About Avenue of the Giants
The Avenue of the Giants is a magnificent 31.5 mile drive that weaves you through the Humboldt Redwoods State Park located about an hour south of Eureka.
While this area is not technically part of the group that officially comprises “national & state parks” we included it anyway because it’s so close and not to be missed.
This drive is a bit further off the coast than the rest of the park and the redwoods here feature a redder shade than their coastal siblings. Many folks consider this one of the most scenic drives in the world.
About Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world, the mighty Redwood, which can reach staggering heights of over 360ft and weigh more than 500 tons.
These parks feature magical forests, miles of spectacular beaches, stunning overlooks, and one of the largest herds of Roosevelt elk on the planet. People travel from all over the world to experience the magic that takes place in this park every single day.
Avenue of the Giants Location + Map
Avenue of the Giants is located in Northern California’s Humboldt Redwoods State Park (which is technically not part of the national park).
Things to Know Before Visiting
Entrance Fees: $30 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months we suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass. This pass gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.
The best guide books for Redwood: This is our favorite hiking guide but this one is another great one that encompasses the surrounding area.
The best map for the park: We like this map the best.
Gas: There is a gas all along this route so now worries.
Cell Service there is service all along this route.
Water: Drink it. Lots of it. Don’t forget it in the car.
Best Time to Visit Avenue of the Giants
The best time to visit the Avenue of the Giants is early in the morning before the road fills up with eager tourists. With that being said, there’s never really a bad time to visit the grove. Make sure to drive slowly, stop often for short hikes, and soak in the scenic beauty.
Mornings are cool and sometimes you can catch some great fog moving through the forest.
Getting to the Avenue of the Giants
The Avenue of the Giants is located about an hour south of Eureka, California which has a very small airport with limited flight options (ACV). There’s several options to get to the avenue of the giants either from the north, south, or east. Redding (RDD) is the closest biggish airport at 3.5 hours away. San Francisco (SFO) is 4 hours away, Crescent City (CEC) is 2.5 hours away.
Alternatively, many visitors road trip in from a different part of California, the west coast, or the country at large.
The Avenue of the Giants Drive
Distance: 31.5 miles
Time: 1-5 hours (with stops)
Towns along the route: Myers Flat, Miranda, Englewood, Burlington, Weott, Redcrest, Phillipsville, Pepperwood
Driving the Avenue of the Giants is the trip of a lifetime! This 31 mile drive is full of some of the most spectacular and tallest trees in the world. You can practically reach out and touch the redwoods from your vehicle!
Phillipsville to Weott
From the Southern Entrance, the route heads north through Phillipsville with the first attraction of the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree in Myers Flat. From there the route continues winding north to the Rockefeller Loop and Dyerville Giant.
Be sure to stop off at the Humboldt Redwoods Visitor Center to admire the Redwood cross section they have on display with rings marking significant historical events.
Weott to the Stafford
At this point there is an optional side road that I’d recommend – the Mattole Road. The Mattole Road winds up past the Big Tree Area, Giant Tree, Addie Johnson Trail, Bull Creek Flats Trail, up to Panther Gap which provides scenic overlooks of the forest.
Continuing north up the Avenue of the Giants, you’ll find the Founders Tree, High Rock River Trail, and Immortal Tree which is definitely worth the stop if not to read the history of it alone.
Nearby Sites
If you’re visiting LBJ Grove be sure to check out Redwood Creek Overlook just down the road for the park’s best sunsets! Other nearby great spots include Gold Bluffs Beach, Fern Canyon, and Bald Hills.
Visiting Redwood National Park? We posted about 12 STUNNING Things to Do in the Redwoods including hikes, drives, overlooks and more.
Redwood National Park Guide
Yep, we created a beautiful, comprehensive guide to Redwood. It’s totally free and just for you with beautiful photos, videos, and more. Read all about it by clicking below!
REDWOODS GUIDE
Redwoods Video
If you’re visiting the Redwoods ya just gotta take 3 minutes and watch the (award-winning) film we made based on our trips to the park. We spent weeks in the park to produce this film which covers all of the different regions and areas in the park. It was even featured by National Geographic!
Photos of Avenue of the Giants
We have spent countless hours in Redwood National Park and have taken over 15,000 photos of the place! We’ve included a few of our favorites here from the Avenue of the Giants.
More From Redwood National Park
Interested in learning more about the park? Check out some more of our informative posts below on different locations, seasons & weather, & more!
