and prepaid for, my partner called to ask if it would be delivered soon. My partner was told at best the wood would be at our site by 5. Disappointed that this was going to impact our plans with our friends, we tried to shake it off and made a few jokes amongst ourselves about the situation. Then literally out of the bushes, this park ranger (Linnea) comes driving real fast and slams on the breaks next to our tent, kicking up tons of dirt and honestly we thought she was going to hit us. She jumped out of the truck and proceeded to tell us that she had been listening to our conversation for the last 10 minutes (from the bushes!) and that we were being rude. Now mind you she was upset about a private conversation she ease dropped on which we did not say to anyone who worked for the campground. Then she proceeded to make inaccurate accusations about my partner and my friend, accusing my partner of having altercations with people earlier at the visitor center (even though he never interacted with anyone at the visitor center earlier) and accused my friend of complaining about the price of wood (never happened cause my friend didn't pay for the wood and therefore had no idea how much it cost) and even said to her "everyone here has to pay". Yes we understand that and never said anything that would suggest we expected free things. Later on, she reported us to her boss (Andrew) and then he came to our site to talk about the situation. We spent hours working out with Andrew trying to get the story straight, having to defend ourselves against flat out lies that this girl made of us. At a certain point this started to feel like discrimination was the root cause of this whole ordeal. We felt extremely offended by her accusations and unwelcomed. To try and make things right Andrew refunded us and allowed us to stay for the remainder of our reservation. Though I appreciate this, the damage was too much to repair and for the remainder of our time we felt uncomfortable l. We were worried we would be spied on again from a park ranger hiding in the bushes and we were embarrassed to show our faces in town because everyone who worked at the visitor center was told an inaccurate representation of who we are. To top it all off we were on the island celebrating my partner's birthday and this experience completely ruined the moment. Just last week my partner's sister asked if we would recommend camping on Catalina, and we said absolutely not. read more

Always a fun time. Camped in Tent Cabin 2 over Aug 12 weekend with a group of friends. Cabins could be cleaned/dusted better, and Porta potties need a lot more regular cleaning. Would be nice if there was a shower curtain for the shower so people can have some privacy if desired. read more

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This review is not about the town or campground, but about the Two Harbors Visitor's Center. I've called several times to schedule campsites along the Trans-Catalina Trail for large groups. Both times, I spoke with women (this time it was Micah) and both times the women were incredibly friendly, knew the trail well, and were immensely helpful. Not knowing the area, it was refreshing to talk with someone who not only knew it, but also was eager to ensure my friends and I would have the best possible experience when visiting the island. read more

Two Harbors is the section of Catalina Island for camping. You can take the Catalina Express from San Pedro or Long Beach to get here. You have to book your camping spot ahead of time. Reservations book fast during the summer time. Hiking is fun. Lots of different trails. Just makes sure you pay attention to your route so you do not get lost. You might even spot a bison! You can also hike down to the ocean and swim. Very rocky so make sure you wear water shoes. You have to be careful because there are steep areas, one of my friends did roll down after chasing a ball and jacked up his leg. The main building at the port is where you check in and register. There is also a restaurant with overpriced food, but your camping, bring your own food to cook! There is also a pay to use shower if you want to clean up a bit. I had a blast, fun times camping! Do not forget the smores! read more

