Is there free or dispersed camping near Redwood National Park?

While Redwood National Park allows backcountry camping, dispersed camping near the national and state parks is only allowed in certain spots in Six Rivers National Forest. Services and regulations vary. With no camping fees, permission to park on private property arranged in advance, and the chance to explore the culture with local business owners, Harvest Hosts offers a more pleasant alternative.

Is Harvest Hosts worth it for a Redwood trip?

Harvest Hosts is well worth it for a Redwoods trip. The park limits RVs to 28 feet, which is rather small for most serious RVers. Camping outside the park opens up several possibilities for staying longer, spending more time exploring the area, and making the most of your trip. Plus, California has 0 Harvest Hosts locations.

Redwood National Park RV Camping

Even the highest quality photos cannot do justice to the towering redwoods that make this park one of the more memorable to visit in California. Redwood National Park measured just over 56,000 acres in 1968, but a decade later, it had expanded to almost twice that. In the early 1990s, the National Park Service combined Redwood's national and state parks and continues to manage both as one. In addition to some of the world's tallest trees, the park features nine , which include Lyons Ranches Home Place Orchard (established in 1868) and Boyes Prairie Orchard. Spend some time RV camping in Redwood National Park and try your luck at seeing black-tailed deer, bobcats, Roosevelt elk, mountain lions, and black bears. If you pick your way , you're sure to see sea lions, seals, and maybe even catch a glimpse of humpback or killer whales further out. Harvest Hosts has plenty of locations within an hour of the entrances where you can park your RV overnight at a working farm, brewery, or distillery.

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Redwood National Park RV Camping Guide

When to Go

Although northern California's weather can be cooler than the rest of the state, morning fog doesn't stick around too long in summer, one of the best but busiest times to visit Redwood National Park. June sees the highest visitation numbers of any month. In July, visitors can watch the annual Renewal Dance at the Jedediah Smith Campground Day Use Area, as put on by the native Tolowa community. Wildflowers bloom throughout the park from the first of the year through early fall, but it's often best to visit in May and September to avoid the crowds. Gray whales migrate in early winter and spring, but frequent the Klamath River Overlook all year long. If you enjoy a pleasant but perhaps wetter hike, winter makes for light rain and even fog among the higher elevations.

Know Before You Go

Redwood National Park doesn't require timed-entry reservations. Neither are there entrance fees or specific entrance stations that provide national park access.
Hiking in Redwood National and State Parks covers over 200 miles and ascends from sea level to 3,000 feet. The Fern Canyon Trailhead and Tall Trees Trailhead require free permits, but you can freely walk along several others, including Trillium Falls Trail to a waterfall via a 2.5-mile loop.
Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is one of Redwood's must-visit attractions. RVs can easily traverse this 10-mile highlight of the park's ancient redwoods. The Big Tree wayside lets you stop for an up-close view of these impressive trees.
Elk can be seen in several areas of the park, including the Elk Meadow Day Use Area, Gold Bluffs Beach, Bald Hills Road, and the Orick area. Whales can also be seen at Gold Bluffs Beach, the Crescent Beach Overlook, Wilson Creek, and the High Bluff Overlook.
Foot bridges offer seasonal support across park waterways, but they're often removed as fall sets in. If you find them helpful during your hike, look for them back on your favorite paths by the start of summer.
Pets aren't allowed on Redwood National and State Parks trails, or permitted to attend ranger-led activities. However, they're allowed in campgrounds and certain parking lots as well as Klamath River Overlook and Redwood Creek Overlook, most beaches, and gravel roads.
Although RVs aren't allowed on the winding and narrow Coastal Drive, it's the primary path to Klamath River Radar Station B-71. This early-warning radar station (disguised as a farm) was pivotal in the Second World War and can be reached on foot via the WWII Radar Farmhouse Trailhead.

Nearby Attractions

Redwood National Park sits along northern California's coast on U.S. Highway 101, from just south of Orick up to Crescent City. It takes about six hours to travel here from San Francisco. Nearby must-see attractions include Lassen Volcanic National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Crater Lake National Park, the Oregon Redwoods and Redwood Nature Trail, and Sequoia National Park. Burney Falls (in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park) requires day-use reservations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 15 through September. See this 129-foot waterfall in person to understand why it's a popular destination from late spring through early fall.

Where to Camp

Inside the park. RV camping in Redwood National Park is permitted in four campgrounds: the Jedediah Smith Campground in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Mill Creek Campground in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Gold Bluffs Beach Campground and Elk Prairie Campground in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Mill Creek Campground is only open during the summer, but the rest are available year-round. Near the Smith River, Jedediah Smith Campground has a limited number of RV campsites capped at 25 feet due to narrow roads, and, along with Elk Prairie Campground, goes from reservation to first-come, first-served from October through most of May. Mill Creek Campground permits RVs up to 28 feet, Elk Prairie Campground to 27 feet, and Gold Bluffs Beach Campground to 24 feet, although RVs aren't necessarily advised in this last campground.

Tips on reserving a campsite. Reservations aren't required to RV camp in Redwood National Park, but they're practically necessary to secure a campsite in the summer months. You can make reservations up to two days in advance of your arrival.

Camping outside the park with Harvest Hosts. Most RVers have to camp outside Redwood National and State Parks due to the low length restrictions. While accommodations are easier to find due to the development of the surrounding areas, pricing and availability may vary. Harvest Hosts opens another avenue for RVers: camping on private property without a fee with permission from local business owners who appreciate your patronage of their brewery, working farm, distillery, or attraction.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can you sleep in your RV at Redwood National Park?

Yes, you can sleep in your RV at Redwood National Park if you're parked in a designated campsite at any of the four campgrounds. These campgrounds technically belong to one of three state parks within Redwood National and State Parks. However, none offer hookups, and sites often fill up quickly during the summer.

Where can I camp in an RV near Redwood National Park?

RV camping near Redwood National Park is available along the coast in Crescent City, Orick, Klamath, and Trinidad. Harvest Hosts has many locations on the far North Coast. Imagine spending a few days at this Oregon riverside vineyard retreat or incorporating a stop at a lakeside fishing resort getaway into your travel plans.

Do you need a reservation to visit Redwood National Park?

No, you don't need a timed-entry reservation to visit Redwood National Park. Entrance fees aren't required for the national park, but they apply in some areas of the inner state parks. Camping reservations aren't required, but highly recommended if you plan to visit during the summer.

What size RV fits at Redwood National Park?

RVs up to 28 feet in length fit in Redwood National Park, but each campground varies. Mill Creek Campground permits RVs up to 28 feet, Elk Prairie Campground is only 27 feet, Jedediah Smith is 25 feet, and Gold Bluffs Beach is 24 feet. Verify RV size limits before making a reservation or claiming a campsite.