7-Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary with kids
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Boys under the brother tree
Northern California has so much to offer; from the coastal views on Hwy 1 to the lush green redwood forest. Every time you go back you will have something new to explore.
In February, the boys and I took a road trip from the San Francisco Bay Area up to Crescent City in Northern California. We covered 500 + miles throughout the whole trip. We visited Redwood National and State Parks and made a loop back down through Lassen Volcanic National Park (Most of the trails were closed due to the summer fire and the snowy season, but we made the most of it).
We have explored many parts of California, by road-tripping throughout the state and it has been our go to way of travel. Road trips give you the freedom to move at your own pace which is ideal when traveling with kids.
The route
Morning views from our RV in Mendocino, CA
When it comes to road trip planning, I almost always make a loose itinerary and plan out all the places I would like for us to stop at. Your trip dynamic can change at any minute and being open to flexibility to change your route is something to always keep in mind while planning. I am going to share a 7 - Day Itinerary for your next Northern California road trip, along with some money saving tips to help you along your way.
Day 1 - San Francisco to Mendocino, CA
Mendocino, CA
From San Francisco, drive about 3 hours north to Mendocino, CA. When you arrive in Mendocino, you can stop at one of the nearby beach to stretch our legs, let the kids play in the sand and watch the sunset!
After sunset you can find a nearby boondocking (free camping site without any hookups or water source) spot like we did using the iOverlander app or stay in a local hotel.
Day 2 - 4 Avenue of the Giants / Redwood State & National Park
On Day 2, leave Mendocino and drive 2.5 hours to Avenue of the Giants and explore the lush green drive through the famous Redwood trees. Once you finish exploring and driving through Avenue of the Giants, drive another 1.5 hour to Trinidad State Beach.
Sunset at College Cove Beach
For lodging you can stay at Emerald Forest Cabins & RV like we did or choose one of the other lodging accommodations in the area. Emerald Forest Cabins is a cute accommodations location close to Trinidad State Beach and walking distance from College Cove beach.
On Day 3, head to Redwood State & National Parks. It is a 25 min drive from Trinidad. If you plan to do the Lady Bird Johnson Grove trail, please not that there is no RV or trailer parking at this trailhead.
Next, you want to make sure to explore Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park only 15 minutes up the road. To visit this park there is an entrance fee of $8 for the day or you can use your National Parks pass.
As of this year, a permit is required for Gold Bluffs Beach Day-Use Area, which includes the Fern Canyon Trailhead between May and September, so book this ahead of time of you plan to visit!
Fern Canyon Trail
Day 4 - Trees of Mystery/ Crescent Beach Overlook
On Day 4, leave the Trinidad area and drive an hour north to the Trees of Mystery. This attraction is in the heart of the Redwood National and State Parks and a must do when traveling through Northern California.
Canopy Trail
You can take the canopy trail and walk up high among the trees and take the gondola ride through the trees for an amazing view. Pricing for this attraction is below:
General Admission (13-59): $20.00
Kids 6-12: $11.00
Kids 5 and under: Free
After visiting the Trees of Mystery, drive 20 minutes north to Crescent City. You can find a boondocking spot like we did using the iOverlander app or stay in a nearby hotel.
Day 5 - Jedediah Smith State Park
Start your day in Jedediah Smith State Park! The entrance to the park is roughly 10 minutes from Crescent City, but you the path leading down into the park take a little more time. The road is dirt path and can be very narrow in some areas, so please take caution when driving down to the trailhead. We chose the Stout Grove loop trail, but you can also do the Boy Scout trail.
Stout Grove Loop
After spending the morning exploring Jedediah Smith, it’s time to leave the coast and head inland. We decided to break up our driving time, so we drove 3.5 hours to Railroad Park Resort to camp at for the evening. These accommodations are so unique because they have caboose lodging and vintage cabins, as well as an RV park and campground. If you don’t want to stay here, there are other lodging facilities in the area.
Day 6 - Lassen Volcanic National Park
After a night at the Railroad Park Resort or wherever you choose to sleep for the night, drive 1.5 hours to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Some parts may still be closed due to the fire in 2021, but there is still so much to explore.
If you have extra time and want to extend your trip, you can camp here for the night and explore more of the park the next day. You can also check out McArthur Burney Falls State Park.
After visiting Lassen, drive an hour until you reach Red Bluff, CA. We reserved a campsite at Sycamore Grove Campground using the Recreation.gov website and set up camp for the night.
Day 7 - Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point / Baker Beach
The last leg of the trip is a 3 hour drive from Red Bluff back to the city. Stop at the Golden Gate Bridge Vista point for amazing views of the bridge and take in the scenery. If you want to stay in the area until sunset there are many places to do so. You can head over to Baker Beach on the opposite side of the bridge for a stunning beach sunset.
Sunset at baker beach
Saving money on road trips
This road trip was a long one! To save money we cooked our own food, looked for the cheapest gas (more on this later) and camped (some nights were free and other nights we stayed at established RV parks & campgrounds).
When planning a trip, eating out for every meal can become very expensive and with the 3 of us, that can really add up. To make things easier, put aside a certain amount you want to spend on groceries for your trip. You can also meal prep a lot of your food ahead of time to save time cooking on the road and cut down how many additional items you would have to purchase from the store.
You can cut down on gas a couple ways. Stop in smaller towns and use money saving gas apps like GasBuddy (cheapest gas), GetUpside (cash back on gas), and GasGuru.
Two apps we used to help find a campsite on this trip are:
● iOverlander - Mostly for free camp sites or established campgrounds in the area
● Recreation.gov - State and national park campsites
Camping at Railroad Park RV Resort
Road trips are truly an amazing way to connect with nature and those you travel with. Even though road trips with kids can present a challenge at times, it is definitely a cost effective way to travel and get around with your family.
I hope this itinerary was helpful and you get the chance to explore these beautiful places with your family too!