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I love the hell outta this place. It's where I lost my camping cherry (and it was good!) so I'm affectionately biased. I've stayed here once or twice a year for the past four years. Here's my primer. Some of this applies to most of the campgrounds on the Island (there are many) but most of this review is specific to Two Harbors. #1 thing to know: It's island time (when we get to it) and island rules (can vary considerably) and both work more in your favor when you're patient and friendly. You can get there by ferry (Catalina Express, San Pedro) year-round. I think there's a Flyer from Marina del Rey (another company) in the summer peak season, too. Long Beach ferry (Catalina Express) only goes to Avalon. Dana Point (Catalina Express) has service to Avalon, but I don't think it serves Two Harbors. Catalina Express has baggage restrictions and extra fees for bikes and surfboards, but if you exceed their limits, you're doing some serious glamping. There's a gear haul after each of the Catalina Express ferries - get tags from staff at the check-in office and dump your bags to the left of it. Used to be complimentary, now I think it's $1/bag. You can reserve a campsite online but you can't reserve a specific site this way. You can select a specific site by using their call center, but you'll pay an extra $9.95 per reservation. I find this worth it b/c I have preferred sites, but it's not necessary. Two Harbors is pretty expensive by camping standards, but when you figure that the cost of everything on the Island is 20-25% higher than the mainland (everything comes by boat) it's not awful. Sites are currently approx. $21 per person per night (so there's no incentive to pack too many people into a site, which I like b/c it makes it less crowded.) Firewood, charcoal and rental gear can be delivered directly to your campsite. Water and ice can be purchased at the general store. There are some tent cabin sites (fixed large tent structure with beds/mattresses.) Not fancy, but luxury-ish by camping standards. If you're overly concerned about the condition of the mattress, stay at the Banning House and skip the camping.) Most sites are typical campsites which accommodate 2 or more people. There are some large group sites (mostly high on the hill) and some medium group sites (various locations) but most comfortably accommodate two tents, although finding level ground for two tents can be a challenge at many sites. (The campsite is located on a hillside/bluff.) Some have a shade/canopy; some don't. When you arrive, you'll walk down a 1-block dock and be in the exact center of town. To your right is the dive/kayak/bike/paddleboard/boat/fishing/snorkel rental shop. To the right of that is the general store/gift shop. Straight in front of you is Doug's Harbor Reef Restaurant -- pretty darn good for the only act in town -- which consists of a snack bar/grill (AM thru late afternoon,) a fine dining resto (dinner) and patio dining which serves breakfast and lunch with limited hours. Lastly, the outdoor bar is open from mid-morning until 2 AM. (Summer/peak hours; shoulder season/off-season varies.) To your immediate left is the visitor/camping check-in center. To the left of it are two buildings with full restrooms and coin-op showers, a coin-op laundry and a tiny but free lending library (a single push-cart.) There's a waste disposal in the rear. There's an ATM. That's the town in a nutshell. If you stand at the end of the dock, all of the above are within 200 feet. Two Harbors is the Isthmus of the Island so you can walk from one side of the Island to the other in about 5 minutes. There's a harbor on each side, although there are no real amenities (other than boat moorings) on the far side. Up the road is Banning Lodge (a small hotel/inn.) To the right of the town is the residential area; I believe that pretty much everyone who lives there works for the Island Company (which operates most of the tourist attractions on the Island.) To the left is a bluff...you walk over the bluff to the campsites. Depending on the location of your site, it's about a 3-5 block walk. It's not a strenuous hike, but it's not for the infirm or elderly. Shoes with tread recommended; while not treacherous, there are a few steep/narrow spots where a good foothold helps. Flip flops may slide out from under you. Beachfront sites are exposed and windy. Beautiful but cold from early evening to morning, and harder to start a fire. I like the sites on the lower-to-mid hillside...some are pretty open, some kind of woodsy, some have great elevated harbor views and yet are only a 3-min walk down to the beach. You can reserve/rent basic gear - tents, sleeping bags & pads, propane stoves, etc. You can buy most supplies you need at the general store. But there's a limited brand selection, sometimes limited quality/quantity, and no specialty items (no pharmacy, not much gluten-free food, etc.) so for weird/specific needs, bring it! read more

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My husband and I went camping at Two Harbors in January 2014 on a whim and was able to book a campsite online a week in advance. Judging by the map, we (somewhat randomly) selected campsite #35 - a campsite that we highly recommend as it sits halfway up the hill lending itself to great views, a rather short walk from the beach and more privacy than other campsites. Definitely use the gear haul truck and pay to have them deliver firewood right when you get there since the walk to the market is not necessarily short. Buy more bundles of wood than you think if you're cooking by fire - their wood isn't the highest quality. read more

