Mill Creek Campground
The Quick Take
Mill Creek is the workhorse campground of the Redwood coast — the largest option in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and one of the few places up here where you can actually reserve a site in advance. The setting splits the difference between forest immersion and accessibility: you're sleeping under a canopy of bigleaf maples and second-growth redwoods along a genuine creek, but Highway 101 is just a short drive away and Crescent City is close enough for a grocery run. The trade-off is real, though. No showers, no flush toilets, and cell service is essentially nonexistent once you pull in. Summer ranger programs at the amphitheater give families a reason to stay put after dinner. This is the right pick for anyone who wants a legitimate redwood camping experience without gambling on first-come-first-served availability further south.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 145 sites are reservable.
Book at Redwood National and State Parks LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
. Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Pro Tips
Sites in the upper loops sit on a slight ridge above the creek and tend to be more spacious with better tree cover — request these when booking if the reservation system allows site selection. The lower loops closer to Mill Creek are prettier but can feel tighter, especially with larger rigs.
Stout Memorial Grove, one of the most impressive old-growth stands on the entire coast, is a short drive north on Howland Hill Road. Hit it early morning before the tour buses arrive from Crescent City — the light filtering through the canopy before 9 AM is worth setting an alarm for.
Stock up on firewood before you arrive or buy it at the campground — gathering wood in redwood parks is prohibited and enforced. Crescent City has a Safeway and a few gas stations, but options thin out fast heading south, so top off your cooler and your tank before checking in.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
We are a six to seven hour drive north of San Francisco. This campground is off HWY 101, and is 6.7 miles south of Crescent City, CA.
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