A Guide to Visiting the Avenue of the Giants - Bon Traveler (2024)

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Updated October 2023

As you make the scenic drive up Highway 101, you’ll start to see signs for the Avenue of the Giants. This stretch of road in Humboldt County, south of Redwood National park, is one you can’t miss. It’s an iconic part of visiting the redwoods in Northern California.

Located a few hours north of San Francisco, it’s a stop you’ll want to make when road tripping through California. It’s been on my bucket list for years so when I had the chance to travel to these coast redwoods, I couldn’t have been more excited. There is something really special about being immersed in nature like this. Along the way, you can stop and pop out for a walk around groves of ancient redwoods and experience a wide range of hiking trails. It’s not too far from the coast, so you always have fresh air and, with the surrounding giant redwood trees, it keeps cool. It’s also good to note that the trails are not pet-friendly, so keep this in mind as you plan your visit.

The Avenue of the Giants is something you won’t want to miss so here’s a look at everything you need to know about visiting.

Planning a Trip to the Avenue of the Giants? Here Are My Top Picks for the Best Hotels near the Avenue of the Giants:

1. Benbow Historic Inn, for the best overall hotel
2. Best Western Plus Humboldt House Inn, for the best budget-friendly hotel

What is the Avenue of the Giants

The Avenue of the Giants is a 31-mile stretch of road that runs parallel to Highway 101. This road is lined by the Humboldt Redwoods State Park and has the largest virgin redwoods in the world and United States. This special road is an opportunity to cruise through a historic site and get a taste of just how large the redwood trees are. This auto tour of the Avenue of the Giants gives you a great idea of what you’ll see along the way. You can even drive through a redwood at Shrine Drive-Thru Tree.

There are tours and events in the park, depending on the time of year.

Directions to the Avenue of the Giants

The Avenue of the Giants is located in Humboldt, along Highway 101. The southern entrance starts in Myers Flat and ends at the northern entrance in Scotia. Along the way, you’ll be alongside the south fork of the Eel River as well. To get here from San Francisco, head north on Highway 101 and exit for State Route 254.

Avenue of the Giants Map

Avenue of the Giants Hikes

There are many options for old-growth redwood forest hiking in the Avenue of the Giants area. I’d recommend having good sturdy shoes as some of the trails have a few bumps. Pack layers as it does tend to get cold here with the tree covering and proximity to the ocean. There is some food nearby (no fine dining), but I’d suggest packing a lunch and water for the day and having a picnic in a redwood grove.

Here are some of the best hiking trail options to explore these historic sites:

• Bull Creek Flats / Giant Tree (3.5 miles and moderate)
• Founders Grove Loop Trail (.5 miles and easy)
• Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail (.6 miles and easy)
• Drury-Chaney Loop Trail (2.4 miles and easy)

Avenue of the Giants Lodging

Whether you choose to stay nearby or come for the day, there are plenty of hotels and vacation rentals near Avenue of the Giants. It makes for a great day trip from destinations like Eureka, Mendocino County, and even Trinidad depending on how much time you want to spend.

For hotels in the area, I’d recommend staying near or around Garberville. Here are the two best Garberville hotels to consider:

1. Benbow Historic Inn, for the best overall hotel
2. Best Western Plus Humboldt House Inn, for the best budget-friendly hotel

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