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Just got back from our camping trip to Two Harbors. It was our first time and we learned a few things along the way. The Pros: The campsite itself was neat & clean. The gear haul is a lifesaver as is the general store. There was plenty of running water and (cold) showers throughout the campsite so we didn't have to walk very far to get to either of these. The portapotties actually weren't that bad. The scenery is gorgeous and the beach is pretty much all to yourself. If you need them, the Baywatch team were amazing. It's camping so you expect to be somewhat dirty, etc. None of that was a problem for us. The cons: there is a lack of shade. There are few trees and the tented picnic tables you see on the website pictures no longer exist. There were meat bees (wasps) out like crazy. We escaped both of these by spending our entire days at the beach. The minus one star is because of the lack of shade over the picnic tables that we saw in the pictures. False advertising IMO. There's a full recap of our trip here: http://www.talesfromthebackofthepack.com/2015/10/26-miles-across-sea-catalina-island-two.html read more

Two Harbors Campground - walking to the campsite. The Gear Haul had taken our stuff ahead of us - Campgrounds Near Me - Two Harbors, California

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This place is incredible!! Yes, it can be pricey to get a site and the boat ride to and from, but it's completely worth it. The views from the campsite are absolutely amazing and falling asleep each night to the sound of waves crashing is pure bliss. The luggage hull ($5 per bag round trip) is so worth it and you can even get fire wood/starter delivered right to your site! The hiking was awesome, the General Store had literally everything you could need, the small restaurant was super convenient and the fancy restaurant/bar was a treat! I also want to rave about two employees in particular. Mica/Mika/Micah (sorry, not sure on the spelling) who was in the Visitors Center to check everyone in was incredibly sweet and helpful. Our final night on the island a major wind storm was expected and our flimsy tent was not going to make it. She went out of her way to find us a room in the housing area typically reserved for employees and got us all set up. I'm positive we wouldn't have gotten a minute of sleep if we had stayed at the campsite that night. After getting that all squared away, the worlds kindest ranger, Doug, helped us get all of our gear from the campsite down to town where we would be staying, well after his shift had ended. He was so accommodating and kind! These two made us fall even in more in love with Two Harbors because they went out of their way to make us feel welcome (and safe!) on the island! I further appreciate the efforts made by island staff to help get us off the island despite the dangerous water conditions. Again Doug and Micah were a huge part of coordinating and executing that plan and we are very grateful. I can't speak for summer, but if you come in the off season, it's so chill, the views are amazing, you'll see a ton of wildlife, there's so much to do, and it's full of kind/helpful people. Will definitely be coming back VERY soon! read more

I stayed at Two Harbors during December this year and had a great experience! After arriving via the Catalina Express Ferry, I checked in at the Visitors Center which is right at the end of the pier. Check in was super quick and the workers at the Visitors Center pointed me in the direction of the campsite. The campsite is about a 10 minute walk from the Visitors Center and the rest of Two Harbors. The walk is a bit hilly but definitely do-able if you have a few bags of luggage and are in good health. If not, you can arrange for a baggage drop at your campsite. The campsites are great. They offer stunning views of the water and they are well-spaced out. I will note that on my first night at the campsite, I spotted a raccoon that was looking for food so be on the lookout and don't leave food around! The campsites all come with fire pits and picnic tables. If you forget anything, you can likely find it at the store in Two Harbors (just over the hill). There's lots of hiking out of Two Harbors and the Visitors Center staff will happily explain some of the hikes to you if you stop by! Overall, I really enjoyed staying at Two Harbors Campsite and I'd definitely return! read more

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Great little campground! We got a great spot near the water in summer time, which can sell out easily. Only shuttle on Catalina Express is from Long Beach. Camp sites are on a hill. Higher ones more secluded with panoramic views. Lower ones close to the water, but more crowded. Each have a picnic table, fire ring and grill. The deliver fire wood. Check in next to the dock. Port-a-potties cleaned once a week. Paid showers in town. Snorkeling was a blast in summer. One store and a restaurant/bar, but good size. Little short hikes nearby. Be prepared to haul your stuff the 1/4 mile from the dock uphill. Animals are ruthless, birds and critters will steal left out food/trash!! read more

