Crescent City is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Crescent City, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
"There is a path down to the Smith River where you can set up tents and tent camp if you want.
The toilet was a basic pit toilet, but it was fairly clean as far as those go. "
"We chose Flint Ridge for our permit because of its accessibility to the road and main attractions through the park."
"When you arrive on the ONE WAY coastal drive you pull into parking on the left which is a half moon gravel area facing the ocean."
$10 / night
"Each site had a fire ring and picnic table. The spaces were rather small and I think an RV would have a hard time fitting into the spaces. The bathroom was clean."
"The river was just a few steps away and the tent was nestled right in the trees. The campsites were fairly far apart so there wasn't much interaction (which is what we were going for). "
$40 - $50 / night
"Several other campsites around as well. Chose one directly on the river. Plenty of firewood around. Filtered water from the river. Another campsite 45 minutes northwest. Almost as nice."
LegendThis campground was primitive and very "natural" in setting. The sites had a bear box for food storage and there were Elk grazing near our loop. We picked blackberries and watched bluejays landing nearby. There was a restroom with pay showers and a ranger station at the entrance. Not a lot here but plenty to do up the road on the Newton B Drury Pkwy we visited the ancient Redwoods that were amazing. Also, can drive to Fern Valley if you rig isn't too big. That is where a scene from Jurassic park was filmed.
RangerEasy road to get to this stretch of river, and lots of campgrounds along. As described, 4 drive-ins & 2 walk-ins. Stays in closer walk-in #5. Later learned some girls had used a drive-in spot just for parking 😡. One vault toilet in fair condition, trash. No potable water. Beautiful stretch of river with swimming hole & great rocks to jump from. Beautiful sand beach. Definitely NOT big-rig friendly. Posted ‘no alcohol’, but don’t know why.
LegendAfter climbing up, up, up along the coast, the Mill Creek access road takes you twisting down into a valley among the trees.
Upon arrival the rangers assigned me a campsite but worked hard to figure out which is the available sites best suit my needs. We settled on a site along an out of the way loop. On a Thursday night mid-September there were many open campsites and the campground was pretty quiet. It was incredible just to wander around the campground and wonder at the trees. Mill Creek is in a second generation forest. The old growth trees had been cut for logging years ago but their awe-inspiring stumps are scattered throughout the campground. The trees that grow today are impressive in their own way.
Roughly 20 minutes from Crescent City, there's relatively quick access to the beach and coastline. Check out the Battery Point Lighthouse which can only be accessed at low tide. The campground has flushing toilets, drinking water, and pay showers. There are also fire pits, picnic tables, and large bear lockers in each campsite. The roads down to the campground and throughout are a little rough, keep an eye out for big dumps and dips. The campground hosts sell firewood and have quarters for the showers and are incredibly friendly. I loved staying at Mill Creek and had a wonderful experience yet, $35 dollars a night feels a little pricey.
RangerThis is one of the prettiest State Park campgrounds along Oregons Southern Coast! Just off Hwy 101 and less than a mile north of Brookings, OR.
This campground has many Full hookup sites with plenty of tent sites too. 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. A large playground is located in A loop and is a short walk really from any loop. There is an amphitheater with bench seating that ranger talks are hosted pretty much nightly. We attended one and had a great time watching a moving and learning about the local whales that frequent the coastline there. They offer Junior Ranger activities in a yurt directly across from the amphitheater. Unlike most of the Oregon State Parks we have visited it is only open for an hour 10-11 everyday, but still worth checking out with the kiddos. They do have firewood available to purchase in the campground as well for $5/bundle.
Camping here you are very close to the OR- CA border which makes trips to the Redwood National Park and Crescent City extremely easy. Trails through the Redwoods in Jedediah State Park and Ocean were great for the kiddos when we were not spending time on the beach at the campground.
We really enjoyed our stay here and will definitely be making a return trip!
RangerWe stayed here on the way down from the Oregon coast. Great camp site although wet from all the early June rain. Some other sites are elevated above the access loop so would aim for those.
Make sure you get up early or late as they seem to service the restrooms between 7:30 and 8a.
Great camp host with wood available for fires. Bear boxes at every site. Easy access to get to Prairie Creek and Elk Prairie campground for a scenic walk on the beach or access for Fern Canyon.
Close access to Crescent City for groceries and laundry if needed.
GuideI visited here for one night in October and it was very quiet. Only 10 other campsites being used. The campground is quite large, however a few loops were closed for post season construction. Beautiful sites and awesome to set up my tent right next to giant Redwoods!
The campground runs along the Smith river, which is beautiful in its own right!
All sites standard with bear box, fire ring and picnic table. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Quarter operated showers. $8/bundle of wood. $35/night. Cash or check only!!
Dont miss the Boy Scout Trail just a few minutes down the road and the Stout Memorial Grove across the river.
TravelerOriginally planned to stay for 4 days but ended up extending the trip a few extra days. Management was extremely helpful, polite, and accommodating. We were lucky to have a beautiful and secluded site. 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. The spots can be a little tricky to get into and those with larger rigs should contact the management office to ensure they can fit and maneuver properly but we saw plenty of huge Class As and triple axle 5th wheels. Cell phone coverage is spotty but they offer wifi and it allowed us a good chance to disconnect. 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.
TravelerWe came in late and all the surrounding campgrounds were full. There were plenty of spaces to choose from at this park. The sites are nestled under beautiful redwood trees and there are great hiking trails throughout the grounds. It has a big playground for the youngsters. There is only one bathroom with flush toilets and they could use some serious updates. It can be quite a hike to the facilities from some of the sites. It has some portable toilets but they had not been emptied in a while and were disgusting.
The park is perfectly located to visit the surrounding State parks and Crescent City is only a short drive away.
TravelerWe tent camped on a platform for two days. Not my cup of tea, but a compromise for my teenager. The spaces are tight together. The platform is huge. The fire pit for tent site 5 is right next to where you park parallel to your site. The bathrooms are cleaned twice daily, just be ready to flush. The park has sensitive toilets. We didn't use the showers as there was a line frequently. Although this place is right on the highway the noise is not too noticeable and quiet later in the evening. The gazebo with a sink and running water was a nice touch, sitting right next to a cute pond. Cell service for Verizon was spotty in the park but worked at the mini Mart. The wifi does work but not when everyone is in there campsites using it.
The location of this park is absolutely perfect. The redwoods are right down the road. Crescent City is super close for beach adventures. A short drive up the road for a river day. The cherry on top is the mini Mart at the entrance for ice and other items.
Would definitely stay here again.
Crescent City, California, offers a variety of tent camping options surrounded by stunning natural beauty, making it a perfect getaway for outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Crescent City, CA is Sand Camp - Dispersed with a 3.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
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