Major city · United States
Crescent City
Give Crescent City 2 nights as a redwoods base: one full day for Jed Smith groves, one for the coast and Battery Point at low tide.
Crescent City is the northernmost town on the California coast, 20 minutes from Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and the trailheads into Stout Grove. It is a small, fog-prone working harbour town, not a resort: most travellers use it as a two-night base for redwoods and the coast road, then push north to Oregon or south to Klamath and Eureka.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (rain, fog, possible slides on Hwy 299)
- Airports
- CEC · ACV · MFR
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Crescent City911 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Crescent City, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetySmall-town safe by day; the two things that actually matter are tsunami evacuation and cold, rough water.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 511 Road conditions (Caltrans)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCEC Del Norte County Regional Airport (Small field on the northwest edge of town; daily scheduled service to Oakland and Los Angeles…
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: the redwoods, Point St.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$12–20
- BeerDraught beer$7–10
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
- Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
- Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
- High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$220
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CEC Del Norte County Regional Airport (Small field on the northwest edge of town; daily scheduled service to Oakland and Los Angeles — check the current operator and schedule.) · ACV Arcata–Eureka Airport (McKinleyville) (About 110 km (68 mi) south on US 101; the nearest larger commercial airport.) · MFR Rogue Valley International–Medford (About 175 km (109 mi) northeast via US 199; useful if you are coming from or going to Oregon.)CEC Del Norte County Regional Airport (Small field on the northwest edge of town; daily scheduled service to Oakland and Los Angeles — check the current operator and schedule.) · ACV Arcata–Eureka Airport (McKinleyville) (About 68 mi (110 km) south on US 101; the nearest larger commercial airport.) · MFR Rogue Valley International–Medford (About 109 mi (175 km) northeast via US 199; useful if you are coming from or going to Oregon.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Feb
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Mar
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Apr
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
May
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jun
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Aug
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Sep
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Oct
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Dec
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Sep (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Jan (5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C) low), wettest Dec (15 rain days), driest Jul (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Crescent City: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
14 rd
Feb
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
13 rd
Mar
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
14 rd
Apr
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
11 rd
May
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
5 rd
Jul
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3 rd
Aug
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4 rd
Sep
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
5 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
Nov
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
14 rd
Dec
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
15 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: the redwoods, Point St. George and the beaches are 10–25 minutes out of town and there is no useful local rail. Redwood Coast Transit runs local routes in Crescent City for $1 and county routes for $1.50, with Route 20 running south to Arcata and north to Smith River — check the timetable before relying on it.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
goDoor to door: About 20–30 min
Drive US 101 north then Howland Hill Road or the park entrance road
Stout Grove and the Boy Scout Tree Trail; go early, the groves are quietest before 10:00.Stout Grove and the Boy Scout Tree Trail; go early, the groves are quietest before 10:00 AM.
Klamath and the Trees of Mystery area
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
US 101 south
River mouth, overlooks and a natural stop on the way to Eureka.
Point St. George and Tolowa Dunes State Park
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Drive northwest out of town
Beachcombing, birding and whale watching in season; wind and fog most days.
Redwood National and State Parks visitor area, Orick
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
US 101 south
Doable as a long day, but it is better as a stop when you move south.
Brookings, Oregon
goDoor to door: About 45 min
US 101 north
Easy border hop for a meal or groceries; check the Klamath Shuttle if you are not driving.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
US 101 strip (south end of town)
Motels with parking, easiest for a car and for early starts to the redwoods.
Downtown and Front Street
Walkable to restaurants and the harbour; the Cultural Center curbside stop on Front Street near K Street is the bus transfer point.
North of town toward Point St. George
Quieter, close to the beach and Tolowa Dunes; you need a car for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $110–180 excl. bed
- High
- $180+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$150 | US$300 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$130 | US$520 |
| Rental car, one day1 × US$80 · check | US$80 |
| Fuel, about 100 km of local driving1 × US$15 · check | US$15 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$95 |
| Trip total≈ US$260 per person per day, bed included | US$1,040 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Diner breakfast | $12–20 |
| Fish and chips or a burger | $15–25 |
| Draught beer | $7–10 |
| Gallon of fuelcheck | $4.50–5.50 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
| State-park day-use feecheck | $8–10 per vehicle |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Tsunami risk is real here: know the evacuation route from your lodging and move inland or uphill if sirens sound, without waiting to watch the water.
- The Lighthouse Jetty has warning signs and is genuinely dangerous in swell; stay off it.
- Battery Point Lighthouse is reachable only at low tide — check the tide table before you walk out.
- Winter storms close or delay Hwy 299 and can bring slides; check road conditions before crossing the mountains.
- Summer fog and cold ocean water: the coast here is rarely warm, even in July.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Road conditions (Caltrans)
- 511
Pocket card
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Crescent CityCrescent City
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Road conditions (Caltrans)511
Embassy
No consulates here; the nearest are in San Francisco. For your country's embassy or consulate, check before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Redwood Coast Transit, local Crescent City route: $1
- Redwood Coast Transit, elsewhere in Del Norte County: $1.50
- Redwood Coast Transit, Humboldt–Del Norte: $30
- Klamath Shuttle, distance-based: $8–45
Say or show
- Where is the nearest high ground? — Where is the nearest high ground?
- Is the tide low enough to walk to the lighthouse? — Is the tide low enough to walk to the lighthouse?
- How far to the redwoods? — How far to the redwoods?
- Is the road open? — Is the road open?
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Crescent City. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (rain, fog, possible slides on Hwy 299) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CEC: current scheduled service, taxi or shuttle fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Front Street and downtown, the US 101 motel strip, Point St. George.
- Place pages with verified tide and gate cutoffs (Battery Point, Stout Grove, Boy Scout Tree Trail) and eat pages with last orders.
- Storm and tsunami fixtures so gates A–D can go green.