Catalina, you've fallen out of favor with me. But let's start with the PROS: Very friendly customer service attendants at the dock guest services trailer. Friendly people working at Two Harbors in general. Great views of the ocean, and clean blue water. Can't beat it. CONS: The accommodations fail to meet their high ticket price. My family of 4 spent $100 a night just to pitch a tent in the dust. The shade structure was missing planks and looked in need of repair. The bathroom area was not serviced the entire 3 days we stayed, leaving trash, muddy (hopefully) tp and a beyond foul experience in the porta jons. The shower and sink near sites 18-19 were covered in watery sludge, and the cast iron sink looked like it was in need of a scrub. I realize we were camping; however, either lower your prices Wrigleys or at the least provide clean and comfortable hygiene facilities. The food at the restaurants was akin to prepackaged truck stop bites, (but the booze wasn't skimpy in the cocktails, so at least there was that.) Lastly, capitalism has taken over the once public beach front area near the docks, and now you must reserve a palapa or umbrella for the best experience, of course for a price. This used to be such a wonderful quiet beach and campground, but I did not have that experience this time. The bathrooms near our tent were probably what prompted this review. That situation left me feeling that the management at Two Harbors is happy to take your money, but doesn't give a sh*t - pun intended - about your health or comfort. Do better. read more

I will try to be as completely honest and objective as I possibly can, and I feel very bad for writing a negative review. :( I will acknowledge that our family may have had an exceptionally bad experience, and that camping here may be better in early spring. Employees helped us get a refund and were kind and helpful. No complaints there. First- this camping is expensive. Very expensive. Our family of 7 paid $1000+on camping, food, and boat trips. The boat trip was awesome, simple, no complaints there. Problems and missed expectations came with the camping on Catalina. The hike to the sites is very difficult with bags and hot weather with no shade. It is about 1/2 mile and steep. Doable, but straining. Hard since you have to do multiple trips to the town and sites. They do offer a service to drive your bags for $5 a bag. If you have any physical setbacks, it may be hard and they do not offer shuttle services. Shade is limited to none. Some sites do have built wooden shade structures, but not all. We bought a tent cabin and a site. Our site was in direct sun. The tent cabin had holes in the ceiling and was inhabited by rats and wolf spiders. We stayed up all night killing spiders that were crawling all over us. There is no running water. This may have been simply a bad time to come but the plumbing is old and water is scarce. Employees said that this is not normally the case but other reviews have said the same. May be a recurring issue. we had to hike the (very) steep hill back and forth from the general store/restaurant to pay for $4 water bottles. We could not shower at the site. There is porta-potties. You will want to bring food, for the restaurant is 15+ a meal for poor quality food. Onsite employees were apathetic, forgot our $50 of wood, and delivered it to the wrong site. ( forgivable they might've been busy and having a bad day) The employees at the guest services were awesome though, they gave us a gallon of water, and refunded us for the following night because we couldn't hang with the spiders lol. For the price, my personal opinion would be to go to a site in the mountains or a different beach for a quarter of the price and triple the amenities. It may have been the time we went but this site is not what is advertised and not worth the steep price for camping in a look-alike developing country. Sorry Catalina, we will have to try again sometime! read more

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Had the most incredible time camping here... Magical views, beautiful clear clean ocean full of fish... And buffalo just around the corner!! Shout out to Teresa the manager, who helped us through a difficult situation with our transportation to Avalon... Also want to mention that both Morgan and Micah were most amazing and helpful!! Can't wait to visit again... Wouldn't change a thing!! read more

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Ok so I returned to two harbors in 2017. It has improved. The bathrooms in town were not remodeled but they have a nice restaurant in the water. The gear haul was 5 bucks per bag so that went up. You can still buy beers at the store and go sit on the beach to drink. Prices at the bar went up. Buffalo mills were 9 dollars. All of the campsites have new covers. Overall it's better but more expensive. This year going to Costa Rica!! read more

