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

Just got back from our trip to Two Harbors with three kids, ages 5, 10 and 11. I went with my cousin and this trip was a lot of work for the three days that we went, and next time I would pack/plan differently. First thing is a must...heavy stuff with wheels or a wagon is a must! My cooler had wheels which made it easy to get on and off the boat. My camping kitchen box should have had wheels as well, but I took my collapsible wagon and that was a huge save for me. I was able to pack the wagon up and pay the $5 to have it hauled to our campsite. There is literally no way I could have gotten all of our stuff to our site without paying the $5/item haul. We rented the site with the tent cabin...because I didn't want to have to bring a tent. The cabin had an amazing view, nice picnic table and fire pit. Be prepared to walk everywhere, and by walk I mean hike up and down steep hills. The bathrooms are port-a-potties and the showers near the sites are outdoors. They are pretty grodie since the drainage wasn't working, and it is right next o the bathrooms. There are quarter showers down near the dock, but that is a long, sweaty hike back after a clean shower. My summary is pack light, pay the $5/item for the heavy stuff, because in this instance, less is more. Enjoy! read more

See all

Not sure why the person had such a hard time getting to Two Harbors --- all you do is make sure you leave from the right port in LA (San Pedro) and the Catalina Express takes you right there. Sounds like that person was trying to get to Two Harbors from Avalon, which is on the other side of the island. That's not a good way to go about it. Anyway, I had a terrific experience. The staff, although young, was extremely attentive, friendly, and all professional. My reservation was processed no problem, and I was even able to switch Tent Cabins to a better one. They are also prompt: when I reported that one of the pay-showers was broken, there was a maintenance guy on the job in less than ten minutes, and had it fixed. They happily refunded my dollar that I lost in the malfunctioning coin slot. Regarding the tent cabin, don't listen to people who say it is dirty, smelly, etc. This is CAMPING, not a hotel. If you are offended by more primitive conditions, you should not be camping. The tent cabin is pretty great, with a little deck out front. I recommend #9, #11, or #12, as they have great views (and the views are insane). The wind dies down at night, and I found it to be extremely quiet and peaceful. you can hear the seals barking from far across the water, the waves on the shore, etc. I had absolutely no problem with bugs. The snorkeling is phenomenal. The people are friendly. The view is unbelievable. What's not to like? I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because the tent cabin is a bit pricey (about $70 all together), although if you're there with a group and split it up, it's very reasonable. If you are squeamish about camping, stay in Avalon! read more

Two Harbors is a rustic camping experience where the rangers are better looking than the view

Just returned from a first time visit to Two Harbors and highly recommend it for folks looking for a little more quiet than is offered in Avalon. We originally booked campsite #6, which was close to the beach. However when we got there, we realized it was right across from the bathroom and a huge bank of bushes obstructed the ocean view. Plus, the campsites adjacent were full and we wanted a little more privacy. The folks were so nice to move us to an open campsite just up the hill. And, so lucky #11 it was. The view from here was great and it was just a couple hundred feet to the bathroom but not directly there so didn't have bathroom traffic. There was shade and two picnic benches plus a firepit and a bbq. Really nice set up. We were lucky in that sites 9, 10 and 12 were empty so we had the whole little area to ourselves. The only downside of the place is I wish there were food bins to keep the critters away. Even when we packed everything up and away, the birds actually ZIPPED open a backpack. There were some foxes at night but that was it. Didn't see any racoons or other animals around the campsite that caused any trouble. It's so nice that the general store and bar were just about a 1/4 mile from the campsite - made things like picking up stuff we forgot very easy. Plus, the bar makes a great moscow mule! However it should come as no surprise that everything is marked up. It was $6 for a loaf of bread (which we had to replace because of the birds) so suggest bringing as much as you can. The gear haul is totally worth it. While only a short walk, there are some steep hills that carrying charcoal and firewood in addition to backpacks would have been tough. The Catalina Express was pretty lenient with the size and amount of luggage you could bring - that's good to know for next time. We rented kayaks for a couple of hours one afternoon and had a great experience there too - the staff at Two Harbors was all really nice and helpful. read more

