Thinking about planning a trip to Redwood National Park? Walking amongst the tallest trees in the world surrounded by dreamy fog and lush greenery is definitely a bucket list experience.
Simply looking up isn’t enough to see the tops of these trees- you’re practically bending over backwards just to get a good look!
The northern California redwoods country has so much to explore that it can be overwhelming planning a trip here. The abundance of hiking trails, scenic drives, and beaches to visit is neverending.
And if you don’t have an endless amount of time to explore (like most of us), how do you plan an epic Redwood National Park itinerary when there is so much to see? Is it possible to see the best parts in just one day?
This post details everything you need to know about planning an ultimate 1-day Redwood National Park itinerary!
(And if you plan to visit the Redwoods and are looking for the ultimate 7-day northern California road trip itinerary, check out this post too!)
What is So Special About Redwood National Park?
Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world. Some are over 300 feet tall and 2000 years old!
The moisture in the air from the fog, winter rain, and moderate temperatures of the northern coast allows these giants to thrive. The atmosphere here is truly magical!
When you hear “Redwood National Park” you’re probably referring to Redwood National Park along with the 3 adjoining California State Parks (Jedediah Smith, Prairie Creek, and Del Norte Coast).
The NPS and California State Parks work together to manage this region that protects 40 miles of coastline, endangered wildlife, and 45% of the old-growth redwood rainforests. Old-growth forests refer to the trees that existed before early settlers started heavily logging the region in the mid-1800’s.
Oh, and did I mention that over 95% of these old-growth redwood trees have been cut down since then? So not only are the remaining 5% of these old growth forests the tallest trees in the world, they’re also some of the rarest.
And to top it all off, parts of Jurassic Park 1 and 2 were also filmed here!
The Best Time to Visit Redwood National & State Parks
The best time to visit Redwood National Park is in the spring or early fall. April and May are when the forests are the most green and you avoid most of the winter rain.
Visiting after Labor Day can also be a great time due to low crowds and dry weather. If you visit before May 15th or after September 15th, you won’t need to get a permit to hike the Tall Trees Trail or visit Fern Canyon.
Summer sees the highest crowds (but it doesn’t get as crowded here as Yosemite or other California National Parks).
Honestly, the weather here is nice year-round, so planning a Redwood National Park itinerary will work for any time of year!
How to Get to Redwood National & State Parks
Redwood National Park is located along the coast in northern California, 40 miles north of Eureka. There aren’t any nearby major cities, so you’ll find this area more remote than a lot of other places in California.
The best way to get to Redwood National & State Parks is to fly into San Francisco or Sacramento and rent a car.
It will take you almost 6 hours to drive from San Francisco to Redwood National Park and there is a lot of cool stuff in between, so I highly recommend combining your Redwood National Park itinerary with a longer California road trip!
Here are the drive times to Redwood National Park from common destinations:
- San Francisco, CA: 311 miles / 5.5 – 6 hours
- Sacramento, CA: 328 miles / 6 hours
- Portland, OR: 371 miles / 6.5 – 7 hours
- Lake Tahoe: 400 miles / 7.5 hours
- Yosemite National Park: 470 miles / 8.5 hours
Do You Need a Permit for Redwood National Park?
Redwood National Park is free to visit and there are no reservations required to get in the park.
Jedediah Smith, Prairie Creek, and Del Norte Coast State Parks do charge a day use fee for developed campground entrance stations, but they will accept the America the Beautiful National Park Pass and the California State Parks Pass.
However, you will need to make a free reservation for the Tall Trees Trail, Fern Canyon, and Gold Bluffs Beach if you plan to visit between May 15th and September 15th. These are the best and most popular things to add to your Redwood National Park itinerary!
I highly recommend booking these as early as possible because they get booked up really fast, especially on weekends.
Book a reservation for Fern Canyon & Gold Bluffs Beach here and the Tall Trees Trail here.