I have been to the Two Harbors campground twice and so you will find two reviews listed below. Background: As of November 2009, I have been to Catalina Island 4 times. I have taken the Helicopter over, the Catalina Express from Long Beach, and the Marina Flyer from Marina del Rey. I have stayed in the Hotel Portifino, the Atwater, and the Two Harbors Campground. Camping: You can reserve a tent, a sleeping bag and pad, large-firewood (note: you are not provided kindling and they ask you not to collect any -- this makes things difficult), fire starters, everything you would need when you make your reservations. There is even a general store nearby that has EVERYTHING you would truly need. --- Review #1 (Site #6) This was the best camping experience I think I have ever had. I camped at site #6 which is almost as good as site #7. Sites #1, 2 and 3 have a great view but are on more of a cliff than the beach itself. Site #6 is nestled against the mountain and was quiet when I camped in spring. The bathrooms are nearby and the slamming of the door didn't become an issue. --- Review #2 (Site #11) I spent 3 days and 2 nights in the Two Harbors campground in site #11 (but if my boss asks, I was home sick on Friday and left on Saturday). Tons of campsites were open during Halloween weekend -- the only that were taken were the very front ones -- but I picked #11 because it had a wide view which made up for the distance from the water. #11 was windy in the evening and trying to light a fire was difficult because of this. The view was great. I set up the tent right on the edge and had a huge view of the stars and ocean. --- If anyone wanted to know which sites are best, I would say: #7 is best #6 is a quieter #7 #1, #2, #3 have a great view but are very windy and out in the open. #11 has a great view higher-up but is a little windy. #9, #10 are too close to the Toilets. #36 seems too small. #35 doesn't have a very good view #4 and #5 are no good. read more

My group and I had an AMAZING time here! The campsite is .25 mile from the Two Harbor port/town. The town was really cute. There's a restaurant and a cafe, and the market has ANYTHING that you'll need for camping. Although you do have to pay the cost (definitely marked up compared to mainland prices). They haul your gear up to your campsite which is a tremendous help because eventhough its a short walk, you gotta use your calf muscles when trekking up the hill. The staff was super friendly and courteous. The porta potties and outdoor shower are not....ideal. HOWEVER, there is plenty of showers and bathrooms back in town for your use. There's even lockers and a laundry facility. But who cares!! You're camping!!! We snagged campsite #28 which had a nice view of the ocean. The site was spacious. There are a lot of decent campsites but I wouldn't recommend sites 29, 27, or 26. The beach was a short walk down the hill. The water was clear and it felt great. There's plenty of places to hike and enjoy incredible views of the island and kayaking was alot of fun. Come here to creat great camping memories with your loved ones. You won't regret it! read more

I've been coming here intermittently for about 15 years. Just finished a 5-day stint with my three kids. As always, we had a great time. The campsite overlooks Cat Harbor. For what we were seeking -- serene nothingness -- it is perfect. The setting is beautiful. The amenities of Two Harbors are minimal and perfect. We happily whiled away the days swimming, hiking, cooking, snorkeling, reading and enjoying each other's company. We look forward to returning. That said, clearly there is a sense of decline about the place. Lots of maintenance is being deferred. When we arrived in August 2014, the shade structures at most of the campsites were bare. This is a serious problem. I would not stay here without one of them. The drought is pounding the place. I've never seen the wildlife so fearless. Something bad is going to happen at some point with a witless camper and a hungry buck. During the summer season, I recommend coming only Monday-Friday. The zoo factor on weekends is very high. If you're looking for serenity, weekends are to be avoided. Yes, for those tender visitors, roughing it means just that. It aint' the Ritz and that's what's great about it. Reasonable expectations are a must. As I said, we'll be back. Hopefully, management will be improving the facilities and infrastructure. read more

Unfortunately I have NOT camped here - my review is based on customer service as it had been the WORST! I don't think the reps have ever even been to the island, they couldn't answer 1 question I asked over the phone & didn't answer any e-mails with my questions. Over the past week the amount of time I've spent on hold has exteeded 60 min. Thanks I researched & found a shuttle goes to the campsite, its over $20 each way but it's not guaranteed they will have space - OK so let's spend $100 for camping/boat on catalina then maybe have no transportation to the campsite or have to pay $200 for a taxi... when I asked for more suggestions they say please hold then have none... I like hiking but not over 5 miles with camping gear - I wish they begin to offer more options. Because the total camping trip for one night was going to be about $130 pp and no one could answer any questions we had, we decided to cancel, which I tried to do before the 72 hour limit by email and waited on hold to cancel but no one answered and I got disconnected. I called back the next day (still 3 days before my reservation), and spoke to someone who said they would look into my emails and call me to let me know if they would credit it. Called back the next day saying sorry they had to charge it.. I explained my frustration with the customer service and trying to cancel before 72 hours and they suggested I call another number - NO WAY, its $18 fee to cancel that I would rather pay than ever deal with them again. My reservation was for little harbor campsite #2 and no one I spoke to knew a means of transportation for getting there, how to check in or ANYTHING about the campsite. Please train your customer reps! read more