Had the best little getaway here last weekend. It was everything I hoped. We stayed at tent site #35, I absolutely recommend it because of the view and also because it has a few tress to offers some shade. The walk to the restroom aka port-o-potties is about a minute or two, and the walk down to the beach about 3. They offer a gear haul to carry your bags from when you get off the boat to your site for $3 a bag. My boyfriend and I wanted the whole backpacking experience so we walked with our packs, the first time it felt like forever, but it's only about a 10-15 minute walk. Everyone on the island was very nice and the staff at the visitor center are very helpful with any questions you may have. There are plenty of things to do like, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing, and the activities center right off the pier offers equipment rentals for a reasonable price. Absolutely enjoyed this place and will be back soon! read more

Two Harbors Campground - TH #35 - Campgrounds Near Me - Two Harbors, California

See all

After reading the reviews on Yelp, I was a bit leary to camp at Two Harbors. But since I already had the reservation, I thought I'd go for it. I am so glad I did! The tent cabin was rustic, but once you opened the window flaps, the cabin aired out nicely and had no issues. The ranger that showed us to the cabin very gladly cleaned out the few cobwebs that were in the cabin. The ranger staff were all super friendly and very accomodating. The mattresses in the tent cabin are well worn, so bring a sheet to cover them with and then put your sleeping bag on top of that. Otherwise, they were surprisingly comfortable to sleep on. The only negative that keeps my from giving Two Harbors campgrounds a 5 star rating is the chemical toilets or a.k.a Port a Potties. They were pretty rank and horrible. But that is standard M.O. for these things regardless of where you go. Overall, I would recommend it. My husband and I will be going again! read more

Not a lot going on here, but that is why you come. Very laid back and beautiful. I came during the winter. Was a little chilly and raining. Summer would be a good bet. Just know, there is really only one store and bar. read more

Two Harbors campground has been a peaceful sanctuary for our family for decades, and continues to be so. There is beauty, the sea, hiking, the camaraderie of other campers, the small town nearby for groceries, music, and showers, and a get-away-from-it-all feel that is unavailable anywhere else in Southern California. Awesome! read more

What a great experience we had up at Two Harbors this past weekend. Our plans to camp a night at Two Harbors and then hike to Little Harbor to camp the following night got interrupted by some heavy rain, which caused the roads in and out to be closed, as well as the hiking trails. Micah at the Two Harbor guest services desk was amazing!! She helped us to totally rearrange our itinerary and even offered us one of the dorm rooms there, to get out of the rain and mud. She went above and beyond. In fact, just about everyone up there, from Micah, to the bartender to the folks in the market were so friendly. We will absolutely be back to tackle that hike we missed out on. Thanks to everyone up there!! You're doing an awesome job read more

PROS - Views are amazing here! - Peace and quiet---no machines, almost no cars, few people - The village has just enough amenities - Wildlife - Beach is lovely for shelling, walking, playing CONS (for our family, anyway) - The hills are STEEP - This campground is seriously in disrepair - Porta potties are full and nasty - Earwigs and spiders infested our tent-cabin and got into absolutely EVERYthing DO - Consider bringing your tent, versus renting a tent-cabin. The tent-cabins have some good points but are in disrepair and are insect-infested (the earwigs come up between the floorboards). - Eat at the Harbor Reef restaurant and grill, maybe for every meal---yum! - Choose a campsite middle-tier or below. Views are gorgeous everywhere, and the hike up the hill to the top is brutal. Plus, it's nicest to be able to head to the beach easily throughout the day to play. - Expect chilly nights. - Confirm when things are open and closed in the village---this is Island Time. - Book the Safari Shuttle to check out Avalon as a day-trip if you haven't been, and rent a golf-cart for fun exploring of the town and its views. - Pack something to do your business in, as the potties were truly the worst I have encountered in a campground, ever. (The coin-op showers in the village suffice fine for bathing purpose, though.) - Read the luggage policy for the boat. - Sit on the top of the boat and bring Dramamine or other sea-sickness remedies. (My daughter and I both barfed on the way over ... return passage was much better, as we sat on top.) DON'T - Rent a bike for more than an hour unless you can cycle steep hills. - Bother to pack much food---the General Store really does have what you need, including a wide selection of beverages of all kinds, ice, snacks, meats, some veggies, pastas ... yeah, everything you need to camp. - Purchase firewood without getting a phone no. you can call if it doesn't show up. It took the rangers almost 24 hours to deliver ours, despite three trips to the office in the village to inquire about it. What's the point? (Yes, there is cell service on the island, although no way to charge in the campground, obviously.) Basically, count on the rangers only so far ... they. too, are on Island Time, I think! read more

