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Mainland Transportation

Amtrak (800.872.7245, www.amtrak.com), Metrolink (800.371.5465, www.metrolinktrains.com), Greyhound (800.231.2222, www.greyhound.com), Gold Coast Transit (805.487.4222, www.goldcoasttransit.org), Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (805.963.3366, www.sbmtd.gov), and Ventura County Transportation Commission (805.642.1591, www.goventura.org) provide access to the park’s mainland visitor centers but not its islands.

Island Transportation

Park concessioners provide boat and plane transportation to the islands. Once you reach an island, there is no transportation available; all areas must be accessed by foot, private boat, or kayak. Island Packers (805.642.1393, www.islandpackers.com) provides year-round transportation to the Channel Islands, and specialized whale watching and harbor tours. Ferries service Santa Cruz (Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor) and Anacapa, year-round. Trips to the outer islands of Santa Barbara (April – October), San Miguel (May – October), and Santa Rosa (April – November) are seasonal. Rates vary depending on where and how you visit. Tickets for day-trippers to either Santa Cruz or Anacapa Island cost $56/adult and $39/child roundtrip. Campers must pay a rate of $75/adult and $54/child. Adult roundtrip to San Miguel costs $100 (day-trip) and $140 (camper). Adult roundtrip to either Santa Rosa or Santa Barbara costs $78 (day-trip) and $108 (camper). Kayak transportation costs an additional $14 for all boats 13-feet or less and $20 for boats over 13-feet. Island Packers’ Main Office is located at 1691 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105B, just a short walk from Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center.

Channel Islands Aviation (805.987.1301, www.flycia.com) provides year-round air transportation to Santa Rosa Island. This 25-minute flight departs Camarillo Airport, with day trips costing about $160 + tax per adult. Camping trip air transportation costs about $300 + tax per person. Campsites are located a short distance from the airstrip and must be reserved prior to arrival.

Airports

The closest large commercial airport is Los Angeles International (LAX), 70 miles southeast of park headquarters. Burbank (Bob Hope • BUR), Santa Barbara (SBA), Camarillo (CMA), and Oxnard (OXR) Airports are closer and smaller alternatives.