I should say that this will be a biased review because Catalina happens to be my favorite place in the world (and I've traveled quite a bit). It amazes me that so many So Cal folks go for so long (or forever) without getting out to the island. It's SO easy! Pssst.... you don't have to have a boat of your own. If people do go to Catalina, their first stop is usually Avalon. While Avalon can be fun, it is definitely pretty touristy. Two Harbors (or the "Isthmus") consists of a town (if you can call it that) with one restaurant, one bar, a general store and a 12-room bed & breakfast type hotel. Camping at Two Harbors is a total no-brainer. Hop on the Catalina Express from San Pedro for a quick 1-hour ride to So Cal's best weekend escape. Get off the boat and check in at the Visitor's Center window for your campsite. Then, you drop off your stuff and the Rangers will haul your gear up to your site (the campground is about 3/4 mile outside of town). It's $12 p/person per night for a camp site. For a little more, they also have "tent cabins" available that are 6-person, green, tent-like structures with cots. They look like the Army tents that were on the beginning of the show, Mash. The sites have fire pits (and optional wood) and BBQ grills. So, you can either bring all of your food and drinks and be totally self-sufficient or you can just rely on the bar and restaurant in town. It's pretty nice when you don't have to worry about schlepping a bunch of crap onto the ferry. The food at "Harbor Reef" is pretty good and reasonably priced. Aside from swimming in the clean water and other island activities, we go for the good times at the Harbor Reef bar. Why? Because it's AWESOME! The bar has the largest outside deck that I've seen in Southern California (reason alone for it's awesomeness). In the daytime, enjoy a lovely Buffalo's Milk (think Catalina's version of a White Russian meets Mudslide), beer or any other cocktail that gets you into vacation mode. There's a DJ and dancing under the stars on Saturday nights (not untz untz untz)... think wedding hits. Harbor Reef has been affectionately knows as the "Star Wars Bar" because it's such a random mix of people. You never know what you're gonna get. Everything from the salty, bearded, drunk, weathered sailor to the odd 14 year old girl who's having her first bar experience. Watch out! We don't call it "Love Island" for nothin'! When you're rockin' the night away, just remember to keep a little bit of stamina for the slight trek back to your tent (that is...unless you manage to find a date with a boat). Either way, you'll be waking up to your very own, gorgeous ocean view. If you feel like venturing out of the hustle and bustle of the Isthmus area (it takes 10 minutes to walk across the island there), I recommend heading to camp at "Little Harbor". You can hike or take the Safari Bus the 7 miles to the campground on the other side of the island. LH has the only surf beach and it's a perfect place to mellow out. The campsites are right on the beach (no hill involved). Relax and unwind... hike/bike/kayak...or get on the booze train, but remember...watch out for Buffalo! Reserve campsites online at www.visitcatalinaisland.com. Book EARLY! read more

Two Harbors Campground - waterfront property - Campgrounds Near Me - Two Harbors, California

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Pretty horrible. We stayed at one of the tent cabins, which I cannot recommend. They are dirty, rotten, smelly. There are simple beds with mattresses that give you the creeps. The front porch has two rotten chairs where I wouldn't even rest my backpack on. The whole cabin was in a state of decay. We complained at the office. "This is the best cabin we have" was the response. The facilities were another disaster. There was no water, just hot air fizzing or sludge drooling out of the tap, and the porta potty-type toilets emanated disease. On the upside, this is an amazing area. I suggest you bring your mountain bike. It costs a few dollars on the ferry but this is well worth it. There are no paved roads on this part of the island, all dirt or gravel roads. There are essentially no cars and you have the whole road to yourself. Views are stunning. read more

