Where to Stay Near Redwood National Park (Top Places, 2023)

5 Best Areas for Lodging Near Redwood National Park 

Arcata 

👉 Best Area For Entertainment | ✨ Best Arcata Hotels: Hotel Arcata • Hampton Inn & Suites Arcata • Magic Garden

Located in Humboldt County, Arcadia is one of the bigger Northern California redwood cities. The city was established in 1850 and bears much resemblance to California’s beginnings.

The Arcata community has a “hippie vibe” and a reputation for being environmental- conscious. With resident parks and redwood forests nearby, this Northern location is the perfect blend of nature and urban society, and one of the best towns in California.

I recommend staying in Arcata when visiting Redwood National Park if you want access to city activities like shopping, movie theaters, and billiards bars. Most of the Humboldt State University students hang out in this town, giving the old-timey architecture a youthful exuberance.

You will want to stay close to Main Street Arcata, where all the action takes place. Here, you will find the bulk of the Arcata attractions gathered around the main plaza and courtyard. Most of the Arcata locals hang out here, so you are sure to make some new friends wandering around downtown Arcata.

Pros of Staying in Arcata:

• Close to major amenities
• Many accommodation options are available
• Plenty of restaurants
• Not overly populated
• Bars stay open late
• Small town feel 

Cons of Staying in Arcata:

• Over an hour away from the national park
• Can be noisy on the weekends
• Can be busy on holiday breaks

Trinidad

👉 Best Area For Coastal Access | ✨ Best Trinidad Hotels: Seawoods Cottage • Trinidad Inn • View Crest Lodge 

A small town by the sea, Trinidad sits right on the Pacific Ocean, only 8 miles from the Arcata airport. Travelers visiting Redwood National Park who want a quieter experience should opt to stay in this sleepy seaside town.

Trinidad has 10 public beaches so be sure to bring your bathing suit if visiting in the summer months. The other seasons are far too cold to go into the freezing Pacific Ocean unless you bring a wetsuit. 

Coastal cliffs define this town. You will wake up to stunning scenery and the serene song of waves cresting the shore. There are many hiking trails in the nearby redwood forest and the ocean provides great opportunities for fishing.

Trinidad is the best place to stay for beach lovers or visitors who prefer a more low-key environment. Catch the sunset from Trinidad State beach or get toasty by your indoor cottage fireplace.

Pros of Staying in Trinidad:

• Private beach access 
• Near the famous redwood trees
• In-room coffee is offered at many hotels
• Stunning views and natural beauty
• No traffic
• Quiet at night

Cos of Staying in Trinidad:

• Not many major hotels are available
• Fewer amenities are available
• Not a lot of entertainment

Eureka

👉 Best Area For Affordable Accommodation | ✨ Best Eureka Hotels: Redwood Coast Cabins & RV Resort • Hydrangea Inn • Driftwood Cottage

Eureka is a historic city in Northern California only 10-15 minutes from Arcata. The port town offers beautiful Victorian houses, many of which are available to rent during your stay in Northern California.

Families enjoy a trip to the Sequoia Park Zoo or guided boat cruises on the early 1900s Madaket Ferry around Humboldt Bay. Eureka hosts many accommodation options and is away from the bulk of the Arcata traffic. 

Eureka is in the heart of the U.S. Redwood Coast and showcases both tall wooded giants and beautiful, rugged coast. Eureka is the perfect blend of suburban city, redwood forest, and seaside town all in one.

Visitors usually love spending time in downtown Eureka at the various vintage and record shops. Various special events happen throughout the year, showing off Eureka’s pride. Be a part of the fireworks spectacular in July, the Woofstock celebration for dogs in August, or Redwood Coast Music Festival in September. 

Pros of Staying in Eureka:

• Less crowded and touristy than Arcata
• Plenty of accommodation options are available
• Festive town-wide events year-round
• Many foods and drink options
• Hiking trails and beach access

Cons of Staying in Eureka:

• Fewer tourist activities 
• House rentals can be expensive
• Farther from Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park

👉 Best Area For Park Access | ✨ Best Redwood National Park Hotels: Woodland Villa Country Cabins • Elk Meadow Cabins • Holiday Inn Express Redwood National Park

What better way is there to experience the national park than staying inside its boundaries? Staying inside Redwood National Park will give you first-hand experience of witnessing the tree giants in all their splendor and is a top destination on a California road trip.

Sunrise and sunset are immaculate when witnessed through the giant redwoods, so I highly recommend camping or lodging inside the park if possible. Most accommodation options offered inside of the park are primitive camping- campsites without major amenities.

You can also backpack into the park and tent camp in the wilderness with a permit. The non-summer months can reach below-freezing temperatures, so if you’re not a fan of the cold, I recommend staying in a cabin or hotel just outside of the park. Make sure to check out my camping packing list before you go.

The closest accommodation options just outside of the park are the Woodland Villa Country Cabins, Elk Meadow Cabins, and Holiday Inn Express Redwood National Park. There are almost no amenities or entertainment besides hiking trails in this area, however, so keep that in mind when deciding on where to stay near the national park. 

