Camping near Crescent City spans redwood forest sites with full facilities to quieter spots along the northern California coast. Jedediah Smith Campground puts you right among ancient redwoods and comes with flush toilets and drinking water, which works well if you're bringing kids. Campers looking for beach time can stay at Gold Bluffs Beach Campground, where you'll often see elk and quail wandering near your site. Mill Creek Campground tends to be quieter, with basic restrooms and picnic tables set among thick woods. While camping in the area, most people check out the Trees of Mystery and take some time to walk the coastal trails, which range from easy paths to longer hikes. Before heading out, look up current fire rules and whether you need permits. During summer months, you should book ahead since these campgrounds fill up fast. The Crescent City area has camping that fits different styles - from quiet forest spots to places right by the water. The mix of big trees and ocean shoreline makes this part of California worth the trip for many campers.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$35 - $100 / night
"Campsites are very private and give a great feeling of being located right in the heart of the Redwoods. Crescent city is a short drive as is many other tourist attractions."
"You'll want to pick a site that is close to the river, and far from the highway as possible because of the highway noise (although not terrible) isn't ideal when you're trying to enjoy nature."
$35 / night
"It was incredible just to wander around the campground and wonder at the trees. Mill Creek is in a second generation forest."
"Drive from the highway to the campground is captivating. Campground staff were both pleasant & informative."
$20 - $30 / night
"Super close to crescent city yet tucked away in a beautiful, dense forest. It’s self check in, first come first serve and a flat $20. Only a few other campers were here when we came."
"This is an amazing Grove of redwoods just north of Crescent City on the 101. There's about 50 campsites between the 10th spaces and RV spaces. This park seems to be overlooked by many."
$31 - $87 / night
"All RV sites are paved with gravel around the picnic table and fire ring. Each loop has its own restrooms and showers which were well kept and very clean."
"The beach is a ten minute walk and both walks we took were breath taking! Everyone we met were very friendly and had great knowledge of the park seeing that it was our first time."
"A little bit far from the southern redwoods in California on the 101 but worth the drive."
"Clean campground, our spot was near the play area, dog park and office. They have some area tucked into the redwoods. They have some farm animals!"
"Not fancy, but a great place to stay while checking out the beautiful scenery in and around Crescent City."
"Stayed here a few days while working a job in Crescent City. It was quiet and we had a nice view of the bay / marina. The facilities were clean. A few places close enough to walk to for dinner."
$42 - $79 / night
"The campground is half a mile away from Jedediah State Park and the Smith River. 15 minutes from Crescent City and a short drive to Brookings."
"Come see for yourself, enjoy the Redwoods and about 15 to 25 minutes to town of Crescent City and ocean. Smith River is close by as well."
$999 / night
"Camping at Rambling Redwoods offers a unique experience, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in nature, surrounded by the majestic Redwoods."
"Some spots are close enough to hear highway noise but it wasn’t bad. There are couple great trails through Redwoods. We were there during COVID and forest fires so most activities were closed."
$15 - $30 / night
"There is a river nearby that you can hear from some of the sites but have to walk down a hill and across the day use area to actually get to it."
"Close to the Redwood Forest 🌳 we stopped here for a night 🌃on our road trip through California. The sites were nicely sized, though the showers are coin 👛operated."
$20 - $30 / night
"The pay booth is right next to the restrooms and camps host site. The security cameras set up around which made it feel a lot safer."
"The downsides: lots of road noise from the adjacent highway, zero electricity (the outlet in the bathroom doesn’t work), and there’s no hot water."
GuideThe owner is up and above friendly. Very scenic area that offers one of the most beautiful views of the red woods and the scenic drive down the Newton B Drury Scenic PKWY that is just a few miles south of the park. There is a casino a few miles away. The park has WIFI that has been reported as spotty. We were on site 13 and had a WiFi repeater about three feet from camper. So we had good enough signal.
TravelerI can not tell you what a blessing this place is! I am a single woman tent camper. I pulled into this place without reservations. I walked in the office and was greeted by the most pleasant man. I said “I know, I should book online, but do you have any availability for a tent camper?” Patrick immediately said yes. Of course. I told him I had pulled into a few places and they looked scary. I just wanted to feel safe and comfortable. Patrick and Maya have gone above and beyond! This family clearly love their property and take great pride in making this an enjoyable environment. The bathrooms are so clean. The tent sites are amazing, and the dog run is perfect! My Belgian Malinois and I have been traveling for 32 days now. This dog run was one of the first areas I felt comfortable taking her leash off and just let her go. I will definitely be back and I recommend this camp site for RV’rs and tent campers. So glad I downloaded this app, it’s the only way I could find out about this spot!