+1 star for rentable equipment (Catalina express has "luggage" rules that rival the airlines) +1 star for dock to campsite gear check +1 star for scenic views -1 star for antagonism to man's best friend -1 star for not investing some of the revenue into emptying chemical toilets This place makes sense for first time campers and RV campers looking to try something more rugged. Expect heavy-drinking with a couple friends scene rather than "Walden" solitude. We aren't planning to go back (prefer Mammoth and Joshua Tree), but if you're planning a trip, here are some tips for a more enjoyable experience. *Camp site reviews were confusing out of context. I'm posting the map they give out for reference. We were in site 12. To give you a sense of scale, we could hear our neighbors snoring in sites 9 and 11. Beach side sites 1-7 will be prime real estate as the season warms up. The Tent Cabins at the top of the hill look pretty sketchy and the walk back to them from the beach will be more arduous than your last stair master workout. * Did you know REI rents gear (tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc.)? You'll get better value than what's available at the site (our stove was broken and we'd burned through 2 meals worth of fire wood before we found a ranger to fix it). * Plan to cook with charcoal. $2/log for firewood. Every site has a charcoal grill. * Soap/hand sanitizer/ladies, pee funnel might be a worthwhile investment. After getting food poisoning whilst running the Ragnar 200 mile relay, I'm a chemical toilet connoisseur. These are The Worst I've Ever Seen. read more

Two Harbors Campground - Campgrounds Near Me - Two Harbors, California

Fell in love with Catalina while staying at Two Harbors... Such a magical, pristine place with inspiring vibes. Gorgeous views, great hiking, and amazing campgrounds. Very laid back, I loved it. Everyone should visit Catalina at least once a year. read more

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Had the most incredible time camping here... Magical views, beautiful clear clean ocean full of fish... And buffalo just around the corner!! Shout out to Teresa the manager, who helped us through a difficult situation with our transportation to Avalon... Also want to mention that both Morgan and Micah were most amazing and helpful!! Can't wait to visit again... Wouldn't change a thing!! read more

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one of the best getaways from los angeles. you have choice between bringing your own tent and staying in their 6 person tents. the campsites are spaced far enough apart to have a decent amount of privacy and the 1/2 mile hike from 'town' gives enough space to feel away from it all. if ou don't want to buy or bring lots of camping gear, you can also rent most of the gear you need when you make the reservation. they will drop it off when they haul your gear from town. they do have campground showers and port-o-pottties, but for the most part we hiked into town to use their warmer pay showers (.75 for 1.5 min). don't use the ones right off the main path, keep going 25 ahead and to the left. these showers are less crowded and seem to last longer than their advertised time. all in all next time we probably will pack more food and gear so we don't have to go back into town (buy a few extra bags of ice on the way in and have them take it with your stuff). as a town two harbors is mostly a bunch of day trippers boozing it up at the bar in the harbor. hiking, kayaking and camping are great ways to avoid the "boat people" read more

Two Harbors Campground - looking down at two harbors campground - Campgrounds Near Me - Two Harbors, California