I am also like other reviewers recently, Have been staying at this campground over 10 years and would agree that taking care of the campground his dropped on the managements priority list. The people that work in visitors services and camp rangers care more about it than management. If you look at the photos on the website for reservation and campground info into you still see the shade canopies that were torn down about two years ago. There does not seem to be a plan in place to rebuild them. Yet prices for the campsites keep going up. WTF, Let's hope someone has some consideration for keeping two harbors a enjoyable place to camp. Instead of figuring out how to upsell and try to figure out how to put in a zip line and charge more for everything. It's not too hard to figure out, if it was reasonable to put up shades in the first place then when you tear them down, rebuild them. Shade canopies are pretty much a common fixture in any exposed campground read more

It was very disappointing this year at Two Harbors Campground. If you do not enjoy seeing animals get stabbed to death, then do not come here. We've been coming here every summer for years, and we have never liked the spear fishing, but this time it was really out of hand and we will never return. It's bad enough that last summer drunk people went in the water at the most crowded swimming beach with their spear guns, endangering so many people including children, but this year we sadly saw so many people killing small kelp fish with their spears. These fish were obviously too small to eat. What is the point of that? Just killing for the sake of killing, killing for fun. These people remind me of the hunter who killed Cecil the lion. Also, I couldn't believe there were people casting their fishing lines into the water again at the most crowded spot on the beach and with people swimming and snorkeling in the water nearby where they were casting their hooks! But the violent spear fishing is definitely the worst. I cried on the way home; I can't take the senseless killing of the beautiful fish. I'm so sad that we brought kids with us and that they too had to witness people gleefully harming our precious marine life. I really wish Two Harbors would wise up and ban fishing, especially those stupid spear guns that only idiots use! My husband and I vow to never go back, instead we will only visit the islands that have MPA's (Marine Protected Areas) where no killing of our marine animals is allowed! read more

It's difficult for me to write this review as my family and I have been staying at Two Harbors, as both boaters and campers, for 50+ years. The Two Harbors Campground was for years a beautifully maintained campground until its recent management change (to the spouse of a Wrigley heir who apparently is more interested in his mainland vineyards and has planted a Catalina vineyard on a west-facing slope near the Airport in the Sky). The Two Harbors Campground has been steadily deteriorating even as daily camping charges increase and "concierge fees" are imposed. The few campground rangers still working there are doing their best, but do not have time or funding to do what needs to be done in order to provide necessary maintenance. Many of the sites no longer have shade because the erected shade posts and awnings have deteriorated and have not been replaced. Each site has at least one picnic table but many of those are now broken and have not been replaced. Site firepits are falling apart and the campground's fresh water taps are leaking, even amidst Catalina's worst drought in history. read more

The company ruined the town with these cabanas. It used to have charm, now it is uninviting and swanky expecting. Whoever rents them are weird, and have a weird prospective of money. Been coming to this island for years, and no longer care to come back because it downright silly now. read more

