138 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Orick, California centers around ancient redwood forests and coastal landscapes. Campgrounds near Orick range from forested tent sites among old-growth redwoods to exposed coastal sites in sand dunes below redwood bluffs, giving campers a genuine choice between two distinct environments. The area features campgrounds like Elk Prairie and Gold Bluffs Beach within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, along with limited dispersed camping options at Redwood Creek. These campgrounds provide access to old-growth redwood groves, coastal bluffs, and wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly Roosevelt elk that frequently visit the meadows and campgrounds. Located along Highway 101 approximately 35 miles north of Eureka, Orick serves as a gateway to some of the most impressive redwood forests in Northern California.
Most campgrounds in the Orick area are open year-round, though coastal fog and rain are common throughout the year, particularly from October through April. Summer brings milder temperatures but also higher visitation. Reservations are strongly recommended for Elk Prairie Campground, while Gold Bluffs Beach operates on a first-come, first-served basis and often fills by early afternoon during peak season. Bear-proof food storage is required at all sites, with bear boxes provided at established campgrounds. Cell service is limited or non-existent within most campgrounds, with better connectivity along Highway 101. According to campers, nighttime fog is common at coastal sites even during summer, making rain flies essential for tent camping regardless of daytime conditions.
Elk Prairie Campground offers sites among redwoods, fir, and maple trees with more privacy and protection from coastal weather. As one visitor noted, "Beautiful, private campsites carved into a mixed forest of redwood, fir, and maple trees." In contrast, Gold Bluffs Beach provides a more exposed coastal setting with sites in sand dunes below redwood bluffs. Access to Gold Bluffs requires navigating a long, unpaved road unsuitable for trailers over 24 feet or RVs. Limited services are available in Orick itself, with most campers needing to stock up on supplies in Trinidad (15 miles south) or Crescent City (40 miles north) before arrival.
"If you have a pup like me, it’s tough to beat Cal Barrel Road, a rad 180 out that’s around 6 miles round trip. Since it’s technically a road, dogs are allowed!"
"This was my favorite campground in our northern california tour. Campimg among the redwoods, so quiet and shady we slept in late each morning."
from $35 - $100 / night
Check Availability"The sites are spacious, located in the sand dunes just below a large redwood bluff. The sites on the west of the loop also back up to the ocean."
"One of the best campsites in California. You should start at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and hike out to this campground."
"This campground is conveniently located right on the 101 Hwy, close by to the ocean and right down the road from tons of Redwood Nat’l Park trails."
"We used this as a checkpoint in 2021 when traveling from Oregon to Southern California via HWY-101. The park is clean, and we had a great time walking around and resting between the legs of our trip."
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The county campground is located on its shore. Most of the campsites have views of the lagoon and the dunes on its opposite shore."
"Great location, great scenery, great price, but tight space for RVers. If you have a rig over 20ft, think twice before coming down this road to search for an available campsite."
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availability"General: Five campgrounds – Agate, Abalone, Penn (tents only), and two group campgrounds (Red Alder and Beach Creek) situated just north of Trinidad. "
"This is one of the nicest and quietest California State Parks in the system. The individual sites are separated by foliage and everything is green."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"It was a little muddy when we visited but California was smack dab in the middle of a very wet season. Our campsite was level and secluded."
"The highway was loud but we happened to get a spot right next to it. Bathrooms and showers were very clean. We came in around 9 and paid for a spot without having to talk to someone."
"Once set up, the camp side was very close to our neighbors. Expect no privacy. Perhaps they should put up a patrician of lattice or something between the sites. The utilities are somewhat confusing."
"Location, location, location. "
from $40 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Patrick's point camp ground is one of my favorite state parks in California."
"It’s tucked near Humboldt Bay within the Redwoods. It’s an absolutely beautiful campground, but it’s certainly busy!"
from $35 / night
Check Availability"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, group fire pits."
"It is right off of the highway so you do have traffic noise. This park is super close to Trees of Mystery which we explored for a couple of hours. Overall, we would stay here again."
from $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"Dispersed camping along the river banks after walking through the Tall Trees hike. Easy overnighter."