Pros of Staying in Redwood National Park:

• Closest access possible to the national park
• Surrounded by beautiful nature and redwood trees
• Only a short drive to the main park attractions
• A good area for a base camp while you hike and explore
• Away from big city crowds

Cons of Staying in Redwood National Park:

• Far from big city amenities and entertainment
• No cell service, free wifi, hot tub, complimentary breakfast, fitness center, or spa services like other city hotels offer
• Can be extremely cold at night

Crescent City

👉 Best Area For Coastal Views | ✨ Best Crescent City Hotels: Crown of the Coast • Redwood Beach Retreat • Anchor Beach Inn

One of the best California beach towns, Crescent City was named for its crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach. This is the gateway town of Redwood National Park, where the official headquarters are also located.

Commercial fishing vessels are common in this seaside port town, as well as an abundance of giant redwood trees. Many Crescent City locals are either fishermen themselves or huge nature lovers and are extremely welcoming to visitors.

The picturesque environment is the main draw to the city, plus access to the national park shortly after the town. Crescent City is very close to the Oregon border. If you have time to spare, I recommend making an extended day trip into Oregon if you’ve never been.

Pros of Staying in Crescent City:

• Incredible, freshly-caught seafood dinners
• Close access to Redwood National Park
• The city is quiet at night and on the weekends
• Stunning views of the Pacific Ocean
• Friendly locals 
• Close to the Oregon border, a fun day trip

Cons of Staying in Crescent City:

• Far from other tourist cities
• Extremely cold in the non-summer months
• Few tourist attractions
• Few entertainment options besides hiking and swimming
• Few accommodation options and restaurants to choose from

Tips for Staying in the Redwoods

Use the Park App

The National Park Service App was created by Forest Rangers to help visitors navigate the national parks with ease. Download the app before you get to the park to use it offline, as there is no service in the park.

The app includes interactive maps, tours of park places, accessibility information, and more to help plan your next national park trip with ease.

Download Multiple GPSs

Redwood National Park is one of the best places to visit in California to go off-grid. As such, there is no cell service in Redwood National Park and you will want to download multiple offline maps before you lose service. 

Because offline maps can be spotty, it’s good practice to have a backup map just in case.

Check Current Conditions

The experience you have in California greatly depends on where you go and the time of year you visit California. Snow storms can happen as early as October in Northern California. Be sure to check the weather conditions before your trip so you aren’t caught in any unexpected weather.

Roads may be closed in the winter due to snow and ice, so I recommend visiting the national park in the other three seasons to avoid any potential closures.

Reserve Accommodation Ahead of Time

Make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible by reserving your accommodation ahead of time. If you wait too long, most accommodation options near the park may be sold out.

Reserve your hotel while you still have cell service so you can stay at the perfect hotel that meets your every need. Fireplaces are a must due to the cold climate of Northern California but many hotel rooms with a fireplace sell out quickly. Booking ahead of time ensures that you will snag one.

Visit the Ranger Station and Visitor Center

Most people want to head right to the main attractions so they skip the ranger station and the visitor center altogether. Both of these establishments have useful information so make sure you visit to get your questions answered.

The Hiouchi Visitor Center offers many special programs, especially in the summer months, like junior ranger programs, ranger-led nature walks, and more! You will also find community bonfires in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

Keep Distance Between You and the Wildlife

Wildlife is just that, wild. You will want to maintain a safe distance of at least 25 yards between you and smaller animals at Redwood National Park and at least 100 yards distance from big predator animals.

The California forest is dense with California black bears, so it’s commonplace to encounter them in Redwood National Park. To ensure your safety, always take photos of wildlife from a distance. This could save your life.

Double-Check RV Lengths 

Most of the campgrounds and roads in Redwood National Park were created before RVs were around. The roads may be tricky to maneuver if you are in a bigger-sized rig.

There is RV parking at the Yurok Loop Trail, along Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, at the Big Tree Wayside, and at the Trillium Falls Trail. Your RV over 22 feet likely won’t make it to Simpson-Reed Grove, Howland Hill Road, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Fern Canyon, The Bald Hills, or Tall Trees Grove. 

Keep this in mind if you are set on camping in the national park. You may have to reserve a campsite just outside of the park’s boundaries.

🚙 Read Next: Best RV Parks in California

Get Off On Highway 101

Many visitors miss the heart of Redwood National Park when they don’t exit US 101. Going down this highway, take the southern exit 753 or the northern exit 765 to drive through 10 miles of scenic, old-growth redwoods on the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.

Pack Layers

Northern California can be extremely cold in the non-summer months. This area frequently drops to below freezing, so you want to make sure you pack accordingly. Especially if you plan on camping in California.

Pack enough layers to keep you toasty in freezing temperatures and cool when the hot sun comes out. I recommend always having a just-in-case pair of gloves, a beanie, a scarf, and a heavy jacket packed. You may get caught in a storm even in the summer months.

Leave No Trace

When visiting nature locations in California, you will want to leave the area cleaner than you found it. Leave No Trace means leaving the area so devoid of any human trace that visitors after you won’t even know you were there.

Putting this practice into place ensures that the beautiful golden state stays beautiful and that national parks remain pleasant, trash-free areas for everyone.

FAQs About Where to Stay Near Redwood National Park

***

Thank you for reading my guide on where to stay near Redwood National Park. With an overnight trip to the national park, you are sure to see everything on your itinerary! While you’re in the area, check out my guide on the best things to do in California.