Visiting Redwood: The Complete Guide (Things to See, Costs, and How Long to Stay)
Redwood is home to the tallest trees on Earth: coastal redwoods that rise more than 300 feet, lined up in a persistent fog at the far northern end of California. The park stretches along nearly 59 miles of coastline, almost all the way to the Oregon border. We recommend two full days to explore its main areas without rushing, and more if you want to walk beneath the canopy and along the beaches. Allow 6 to 7 hours of driving from San Francisco, about 326 miles. Redwood takes some effort to reach, which is also why it stays quieter than its neighbors to the south.
This complete guide covers the essentials and points you, through the links, to more detail on each topic.
Redwood at a Glance: Where the Park Is and How to Get There
Redwood isn't a typical national park. It's a jointly managed collection of Redwood National Park and three California state parks, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Together they form Redwood National and State Parks. They run north to south along the coast, with four visitor centers spread across the full length of the parks.
You get around by car. US-101 runs through the parks from south to north and serves the two gateway towns: Crescent City to the north and Orick to the south. For a major California road trip, the most convenient airports are in San Francisco or Sacramento. You can also fly into the small regional airport in Crescent City or Arcata-Eureka to shorten the drive. Without a car, visiting is very difficult because the areas are far apart and public transportation is nearly nonexistent.
Entrance Fees, Passes, and Reservations
Good news for your budget: Redwood National Park doesn't charge an entrance fee. You can drive freely on US-101 and most scenic roads. The state parks woven into the complex are the exception. Some day-use parking areas, including those around Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach, may charge a fee, and Fern Canyon requires a reservation during the busy season to limit crowds.
There are two things to plan ahead for. If your road trip includes several national parks, the America the Beautiful pass is still a good value even though Redwood is free. Access to Tall Trees Grove, home to some of the tallest trees, also requires a free but limited permit that you need to reserve in advance.
Exact fees and permit rules change from one season to the next. Our Fees & Passes page explains entrance fees and passes and is updated regularly.
Reservations, Permits, and Rules to Follow
What Requires a Reservation or Permit
Campgrounds must be reserved through Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds or through the ReserveCalifornia website for state campgrounds. In summer, sites fill up several months ahead, so don't leave it until the last week.
Tall Trees Grove is accessible with a free permit issued at the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center in Orick. The number of vehicles allowed each day is limited. The access road is unpaved, and the gate key comes with the permit.
Regular hikes and marked trails don't require a permit.
Rules to Know Before You Arrive
Wildlife. Never feed wild animals, including ravens and jays that come near picnic tables. Stay at least 100 feet from elk and black bears. Report any encounter that brings you too close to a bear to a ranger.
Food storage. At campgrounds, food must be stored in an approved protective container, either a bear box provided on-site or your own bear canister. Leaving provisions visible in a vehicle can result in a real fine.
Plants and minerals. You may not pick, cut, or take anything with you, including cones, ferns, branches, and rocks. This rule applies throughout the parks.
Drones. Drones are strictly prohibited within Redwood National Park and the associated state parks.
Campfires. Campfires are allowed only in designated campground fire rings, subject to seasonal restrictions based on weather conditions. Check with a ranger when you arrive at the visitor center.
Our Practical Information, Rules & Safety page covers all current regulations and emergency contacts.
Getting Around Redwood
You explore Redwood by car, one area at a time, then get around on foot once you arrive. There isn't a mandatory shuttle system like the one at Zion. You keep your vehicle with you, which makes logistics easier.
Three scenic roads shape the visit. Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway winds through Prairie Creek among the giants, away from the highway. Howland Hill Road, a narrow unpaved road in Jedediah Smith, is our favorite place to drive close to the trunks. A regular car can handle it in dry weather, but avoid it with a large RV. Coastal Drive and the road to Gold Bluffs Beach add the ocean experience.
Watch your vehicle size. Several secondary roads ban trailers and limit RV length because of tight turns and old bridges. You'll find these restrictions in our RV Guide and on our Getting Around page.
How Long Do You Need to Visit Redwood?
Plan on two full days to see Redwood properly. One day lets you see one or two areas, but not much more given the distances. With two to three days, you can combine the north, including Jedediah Smith and Crescent City, with the south, including Prairie Creek, Fern Canyon, and the elk prairies, without feeling rushed.
Our typical split is day one for the south and the beaches, and day two for the northern groves. If you only have an afternoon as you pass through, focus on one major grove accessible from US-101, such as Lady Bird Johnson Grove.
Our Itinerary & Length of Stay page has day-by-day routes and variations based on where you're arriving from.
Plan your visit
What to See and Do in Redwood
The parks are divided into four main areas from south to north. Here's the order you'll encounter them as you travel up from San Francisco.
Road trip journal · 4 areas
The Southern Area: Redwood National Park and Orick
This is the southern gateway. Lady Bird Johnson Grove offers an easy, iconic loop beneath the canopy that's accessible to everyone. More demanding Tall Trees Grove requires a free permit and descends toward some of the tallest trees in the parks. The town of Orick makes a convenient base for the night.