"but be prepared, you will be camping next to a creek on top of rocks. if you have a sleeping pad, this is no problem. if not, be aware. Next, you WILL cross a creek! the rocks are PAINFUL!"
GuideThis campground is amazing! It was quiet and peaceful, and our campsite felt very secluded even though there were other campsites nearby. Bathrooms were well-maintained.
Other items of note: It's a fairly short drive to/from Crescent City (about 15 minutes) and there's no cell service in the campground. Pets are allowed on the paved areas.
GuideSmall spots and not many but very pretty and I love the little stream nearby
ScoutWe got here pretty late at night, there were a bunch of campsites available. Our host, Dude was super nice and helpful. The bathrooms were kept clean. Didn’t really see any bugs, but we did encounter a couple skunks and raccoons. They left us alone and scurried off. Even though there isn’t any swimming at the beach, it was still nice to walk along the shore. Would definitely stay here again.
ScoutWe stayed in site #11 which happens to be right next to the bathrooms/showers which I thought would be annoying but wasn't at all. The restrooms weren't visible from the site as there was a giant hedge barrier between the little building and our site. The bathrooms themselves were spic and span and had no odor. Probably the only annoying thing was people who would slam the doors to the restrooms - but I blame the lame human beings who give no thought about the amount of noise they create, not the setup. The site was set back off of the small lane that was Penn campground. Penn is the smallest of the 3 or 4 campgrounds at Sue-Meg and I think the nicest. Also, RV's are not allowed so we didn't have to listen to generators running in the evenings/mornings.
Back to the restrooms...in the end it was nice being so close to the restrooms/showers as other campsites had to make quite a trek to use the facilities. AND, like I said, they were some of the cleanest restrooms and shower rooms I have ever been to at a campground.
The ranger staff were all super friendly and knowledgeable. Birds aplenty and they will wake you before first light. Will definitely camp here again. I made reservations back in February for a mid-June weekend, and many of the sites were already reserved - FYI.
My only complaint is the wood we purchased from the host was wet and our first fire was unsatisfactory and smokey.
ScoutNice parking lot with a limited ocean view and it’s only $20 for up to 3 days stay. On top of that the casino gives you a $10 free play, for us, times 2 people. Then you get another $10 the next day for a total of $20 free play each. We won $16.25 making our stay less than $4 lol. Oh and bonus, they have a few water spigots.
GuideThis is by far my most favorite campground and state park. Sites are spacious and most are very private, easy to walk down to the gorgeous Smith River and numerous hiking trails through the park and to nearby Hiouchi (you can walk to breakfast or lunch and a great little cafe there!). Just magical here.
GuideWe spent two weeks at E-Ne-Nuck at site 10 which was the best option for our solar and star-link which was extremely limited at the campground from all the trees. No cell service at all. Pit toilets, trash & recycling offered. No water. Local dogs would roam and come say hi frequently which was the majority of the traffic for our visit. We saw three other campers our whole stay the end of May & early June. The fireplace was a different experience than a campfire but a few sites have actual fire rings.
GuideThere are some easy to navigate for big rigs up by office. While others may be a little difficult further back. Cabins and tent areas ok. Ck in with friendly staff. Showers restrooms clean and hot water. WiFi was pretty much not there at site 503 (small 30 amp w/water hookup). Nice division in our site. But it's the smallest site for 24 or under feet. Cell phone service for our Att and Verizon was a one to two bar(not great).
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.
Dispersed camping near Orick, California requires careful planning due to limited availability. The area sits at the confluence of coastal and forest ecosystems, with elevations ranging from sea level to around 3,000 feet in nearby mountains. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-65°F with frequent coastal fog that can persist regardless of inland conditions.
Explore secluded beaches: The mouth of the Klamath River offers excellent wildlife viewing. "We stayed in the Meadow campground which is all open and no shade but we loved it. It's a 2 min drive (or mile walk) to a beautiful and secluded beach," notes a visitor at Klamath River RV Park.
