What better way is there to beat the heat of summer than to embark on a three-day road trip through the majestic redwoods of Northern California? Here, the temperatures remain mild throughout the summer, and the towering canopy of these trees that have stood for centuries make the forest floor an inviting place to explore, no matter the weather.
Getting to the redwood groves of Northern California is half the fun as, for most folks, they are a long way from just about anywhere.
I bet you didn’t know that driving to Redwood National Park from San Francisco takes the same amount of time as driving to Portland, Oregon!
The big advantage to starting in San Francisco is that the quickest route takes you along Highway 101. This is a far more scenic drive than the route from Portland, which is primarily along I-5.
For this trip, though, we’ll make the assumption you’re starting from the Bay Area.
Redwoods Road Trip – Day 1
Day 1 of this three-day trip will be spent primarily on the road to the redwoods. With an early departure, though, it will still leave plenty of time for exploring. That way the whole day isn’t spent staring at the passing lines and filling up on cheap gas station coffee.
After a few hours cruising up through wine country you’ll pull into the town of Leggett. Here you can drive through a towering redwood and then grab some lunch at The Peg House which serves up awesome burgers in an awesome forested setting.
After lunch, hop a few miles up the road to the Frank and Bess Smithe Grove, where you can stretch your legs on the short trail through the redwoods or take a dip in the Eel River.
Next up, we’ll head north to the Avenue of the Giants.
This 31-mile road parallels Highway 101 and is considered one of the most scenic drives in the entire state of California. Here, you’ll pass through groves of massive redwoods with plenty of spots to stop along the way to hike amongst the trees or explore the nearby Eel River.
We’ll finish up day 1 with a night in Fortuna or at one of the many campgrounds along the way.
Redwoods Road Trip – Day 2
With Fortuna serving as our base for exploration on day 2, the world is our oyster. There are so many things to see along the Avenue of the Giants that you could easily go back and spend another half day there.
If you want to continue on, though, then it’s time for an adventure. Fill up on gas and head down Mattole Rd.
In addition to passing through some of the best redwood groves in the area, this extremely remote loop will take you to Mattole Beach, which serves as the northern terminus of the famed Lost Coast.
The second half of the loop will take you right along the coastline and into the charming town of Ferndale, which is a great spotting point for lunch.
From there, we’ll head an hour north to the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, which serves as the jumping off point for the Redwood National and State Parks.
A must-do hike here is Fern Canyon, which takes you through a narrow canyon with walls completely covered in ferns. Reservations and a permit are required for this hike, so some planning ahead may be required.
The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway takes you through the heart of the park and offers no shortage of amazing pullouts to walk amongst the trees and take in the otherworldly feel of the area.
At the end of the day, head back to your hotel or grab a campsite in the park.
Redwoods Road Trip – Day 3
This is the last day of our redwoods road trip, and sadly, it’s time to start heading back south.
Start the day off strong by taking the scenic route along the Avenue of the Giants once again. There are bound to be places to stop that you missed on the way up, and it’s a great way to kick off a day in the car.
From there, it’s a straight shot back down to the Bay Area, although we won’t fault you for stopping at a winery or two along the way.
