Advice on March 2025 trip

Question

My college-age daughter and I will be driving from Eugene OR to the Redwoods area at the end of March. We love the Oregon Coast, big trees, and hiking, but we've never seen the Redwoods before, and we've never made it South of Florence or Eugene. Time to explore and see some big trees! My flight arrives in EUG late afternoon on Sat, so we're planning to drive to Coos Bay for the night, then head south along the coast on Sun. We'll have 2 nights to spend in the Redwoods area (Sun & Mon nights), then we'll make our way back up to EUG (via I-5/inland on the way back, to make the loop) to spend Tues night there before I fly out early Wed morning. Basically we'll have Sun mid-day through Tues mid-day to explore the Redwoods. I'm trying to decide where to have our home base while there: Trinidad or Crescent City. One of the Sylvan Harbor Cabins in Trinidad seems like a good option, or there are a couple of AirBNBs in Crescent City. Trinidad seems more central to all the redwoods options, and would give us the option of driving S to the Avenue of Giants on Monday, but I'm wondering if that's too aagressive and would put us too far south. If we spent the nights in Crescent City, we could drive down to the Trinidad area on Monday if we wanted, but we could also spend more time focusing on the more Northern parts and spend less time driving. I'd love your thoughts, as well as suggestions on great places to eat (snacks or meals) or things we just shouldn't miss on our trip.

Answer

For a March trip to the Redwoods with only two nights in the area, choosing your home base wisely will help maximize your experience without spending too much time driving. Both Trinidad and Crescent City have advantages depending on your priorities.

Trinidad as your base: Staying in Trinidad puts you closer to the southern parts of Redwood National and State Parks and offers easier access to the Avenue of the Giants if you drive south on Monday. It's a charming small town with ocean views and a handful of good restaurants, and it positions you well for day hikes in both northern and southern areas.

Pros: Central for southern and mid-Redwood exploration, shorter drive to the Avenue of Giants, quaint town atmosphere, nice ocean access.
Cons: Slightly farther from the northern parts of Redwood NP like the Tall Trees Grove and Prairie Creek Redwoods SP, meaning you’ll have to drive a bit more if you want to focus on the north.

Crescent City as your base: Crescent City is farther north, making it ideal if you want to focus on the northern redwoods and spend more time hiking and exploring less-traveled trails. It's larger than Trinidad, so you have more dining and service options. You could drive south to Trinidad/Avenue of the Giants on Monday, but it will be a longer day with more driving.

Pros: Close to northern highlights like Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Gold Bluffs Beach, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP. More restaurants and amenities than Trinidad.
Cons: Longer drives to southern sites like Avenue of the Giants; could make for a long day if you want to see both north and south.

Given you have just two nights, a reasonable strategy could be:

Stay in Trinidad for Sunday night, giving you access to mid and southern parks and allowing a relaxed drive down to the Avenue of the Giants on Monday.
Optionally consider staying the second night in Crescent City if you want to explore the northernmost parks and reduce daily drive time.
Alternatively, pick one base (Trinidad or Crescent City) and do day trips in both directions, accepting longer drives for full coverage.

Must-see highlights and hikes:

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park: Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail (easy, beautiful old-growth hike).
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park: Stout Grove for iconic towering trees.
Avenue of the Giants: Drive or short walks for massive, photogenic redwoods.
Trinidad Head: Short coastal hike with panoramic views of the ocean.
Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon (if open in March): Scenic and iconic, though check seasonal accessibility.

Places to eat/snack:

Trinidad Bay Eatery: Casual with sandwiches, local ingredients.
Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill (near Trinidad): Good casual American fare.
Crescent City: SeaQuake Brewing for pizza and local brews; Good Harvest Cafe for breakfast and light meals.

Tips:

Start early in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid long drives in the dark on windy coastal roads.
March weather can be rainy and cool; pack layers and waterproof shoes.
Check road conditions before heading to southern parks, as some coastal and forest roads can close in winter/spring.

Overall, if your goal is a mix of redwoods and a scenic coastal town, Trinidad provides a good balance. If you want to focus on northern redwoods and spend less time driving, Crescent City may be preferable. Either choice will give you excellent access to some of the tallest trees in the world and memorable hikes.

Advice on March 2025 trip

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