Redwood National and State Parks covers 138,999 acres in California. It became a national park on October 2, 1968, the 32nd of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 1,202,480 recreation visits in 2025, the 25th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Redwood
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
Renowned for the world’s tallest trees, Redwood’s landscapes span from open prairies and oak woodlands to pristine rivers and untamed coastline. This ancient home has supported people for thousands of years. The National Park Service and California State Parks now work to safeguard and rejuvenate these lands for everyone’s enjoyment, learning, and inspiration.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data. You do not need a pass to enter. Parking, ferry, boat or other transport fees can still apply.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Redwood: May and August to October. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: July, with about 76,623 visits in a typical recent year. That is 3.9 times as many as January.
- Quietest month: January (19,701 visits).
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Redwood, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: ready-made plans for 1 to 3 days
- Things to do: 12 hikes and 8 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 4 campgrounds
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center: Gas station (unnamed), 0.9 miles away. Closest airport California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (28 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Hike to the Tall Trees Grove (3 to 6 Hours): A half-day hike in the southern part of the parks for those ready for an adventure. A free reservation is needed. This trail is one the more strenuous hikes in Redwood National and State Parks.
- Walk the Fern Canyon Loop Trail (45 to 90 Minutes): A unique, beautiful, and popular location in the park. Getting here does require some planning, reservations are required May 15th through September 15th (available online), there are two (2) stream crossings that you have to drive through, and your feet will get wet. Definitely an adventure!
- Walk the Stout Memorial Grove Trail (1 to 2 Hours): A majestic grove of redwoods next to the Smith River in the northern part of the park. This trail requires some planning about how you will access it. Hours can be spent on a summer's day relaxing on the banks of the Smith River.
- Stroll the Simpson-Reed Trail (30 to 60 Minutes): An easy walk through beautiful old-growth redwood forests in the northern part of the parks. Limited parking, RV's and trailers not permitted.
- Hike the Boy Scout Tree Trail (3 to 5 Hours): A moderate hike with some steep grades and switchbacks.
Webcams
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center
- Elk Prairie at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
- Bald Hills & Redwood Creek
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
Visitors should be prepared for cooler and damp weather. Dress in layers and expect to get wet. Year-round temperatures along California's redwood coast: mid-40s°F (7°C) to mid-60s°F (18°C). Summer can be foggy, with highs occasionally reaching low 70s°F (20°C). Winters are cooler with considerable rain. October through April averages 60-80 inches of rain over the region.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Crater Lake (Oregon): about 4 h by car (166 miles)
- Lassen Volcanic (California): about 4 h 25 min by car (216 miles)
- Pinnacles (California): about 9 h by car (433 miles)
- Yosemite (California): about 9 h 25 min by car (467 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Redwood National and State Parks?
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data.
What state is Redwood National and State Parks in?
California.
When did Redwood become a national park?
October 2, 1968.
How many people visit Redwood?
1,202,480 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Redwood?
May and August to October. July is the busiest month and January the quietest while the park is fully open.