How come no one has commented on the INSAAANE NUMBER OF YELLOW JACKET BEES that were everywhere on this campsite??? We were there in August of 2015 and couldn't cook or even make coffee without 100s of bees swarming all over! I don't know how long this has been a problem, but I feel that the park needs to eradicate these bees if they want to continue a campground. read more

There are few things in life better than Two Harbors. The opportunity to hunt your own dinner and share it with friends is unlike any other place on the planet. Eating freshly shot fish, along with unadulterated venison is what sets this place apart. Many times I have had the pleasure of pulling the trigger on a wonderful fish, and enjoying the fruits of my labor. The campground provides an opportunity to all spearfishers, new and seasoned, to provide meals to themselves and their families. To those wishing to "hate" on the lifestyle choices, I can only ask that they reevaluate their own choices and those who do things differently. Be cognizant of the world around them, and understand that while they may not approve, they must understand and respect the willingness to risk one's own life in pursuit of healthy, sustainable meals which were procured using skill, talent, and above all, respect for the animals which gave their lives to sustain us. read more

We recently went to Two Harbors with a group of families. We booked a block of tent cabins thinking that it would be slightly more comfortable than camping out and hauling all of our gear from the mainland. The campsite is a pretty good hilly hike from the Two Harbors marina where all of the facilities are-restaurant, general store, indoor showers, etc. It got old after the first day trudging back and forth. Be prepared for that if you are first-timers. Our biggest issue however, was the condition of the tent cabins. At $100. per night for our family of four, you would expect them to be in good working order. After all, what else are we paying for except the tent itself and the cots inside. We discovered that EVERYTHING and I mean everything on the tent was broken or torn. The roof was missing a section, the window flaps did not close properly and the tie up straps were all broken. The canopy in front was also missing a section. The front door zipper on the flap and the screen was completely broken so we could not close the door at all during the day or night. This posed the biggest problem because there were a TON of wasps flying around the campsite at all times. Two of us got stung the first day. We had to constantly chase the wasps out of our tent because we could not seal the door. This freaked my daughter out and she was on edge the whole time as she is afraid of being stung. I spoke to the property manager about it. All of the other tents were booked and most were in equally bad shape. She said they had someone coming out to look and them and do an estimate for repairs. That is good news for the next people (if they get it done) but did not help us with our experience. I felt we overpaid for a shoddy experience in the tents. Next time we will most likely book a room somewhere in Two Harbors or head to Avalon. read more

Two Harbors Campground is kind of run down, the place needs work bad! My spot was a good location but no shade for the tent. It made it too hot for anything but the mornings and evenings. I had a shade cover for the bench un-like many of the others but my shade covering was ragged. Outhouses were in need of pumping more often they only did it once a week. Overall great location but very expensive, fire wood was 9.00 a bundle of 5 pieces. My neighbors was good we shared what we had making it good. The wildlife was always in and out of our camps very cool. You must secure your foot or the birds and foxes will get it. We did not have problem due to experience but other did. it is all on a series of hills and gullies so be ready to walk and hike. It is 1/4 mile to town over two hills, be ready to walk and carry on your back your supplies. Water was questionable, bring your own for drinking water. The General store has a 100% mark-up over main land prices and the run out of items. Bring a good water filter. Be ready for high prices for food! 100% over main land prices even for simple items. read more

I have camped at Two Harbors Campground at least a handful of times. It is a spectacular campground with stunning views. However, the Catalina Island Company's reservation system is HORRIBLE. Without question, they purposely take your deposit up front with ease on the computer. However, you cannot change or cancel your reservation on the same website but instead must leave a message on a voice mail to which they do not respond to. I made two reservations this year which I had to cancel. It took two phone messages, an email and mailed letter to cancel the first reservation. I have made 4 similar attempts to cancel the second reservation over a 6-week period with no response. More people need to complain about this or it will not change. Don't make a reservation unless you are very certain that your plans won't change. In this day & age, such customer service is reprehensible. read more

