Facilities

Club House

Laundry Room

Swimming Pool

Hot Tub

Fitness Center

Game Room

Rec Hall

Pavilion

Exercise Room

Restroom/Shower

Restroom Only

Shower Only

Restaurant

Groceries

RV Supplies

ATM Machine

WiFi

Dog Park

Cocktail Lounge

Dog Washing Station

Pit Toilet

Snack Bar

Play Ground

Sites

Water

20 Amp

30 Amp

50 Amp

Sewer

Cable TV

Services

Escort to Site

Self-Service RV Wash

Metered LP Gas

Firewood

Fishing Supplies

Pet Supplies

Onsite Rentals

Worship Services

Golf Carts

Fishing Guides

Onsite RV Service

Staffed RV Wash

Fishing Licenses

Complimentary Breakfast

Recreational activities in or near the park

Recreational Activities

Archery Range

ATV Riding

Biking

Boating

Body Of Water

Casino

Climbing

Dock

Driving Range

Fishing

Golf

Heated Pool

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Horseshoes

Kayaking

Lawn Bowling

Mini Golf

Paddle Boats

Pickle Ball

Putting Green

Ramp

Sauna

Shuffleboard

Snow Sports

Splash Pad

Swimming

Tennis

Wading Pool

Water Slide

Water Sports

Water Umbrella

Whitewater Rafting

Policies

RV Age Restrictions

Pets Welcome

Pet Restrictions

Pet Restriction on Quantity

Pet Restriction on Breed

Pet Restriction on Size

No Pets

Tent Camping Allowed

Folding Tent Campers Allowed

No Tents

No Overnight Guests

<h2>Overview</h2><p>Portola Redwoods State Park offers a deeply immersive experience for those looking to disconnect from the bustle of modern life. Tucked away within the rugged Santa Cruz Mountains, this destination is defined by its <strong>towering old-growth coast redwoods</strong> and serene atmosphere. It serves as a true escape for nature enthusiasts, prioritizing the preservation of forest ecosystems over high-end resort luxuries, making it a sanctuary for those who value quiet, natural beauty above all else.</p><h2>Location & Surroundings</h2><p>Situated in the hills above La Honda, CA, the park is accessed via narrow, winding mountain roads that set the stage for a secluded getaway. The surrounding landscape is characterized by steep canyons and lush, <strong>verdant forest canopies</strong> that filter sunlight into soft, dappled patterns on the forest floor. The remote location ensures that visitors are well-removed from the noise of Silicon Valley and the coastal highway traffic, providing a peaceful environment for deep relaxation.</p><h2>Amenities & Park Features</h2><p>The park provides a rugged, back-to-basics camping experience. While the park does not offer traditional RV hookups, it features <strong>primitive campsites</strong> that accommodate smaller trailers and camper vans. Visitors will find essential facilities including fire rings, picnic tables, and potable water access. The park is famous for its <strong>extensive network of hiking trails</strong> that allow visitors to wander directly from their campsite into the heart of the ancient redwood groves for an unparalleled morning walk.</p><h2>Nearby Attractions & Things to Do</h2><p>Beyond the immediate borders of the park, visitors can explore the nearby Pescadero Creek or take a scenic drive toward the Pacific coastline. Local attractions include the historic town of Pescadero, known for its charm, and the <strong>stunning coastal cliffs</strong> found at Pescadero State Beach. Travelers enjoy visiting the nearby Butano State Park or taking mountain bike rides on local trails. The region is perfect for birdwatching, photography, and exploring the diverse flora of the coastal mountain range.</p><h2>Who This Park Is Best For</h2><p>This park is best suited for <strong>self-contained RV travelers</strong> and van-lifers who prefer a rustic, quiet environment over resort-style amenities. It is an ideal spot for those who enjoy hiking, forest bathing, and solitude. Because the access roads are winding and steep, it is generally better suited for smaller rigs rather than large motorhomes. If you crave a genuine, unplugged encounter with California’s majestic redwood forests, this location will perfectly suit your travel style.</p>



Portola Redwoods State Park is a state park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains of San Mateo County, California. The park is located in the La Honda area, about 25 miles (40 km) south of San Francisco. The park is a popular destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and campers. It features a variety of trails, including the popular Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, which runs from the park to the Pacific Ocean. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, and bobcats. The park is also home to a variety of trees, including redwoods, Douglas fir, and madrones.

