Why RVers stay here
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a California state park campground in the far northwest of the state, and our statewide guide calls it the crown jewel of the redwood parks. The campground sits along the Smith River, California's last major undammed river, beneath old-growth redwoods so tall they vanish into the canopy. Sites are large by California state park standards and the forest creates a cathedral quiet that photographs cannot capture. It suits old-growth seekers who are content to go fully off-grid for a few nights.
The practical picture is dry camping at $35 a night across 86 sites with no hookups. Rigs up to 36 feet are officially accommodated, but we would keep it under 30 for comfort: the access road from Highway 199 has tight curves and several sites require backing through narrow corridors between trees. Cell signal is minimal, with weak Verizon and nothing on other carriers, so download maps and reservations before you arrive. Book through the California state park reservation system rather than counting on a walk-up. The trade-off is that you give up hookups and connectivity entirely, but the river provides the soundtrack that makes generator-free camping feel like a feature rather than a sacrifice.
- ✓Camp among old-growth redwoods along the Smith River, California's last major undammed river
- ✓Sites are large by California state park standards, with real space between neighbors
- ✓A reasonable $35 a night for one of the most atmospheric campgrounds in the state
- ✓Generator-free quiet with the river as the soundtrack
- !No hookups; arrive self-contained
- !36-foot official maximum but under 30 feet recommended because of tight curves and narrow back-ins between trees
- !Minimal cell signal: weak Verizon, nothing on other carriers