Redwood National Park RV Camping: Campgrounds & Rig Limits

RV camping inside Redwood National and State Parks means choosing scenery over hookups. All four developed campgrounds cost $35 per night, have no hookups, and impose RV limits of 24 to 28 feet. Larger rigs and travelers who need sewer, water, or 50-amp service should stay at a private park near Crescent City or along US-101 instead.

That trade-off is the key to planning this coast. A 25-foot motorhome can camp beneath the redwoods at Jedediah Smith; a 35-foot fifth wheel cannot. A full-hookup base outside the park gives a larger rig an easier site while preserving the redwood groves for day trips.

This guide compares the official 2026 campground limits, then matches each type of RV trip to a practical base. For a statewide shortlist, use our best RV parks in California guide.

Related guides: Olympic National Park RV Camping: Kalaloch, Hoh, Mora & Sol Duc (2026)

Redwood campground comparison#

Campground	Season	Sites	RV / trailer limit	Hookups	Showers	Dump station
Jedediah Smith	Year-round	86, varies	25 ft / 21 ft	None	Yes	Yes
Mill Creek	Spring–fall	145	28 ft / 24 ft	None	Yes	Yes
Elk Prairie	Year-round	75	27 ft / 24 ft	None	Yes	No
Gold Bluffs Beach	Year-round	26	24 ft / trailers prohibited	None	Yes	No

All four list a $35 standard nightly fee in the National Park Service’s 2026 visitor guide. Exact campsite dimensions and temporary operating changes still control, so match the dimensions in your reservation to the complete length of your equipment.

Which campground should you choose?#

• Choose Jedediah Smith for a small RV or van and direct access to the Smith River and northern redwood groves.
• Choose Mill Creek for the highest published RV ceiling inside the parks: 28 feet.
• Choose Elk Prairie for prairie, redwood trails, and a chance to see Roosevelt elk from a respectful distance.
• Choose Gold Bluffs Beach for a small motorhome or campervan and coastal access. It is not an option for trailers.
• Choose a private park if your rig exceeds the official limit, you need full hookups, or you want to avoid maneuvering a large RV on narrow campground roads.

Camping inside Redwood National and State Parks#

Redwood National Park and California State Parks jointly manage the park complex. The developed campgrounds use ReserveCalifornia rather than Recreation.gov for their main reservation inventory.

Jedediah Smith Campground#

Jedediah Smith puts the smallest qualifying RVs in old-growth forest beside the Smith River. Its 86-site inventory can vary, and the official maximum is 25 feet for an RV and 21 feet for a trailer.

That number is not a soft recommendation. The National Park Service warns that narrow lanes and tight curves cannot accommodate longer equipment. Do not rely on an old listing that says a 30- or 36-foot RV will fit.

The campground has flush toilets, coin-operated showers, food-storage lockers, and a dump station, but no hookups. It is open year-round. Reserve the exact site that fits your equipment, arrive in daylight, and use a tow vehicle rather than an RV for narrow sightseeing roads such as Howland Hill Road.

Best for: campervans, truck campers, and short motorhomes that can dry camp.

Mill Creek Campground#

Mill Creek, in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, has the largest published in-park capacity: 28 feet for an RV and 24 feet for a trailer. Its 145 sites operate from spring into fall rather than year-round.

The campground has flush toilets, showers, and a dump station. It does not have hookups. Tree cover and the seasonal schedule make this a strong choice for a midsummer redwoods trip, but it is not a fallback for a 30-foot-plus motorhome.

Best for: the longest RV that still fits an official redwood campground.

Elk Prairie Campground#

Elk Prairie has 75 sites in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The published maximum is 27 feet for an RV and 24 feet for a trailer. It is open year-round and has flush toilets and showers, but no hookups and no dump station.

The location works especially well for travelers who want trail access and prairie habitat without moving the RV each day. Roosevelt elk are wild animals; use the park’s current distance and wildlife guidance rather than approaching them for a photograph.

Best for: smaller rigs prioritizing trails and the Prairie Creek area.

Gold Bluffs Beach Campground#

Gold Bluffs Beach is the most restrictive RV option. It has 26 sites, accepts RVs up to 24 feet, and does not permit trailers. There are showers and flush toilets but no hookups or dump station.

The access road and coastal setting make this a small-rig destination, not a place to test the upper edge of your equipment’s capability. Verify current road conditions before leaving the highway.

