The best camping in Redwood National Park, CA

On the Northern California Coast, Redwood National Park preserves a massive expanse of coast redwood trees, the largest tree species on earth. The park operates in conjunction with three adjacent California State Parks (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek), collectively forming the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP), which functions as a single entity. Most area attractions focus on experiencing the giant redwoods in all their magnificence, with scenic driving routes such as the Avenue of the Giants, miles of hiking trails, and a hodgepodge of roadside attractions ranging from the Trees of Mystery canopy gondola to drive-through trees.

• Great for beach lovers: Golds Bluff Beach Campground offers year-round camping with views out over the Pacific Ocean.
• Great for families: Elk Prairie Campground has solid amenities, including hot showers, a visitor center, and ranger-led programs in the high season.
• Great for anglers: Jedediah Smith Campground offers tent and RV sites right on the banks of the Smith River.

1. Gold Bluffs Beach and Elk Prairie Campground can be reserved all year long, while Jedediah Smith Campground is reservable from May through September. All other campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. You can book reservable sites up to six months in advance through the California State Parks online reservation system or over the phone.
3. There are seven backcountry camping areas in the park. You can request a backcountry permit up to four weeks in advance but no later than at 9am, two days before your camping date. Permits are only available online.

Although the Redwood Forest is beautiful year-round, and rarely gets anything more than a light dusting of snow in the wintertime, summer is by far the best time to visit, with pleasant temperatures and little to no rainfall. This is also the busiest time, so if you're looking for a bit of solitude, you'll have better luck in September or early October, when it's still warm enough to camp, but kids are already back in school for the season.

• Cell phone coverage can be spotty in parts of the Redwood Forest, and it’s wise to download offline maps before you head out. Of the park-run campgrounds, Jedediah Smith generally has the best service.
• While all four developed campgrounds in the Redwood National and State Parks have RV sites, none have hookups.
• Mill Creek, Jedediah Smith, and Elk Prairie Campgrounds all have ADA accessible restrooms. Jedediah Smith and Elk Prairie also have ADA cabins.
• Fire restrictions are commonly implemented during the summer season, when the risk of wildfires is high. Backcountry campgrounds are also sometimes closed when fire risk is high.