Campsites at Elk Prairie Campground (2026 Guide)

Most first-time visitors expect a campground tucked deep in the old-growth redwoods. What they don't expect is the open prairie. Elk Prairie Campground sits at the southern end of the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, exactly where the dense forest canopy opens into a wide grassland that draws Roosevelt elk year-round. You'll hear them before you see them - the low grunt of bulls during the fall rut carries across the meadow at dawn.

This is the only full-service campground in the heart of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and for anyone working through our complete visitor guide to the area, it's the logical base camp for accessing over 70 miles of trails. Here's what you need to know to book it right.

Location and Setting

The campground address routes through Crescent City, but you'll find it six miles north of Orick, CA, on the south end of the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. Take exit #753 off Highway 101 and head east. The drive from San Francisco runs six to seven hours, depending on how many times you pull over to stare at trees you can't wrap your arms around.

The setting is what makes this place different from other Redwood National and State Parks campgrounds. Instead of feeling buried in dark forest, you get the meadow. Elk Prairie lives up to its name - a broad grassy opening where black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk graze in plain view of your campsite. The redwood canopy is still there, but it frames the edges rather than looming overhead.

Campsites and Reservations

The campground holds 75 sites total. Of those, 21 are designated tent-only, and one is set up for RV use. That's a notably low RV count for a campground this size, so if you're bringing a rig, you'll want to reserve early. The rest of the sites accommodate either tents or small RVs, but the park service recommends checking maximum vehicle lengths before booking.

Reservations are essential from May through October. The rest of the year you can often find walk-up availability, but the phone line at 1-800-444-7275 is the main booking channel. For questions or booking issues, the park's reservation team is reachable through redw_information@nps.gov, though Reserve California handles the actual booking system.

Cabins Available

Not everyone wants to sleep on the ground. The campground offers cabin rentals as well, which gives you a solid roof and bunks without the full lodge experience. These book even faster than the tent sites, particularly during the rainy season (November through April) when tent camping is less appealing.

Fees and Accessibility

As of 2026, the standard camping fee is $35.00 per night for tent and RV sites. That's the base rate everyone pays unless you hold one of the discount passes.

If you hold a California State Parks Disabled Discount Pass, your nightly fee drops to $17.50. The same rate applies to Federal "America the Beautiful" Senior or Access Pass holders. Distinguished Veterans with a California State Parks Distinguished Veterans Pass camp for free - $0.00 per night.

The hours are straightforward: the campground is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week during operating season. Reservations are essential from May through October, as noted, but the gate doesn't lock at night and there's no quiet hours enforcement beyond standard courtesy expectations.

Payment and Booking

The phone reservation line handles bookings. Bring cash or card for on-site payment - the campground doesn't have an ATM, and the nearest bank is back in Orick or farther north in Crescent City.

What to Do While Camped Here

The main draw is the trail network. Over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails connect directly from the campground into Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and beyond into the national park units. You can walk to the trailhead from your tent, which is the thing returning visitors appreciate most - no driving required for a full day in the redwoods.

• The Prairie Creek Trail starts right from the campground and leads into the heart of the old-growth grove. Path is mostly flat, good for morning walks.
• The James Irvine Trail connects to Fern Canyon if you're up for a longer day. Pack extra water for this stretch - there's no reliable source mid-route.
• The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway itself is a ten-mile paved road closed to vehicles the first Saturday of each month from October through May for Hike and Bike Day. On those days, you can safely bike, walk, skate, or walk leashed pets along the entire length without worrying about traffic. It's one of the best bike rides on the North Coast, and most visitors don't know about it until they arrive.

Wildlife Viewing

Roosevelt elk are the celebrity attraction here. They're the largest subspecies of elk in North America, and the Prairie Creek herd is one of the most accessible populations in California. Bulls can weigh over 1,000 pounds. Keep your distance - rangers will tell you that people get too close every year for photos, and an elk that feels cornered will move faster than you can react.

Black-tailed deer are everywhere, more skittish than the elk but still common around campsites. The park service asks that you don't feed them. Handouts disrupt their foraging patterns and create animals that become aggressive around food storage.

Hike and Bike Day: What You Need to Know

The active alert as of this writing is worth understanding before you plan your trip. From October through May, the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway closes to all motorized vehicles on the first Saturday of each month. This is a planned closure, not a repair or emergency closure.

What that means for you: If you're arriving on a first Saturday between October and May, you'll need to use Highway 101 to access the campground rather than the scenic parkway. The campground itself remains open and accessible - the closure only affects the parkway road. The upside is that you can bike or hike the entire ten-mile stretch of road without cars, which is a genuinely unusual experience along the California coast.

Leashed pets are allowed on Hike and Bike Days, which is a rare opportunity for dog owners who usually face restrictions on park trails.

Practical Takeaways

1. Reserve May through October. Call 1-800-444-7275 as far in advance as you can, especially for tent-only sites or cabins. Walk-up availability exists the rest of the year but isn't guaranteed.

1. Bring proof of your discount pass. The $17.50 discounted fee for Senior, Access, or CA Disabled pass holders requires in-person verification at check-in. Federal Annual Pass holders pay the full $35.00.

1. Pack for rain even in summer. Coastal fog and drizzle can roll in by afternoon regardless of the forecast. A tarp and extra groundcloth are worth the weight.

1. Arrive before dark. The road signs are minimal, and GPS coordinates won't help you if cell service drops out on the drive in. The campground is off exit #753 of Highway 101, on the south end of the parkway.

1. Check the bulletin board on arrival. Ranger program schedules and trail conditions get posted there. The visitor center has more detail, but the board at the campground entrance is your first stop.

1. Know the Hike and Bike schedule. If you're visiting on a first Saturday from October through May, expect the parkway to be car-free. Plan your driving route accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Elk Prairie Campground offers what most redwood campgrounds can't: open space. The prairie gives you light, wildlife viewing from your tent door, and a different experience of the redwood region than the dark, enclosed forest campgrounds to the north and south. It's not the quietest campground - elk grunts and the general bustle of a 75-site operation mean you won't mistake it for backcountry solitude - but for access to over 70 miles of trails and a front-row seat to one of California's most visible elk herds, it's hard to beat.

For more context on other places to stay in the area, check out our guide to all campgrounds in the Redwood region.