The Best Redwood National Park One Day Itinerary (2024)
Want to know to the best Redwood National Park one day itinerary? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
Redwood National Park is one of California’s most iconic national parks, located along the coastline in the northern part of the state.
It’s made up of a handful of state parks as well, so it definitely takes more than one day to see it all.
But, you can definitely see a lot of the highlights with just one day.
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The Best Redwood National Park One Day Itinerary
This Redwood National Park one day itinerary highlights all the best things to do in a short visit.
1. Start Your Day By Driving The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
This 10-mile scenic drive winds through the park, offering stunning views of the redwoods.
Stop at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center to learn more about the park and pick up a map.
2. Hike The Prairie Creek And Foothill Loop Trail
This 2.4-mile loop trail takes you through a variety of redwood forest habitats.
Along the way, you’ll see towering redwoods, lush ferns, and a variety of wildlife.
3. Drive To Gold Bluffs Beach
This beautiful beach is located at the end of a short trail.
On the beach, you can explore tide pools, look for seabirds, and enjoy the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
4. Hike The James Irvine Trail To Fern Canyon
This 3.2-mile trail takes you through a lush canyon filled with towering ferns.
The canyon is a popular spot for photographers and is a must-see for any visitor to Redwood National Park.
5. In The Evening, Enjoy A Campfire At One Of The Park’s Campgrounds
Roast marshmallows, sing songs, and stargaze under the redwoods.
More Things To Do In Redwood National Park If You Have More Time
Here are some more ideas to add to your itinerary if you have more than one day to explore Redwood National Park.
Two Day Itinerary
On your second day, hike the Tall Trees Trail or the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail.
In the afternoon, visit the Redwood Creek Visitor Center and learn about the park’s history and ecology.
Three Day Itinerary
On your third day, hike the Redwood Creek Trail.
If you’ve ever been to Disney’s California Adventure Park in Anaheim, you may have heard of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail attraction.
This is what it’s named for!
In the afternoon, visit the Klamath River Overlook and enjoy the views of the river and the redwoods.
Four Day Itinerary
On your fourth day, drive to the Klamath River and go for a boat tour or a kayak trip.
Where To Stay When You’re Visiting Redwood National Park
There are no lodges or hotels inside Redwood National Park, but there are plenty nearby.
However, there are plenty of campgrounds inside the park.
✔️ Camping At Redwood National Park
There are a variety of campgrounds throughout the Redwoods.
Each one has different amenities and availability.
Camping is available seasonally and books out well in advance, so you’ll have to plan ahead if you want to camp in the park.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Campground At Redwood National Park Today!
✔️ The Historic Requa Inn
This inn in Klamath, California is not too far from Redwood National Park.
It’s highly rated, is historic, has a restaurant, and a variety of room types to choose from.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Stay At The Historic Requa Inn Today!
Tips For Planning Your Trip To Redwood National Park
The best time to visit Redwood National Park is during the spring or fall, when the weather is mild.
Redwood National Park is located in a remote area, so be sure to pack everything you’ll need, including food, water, and sunscreen.
There are a variety of places to stay near the park, including campgrounds, lodges, and bed and breakfasts.
The park is open year-round, but some roads and trails may be closed when they get washed out during rainy season (January and February) or from mudslides, which could happen any time of year.
If you need help planning your trip to Redwood National Park, check out our Tips For Planning A Trip To Anywhere (A Step-By-Step Guide) or our guide on How To Plan A National Park Road Trip.
Read our Best Tips For Staying Safe When Traveling During Extreme Weather if you’re traveling during the extreme heat in Summer or the snow in Winter.
Also check out our Best Tips For Staying Well While You Travel if you’re prone to getting colds or have allergies when you travel or have other ailments.
Lastly, if you’re traveling on a budget, read up on our Best Tips For Traveling On A Budget: Your Guide To Planning An Affordable Trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a trip to a national park can be hard.
There’s just so much information out there with always changing weather conditions and park closures.