Best Things to Do at Redwood National & State Parks
- Tall Trees Trail (Redwood National Park)
- Lady Bird Johnson Trail (Redwood National Park)
- Fern Canyon (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park)
- Gold Bluffs Beach (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park)
- Stout Grove (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park)
- Redwood Creek Overlook (Redwood National Park)
- Newton B Drury Scenic Parkway (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park)
- Boy Scout Tree Trail (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park)
- Crescent Beach (Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park)
Redwood National and State Parks Map
Redwood National and State Parks encompass 4 parks along the coast between Eureka and Crescent City, California.
It will take you about an hour to drive from the north end of the parks to the south end. Jedediah Smith and Del Norte Coast Redwoods are on the north end, and Redwood National Park and Prairie Creek State Park are on the southern end. Highway 101 connects the parks along the coast.
The maps below show points of interest laid out in this Redwood National Park itinerary.
Where to Stay Near Redwood National & State Parks
The best place to stay when visiting Redwood National Park is in Eureka or Crescent City.
If you’re doing an Oregon Coast road trip, it probably makes sense to stay in Crescent City since you’ll be coming from the north. If you’re coming from San Francisco (what we did), Eureka will likely make more sense for you.
Here are some highly-rated hotels in Eureka:
And in Crescent City:
There aren’t a ton of local restaurants in either town, but we enjoyed Lost Coast Brewing in Eureka and SeaQuake Brewing in Crescent City.
Redwood National & State Parks Camping
There are 4 developed campgrounds in Redwood National and State Parks.
These campgrounds were developed in the 1940’s so they cannot accommodate today’s large RVs and trailers. Reservations are recommended, especially in the summer.
More info on camping can be found on the NPS website here.
How Many Days Do You Need at Redwood National Park?
You really only need one full day in Redwood National Park. With one day, you can hike the Tall Trees Trail (or another similar trail), visit Fern Canyon, and do the Newton Drury Scenic Drive.
With more time, you can definitely add on some more hikes through the groves of old-growth Redwood trees, but the trails all look very similar and can get repetitive!
Related: 7-Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary for Hikers (Seashore, Redwoods, & Volcano Edition!)
1-Day Redwood National Park Itinerary
To make the most of your Redwood National Park itinerary, I highly suggest grabbing permits for Fern Canyon and the Tall Trees Trail if you plan to visit between May 15th and September 15th.
I’ll suggest alternatives in case you don’t get permits, but these two trails are the best things to do in Redwood National and State Parks!
We were able to hike the Tall Trees Trail when we visited in early September, but unfortunately didn’t get one for Fern Canyon. I was so bummed about this, so we will have to come back next time!
This itinerary starts from the south in Eureka, so just reverse it if you are coming from the north!
There aren’t any restaurants inside the park so I recommend packing a picnic lunch and snacks for the car.
You won’t have much cell signal in the parks either, so download any maps ahead of time!
It’s best to have 1 full day for your Redwood National Park itinerary, so plan on spending 2 nights in either Crescent City or Eureka.
Morning
Head north into the park and make a quick stop at the Kuchel Visitor’s Center to grab a park map.
You can grab snacks and picnic supplies in Orick just up the road from the Visitor’s Center before starting your day.
Hike the Tall Trees Trail (If You Have a Permit)
If you have a permit, head to the Tall Trees Trail next. Turn right onto Bald Hills Road until you come to the Tall Trees Access Road. You’ll need the gate code (it will come in your reservation email) and head to the trailhead.
The Tall Trees Trail is a 3.6-mile lollipop loop that leads you down to an old-growth grove of the tallest trees in the park (hence the name). You’ll hike down almost 800 feet to get to the grove!
I would rate this hike as moderately strenuous because of the 800-foot trek back up. Take your time and bring lots of water and you’ll be fine!
Hike the Trillium Falls Trail (If You Don’t have a Tall Trees Permit)
If you don’t have a permit for the Tall Trees Trail, I’d recommend the Trillium Falls Trail.
