Escape to a world of wonder — just hours north of San Francisco and south of Oregon — with a short plane trip or a drive along one of the world’s most scenic highways

TRAVELING BY ROAD

Getting to the redwoods from San Francisco is about as simple as it gets. Just jump on U.S. 101 north and continue north for three hours through scenic Sonoma and Mendocino wine country. You’ll enter the redwoods at Richardson Grove State Park, shortly after crossing the Humboldt County border.

From Sacramento

The fastest way to get to Southern Humboldt from Sacramento is via State Route 20 to U.S. 101. Take I-5 north from Sacramento until Williams, where you’ll exit onto SR 20 West toward Clear Lake. Continue through Lake County until you reach 101 just south of Willits. Continue on 101 until the redwoods at Richardson Grove State Park, located just beyond the Humboldt County border.

From Oregon

From the Oregon Coast, simply follow U.S. 101 south until you reach Rio Dell/Scotia and, soon after, the Avenue of the Giants. From the interior of Oregon, find Interstate 5 to Grants Pass. Then take Highway 199 toward Crescent City for a scenic drive along the Smith River. At Crescent City, get on Highway 101 south and continue until Rio Dell/Scotia and Avenue of the Giants.

From eastern NorCal

Take Highways 299 or 36 west until you reach the city of Fortuna, then get on U.S. 101 south until Rio Dell/Scotia or Avenue of the Giants. Note: Hwy 36 is not for the faint of heart; expect a few hours of twisty road through rural, undeveloped land and, often times, construction delays.

TRAVELING BY AIR

Getting to Southern Humboldt by air is as easy as booking a short flight from San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX or Hollywood Burbank) or, starting in June 2021, Phoenix (PHO) or Denver (DEN). Once at the California Redwood Coast - Humboldt County Airport in Arcata, you’ll need to rent a car to reach the Southern Humboldt Redwoods and Lost Coast. From the airport, it’s a scenic hour-long drive past Humboldt Bay and tree-covered hills to reach the start of Avenue of the Giants near Scotia and another 30 minutes to Benbow and Garberville, where you can head west to Shelter Cove.

Private pilots enjoy a few more options. Fly into the Shelter Cove Public Airport for the scenic getaway of a lifetime in Southern Humboldt’s Lost Coast paradise, or land in the heart of the redwoods at Garberville Airport, just two miles southwest of the town of Garberville — or Rohnerville Airport, three miles south of Fortuna just north of the fabled redwood corridor Avenue of the Giants.