TravelerDef come here if you are trying to camp around the Redwoods. Some rangers gave us a backcountry pass to camp in the park, but then later ticketed us. Just pay the $30 to say here. It has its own beach, plus there’s water and bathrooms
TravelerWonderful! It's wonderful. Quosatana is a NF campground with boat launch along the Rogue River. It is a few miles east of Gold Beach, OR. Open year around. There generous spacing between sites, lot of shade, wide green of green grass, paved access to all. Fresh water is on tap in the CG. We were welcomed by the camp host, Pete. A great guy and knowwledgable about the area. Priced at $20 per night but qualifies for the Senior discount. We will be returning to this exceptional campground.
RangerGoogle maps lead me straight to the spot. At the end of the narrow switch back blacktop, there is a large drop off onto the gravel beach so take it slow. Depends on the time of year if it's going to be crowded or not. I was there for 14 days during Memorial holiday. It wasn't overly crowded. Rangers drove by a few times kicking out a few who overstayed the limit. The river is crystal clear and I observed four river otters swimming back and forth. There is a pit toilet on site. A dumpster was dropped off for memorial holiday which was nice. No potable water. I walked the bar picking up trash, it wasn't too bad but some people really need to clean up after themselves.
RangerThis is a small state park campground along the Chetco River just outside of Brookings, OR. The sites are generally good-sized, but a bit close together. Lots of shade and nice big trees. The campground is pretty close to the road and there’s a fair amount of traffic on the road, so there is some road noise. Bathrooms and showers were nice and clean. All of the sites have electricity and water hookups.
TravelerStop by this place you boondocker (and fisherman too). Alkens Recreation Area is a GEM! It's free, it has the Klamath nearby, it's got a sunny location, it's away from the coastal climate. It get cool - cold. A nice combination of weather. There are individual campsites with nice concrete tables. Great for meals with the kids or grilling a steak on the Barbie. A short drive or walk grants you access to the River or Alkans Creek for an opportunity to have that pan fried fish. Be warned, there is no water (except in the river), no dump., no toilets, etc. but has been real pleasant for a couple of old fogies in a camp trailer with a 4X.
TravelerKori the front desk lady was very kind and helpful. Beautiful site.
TravelerThe camp hosts was really friendly and made himself known shortly after we paid and was actively cleaning up. The pay booth is right next to the restrooms and camps host site. The security cameras set up around which made it feel a lot safer. There are a bunch of mini trails around the campground, and even a park further down a path by the restrooms (with hand soap dispensers, paper towels, and a sink). The campsite are close but don’t feel like they are on top of each other. You even get a picnic table and a little fire pit in each site. There are quite a few water stations set up around. Dogs do need to stay on a leash the entire time.
For the price it was definitely worth it, and the site was extremely convenient, felt safe and was clean.
Camping near Crescent City, California provides access to a unique climate zone where coastal fog frequently meets inland valleys. Summer daytime temperatures typically range from 60-70°F while winter months can drop to the 40s with significant rainfall averaging 70 inches annually. This northern California region contains some of the world's tallest trees with camping options spread across both national forest and coastal state park lands.
Horseback riding excursions: Near Redwood Meadows RV Resort, visitors can experience guided trail rides. "We drove Howland hill road and did short hikes and did a horseback ride up into the redwoods with Crescent Trail rides," notes Ken C.
Smith River access: The Smith River offers excellent swimming spots during summer months at Panther Flat Campground. "Smith River is amazing and CLEAN. Please respect it and keep it that way. Sunscreens contaminate the rivers," advises Lorena S., who recommends using protective clothing instead of chemicals when enjoying the river.
Tide pool exploration: Low tide reveals marine ecosystems worth exploring. A camper at Harris Beach State Park shared, "During low tide, you can explore the tide pools. We saw hundreds of hermit crabs, anemone, starfish, sculpin, and more. Sunsets are also phenomenal."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Watch for wildlife throughout the region's diverse ecosystems. At Kamp Klamath, the location offers easy "walking distance to the mouth of the Klamath River" where seals can often be spotted feeding, according to Pat J.
Private sites among vegetation: Many campgrounds offer natural separation between sites. At Mill Creek Campground, "the sites are fairly close together, but the nature of the vegetation made for 'walls' around the spots, which offered some privacy," explains Jason G.