This 2.6-mile loop trail starts at the Elk Meadow picnic area off of Highway 101 and takes you through a grove of old-growth redwoods, trillium flowers, and a small waterfall.
Midday
After your morning hike, head to the Redwood Creek Overlook and eat your picnic lunch.
At this overlook, you’ll see the contrast between the old growth redwood forests and the new growth. This is also a great place to watch the sunset after the fog rolls in along the treetops!
The Lady Bird Johnson Grove is located near here as well, and I recommend checking that out after lunch. It is a short 1.5-mile walk through a grove of old-growth trees named in honor of former first lady, Lady Bird Johnson.
Afternoon
Visit Fern Canyon (If You Have a Permit)
After lunch, head to the Fern Canyon Trailhead by turning left on Davison Road. This road is twisty, full of potholes, and may have some standing water so a higher-clearance vehicle is best.
Similar to the Tall Trees Trail, you will have a gate code to enter the trailhead.
This area of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is the only place that charges an entrance fee. The cost is $12 per vehicle and it is CASH ONLY.
If you have an America the Beautiful National Park Pass or a California State Parks Pass, you won’t have to pay this fee.
The Fern Canyon Loop itself is an easy, mile-long hike through an incredible canyon of ancient ferns. The walls of ferns are over 2 stories high! A few scenes in the second Jurassic Park movie were filmed here!
There is often standing water in the canyon, so bring water shoes or be prepared to take your shoes and socks off. The water isn’t deep (think ankle height or lower), but it will definitely ruin your day if you get your socks wet and don’t have an extra pair!
Visit the Stout & Simpson-Reed Groves (If You Don’t have a Fern Canyon Permit)
The Stout and Simpson-Reed Groves are located in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Both of these trails are short, flat walks through old-growth redwood forests.
On your way to the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, I recommend taking the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. This road winds through thousands of acres of old-growth redwood trees and is named after Newton Drury, a man who spent 40 years working to preserve the redwood forests in this area.
Evening
Grab dinner in Crescent City or Eureka and scope out a place to watch the sunset to end your epic 1-day Redwood National Park itinerary.
The Crescent Beach Overlook, Samoa Beach near Eureka, or the Redwood Creek Overlook in the park all make fantastic places to watch the sunset!
Redwood National Park FAQs
Where is the Tallest Redwood Tree?
The world’s tallest tree is called Hyperion and it is located somewhere inside Redwood National Park. Hyperion stands over 380 feet tall, 1.25 times the height of the Statue of Liberty!
You cannot hike to this tree and its location is not disclosed.
In the past, people have tried to find it and have destroyed the surrounding environment by trampling plants and leaving trash.
Is Redwood National Park Worth Visiting?
Yes, Redwood National & State Parks are definitely worth visiting. The tall trees, dreamy mist, and lush forests make for a magical experience in northern California.
Can You Do Redwood National Park in One Day?
Yes, you can definitely do Redwood National Park in one day. One day will give you enough time to do the iconic hikes at Tall Trees Grove, Fern Canyon, and Lady Bird Johnson Grove along with doing the scenic drive!
Did this post help you plan your Redwood National Park itinerary? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
If You Have More Time
Have more time to spend on your Redwood National Park itinerary? Here are a few more things to check out:
- Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo: Walk 100 feet above the forest floor through a grove of redwoods
- Avenue of the Giants: 31-mile scenic drive through ancient redwood trees and is constantly named one of the best scenic drives in California
More Things to Do in Northern California
And if you’re looking for more places in northern California to add to a road trip itinerary, check out my other northern California posts!
- 7-Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary for Hikers (Seashore, Redwoods, & Volcano Edition!)
- The Ultimate Point Reyes Day Trip Itinerary
- 7 Best Hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park (2023 Update)
- 13 Fantastic Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
- The Ultimate 1-3 Day Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary
