Camping in the Redwoods is a dream come true for anyone who loves big trees like the Redwoods in Northern California. This Redwood National Park Camping Guide covers both the developed campgrounds and backcountry camping in Redwood National Park and State Parks.
Redwood National Park Camping Guide
There are four developed campgrounds within the Redwoods National Park complex. One thing to know about the Redwoods is they are managed as national and state parks. Camping in Redwood National Park is actually camping in California State Parks.
They are all co-managed together but you will want to be aware that reservations are booked through the California State Parks reservation system versus the sites that normally handle National Park campgrounds.
Camping in the Redwood Forests is a dream come true. Being able to wake up and look up at old-growth redwood trees, walk out of your tent directly to hiking trails, and savor a beautiful part of Northern California.
The four developed campgrounds in the parks are (from north to south) are Jedediah Smith, Mill Creek, Elk Prairie, and Gold Bluffs Beach.
There are no National Park Lodges within Redwoods NP. There are cabins located in Prairie Creek and Jedediah Smith campgrounds. These cabins are typically reserved months ahead of time.
Redwood National Park Camping Reservations
Reservations for the four developed campgrounds must be made through Reserve California, the California State Park reservation system.
Redwood National Park RV Camping
One thing to know about the campgrounds in Redwood National Park and State Parks is they are older campgrounds.
Most of the campgrounds were developed in the 1940s. They were not built for the large RV's and Trailers that are produced today.
There are restrictions in each campground for RV and Trailer size and length. Please make sure you know the exact size of your RV and/or trailer when you are making a reservation.
Jedediah Smith Campground
Location: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, 10 miles east of Crescent City, Calif. on Hwy 199.
Open: year-round
Number of sites: 86 tent or RV (no hook-ups); hiker/biker sites available.
Cost per night: $ 35.00
California State Parks Disabled Discount Pass......................$17.50 per night
California State Parks Distinguished Veterans Pass................FREE
Reservations?: Yes, Jedediah Smith Campground will be reservable from May 1 - October 1.
Phone Number? 1-800-444-7275.
8am-6pm (PT)
Online? www.ReserveCalifornia.com.
Latitude/Longitude:
Campground amenities: Hot showers, ADA accessible restrooms, ADA accessible cabins, dump station, picnic tables, fire pits and barbeques, food lockers and trash receptacles, visitor center, campfire center.
RVs allowed?:
Vehicle Length Limit: 25-foot RV or 21-foot trailer.
Please be aware that these are the maximum allowable vehicle sizes in the campground, and that only certain campsites within the campground can accommodate vehicles of this size; many campsites in the campground cannot accommodate vehicles of this size. Click here for important information about the space available at each site for parking your personal vehicle(s).
Generator Hours: Generators may only be operated between the hours of 10 am and 8 pm
Stout Grove Trail - This great trail is located near the campground and a must-see!
Mill Creek Campground
Location: Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, 7 miles south of Crescent City, Calif. on Hwy 101.
Open: May 18 through September 30
Number of sites: 145 tent or RV (no hook-ups); hiker/biker sites available
Cost per night: $ 35.00
California State Parks Disabled Discount Pass......................$17.50 per night
California State Parks Distinguished Veterans Pass................FREE
Reservations?: Yes,
Latitude/Longitude: 40.3235° N, 121.5248° W
Campground Amenities: Hot showers, ADA accessible restrooms, dump station, picnic tables, firepits and barbeques, food lockers and trash receptacles, campfire center.
RVs allowed?: Vehicle Length Limit: 28-foot RV or 24-foot trailer.
- Click here for important information about the space available at each site for parking your personal vehicle(s).
Generator Hours:
Elk Prairie Campground
Location: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, 6 miles north of Orick, Calif. on the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
Open: Year-Round
Number of sites: 75 tents or RV (no hook-ups); hike/bike sites available.
Cost per night: $35, California State Parks Disabled Discount Pass - $17.50 per night
California State Parks Distinguished Veterans Pass - FREE
Reservations?:
You may make camping reservations by calling (800) 444-7275
(TTY 800-274-7275).
To make online reservations, visit our website at www.parks.ca.gov.
Latitude/Longitude
Campground amenities: Hot showers, ADA accessible restrooms, ADA accessible cabins, picnic tables, fire pits and barbeques, food lockers and trash receptacles, visitor center, campfire center.
RVs allowed?: Yes, Maximum RV Lengths
Motorhomes 27 feet
Trailers 24 feet
Generator Hours: Generators may only be operated between 10 am and 8 pm.
Check out our full post with site photos of Elk Prairie Campground
Golds Bluff Beach Campground
Location: Located on the beach within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Open: Typically open all year, subject to funding—please call 707 464-6101 for the latest info.
Number of sites: 24
Cost per night: $35
Reservations?: Yes,
(800) 444-7275
(TTY 800-274-7275)
Online? https://www.reservecalifornia.com/CaliforniaWebHome/
Latitude/Longitude:
Campground amenities: Flush Toilets, Shower, fire ring, picnic table, and easy access to the beach.
RVs allowed?: Vehicles may not exceed 24 feet in length and or 8 feet in width. No trailers are allowed in the campground.
Generator Hours: Generators may be used from 10 am to 8 pm.
Back Country Camping
There are more than 200 miles of backcountry trails in the Redwoods along with seven designated backcountry campsites.
You will want to read the Redwood Backcountry Trip planner to have a real idea of what you will encounter while spending time in a backcountry camp.
Backcountry permits for camping can be booked online. Apply for an online backcountry camping permit.
Campgrounds near Redwood National and State Parks
There are quite a few campgrounds near the parks. You can find campgrounds in the Smith River National Recreation Area of the Six Rivers National Forest, and to the south is Clam Beach County Park and Big Lagoon County Park.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Additional Redwood National Park Articles
Avenue of the Giants - Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Top Things to do in Redwoods National Park
National Parks near San Francisco
Check out all of the National Parks in California along with neighboring National Parks in Arizona, Nevada National Parks, and National Parks in Oregon.
Check out these parks to explore the Giant Sequoia Trees (Largest Trees on Earth by Volume)
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Yosemite National Park- Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Kings Canyon National Park- General Grant Tree
Sequoia National Park- General Sherman Tree
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