These are the most frequently asked questions we see about planning a trip to Redwood National Park.
✅ How Many Days Do You Need For Redwood National Park?
The amount of time you need to visit Redwood National Park depends on how much you want to see and do.
You can easily see the highlights in one day, but if you want to hike some of the longer trails or explore more of the park, you’ll need anywhere from 2-5 days.
✅ What Are The Best Months To Visit The Redwoods?
The best months to visit Redwood National Park are May, June, September, and October.
During these months, the weather is mild and there are fewer crowds.
The park is open year-round, but the winter months can be rainy and cold.
✅ Is Sequoia Or Redwood Better?
Sequoia National Park and Redwood National Park are both amazing places to visit, and it can be difficult to decide which one is better.
Both parks have their own unique features and attractions.
Sequoia National Park is home to some of the largest trees in the world, including the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest tree by volume.
Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world, including the Hyperion Tree, which is the tallest tree by height.
Ultimately, the best park for you depends on your personal preferences.
If you are looking for the largest trees in the world, then Sequoia National Park is the way to go.
If you are looking for the tallest trees in the world, then Redwood National Park is the way to go.
But if you are looking for a specific climate, then you will need to choose the park that has the climate that you prefer.
And if you are simply looking for a beautiful place to visit, then you can’t go wrong with either park.
✅ What Is The Best Route Through Redwood National Park?
The best route through Redwood National Park depends on how much time you have and what you want to see.
The itinerary above shows the main highlights, so you can follow that route to see and do the most in a short amount of time.
More Great National Parks To Visit In California
California is home to 9 of America’s National Parks.
Pair them for an epic California road trip or if you’re a local, take a weekend to visit each one.
🥾 Yosemite National Park One Day Itinerary
Yosemite National Park is easily the most well known and popular of the National Parks in California.
There’s so much to do in this park, but the average visitor can see many of the highlights in a one day trip.
🥾 Death Valley National Park One Day Itinerary
Death Valley is in the middle of the desert and is home to the lowest elevation in the US.
It’s an easy visit from Vegas or from Southern California.
I recommend visiting in the shoulder season so it’s not 115+ degrees outside when you visit.
Some of the original Star Wars scenes were filmed here too!
🥾 Channel Islands National Park Santa Cruz Island Day Trip
Santa Cruz Island is one of the most visited islands in the Channel Islands.
It’s an easy boat trip from Ventura Harbor Village.
You schedule your trip in advance for arrival and departure times on the island and you can even choose to stay and camp overnight on the island if you like.
🥾 Channel Islands National Park Santa Rosa Island Day Trip
Santa Rosa Island is a bit further out, but can still be visited on a day trip from Ventura.
It takes a little longer to get there and back, but that’s more opportunities for whale watching along the way.
🥾 Joshua Tree National Park Day Trip Itinerary
Joshua Tree is just outside of Palm Springs and is best paired with a trip to the whole area.
It’s one of the Dark Sky Parks where you can see virtually everything in the sky at night due to its distance from any neighboring cities.
But if you’re visiting just for the day, we have an easy itinerary that takes you through the whole park, ending with the perfect sunset where you can see all the way to Mexico.
🥾 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park One Day Itinerary
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are technically 2 separate National Parks, but they’re connected to each other, so most visitors will see both when they visit.
You’ll see some of the oldest and tallest trees in the US and venture down into the valley into a completely different environment.
Lunch at the lodge is also a great experience.
🥾 Lassen Volcanic National Park One Day Itinerary
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a relatively unknown and severely underrated national park in Northern California.
We paired our trip here with visits to Lake Tahoe and Reno.
🥾 Pinnacles National Park One Day Itinerary
Pinnacles is in Central California and it’s known for it’s caves that you can hike through during certain times of the year.
It’s all dependent on not disturbing the bats!
Conclusion: Redwood National Park One Day Itinerary
This Redwood National Park one day itinerary takes you to all the highlights you’ll want to see if you’re short on time during your visit.
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