Scenic bywayCited official sources
Avenue of the Giants — Humboldt Redwoods CA
31 miles. Old-growth coast redwoods. RV-friendly. The redwood drive most travelers come for.
Avenue of the Giants is the 31-mile state highway (CA-254) through Humboldt Redwoods State Park parallel to US-101. The road accesses the largest contiguous old-growth coast redwood forest. For RV travelers, the route is the most accessible old-growth redwood corridor in California — paved, RV-friendly, with multiple state-park campgrounds along the route.
Photo: Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California — the Avenue runs the length of the park.
At a glance
Route facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded numbers for planning — always confirm against current conditions and state DOT 511 before you depart.
Distance
31 mi
Avenue of the Giants north to south
Drive time
1–3 hr
Elevation
100–500 ft
RV compatibility
RV-friendly
Best season
Year-round. Winter mist and atmosphere enhance the redwood experience.
Cell coverage. Limited. Plan offline.
Elevation profile
Generally 100-500 ft along the Eel River.
Vehicle restrictions
- No posted RV restrictions on CA-254
- Drive-through trees have separate posted limits (typically 9 ft height)
Walks accessible from the Avenue
Founders Grove: 1/2-mile loop on flat boardwalk. Dyerville Giant fallen tree. Most popular walk.
Rockefeller Forest: 0.6-mile loop. Largest contiguous old-growth coast redwood grove (10,000+ acres).
Tall Trees Grove: separate permit-required area off US-199 (different park, Redwood National + State Parks).
Albee Creek Campground, Hidden Springs Campground, Burlington Campground: three state-park campgrounds on the Avenue with RV-friendly sites.
What Visit Redwoods + Humboldt County tourism doesn't tell you
Redwood marketing emphasizes the drive-through trees, which are mostly historical novelties at this point. The real redwood experience is the walks. Founders Grove and Rockefeller Forest deliver the genuine old-growth immersion.
Avenue of the Giants is much more RV-friendly than Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in Redwood NP. The Avenue runs through California state park managed lands; the Drury runs through NPS lands. Both are excellent. The Avenue is the longer continuous old-growth experience.
Frequently asked questions
- Can my RV drive through a redwood?
- Verify height. Chandelier Tree at Leggett: 9-ft height limit. Most RVs cannot fit. Park nearby and walk.
- Best campground on the Avenue?
- Burlington (most RV-friendly), Albee Creek (more remote), Hidden Springs (largest).
Authoritative sources
- Caltrans QuickMap — California road status State DOT
- America's Byways — Federal Highway Administration scenic byway program FHWA National Scenic Byways
- National Park Service — find a park National Park Service
Verify current conditions with state DOT 511 systems before departure. RV restrictions may change. Weather may close roads.
Planning an RV trip along Avenue of the Giants?
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