Redwood in November.

Crowd snapshot.

November averages about 28,500 recreation visits in the five-year mean, roughly 30% of June and a steep drop from October's 52%. Only December, January, and February are quieter. Campgrounds are easy: Jedediah Smith goes first-come, first-served, and Elk Prairie's essential-reservation season has ended.

Weather snapshot.

The Klamath station averages a November high near 57.7°F and a low near 40.8°F, with about 10.1 inches of precipitation. NPS describes winters on the redwood coast as cool with considerable precipitation. The station's snowfall normal is zero, though NPS names ice as one reason the parkway closes in winter. Days get short, so plan hikes to finish before dark.

Access snapshot.

Visitor centers switch to NPS winter hours on November 2, 2026, and the Jedediah Smith Visitor Center is open in summer only. The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway closes to cars on the first Saturday for Bike and Hike Day and can close for days after storms. NPS's scenic drives page says Cal-Barrel Road is closed to vehicles in winter. Redwood Creek dispersed camping is closed until April 1, per the NPS conditions page. Jedediah Smith Campground is first-come, first-served; Mill Creek is closed. The Tall Trees Trailhead needs a free reservation. Redwood National Park charges no entrance fee.

Seasonal events.

By winter, NPS says Roosevelt elk have moved from higher ground down to the valleys, so Elk Meadow and Elk Prairie are good places to look. Bulls keep their antlers through winter. NPS says migrating gray whales can pass the Klamath River Overlook in the fall. On storm days, stay well back from the surf, since NPS warns that sneaker waves have drowned several park visitors.

Audience verdict.

November suits visitors who want near-empty trails and don't mind rain. It is not a beach month. Families can plan short grove walks, visitor center stops within the winter hours, and elk viewing from pull-outs. RV travelers have Jedediah Smith first-come, with a 25-foot RV limit, and Elk Prairie, with a 27-foot limit; NPS doesn't advise RVs at Gold Bluffs Beach, and trailers are banned there. Keep a backup plan for storm days.

Common questions.

Is November a good time to visit Redwood?

November runs moderately busy at Redwood, about 30% of the June peak, with mild shoulder-season weather (average highs near 58°F). Crowds sit in the middle of the year, neither peak nor empty.

How crowded is Redwood in November?

November averages about 28,514 recreation visits, roughly 30% of Redwood's busiest month (June). That lands it in the middle of Redwood's year for crowds.

How much of Redwood is open in November?

In a typical November, about 88% of Redwood's road network (weighted by how important each route is) is open to wheeled vehicles. Road-opening dates shift year to year, so check the official NPS page for current conditions before you go.

Methodology

Monthly recreation visits come from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025 on NPS IRMA Stats; the statistic shown is Recreation Visits (Redwood National Park), the 5-year mean for 2021-2025. These counts cover Redwood National Park (the NPS-administered lands); the three cooperatively managed California state parks are counted separately, and the 2024-2025 totals reflect an improved NPS counting method rather than real growth, so the reliable timing signal is the month-to-month share of the peak. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Klamath, CA (station USC00044577, 28 ft elevation, coastal lowland). The access score weights how much of the road network is typically drivable that month; Redwood's main roads have no closing season, so the winter dip is our estimate of the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway's winter storm closures and first-Saturday Bike and Hike Days. Seasonal specifics (the Fern Canyon reservation window, Mill Creek Campground's season, visitor center hours) can change; confirm current details on the official NPS Redwood page before booking. Independent site, not affiliated with the National Park Service.