Best Tent Camping near Arcata, CA

We stayed here one night last year. We’d hoped to stay at Patrick’s Point State Park, but it was full. The woman who set us up with a tent site here was super friendly and helpful. She offered advice for where to eat in the area and points of interest.

My daughters and I checked out the Bay Area and hiked the Trinidad Head. It was a beautiful afternoon. We had dinner at the Trinidad Bay Eatery and Gallery which was nice with a friendly server and good American fare.

After we returned we looked at the little arcade area in the cabins area. It reminded me in a nostalgic way of the arcade area in the 80’s movie Starfighter. Very fun.

Although it wasn’t quite dark yet when we headed back to our site, it was VERY dark in the back area with the tent sites fue to heavy tree cover. Finding our spot was difficult in the dark. The path is winding and doesn’t exactly match the campground map and the ground was very uneven. I was glad we have four wheel drive.

The campsite was also very uneven and had a steep drop off to a creek bed on the side. Luckily we’d planned to car camp and only had to fold down the sleeping area in our vehicle. I can’t imagine trying to set up a tent on that site in the pitch blackness. I’m not sure that the site had any amenities like a picnic table or water or a fire ring. I couldn’t see anything!

Overall I’d stay here again, but I’d get there way before dark and set up camp first before adventuring in the area. I love the Trinidad/Eureka area. There’s lots to do and see. I gave the three stars because the tent site area ground is so uneven and so unlit.

We came here in early October 2020 for a Friday - Monday trip. The campsite is large and spots are spaced out. Due to COVID a lot of sites were closed, which made everything feel very spaced out.

The area is beautiful. The campsite it self has tons of beautiful redwoods and ferns on the property. It was beautiful to just sit and admire the scenery.

Bathrooms and showers were clean and the campsites were across the street from some short but beautiful hikes.

The visitor center was closed but right next door. The area to check in did sell wood and we noticed a lot of staff throughout our trip.

The campsite was super quite and very peaceful.

We brought our dog which was great. Lots of trees and lots of shade. I think almost every site was shaded. Bring your hammocks because there was plenty of locations on each site to set them up. I would be aware that many of the upper sites are on a slope.

Each site came equipped with a fire ring/grill, picnic table and bear box.

We had the best time and went a little ways up north to go fishing outside of Fortuna. We actually caught a fish this time :) Fishing near the campsite was not recommended due to the low water level. However, their were plenty of options just a short drive away.

We stayed at site #35 which was large but had a slope. However, we were able to find two kind of flat spots to put tents and it was totally fine.

• Sites are well spaced apart and have great privacy
• The Stellar Jays are so fun to watch here — they are very confident and brave birds, they come into your camp and squawk all day
• It’s so lush and green here. Plenty of shade under the bug trees, and lots of nature to see
• Restrooms and showers are clean and big
• Each site has a bear box, picnic table, and fire ring

• Not great for parking trailers
• TONS of mosquitoes. The children and I were eaten alive
• Be careful of the poison oak everywhere! Watch your kids. They are all around the campsite.
• While sites are private and secluded, they are a little small. You can probably fit 2 small tents

The campgrounds are pretty open, with little privacy, but that’s not what you’re there for.

The drive is intense, but manageable in good weather in a fwd Mazda 3. Mattole Rd from Weott is far better in terms of the road condition, but Mattole Rd to Ferndale is absolutely breathtaking. I wouldn’t attempt either with a large rig or trailer.

The lost coast is absolutely breathtaking. You’ll get 4 seasons of weather in a day, so plan accordingly. A short walk outside of the campground reveals incredible scenes.

The campgrounds are first come first serve. We snagged the last spot around 3PM on a Tuesday afternoon.

THERE IS NO WATER. Pack in what you need.

[ PROS]

• Super lush and foresty campground right by the Pacific Ocean. There is so much to see all around the campgrounds. You can go for a hike and the Rim Trail which perimeters the park, you can go down to the beach and hunt for agates, explore tidepools, look at birds and other wildlife, and go to the visitor center.

• Each site came with a picnic table, bear box, fire ring, and two parking spots.

• Sites were surprisingly large! We stayed at Site#99 and it was super spacious. It even had a hidden area that was under large trees that was perfect for setting up tents.

• I love how the sites were also very private. Each site seemed to be carved out of the brush so you’re just enclosed in trees and bushes. Everything was so green!

• The restrooms were really clean. Site#99 was a little far from the showers, but we had nice toilets right by us.

• VIEWS VIEWS VIEWS! My gosh. We stated at Agate Campground (1 of 3 campgrounds at this park) and it was really close to the beach access. We did the Rim Trail hike and it was unbelievable.

[CONS]

• NONE! Perfect campground:)

Overall, I would come back here in a heartbeat! I know we came during off season so the campground wasn’t as full, but i’d imagine when this place is fully booked it would still be very tranquil and peaceful. Each site was like a little oasis removed from everyone else.

I love to return to this place.  It has campsites in a redwood forest along a small stream. And then there is a meadow in front where the elk come down to graze.  They have benches all around the meadow so you can watch the elk from a safe distance.

There are miles and miles of trails through old growth (and second growth) redwoods.

Magical. You can hike to the beach, pick up a section of the coastal trail, or simply visit different groves of redwoods.

It can be damp here - think beach and redwoods, so be prepared fro dampness.

Siate ahe typical tables, fire rings and food lockers. Clean rest room and coin showers as well.

You can strike out north to the mighty Klamath River, over the hill to the Fern Canyon or hang with the elk.