Embarking at the park's southern entrance, you'll find Jedediah Smith Campground, a prime camper van-friendly site nestled in a verdant old-growth redwood forest. This campground offers 86 sites, some of which accommodate camper vans up to 36 feet in length. Nearby, you can explore the scenic beauty of the Smith River, the last major undammed river in California, offering a tranquil setting for fishing, rafting, and wildlife viewing.

Further into the park, the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is a must-visit. This ten-mile drive winds you through the heart of old-growth redwood forest, where you can marvel at the towering redwoods that often reach over 300 feet high. Numerous trailheads spring off from this scenic route, including the Big Tree Wayside, a short, easy walk that takes you to one of the park’s most famous residents—a colossal redwood towering 286 feet tall and more than 23 feet in diameter.

Exploring the coastline of the park offers an entirely different experience. Enderts Beach, accessed from Crescent City, presents a wild and rugged coastal landscape with impressive tide pools at its northern end. Nearby, the Crescent Beach Overlook offers a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and a hotspot for whale watching.

The park's diverse ecosystems also make it a haven for wildlife. Alongside black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk, the park is home to a variety of bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. Keep your binoculars at hand—you may spot northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets, or even bald eagles.

No trip to Redwood National Park would be complete without exploring its many hiking trails. The Tall Trees Grove trail, a moderately challenging hike, leads you to some of the world's tallest trees. For a leisurely stroll with stunning coastal views, the Coastal Trail is an excellent choice.

In all, a camper van trip to Redwood National Park is an unforgettable journey into the heart of America’s natural splendor. With its towering redwoods, diverse wildlife, and stunning coastal views, the park offers countless ways to connect with nature and create lasting memories.

First appearing over 240 million years ago during the time of the dinosaurs, the first redwood trees predate humans. The oldest living redwood at an estimated 2,500 years old would have been a seedling during the time of the Roman Empire.

At up to one foot thick, the bark of the largest redwoods helps make them fire, pest and fungal resistant.

Containing 45% of the remaining old growth coastal redwoods. The Redwood National and State Parks is a partnership that includes four parks located in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.

Along the northern coast of California, there are 50 redwood trees over 350 feet tall. The tallest, named Hyperion stands at 379.9 feet, nearly 60 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.