Fort Dick sits at the edge of the northern California redwoods, where annual rainfall exceeds 70 inches and coastal fog frequently blankets the landscape. This location along Highway 101 serves as a convenient base for exploring both the redwood forests inland and the coastal areas of Del Norte County. Temperatures typically range from 40-65°F year-round, creating reliable camping conditions.
What to do
Redwood hiking trails: Venture into Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park from Redwood Meadows RV Resort, which provides easy access to old-growth forests. "Great location in heart of Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park with easy access to the Smith River. Very clean and medium spacious RV sites," writes Michael.
Ocean beaches: At Beachfront RV Park in nearby Brookings, campers can enjoy miles of shoreline. "Location location. Get a beach front site. You fall asleep to the sound of the waves. It's magical. Beach is great," notes Jennifer H. The park is situated directly on the sand with unobstructed ocean access.
Bird watching: Multiple campgrounds offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly for coastal and forest birds. At Klamath River RV Park, visitors report seeing diverse wildlife: "There's lots of wildlife to watch and stellars jays that will pick through an empty campsite for food left out. We even saw a bear across the Klamath river!"
What campers like
River access: Klamath River RV Park provides riverfront sites with impressive views. "We stayed at Klamath River RV to explore the redwoods. It's a great location and close to parks/trails. Full hookup, riverfront sites available, clean bathrooms/showers, camp store, camp cafe open on weekends for breakfast," reports Hattie R.
Trail systems: Many campgrounds feature their own walking paths. At Mystic Forest RV Park, campers enjoy on-site nature experiences. "We were able to grab a spot on our way down to Big Sur with no reservation. Took a site that was set back and had a cute tree on it the you could walk through," shares Nicole S. Another camper adds: "There is a hiking trail around the RV Site through the woods which is fantastic."
Unique amenities: Some campgrounds offer distinct features beyond standard facilities. "They have Adirondack chairs set up to enjoy the views," notes Missy R. about Klamath River RV Park. At Mystic Forest, visitors appreciate the "18 hole mini golf course" and "horseshoe pits," though some mention these facilities need maintenance.
What you should know
Cell service variations: Connectivity fluctuates significantly throughout the area. At Kamp Klamath RV Park, "Cell service and Wi-Fi were good, which is what kept us here for the week, since we were working remotely." However, at Redwood Meadows RV Resort, "Cell phone coverage is spotty but they offer wifi and it allowed us a good chance to disconnect."
Reservation systems: Most parks operate varying reservation systems. At Beachfront RV Park, a camper noted, "Booked same day and about 4 hours before we arrived. We got lucky and got a premium ocean spot." Sites with waterfront views typically fill fastest, especially in summer months.
Weather considerations: The marine layer affects coastal parks significantly. "It's the coast in summer. Sometimes its sunny. Sometimes, it's not," writes William J. Inland parks typically see earlier fog clearing: "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."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly spaces: Lighthouse Cove RV Park offers play areas for children near the beach. "If you got kids, and just need a spot to stop it's not bad. Kids can run on the beach without too much trouble," notes Bo L. The adjacent city park with playground equipment provides additional recreation space.
Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds position families near wildlife viewing spots. One visitor at Kamp Klamath mentions, "The ocean is about 1 mile away right at the mouth of the Klamath river with an awesome beach. Good fishing, beach combing, kite flying etc."
Space considerations: Site layout matters when selecting family spots. "Loved it, the kids had a blast running around the woods. Really easy pull thru site that fit our camper and both vehicles," reports Jenna B. about her stay at Ramblin' Redwoods. The forested setting provides natural play areas away from roadways.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At rv parks near Fort Dick, California, site location can significantly impact your experience. "While the river front sites were spectacular, they were not pull through sites so it would have been a pain to back in to," notes one RVer about waterfront options. At Ramblin' Redwoods Campground & RV Park, "Level full hook-up sites in large grass field. Each site has approximate 10x10 concrete pad for chairs, BBQ, etc."
Big rig access: Several Fort Dick area RV parks accommodate larger vehicles with varying ease. "About four homeless people observed nearby... did not have any problems. Did not notice traffic noise at night. Would stay again," mentions Leonard H. about his experience at Lighthouse Cove RV Park. Another RVer notes: "Large RV park with amenities for power, water, etc. bathrooms are kinda limited, few showers in men's and ladies room, but if you have large RV showers may not be issue."
Noise factors: Highway proximity affects some rv camping options around Fort Dick. "The only issue we had was a tweeker across the bay was screaming at the top of her lungs for about 20min, other than that pretty standard RV park fair," reports one camper. At Lighthouse Cove, campers should know: "the site is also near a lighthouse jetty that produces a tone every 7 seconds or so, non-stop."
