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EXPLORE OUR COMPREHENSIVE REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK 2 DAY AND 3 DAY ITINERARIES, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN THE NATIONAL PARK BELOW.
Are you planning on visiting Redwood National Park but don't know where to even begin with your trip planning? Don't worry, we feel you. When we decided to spend some time in this part of Northern California we got a bit overwhelmed. For starters, the national park - which is actually made up of one national park and three state parks - is quite huge. It is also very spread out. Plus, there is just a whole lot to see.
But don't worry, we are here to help.
Below are some super fun Redwood National Park travel itineraries for every type of traveler and every type of time frame; including two travel itineraries for if you have one full day in the park, 2 days in the park, or (if you are really lucky) three days in the park. These travel itineraries lay out some of the best ways to spend your time in the area, while also giving you a couple of extra tips on things like where to spend the night and what to bring with you to the park.
► If you have any other questions about exploring the national park, then make sure to check out our super comprehensive Redwood National Park Adventure Guide.
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK MAP
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK TRAVEL ITINERARY
Redwood National and State Parks Half Day Itinerary
We suggest that if you are short on time (for example you only have a couple of hours) then you should try to focus on just one area of the park instead of the whole entire park (it is just too big). Below are two separate half-day itineraries for the northern half and southern half of the park.
NORTH
If you only have half a day to explore Redwood National Park and you are looking to get up close and personal with the famous coastal redwood trees, then we suggest sticking to the northern half of the park, and specifically Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in particular.
THE PERFECT HALF-DAY ITINERARY
| Start at the Hiouchi Visitor Center where you can spend some time exploring the exhibits, learn more about the history of the area and eat breakfast or lunch at one of the center's picnic tables.
| Next, drive the famous Howland Hill Road, which was once an old stagecoach route (don't worry it is still as narrow today). Along the drive, which is 10 miles in length, you should make sure to stop off and explore some of the large redwood groves, including Stout Grove, and also check out the super clear Smith River, which is one of the last undammed rivers in California.
| Finally, once you get to the end of Howland Hill Road, which spits you out near the town of Crescent City, you should hop on over to Crescent Beach and the Crescent Beach Overlook. Both will give you great views of the stunning Northern California coastline and the Pacific Ocean.
From the beach, you can easily hop back on Highway 101 and head either south towards San Francisco or north towards Oregon.
SOUTH
Or if you only have half a day and are looking to spend more time along the Pacific coast, while also visiting a few redwood groves, then we suggest spending your time down in the southern half of the park, and more specifically, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
THE PERFECT HALF-DAY ITINERARY
| Start at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center where you can check out the exhibits, talk to a ranger about the area and grab your national park passport stamp (if you are into that).
| Once you get your fill of the visitor center, start driving the stunningly beautiful Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. The drive, which is 11 miles long, gives you easy access to a number of interesting sites - including the Atlas Grove, the Big Tree Wayside and a number of short hiking trails.
Towards the end of your drive, you can either turn off and do the Coastal Drive, which loops around a forest and gives you great views of the coast, or you can head back the way you came (back towards the visitor center) and drive out to Gold Bluffs Beach, one of the best beaches in the whole national park.
💬 INSIDER TIP: if you are planning to visit during the busy season (May to September) then you will need a permit to park at the Gold Bluffs Beach parking area. If you can't get a permit but still want to head to the beach, then we suggest driving a bit further south and checking out the Redwood Creek Picnic Area instead.
From the beaches, you can easily hop back on Highway 101 and head either south towards San Francisco or up north towards Oregon.
EXPLORE MORE | THE ULTIMATE REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK ADVENTURE GUIDE
Redwood National and State Parks 1 Day Itinerary
Even if you have a bit more time to spend in Redwood National and State Park, we still suggest focusing on one area of the park instead of the whole complex. Because the distance between places is quite large, in our opinion, it is still better to put more of your time and energy into exploring via foot (like hiking) than it is to just drive around. Below are two full day itineraries for Redwood National Park.
NORTH
| Start at the Hiouchi Visitor Center where you can explore the various exhibits, learn more about the history of the area and eat breakfast or lunch at one of the center's picnic tables. OR you can grab a quick bite to eat and some caffeine at the nearby Historic Hiouchi Café, a super cute spot that opens at 7 AM daily.
| Next, drive out on the famously scenic Howland Hill Road. Along the drive, which is 10 miles in length, you should stop off and explore some of the large redwood groves - including the beautiful Stout Grove. Likewise, since you have a full day, why not also head out on the beautiful Boy Scout Tree Trail, which is 5.5 miles round trip and gives you awesome access to Fern Falls and some massive trees.
Another great adventure option in the northern part of Redwood National Park, is to spend a bit of time hanging out along the banks of the Smith River, which runs right along the northern edge of the park. You can access the river via the Stout Grove Trail or by parking at the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Day-Use Area, though this costs $8 unless you have a national park or state park pass. From the day-use area, you will need to cross a seasonal footbridge.
If you are looking to spend the night in the area at the end of your one day of exploring, you have the option to camp in either Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park or book a hotel room in the nearby town of Crescent City (see our recommended hotels below).
From Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park you can easily drive back towards Highway 101 near Crescent City, where you can then head either south towards San Francisco or north along the Oregon coast.
SOUTH
Start your full day of adventures in the southern half of the national park at Gold Bluffs Beach (just make sure to get your parking permit). From the beach, you can walk around and do a small section of the California Coastal Trail or you can head straight to the trailhead for the famous Fern Canyon hike.
Fern Canyon is one of the most popular hikes in the whole Redwood National Park, so be prepared for it to be busy (especially during the summer). The hike, though short (less than 2 miles) is stunning and definitely worth doing.
Once you finish the hike and get your fill of the beach, drive back to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and then onto the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. Along this scenic drive, you have the opportunity to stop off at such destinations as Big Tree Wayside and the Atlas Grove. You can also do another short hike in one of the redwood groves along the way if you have the energy.
If you are looking to spend the night in this part of the national park, you have the option to camp in either the Elk Prairie Campground or Gold Bluffs Beach Campground, or book a hotel room in the nearby town of Klamath (see our recommended hotels below).