Less than impressed. Camped here recently with my son. First, the good things: The proximity to the water is beautiful. Some of the sites (not ours) were adjacent, and that would be great. The water had beautiful clarity. We spent our second day rowing our raft about, and it was great. The restaurant in town had surprising good food. The General Store, while pricey, was well stocked. What wasn't great: 1. It ain't cheap. Along with customary camping expenses, you must also pay for the ferry, the parking for the ferry, the gear haul, and over priced wood ($15 per slender bundle). This all seriously adds up. 2. It ain't convenient. Unlike most camping, where you can pack up your car and drive up to your space, here there are several intermediaries who you must depend on. First of all, you need to get all your crap on the boat. We used a camping wagon on the recommendation of the reviewers, and that was helpful. However, two of the Catalina Express minions stopped us, told us that every single item on the wagon would have to be unloaded at the top of the ramp. Thus, one item became 37 separate items, all of which had to be carried down the ramp with no assistance from the Catalina Express people. One of them even told me that I could not take my propane stove, until she was corrected by one of her coworkers. Doing all of this wall watching over a small child was a serious drag, and very stressful. When I got to Two Harbors, guess what? I had to all this on reverse. And then repeat for the return trip. Really not fun. Then, the Gear Haul. Upon arrival, one is required to wait around for your gear to be moved to your site. I had to wait for 15-20 minutes to even arrange this. Then I was informed that on the morning of my last day, I had to have my entire camp broken down and packed up ready for Gear Haul pick up by 8:30 am. This meant we had to get up by 6:00 AM on our last day, even though we had paid for use of that site until 11:00 AM. When I asked the woman at the information Center why they had to pick up our gear at 8:30 AM for a boat that would leave a full 3 hours later, she said tartly, "that's how we've been doing it for years." End of discussion. 3. The campground is seriously rundown. Almost squalid. The roads are unpaved through the campground, there are no flush toilets, showers/water facilities are old and broken. There is very little vegetation or shade. And apparently there is no electricity, because we had to listen from 7 in the morning until long after our bedtime to the ranger's generator. The impression I received is that they haven't put any real money in this place for a long, long time. I guess if people keep coming they see no need to do so. In summary, although this spot has its beauty, I don't know that we will ever come again, at least to camp. read more

We had site 39 they said partial sun actually full sun most of the day no trees no bushes. They should have stated full sun I'd would have brought my shade shelter. At $28 per day per person you'd expect toilet paper there was NO TOILET PAPER. No worries we always bring our own but at those prices. The positive side is they did pump the poop out and refilled the outhouse with chemicals. But no paper refill. Go figure were they smoking the paper? read more

Booked a reservation with the Two Harbors campground and could not get a ferry for the same date. Tried to cancel my reservation, and the only way to do so is to call their "concierge service" and be charged $10. There is NO WAY to cancel your reservation without this $10 charge, they won't even talk to you without your credit card information. Also, they have a "72 hour" cancellation fee policy, but they go by the date, not the time, so even if your check in time is 2pm, and you call 3 days prior at 7am, they charge the cost of a day at the campground for cancelling anyway. read more

Easy to get two from Two Harbors Dock and Catalina express drop off. Free portable water, cold shower and port-o-potty's. The camp sites were really close together. Our tent was centrally located in our site and the other tents on either side weren't more than 10 feet away. Great location to kayak, snorkel and fish. Rental gear is a little pricey but not out of control. General store and bar/restaurant walking distance with a great beach with cabanas. There was also a truck hauling service for your gear if you were so inclined. I didn't take advantage of it, not sure if it cost extra. Fire wood was a pricey $15 for a small grocery store sized bundle. Bringing your own fuel source is discouraged. Extreme caution for water conservation as the island has to supply all their own water and don't have too many natural reservoirs, Catalina is in a constant drought. Not too many critters, except some birds. Squirrel are typically around but I didn't see any at the site this weekend. read more

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The campsite is pricey, sink is extremely dirty full of bird poops, porta potties are decent. Dont rent the tent cabin. Better off with bringing your own tent if you want to keep warm. Many of the tent cabin are old, torn, and missing window covers thus gets very cold. At least with your own tent, you can cover and keep from the wind and cold. But if you come prepared, you can definitely enjoy the amazing view. Dont take the 4pm departure from La since it can get really dark by the time you get to the island. Very difficult to navigate in pitch dark to the campsite even with a lantern. read more

Received an email in regards to my reservation that has been "canceled/paused". After reading the email it instructed me to call if I had any questions, called and spoke to a woman Mika. She was extremely dismissive and rude from the time that I explain my situation. I tried to explain that yes I did want to cancel my reservation and think it's ridiculous that they would try to keep a reservation fee at a time like we're in now. She kept cutting me off when I told her about three times that I would like to cancel my reservation. At a certain point of being told to relax for the nth time when she had no respect for anything I was concerned with and continued to be dismissive. Hopefully she's not the manager like she says because if that's the case I'm not going to be going to Catalina after all this blows over. read more