RV Rental Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, CA

Del Norte Coast protects some of the most beautiful redwood groves in California. The four-mile Damnation Creek Trail is a great introduction to the park, taking you through ancient coast redwoods groves, as well as Douglas fir and Sitka spruce forests. You'll eventually end up at the beach, where you can peer into colorful tide pools filled with sea stars, anemones, and crabs. The ultra-scenic Coastal Trail winds along steep bluffs and showcases stunning views over the Pacific Ocean. You'll also pass by magnificent 30-foot-tall, hot pink rhododendrons.

By the ocean, False Klamath Cove, also known as Wilson Beach, is a fantastic place to enjoy a picnic lunch. Swimming isn't recommended, but you can stroll along the sand and watch cormorants, osprey, and pelicans fishing in the shallows. Nearby Crescent Beach Overlook is a good vantage point for spotting whales breaching offshore.

There's plenty on offer for kids at Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, including the popular Junior Ranger Program — pick up a guide from one of the RNSP visitors' centers and encourage the kids to start exploring. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Del Norte Coast Redwoods offers ranger-led programs, including forest walks, campfire talks, arts and crafts workshops, and more.

RV camping at Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park offers a unique chance to sleep among living giants. The Mill Creek Campground features 143 sites shaded by redwoods, maples, and alders. All sites feature picnic tables and fire rings for enjoying your meals outdoors — don't forget the hot dogs and s'mores supplies. In the morning, expect to be woken by a chorus of songbirds. The campground is open from May through September, when California enjoys warm weather and lashings of sunshine.

Like most state park RV campgrounds, Del Norte Coast Redwoods offers modern bathroom facilities with toilets and showers. Pets are allowed but must be kept leashed. A handful of trailheads start in the campground and make it easy to explore the park on foot. Sites are spacious, but due to the winding roads and tight turns, can accommodate RVs of up to 28 feet in length. There are no water, electric, or sewer hookups, making Del Norte Coast Redwoods a great option for campers in search of a back-to-nature experience. For more choice and an equally beautiful setting, consider staying at state park campgrounds at Jedediah Smith Redwoods or Prairie Creek Redwoods.

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is an excellent base for exploring the RNSP system. Start at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, where ethereal Stout Grove is filled with towering redwoods and a lush understory of moss, ferns, and sorrel. Star Wars buffs will recognize it as a film location from Return of the Jedi. If you'd prefer to explore the park by car, take a scenic drive along 11-mile Howland Hill Road, which twists and turns through the heart of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

In Redwood National Park, Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail winds through a sun-dappled ridgetop grove and pays tribute to the conservation efforts of one of America's most famous First Ladies. Fern Canyon is the main draw at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, featuring 50-foot high walls covered with emerald green foliage. Steven Spielberg was enchanted by the canyon and used it as a filming location for Jurassic Park: The Lost World. There are no dinosaurs, of course, but you could spot the park's famous Pacific giant salamanders and northern red-legged frogs.

Crescent City is a 10-minute drive up the coast and is convenient for fuel, food, and other motorhome camping essentials. San Francisco is a six-hour drive south and is a great place to rent an RV near Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and kickstart a California road trip.