The tallest living things on earth grow here. Coast redwoods can top 350 feet, older than the country by more than a thousand years, and walking among them rearranges your sense of scale. We have filmed a lot of big country, and nothing quite prepares you for standing at the base of a tree that was already ancient when Rome fell.
This is our narrative guide to planning a Redwood trip. For live conditions, road and trail status, and current alerts, keep the Redwood National Park hub open as you plan.
What Makes Redwood Special
One thing to understand up front: this is Redwood National and State Parks, a single protected complex jointly managed by the National Park Service and California State Parks. It bundles Redwood National Park with three state parks, Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek. You will cross between national and state land all day without noticing, and a few of the best old-growth groves sit on the state-park side.
Together they protect roughly 45 percent of the remaining old-growth coast redwoods on earth, along with a wild stretch of northern California coastline, Roosevelt elk herds, and rivers that run clear to the sea. UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site for good reason.
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How to Get There
This is a remote corner of California, which is part of the charm and part of the planning challenge. The small regional airport is in Crescent City (CEC) near the north end of the park, with limited service. Most visitors fly into a larger airport and drive. From the San Francisco Bay Area it is roughly a six-hour drive north on US-101. From Portland, Oregon, it is about five to six hours south.
The gateway towns are Crescent City to the north and Orick and Klamath in the middle, with Eureka and Arcata about an hour south offering more lodging and services. US-101 is the spine that connects everything, and the park stretches along it for about 40 miles.
Best Time to Visit
Summer and early fall, roughly June through October, give you the driest weather and the best chance at clear coastal days, though coastal fog is common year-round and is actually what keeps the redwoods alive. Summer is the busiest season and the time when the famous Tall Trees Grove access permits are most in demand.
Spring brings rhododendron blooms under the canopy, especially striking at Prairie Creek. Winter is wet and quiet, with the redwoods at their mossy, dripping best, but expect rain and the chance of road or trail closures. The forest holds its green all year, so there is no bad time to walk among the trees, only wetter and drier ones.
Top Things to Do
- Lady Bird Johnson Grove. An easy loop through old growth along a ridgetop, often wrapped in fog. One of the most accessible ways to feel the scale of these trees.
- Stout Memorial Grove. In Jedediah Smith Redwoods, this short loop holds some of the most impressive trees in the whole complex, set along the Smith River.
- Tall Trees Grove. Home to some of the tallest known trees on earth. Access requires a free permit with a limited daily quota, plus a rough drive and a steep hike, which keeps it quiet.
- Fern Canyon. A narrow canyon with walls draped in ferns, in Prairie Creek. Seasonal footbridges and a permit may be required in summer, and the access road can be rough.
- Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. A slow, gorgeous drive through old growth that parallels the freeway. Pull over and walk.
- Coastal Drive and the Klamath River Overlook. For the wild meeting of redwood country and the Pacific, and a good spot to look for migrating whales in season.
For the full rundown, see our guide to the things to do in Redwood National Park, and for trails specifically, our best hikes in Redwood guide.
Where to Stay
There are no lodges inside the park itself. The four developed campgrounds, run on the state-park side, are the in-park overnight option and they book up for summer, so reserve early. Jedediah Smith and Elk Prairie campgrounds put you right in the redwoods.
For hotels and rentals, Crescent City is the best base for the northern groves, while Eureka and Arcata to the south offer the widest range of lodging and dining and make a comfortable base for day trips into the park.
Fees, Reservations, and Permits for 2026
Here is a quirk worth knowing: there is no general entrance fee for Redwood National and State Parks. Most of the park is free to enter and drive through. Day-use fees apply at a few state-park areas and developed sites, and camping is paid.
The reservations that matter are for specific high-demand spots. Tall Trees Grove requires a free advance permit with a daily quota. Fern Canyon access in Prairie Creek can require a day-use permit in the busy season. Backcountry camping requires a permit. Because these systems and any fees change year to year, confirm current requirements on the park hub or with the park before you go.
How Many Days to Spend
You can see the highlights in a single full day if you are passing through, but two to three days lets you spread out across the north and south ends, add the coast, and get on a couple of real trails without spending all your time in the car. The park is long and strung out along the highway, so plan your days geographically.
Sample 2-Day Itinerary
- Day 1, the north. Base in Crescent City. Walk Stout Memorial Grove in Jedediah Smith in the morning, then drive the Howland Hill Road through old growth. In the afternoon, explore Del Norte Coast and the coastline.
- Day 2, the south. Head to Prairie Creek. Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, walk among the elk at Elk Prairie, and visit Fern Canyon if you have a permit. Finish at Lady Bird Johnson Grove for the fog-wrapped old growth.
Safety and Practical Tips
- Roosevelt elk are big and unpredictable. Herds graze near roads and trails, especially around Elk Prairie. Keep well back, particularly during the fall rut and spring calving.
- Some access roads are rough and narrow. The drives to Tall Trees Grove and Fern Canyon are not paved highways. Check current road conditions and clearance requirements.
- Fog and rain are constant companions. Bring layers and rain gear any time of year. Roads can be slick and visibility low along the coast.
- Cell service is unreliable. Download maps offline before you arrive.
- Stay on trails in the groves. Redwood root systems are shallow and easily damaged by trampling.
Plan the Rest of Your Trip
For current road and trail status, permits, weather, and live alerts, keep the Redwood National Park hub handy. Pair this guide with our things to do and best hikes guides to build out your days. Give the trees time. Stand under the tallest of them, look up until your neck aches, and let the place do what it does.
What to Bring to Redwood
Gear we recommend for Redwood. Affiliate links support our work at no cost to you.
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