Hunt for agates: Big Lagoon County Park provides access to beaches with semi-precious stones. "10 minute walk to beach full of agates. Bathrooms. Quiet," reports a camper. Another notes, "And it is a short walk to a beach where agates abound. And all off the beaten path."
Visit Fern Canyon: Located near Gold Bluffs Beach, this unique geological formation features walls covered in ferns. "There's limited cell service in the camp ground. The spots are pretty close together," mentions a camper at Elk Country RV Resort & Campground, which serves as a convenient base for exploring the canyon.
Take ranger-led talks: Educational programs run regularly during summer. "We enjoyed proximity to trails and other parks, along with the ranger talks each night," shares a visitor at Elk Prairie Campground.
Elk viewing opportunities: Roosevelt elk are frequently spotted throughout the area. "Rosevelt Elk roam through the campground. They were obviously used to people. We stayed on the 'meadow' side where the elk roam through your campsite," notes a camper at Klamath River RV Park.
Private sites among trees: Many campgrounds offer wooded privacy. "We were at site 67; the sites on that loop are set up in a way that everyone has a private tree cubby so it didn't feel like you were camping by a bunch of people," shares a visitor at Elk Prairie Campground.
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms are frequently mentioned in reviews. "Bathrooms were close; quarter showers; hiking trail beginning super close to the site," reports a camper at Abalone Campground, while another notes, "Nice clean campgrounds greenery everywhere."
Proximity to trails: Most campgrounds offer direct trail access. "We had our tent in the trees with a 100 yard walk out to Patrick's point and the Pacific Ocean. Close to Agate beach for stunning views," explains a visitor at Agate Campground.
Permit requirements: Some dispersed camping areas require permits. "GO TO THE WEBSITE!! If you want to camp here, you MUST get a free permit on the website listed on here. If you do not, you will find yourself at a locked gate you cannot enter," warns a camper at Redwood Creek Dispersed Camp.
Creek crossings: Water shoes are essential for some areas. "Next, you WILL cross a creek! The rocks are PAINFUL! Bring your sandals! We did not and that part sucked," advises a Redwood Creek camper.
Road conditions: Several campgrounds have challenging access roads. "Beware this is considered a rain forest so your rig will really get a water test at the right times of the year," notes a camper at Kamp Klamath.
Weather preparedness: Coastal fog is common even during summer. "In January, the sun doesn't reach the campground until 10:30am," shares a visitor at Gold Bluffs Beach, highlighting the microclimate conditions.
Playground options: Some campgrounds offer play areas for children. "They have a small play structure with swings for the kiddos. Which my daughter enjoyed," reports a visitor at Klamath River RV Park.
Wildlife viewing spots: Look for designated viewing areas. "We saw so many animals: elk, a bear, scrub jays, chipmunks, tadpoles, rabbits, deer, etc. We were able to hike a bunch on the campground (very accessible)," shares a camper at Gold Bluffs Beach Campground.
Entertainment options: Some facilities offer indoor activities. "Additionally there is a Video Arcade, Horseshoe pit, dog park, celebration hall with board games/puzzles, a mini mart, playground, gazebo, and multiple bath/shower houses and laundry facilities," notes a visitor at Elk Country RV Resort.
Site selection: Choose carefully based on needs and rig size. "If you have a rig over 20ft, think twice before coming down this road to search for an available campsite. There are only two sites which could accommodate longer rigs," warns a Big Lagoon County Park visitor.
Hookup availability: Full hookups are limited to certain campgrounds. "We had full hook ups on the meadow side. I am not sure if the forest side had full hook ups," shares a camper at Elk Country RV Resort.
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for waste disposal. "Well maintained campground, but with tight turns and smallish sites relatively close together. Even with a small (16') camper, we had to unhitch to fit," notes an Elk Prairie Campground visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Orick, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Orick, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 138 campgrounds and RV parks near Orick, CA and 14 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Orick, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Orick, CA is Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 75 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Orick, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near Orick, CA.
What parks are near Orick, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Orick, CA that allow camping, notably Redwood National Park and Six Rivers National Forest.
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