Quality shower facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept shower facilities. At Harris Beach State Park, a camper noted "The restroom and shower facilities are probably the best I've ever seen. Super new, well maintained, clean, and spacious."
Ranger-led activities: Family programs run at select campgrounds. "The Rangers hold Junior Ranger activities twice a day," mentions a Harris Beach camper, making it especially engaging for children.
Variety of camping surfaces: Some sites feature unique camping platforms. At Redwood Meadows RV Resort, one visitor explained, "We tent camped on a platform for two days... The platform is huge."
Highway noise considerations: Several campgrounds sit close to major roads. At Lighthouse Cove RV Park, "The site is also near a lighthouse jetty that produces a tone every 7 seconds or so, non-stop," reports Ibeya A.
Seasonal booking requirements: Summer brings crowds to the area. According to a Harris Beach camper, "This is a awesome State Park. The campgrounds are crowded but there is so much foliage that you still feel very secluded in your camp spot."
Cell service limitations: Many forested areas have limited connectivity. A camper at Panther Flat noted "In the woods, only extended cell service which doesn't work well."
Weather variations: The area experiences significant climate differences between coast and inland areas. At Redwood Meadows, a camper observed, "The campground is far enough inland way from the coast that the marine layer burned off much quicker so we had beautiful sunny days with a nice cool breeze."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. At Florence Keller Regional Park, "There is a day use area with horseshoe pits, including horseshoes, and volleyball or badminton grass court with no net and a playground," describes Laura M.
Educational opportunities: The region offers natural learning experiences. "This campground is absolutely breathtaking. If you're looking to stay in the Redwoods, this is the place to be... there's a magical rainforest vibe if you venture into the forests!" shares Bri L. about Florence Keller.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer water access. At Panther Flat, "Trees everywhere and Smith river access is minutes away," notes Johnny G., adding "Bring blankets, it gets pretty cool overnight especially since trees keep area shaded and the river is so close."
Wildlife viewing for kids: Animal sightings are common around several campgrounds. At Kamp Klamath, they even have "hot showers and chickens!" according to Abby M.
Site selection strategy: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs. At Crescent City/Redwoods KOA, "This was one of the best campsites we have had at a KOA. We were in a grove of redwoods and it was beautiful (forget Starlink at our site)," notes James W.
Power considerations: Solar-reliant RVers should choose locations carefully. At Florence Keller Regional Park, "You are surrounded by redwoods with very little sunshine so if you rely on solar this will be a problem," warns Laura M.
Campsite accessibility: Some campgrounds have narrow access roads. At Jedediah Smith Campground, a reviewer mentioned "The sites are decently sized, accommodating two to three tents, but the roads would be tough to navigate in a large RV or with a long trailer."
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer comprehensive RV services. A visitor to Mill Creek Campground mentioned "wonderful sites, clean bathrooms with dump station," making it suitable for RV campers requiring these amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a KOA campground in Crescent City, California?
Yes, the Crescent City/Redwoods KOA is located in the Crescent City area. This KOA offers standard KOA amenities including drive-in access, reservable sites, water, toilets, and big-rig-friendly spaces. It serves as a convenient base for exploring the nearby redwood forests and coastal attractions. If you're looking for alternatives with similar amenities, Redwood Meadows RV Resort is another option that offers a variety of accommodation types including tent sites, RV hookups, yurts, and cabin apartments, plus recreational facilities like a basketball court and recreation room.
What tent camping options are available in Crescent City?
Tent campers in Crescent City have several excellent options. Florence Keller Regional Park is a hidden gem tucked in a beautiful dense forest just minutes from town. This first-come, first-served campground charges a flat $20 fee and provides a peaceful setting. Mill Creek Campground in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park offers secluded tent sites among towering trees with amenities including restrooms and bear boxes. For tent campers seeking proximity to natural attractions, sites are available just a short drive from town, offering the perfect balance of convenience and wilderness experience. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate tents with varying levels of amenities and privacy.
Where can I find beach camping in Crescent City, CA?
For beach camping in Crescent City, Lighthouse Cove RV Park offers a prime location within walking distance of the lighthouse and Crescent City harbor, perfect for beach access. While not directly on the sand, it provides convenient proximity to coastal areas. For those willing to venture slightly outside Crescent City, Beachfront RV Park in nearby Brookings offers true oceanfront camping. Most beach camping in the immediate Crescent City area caters primarily to RVs rather than tents due to the coastal weather conditions. The harbor area provides excellent beach access with amenities like seafood markets and restaurants nearby.
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