Prairie Creek Redwoods: Giants and Roosevelt Elk
This is our favorite area for a first visit. Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway crosses a dense redwood forest. At Elk Prairie, you'll regularly see herds of Roosevelt elk grazing along the edge of the meadow. At the end of a road, Fern Canyon reveals fern-covered walls several feet high. The setting has been used in movies. Gold Bluffs Beach stretches out as a wild beach battered by the Pacific.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods: Forest and Cliffs
This is the most coastal area, where the forest drops toward steep cliffs. Damnation Creek Trail descends to the coast through the trees. It's a strenuous but spectacular hike. Ocean views here are often lost in the fog, which is exactly what gives them their character.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods: The North and Stout Grove
This is the northernmost area, near Crescent City. Stout Grove is considered one of the most photogenic groves, with its slender trunks along the Smith River. Howland Hill Road takes you there on an immersive drive through the giants.
You'll find more details on the sites, hikes, and visit times in the topical guides below.
Explore the park
Redwood's Best Hikes
You experience Redwood on foot. The must-dos include the Lady Bird Johnson Grove loop, an easy and quick immersion; Fern Canyon Trail, short and magical, often with your feet in the water; James Irvine Trail, longer and running between forest and canyon; Tall Trees Grove, with a permit; and Damnation Creek for strong legs.
Our Hiking page brings together mile-by-mile descriptions, elevation gains, and gear advice.
The detailed guide Redwood Hiking: The Best Trails for Every Ability The best hikes in Redwood National and State Parks, with trail guides by area,… Read the guide →Wildlife and Plants to Look For
The star of the plant world is the coast redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, the tallest tree species in the world. It thrives on moisture from the ocean fog. On the forest floor, look for the bright yellow banana slug, a low-key star of the damp understory.
As for wildlife, Roosevelt elk are often visible in the Prairie Creek meadows. Keep your distance. These are large wild animals, especially during the fall rut. The parks are also home to black bears, abundant birdlife including the endangered marbled murrelet, which depends on old-growth forests, and gray whales migrating offshore. Tide pools reveal starfish and anemones at low tide.
The detailed guide Redwood Wildlife: Which Animals to See and Where to Find Them Roosevelt elk, black bears, giant salamanders, and more Read the guide →When to Visit Redwood
Summer, from June through September, brings the longest days and open campgrounds, but also persistent coastal fog in the morning. Spring and fall remain our favorite seasons, with fewer people and softer light. Winter is rainy, but the parks never close their main roads.
Our When to Go and Weather pages cover the month-by-month calendar and the ideal windows for different priorities.
The detailed guide When to Visit Redwood: Best Seasons and Weather The best time to visit Redwood Read the guide →Where to Stay in Redwood
There isn't a grand historic lodge inside the parks, unlike Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. Most visitors stay in the gateway towns: Crescent City to the north, Klamath in the middle, and Orick and McKinleyville-Arcata farther south for chain hotels. If you want to sleep under the trees, several state-park campgrounds are in high demand during summer.
There are three main options to compare depending on what you're looking for.
Stay in the park
Around Redwood: Things to Do Nearby
The region is made for a real road trip. To the south, the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, separate from Redwood, extends the giant-tree experience. Crescent City and its Battery Point Lighthouse, the private Trees of Mystery attraction and its gondola, and even a side trip into neighboring Oregon round out the stay. For food, the gateway towns have a few good seafood restaurants.
Our Take: Is Redwood Worth the Trip?
Yes, absolutely. Redwood doesn't have Yellowstone's geysers or Utah's red-rock canyons, and its remote location keeps the crowds away. That's precisely its strength. Walking alone early in the morning beneath ancient trees wrapped in fog creates a silence you find in very few places. When we visited Stout Grove on a drizzly day, we had the grove to ourselves. The damp climate is part of the setting. Come prepared with layers and rain protection, ready to get a little wet, and you'll leave won over. If you can fit two days in Northern California into your road trip, don't hesitate.
Don't forget to get your passport stamped at the visitor centers. Our editorial page Passport & Stamps explains how.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Visit Redwood National Park?
You visit Redwood National Park by car, one area at a time, from south, Orick and Prairie Creek, to north, Del Norte, Jedediah Smith, and Crescent City. Plan on two days, keep your vehicle with you because no mandatory shuttle is required, and alternate scenic roads with short walks beneath the canopy. Our Itinerary & Length of Stay page offers a ready-made plan.
Is Redwood National Park Free?
Redwood National Park is free. There is no entrance fee for the federal portion. Some areas in the associated state parks, including day-use parking at Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach, may charge a fee, and Fern Canyon requires a reservation during the busy season. See our Fees & Passes page for details.
Can You Visit Sequoia National Park in One Day?
Visiting Sequoia National Park in one day is possible, but be careful not to confuse it with Redwood. They're two different California parks. Sequoia, in the Sierra Nevada, is home to the world's most massive trees, giant sequoias. Redwood, on the northern coast, is home to the tallest, coast redwoods. For Redwood, one day is still short. Two days is more comfortable.
What Is the Most Beautiful Park in the American West?
The most beautiful park in the American West depends on what you're looking for. Redwood wins for atmosphere, quiet, and sheer plant size, while Yellowstone appeals with its geysers and Zion with its cliffs. Our advice is to see for yourself by combining Redwood with one or two parks with a contrasting character on the same road trip.