When is the best time to visit Redwood National and State Parks?

If you want fewer people, go in May, the quietest shoulder-season month. June is the busiest month on average, and December the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.

How much does it cost to visit Redwood National and State Parks?

Redwood National and State Parks has no entrance fee, according to the National Park Service. Some tours, campgrounds or permits may still cost money.

What are some things to do in Redwood National and State Parks?

The National Park Service lists 20 things to do in Redwood National and State Parks, including Stroll to the Big Tree Wayside, Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, Hike to Trillium Falls, Stroll the Simpson-Reed Trail, Drive Howland Hill Road. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.

When did Redwood National and State Parks become a national park?

Redwood National and State Parks was established as a national park on October 2, 1968.

What is the closest national park to Redwood?

Crater Lake National Park, about 146 miles away in a straight line (roughly 3 hours' drive, estimated).

California · Est. 1968

Redwood National and State Parks

Last verified October 1, 2026Free entry

Renowned for the world’s tallest trees, Redwood’s landscapes span from open prairies and oak woodlands to pristine rivers and untamed coastline. This ancient home has supported people for thousands of years. The National Park Service and California State Parks now work to safeguard and rejuvenate these lands for everyone’s enjoyment, learning, and inspiration. — nps.gov

View from forest floor looking straight up. Ferns as seen close up and redwood trunks meet. — Photo: NPS Photo / Steve Olson

State: California
Established: October 2, 1968
Size: 139,091 acres
2025 visits: 1,202,480
Busiest-park rank: #25 of 63
Entrance: Free entry

Best time to visit

When is Redwood quiet?

Redwood is busiest in June and quietest in December. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, May is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.

In 2025 the park logged 1,202,480 recreation visits, the #25 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.

Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Redwood open right now? →

Average visits by month

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA

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Quietest: DecemberBusiest: June

Fees & passes

What it costs to visit Redwood

Redwood National and State Parks charges no entrance fee.

From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.

Reservations · 2026

No park-wide reservation

The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Redwood National and State Parks. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.

Every park that needs a reservation in 2026 →

Things to do

Things to do in Redwood

The National Park Service lists 20 things to do in Redwood National and State Parks, from quick stops to full-day outings. The shortest come first.

All activities →

Stroll to the Big Tree Wayside10-30 Minutes · All year
For those short on time then this 5-minute walk will lead to some amazingly large trees.
Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway30-60 Minutes · All year
A ten mile drive through the heart of the redwoods. You have to exit HWY 101 to see the big redwoods.
Pets OK
Hike to Trillium Falls30-90 Minutes · All year
Located in the southern end of the parks this is arguably one of the best family-friendly walks. It also has plenty of parking, picnic tables and restrooms.
Stroll the Simpson-Reed Trail30-60 Minutes · All year
An easy walk through beautiful old-growth redwood forests in the northern part of the parks. Limited parking, RV's and trailers not permitted.
Drive Howland Hill Road45-90 Minutes · All year
A ten-mile dirt road where the redwoods are so close they'll almost kiss your car.
Pets OK
Walk the Fern Canyon Loop Trail45-90 Minutes · All year
A unique, beautiful, and popular location in the park. Getting here does require some planning, reservations are required May 15th through September 15th (available online), there are two (2) stream crossings that you…
Reservation/permitFee
Walk the Lady Bird Johnson Grove45-60 Minutes · All year
An iconic redwood grove in the southern end of the parks that is easy to walk. RVs and trailers are not advised on the narrow mountain road leading to this trailhead.
Go Tide Pooling at Enderts Beach60-120 Minutes · All year
Tidepooling at Enderts Beach will bring you experience some incredible coastlines and give you a glimpse into life at the edge of the ocean. For some, its like seeing science fiction come to life. Check the tides, and…

Show all 20 things to do

Hike to the Grove Of Titans1-2 Hours · All year
Walk the Karl Knapp (Prairie Creek) to Foothill Trail Loop1-2 Hours · All year
Walk the Stout Memorial Grove Trail1-2 Hours · All year
Bike the Davison/Streelow Creek Loop2 Hours
Drive the Bald Hills Road2-6 Hours · All year
Pets OK
Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail3-5 Hours · All year
Hike to the Tall Trees Grove3-6 Hours · All year
Reservation/permit
Hike the James Irvine Trail to Fern Canyon Loop4-8 Hours · All year
Bike Lost Man Creek Trail
Bike Redwoods to Beach on the Ossagon Trail LoopAll year
Hike Zig Zag Loop
Watch Wild Elk
Pets OK

From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.

By activity

The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.

Weather

Weather at Redwood

Visitors should be prepared for cooler and damp weather. Dress in layers and expect to get wet. Year-round temperatures along California's redwood coast: mid-40s°F (7°C) to mid-60s°F (18°C). Summer can be foggy, with highs occasionally reaching low 70s°F (20°C).

Winters are cooler with considerable rain. October through April averages 60-80 inches of rain over the region.

From the National Park Service.

Getting there

Getting to Redwood

Redwood National and State Parks is located in northernmost coastal California - almost on the Oregon border. The parks are about 60-miles long, with four visitor centers from north to south. We are a six to seven-hour drive (325 miles) north of San Francisco, a six-hour drive (330 miles) south of Portland, OR and a four-hour drive (170 miles) west of Redding, CA.

1111 Second Street, Crescent City, CA, 95531 · Directions on nps.gov

Nearby

National parks near Redwood

Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.

Closest big cities: Sacramento (237 mi) · San Francisco (257 mi) · Portland, Oregon (296 mi) · Seattle (440 mi)

Road trip

Crater Lake, Redwood & Lassen Volcanic

3 parks, about 295 miles between them (~7 h of driving, estimated).

Redwood is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.

Two visitors looking at tidepools. — Photo: NPS Photo / John Chao

Five young women read the park map. — Photo: NPS: John Chao

FAQ

Redwood, quickly

When is the best time to visit Redwood National and State Parks?: If you want fewer people, go in May, the quietest shoulder-season month. June is the busiest month on average, and December the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Redwood National and State Parks?: Redwood National and State Parks has no entrance fee, according to the National Park Service. Some tours, campgrounds or permits may still cost money.
Do you need a reservation for Redwood National and State Parks in 2026?: The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Redwood National and State Parks. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
What are some things to do in Redwood National and State Parks?: The National Park Service lists 20 things to do in Redwood National and State Parks, including Stroll to the Big Tree Wayside, Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, Hike to Trillium Falls, Stroll the Simpson-Reed Trail, Drive Howland Hill Road. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
When did Redwood National and State Parks become a national park?: Redwood National and State Parks was established as a national park on October 2, 1968.
What is the closest national park to Redwood?: Crater Lake National Park, about 146 miles away in a straight line (roughly 3 hours' drive, estimated).

Sources · 3

1.Redwood National and State Parks — official site · National Park Service
2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
3.Redwood National and State Parks — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

About this page

Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/redw.

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Redwood National and State Parks