BJ W.
Yelp
We camped in Humboldt Redwoods State Park this past weekend (Memorial 2011) and had a terrific time. We stayed in the Burlington campground with another family and it was a pretty tight campground, with not a lot of room on each site, but we managed to fit well enough. We were right next to other campsites and campers, though, so if you're looking for real seclusion, this may not be the best campground in the park for you. It's great, however, if you have kids and they want to run around with other kids.
The park itself is majestic and beautiful. Really, there are no more enormous trees on Earth, so even standing by the campfire and just gazing up, it's an amazing feeling that gives you some perspective on time and space and our place in this world.
The Visitor's Center for the park is located right next to the Burlington campground, so it was nice that there were ranger-led events and info about the forest nearby to learn. Most sites are shady, which is great for hotter summer days, but can be chilly even during the daytime on cooler days. Bring layers!
Each site has its own picnic table, bear cabinet for food, fire pit with half grill/grate to cook food, parking spot(s), and level ground for tents. They sell wood at the front for $7 for like 10 pieces and they provide wheel barrels to haul it back to your site. Parking is free for one vehicle but an additional $8 per night if you have more than one car coming. Bring quarters for the showers. They were clean, but lukewarm. No hand dryers in the bathrooms on the campground, which is a pain if you have wet hair, but the bathrooms by the visitor's center DO have dryers, so we showered and walked over there to dry our hair since it was quite chilly in the evening. Dogs are permitted in the campground but aren't allowed on many of the wooded trails in the groves, so be aware if you plan to have your pet with you.
As for the park itself, directly across from the campground is a lovely grove and loop walk in old-growth trees. From there, you can also walk to the Eel River which has some beach areas and a foot-bridge to cross to the other side for walking to the Rockefeller grove (largest old-growth Redwoods in the world).
The Founders' Grove, which is a little up the road from the campground, has some of the biggest trees in the park and has a nice, easy loop walk. On the other side of the road from the Founder's Grove, is a really great beach area along the Eel River (nicer than the one across from the campground and more secluded). Sandy beach, rather than gravel, but no on-site amenities like bathrooms or fire pits. We spent the whole day down by the water in the sun, playing in the sand, fishing, and swimming. It was fantastic, particularly because you're surrounded by the Redwoods and looking across the river at the Rockefeller grove. It was spectacular.
Lastly, the drive along the Avenue of Giants is one of the best ever, so I'd recommend hopping off the 101 and driving along that for at least 10 miles to get a feel for these majestic trees. Myers Flat has the drive-thru tree nearest the campgrounds (about 4 miles south of Burlington) and the closest market to stock up on supplies and food you may have forgotten.
Have fun! We'll definitely be coming back.