The number given in the L.S. was apparently the wrong number, once I was routed to the right place--everyone there was EXCEPTIONAL! Karlie was awesome at coordinating with me, we had a group of 11. The weekend we went it rained hard :( By the time we were there, the campsites were too muddied (the sand is soft there) that even the ranger couldn't get out there to drop off the firewood, camping gear etc. Vehicles were just getting stuck in the mud. So they set us up in the employee housing--we had the BEST time! They still delivered our firewood which we used on the beach in the bonfire/pit out there, had our S'Mores...if we forgot anything or wanted anything extra their convenience store had it. The bar stayed open later for us one night because we had a pool competition (there's a table in the bar) going--yup, the women beat the men ;) twice. they'll say that they won one, but they asked for a handicap after they scratched in the beginning and also shot in the wrong ball. :P Anyway our group will DEFINITELY go back!! and hopefully soon! read more

A total of 23 of us, both family members and friends, had a wonderful weekend at the Brisa del Mar campsite at Two Harbors. It is situated right on the beach, giving us easy access to kayaking and paddle boarding (which are included in the rental of the site). Theresa from Visitor Services was very accommodating. She did everything possible to make sure our weekend (June 24th - 26th) went well. This particular campsite has 3 charcoal grills, 4 picnic tables, a large permanent shade, fire pit, cold outdoor shower, an two restrooms for our group to use. There is plenty of space on the site to set up tents, especially if you want to set up snorers a little further out! The general store has plenty of supplies, yes, a little more expensive than the mainland, but that's the price to pay if you don't want to tote everything on the ferry. Its great to have the gear haul included as well, it means you don't have to drag all your items up the short but kinda steep walk to the site. You may consider the second group site at Two Harbors, Bahia Azul. Although I haven't stayed there, we were able to take a look at it. It is definitely a nice private setting with a nice gas grill and much nicer restrooms. With this site you get a private beach area - since we had kids with us, Brisa del Mar worked better since we had direct view of the bech, Bahia is a little more secluded. This is my 2nd year camping at Two Harbors and already booked next summer! read more

This is a great staycation and can be fabulous and romantic!

I just returned from staying at Two Harbors Campground. The trip was 5 stars, but the camping experience was what I would call urban camping. The entire campground has amazing views, and the private camp beach is really wonderful. Don't feel like you need to go to Two Harbors beach -this little beach has beautiful sand on the far end and is usually nearly empty. We reserved spot #42 originally because it looked a bit more isolated. We ended up changing because the view of the ocean was obstructed by trees - also there wasn't two flats areas tents. It has limited space for tents. We ended up moving to #25, which had a great view, but was right in the middle of large group sites. It was a mistake. #23,24,#25 are all close together and set up for groups I think. The biggest issue was that we overlooked spots #9,10,11,12 which had a huge 20+ group with kids yelling etc. Those spots are group sites and you should avoid being near them. Further, the sites to our left are also set up for groups #15,14,16,17 - which had a group of 20+ young men. Between these two groups, it was noisy. Luckily, everyone quieted down by 11ish - like I said....urban camping. The most beautiful spot is #34. It overlooks the ocean and has a perfect tent spot! We talked to the campers there - he said he has been trying to get that spot for 7 visits and finally got it. That's the one I would try to get next time I come. All the spots on the far left (looking at the map) are most private. The ones down next to the beach are exposed (no trees) but beautiful. #37 would be nice too, as it is next to a cute private set up with a cute beach below. I gave it 4 stars because I am realistic regarding where I was and what time of the year it was - July. Don't expect privacy, in other words. It is VERY expensive. We stayed 2 nights and got 4 bundles of wood. For 2 of us, it was $120. Add on the $77 per person round trip ferry and all the other expenses, and it becomes an expensive trip. That said, Catalina is beautiful - weather was great - kayaking was fantastic -hiking great. I'll be back, but wait until the crowds head home. read more