Best for: campervans and short motorhomes seeking a beach-focused stay.

Full-hookup alternatives near the redwoods#

Private parks are the practical answer for a large Class A, long fifth wheel, or a stay that requires sewer and 50-amp power. Prices are date- and site-specific, so compare a live quote for your exact rig rather than relying on an old nightly range.

Crescent City / Redwoods KOA Holiday#

The KOA is about five miles north of Crescent City and publishes full-hookup inventory, 50-amp service, Wi-Fi, propane, and sites with a maximum length of up to 80 feet. The exact site type controls.

This is the clearest northern choice for a long rig that needs conventional campground services. It is a driving base for the groves, not an in-park redwood campsite.

Ramblin’ Redwoods Campground#

Ramblin’ Redwoods publishes 30/50-amp full-hookup sites with both pull-through and back-in options. It describes the inventory as big-rig friendly. Its current site notice says Wi-Fi is unavailable, so do not book it on the assumption that campground internet will support remote work.

This option suits travelers who want hookups in a wooded setting and can bring their own connectivity plan.

Redwood Harbor Village#

The Crescent City Harbor District lists Redwood Harbor Village beside South Beach and the marina, with 30/50-amp full hookups subject to availability. Confirm the hookup type and pad length for the site offered before paying.

Choose the harbor when coastal access matters more than camping beneath trees. Wind, salt air, and a more open setting are part of the trade-off.

Giant Redwoods RV & Cabin Destination#

Farther south, Giant Redwoods publishes 11 full-hookup pull-through sites, additional water/electric pull-through and back-in inventory, and sites up to 110 feet. Sites have 20/30/50-amp service, water, Wi-Fi, picnic tables, and fire pits; not every site has sewer.

This is the strongest published fit for very long equipment, but confirm that the selected category is full hookup if sewer is essential.

Booking and route strategy#

ReserveCalifornia generally releases state-park inventory up to six months ahead. Summer weekends and small subsets of RV-compatible sites create a tighter market than the raw campground counts suggest.

Before booking:

1. Measure the RV or trailer as it will travel, including hitch or rear accessories.
2. Compare that number with both the campground maximum and the selected site’s dimensions.
3. Check current park alerts, road conditions, fire rules, and generator hours.
4. Plan tank capacity. Only Jedediah Smith and Mill Creek list dump stations among these four campgrounds.
5. Download the official park map before entering low-service areas.

US-101 is the main RV corridor. Scenic side roads through old-growth forest can be narrow, unpaved, or unsuitable for trailers. Set up camp first and explore them with a smaller vehicle when possible.

A simple two-base plan#

For a first redwoods trip, divide the coast rather than moving a large rig every day:

• Spend two or three nights near Crescent City for Jedediah Smith, the Smith River, and the northern groves.
• Move south to the Prairie Creek or Humboldt area for the central groves and coast.

Small dry-camping rigs can use an in-park campground for one or both bases. Larger rigs can use full hookups and visit the same landscapes by tow vehicle.

Frequently asked questions#

Are there RV hookups inside Redwood National Park?#

No. The four developed Redwood National and State Parks campgrounds have no electric, water, or sewer hookups. Jedediah Smith and Mill Creek have dump stations.

What is the largest RV allowed in a redwood campground?#

Mill Creek publishes the highest campground limit at 28 feet for an RV. Jedediah Smith allows 25 feet, Elk Prairie 27 feet, and Gold Bluffs Beach 24 feet. Exact campsite dimensions can be smaller.

Can a travel trailer camp at Gold Bluffs Beach?#

No. The official 2026 guide prohibits trailers at Gold Bluffs Beach. RVs are limited to 24 feet.

How much does camping in the park cost?#

The National Park Service’s 2026 visitor guide lists all four developed campgrounds at $35 per night. Verify the total, fees, and cancellation terms in ReserveCalifornia before payment.

Where should a 35-foot RV stay?#

Use a private campground. Crescent City / Redwoods KOA publishes sites up to 80 feet, and Giant Redwoods publishes sites up to 110 feet. Confirm the exact pad and hookup category before booking.

Official planning sources#

Use the NPS developed-campground guide, current camping alerts, and park maps immediately before the trip. Those sources take precedence over any dimensions or operating details in a third-party guide.