Portola Redwoods

Portola Redwoods Campground

Experience nature at Portola Redwoods State Park in La Honda, CA. Perfect for self-contained RVs, this quiet escape features ancient trees and hiking.

Portola Redwoods State Park: RV Camping in La Honda, CA

We immersed ourselves in a world of peace and solitude! It was very quiet, clean, and fresh. But bring a map with you! The sounds of nature were pure bliss.

The group campsites are secluded and beautiful!! With the creek near by, one can relax and meditate by it..  The cold water is also a great theory for tired feet after a long hike!!

The area was nice and the bathroom was clean but the camp host was very rude as they accused my group for playing loud music the night before right when we were packing up. We didn’t even have a speaker and when we did play music it wasn’t past quiet hour. We made sure to turn off music and just play card games at a certain time. As I quote in sarcastic tone “ of course you didn’t” like excuse me that implying that we did as you  they didn’t even try to hustle the other camps near us. I think it was very rude they assumed it was us as there were many other camps playing music and didn’t even try to get an answer from them just for us to end our camping trip on a sour note. Thank you we are never coming back here again.

Was an amazing stay, beautiful park. Me and my fiancé got engaged on our tip toe waterfall hike and celebrated his 30th birthday. Please be careful on the roads they’re super tight and windy- don’t be alarmed when you hear a fox screaming at night lmao, they do have an ice machine but it wasn’t fully working yet when we went they just installed it, they also said we COULD bring outside wood but their phone system doesn’t, also their hours may seem incorrect then what google or their phone system says they’re usually open 12 until sunset. Can’t wait to come again. Thanks for the amazing first camping trip.

Beautiful little state park, feels like you’re very much away from the Bay Area despite being quite close. Redwoods and mixed forest is quite beautiful. The campground was small and the sites didn’t seem great or terrible. There are a variety of hikes for all abilities and a cute visitor center. No cell service is what some would consider a bonus for the always plugged in Bay Area crowd. Was our first time here and we would definitely return.

Great place and not very crowded.
The Visitor Centre was great with Angie, the park ranger, informing the visitors in great detail about the park.

Nice little park. Well, it is probably bigger than what I saw.  We walked the 1 mile loop. Such beautiful big old majestic trees. I took my shoes off and grounded myself    Walked barefoot!!  I felt so connected to Mother Earth.  We had the trail practically to ourselves
Clean restrooms and water available

May 2025
This park participates in the CA State Library Parks Pass.

Shady trails along a creek, plenty of trees and picnic benches with BBQ grills. Small parking lots hidden around corners or down driveways. Firewood sold on site.

I had plenty of bug spray all over and still managed to get bitten by swarming mosquitoes in the parking lot, before heading out to the trails.

On the Big Tree trail, I saw a couple banana slugs!

It was a good park with bathrooms and an informative visitor center. I'm glad I visited but probably wouldn't attempt the trip again.

If the goal was to see redwoods, I would prefer visiting Henry Cowell Redwoods SP on 17 instead. The approx 1 hr driving on nonstop windy 84 road in a small sedan is not worth the trip.

Minus stars for the route and overall trip, not for the park itself.

The road to get here was very sketchy, lots of curves and turns and just a few inches off the mountain! Sometimes there were railings, but most of the time their wasn’t, the road was also very narrow so if two cars came, you would have to be very careful, not recommended for new drivers, but the place is pretty awesome, at office where you buy tickets to park, their is melona ice cream you can buy too! It’s very good, but the main reason I came here is to collect stuff for my lamp. Also the more you explore, the more wasps there is, for some reason it kept circling my brother and had red eyes.

Great park! So many redwoods and beautiful views. Nice place to get away from the city and just enjoy nature. Hikes are excellent and not too hard. The only cons are that there is no cell phone service up there and be careful of the mosquitoes, Make sure to bring mosquito repellent.

Portola Redwoods State Park has many nice hikes. The more peaceful and pretty ones are along the creek. We completing a 10+ mile loop with up to 2,000 ft elevation. What I like about this park that despite its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area, the park remains quiet and peaceful due to its long, winding approach to the forest canyon.

Reviews

Portola Redwoods