Park Comparison
Redwood National and State Parks vs Virgin Islands
Two iconic parks, different strengths. Here's how they stack up.
Updated
The Quick Take
Redwood National and State Parks
The world's tallest trees stand in groves you can walk through on level trails, three hours north of San Francisco with a third the crowds.
Virgin Islands
Two-thirds of St. John is protected parkland where coral reefs meet sugar plantation ruins and an underwater trail marks labeled coral.
At a Glance
The Crowd Picture
Redwood National and State Parks draws roughly 1.5x more visitors than Virgin Islands, but how crowded a park feels depends on more than raw numbers.
Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National and State Parks welcomes 623K visitors annually across 206.2 square miles — about 3,021 visitors per square mile. Congestion is moderate, peaking in July.
Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands welcomes 423K visitors annually across 22.9 square miles — about 18,473 visitors per square mile. Congestion is high, peaking in March. A long comfortable season helps spread crowds across 6 months.
Redwood National and State Parks is dramatically less congested than Virgin Islands — you'll feel the difference on every trail.
When to Go
Click any month to see how conditions compare side-by-side.
Trails & Activities
Redwood National and State Parks has more trail mileage for exploration.
Redwood National and State Parks Top Activities
- photography 10/10
- hiking 9/10
- scenic driving 9/10
- wildlife viewing 9/10
- bird watching 8/10
Virgin Islands Top Activities
- swimming 9/10
- photography 9/10
- hiking 8/10
- kayaking canoeing 8/10
- wildlife viewing 8/10
Camping
Redwood National and State Parks offers significantly more camping options.
The Bottom Line
Choose Redwood National and State Parks if you...
- Want to experience Coast Redwoods (Tallest Trees on Earth)
- Are looking for world-class scenic driving
- Are traveling on a budget
- Want more trail options (125 miles vs 27)
Choose Virgin Islands if you...
- Want to experience Trunk Bay
- Are looking for world-class swimming
- Love island and beach landscapes
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Redwood National and State Parks or Virgin Islands?
It depends on what you're looking for. Redwood National and State Parks is known for Coast Redwoods (Tallest Trees on Earth), while Virgin Islands is known for Trunk Bay. Redwood National and State Parks is less crowded, making it the better pick if solitude matters to you.
Is Redwood National and State Parks or Virgin Islands more crowded?
Redwood National and State Parks has a congestion index of 3.2/10 and receives 623K visitors per year. Virgin Islands scores 6.3/10 with 423K annual visitors. Redwood National and State Parks is the quieter option.
When is the best time to visit Redwood National and State Parks vs Virgin Islands?
The best month to visit Redwood National and State Parks is August, while Virgin Islands is best visited in November. The different peak seasons mean you could visit one in spring and the other in fall.
Which has better hiking, Redwood National and State Parks or Virgin Islands?
Redwood National and State Parks has 125 trail miles and Virgin Islands has 27. Redwood National and State Parks offers significantly more trail variety.