Campgrounds and RV parks near Redwood Valley, CA

Lake Mendocino is the main draw. The lake is formed by the Coyote Dam on the East Fork of the Russian River and offers boating, swimming, picnicking, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, and horseback riding. Several miles of trails wind around the lake, including the 3-mile Shakota Trail, which offers views of the water. Anglers, swimmers, kayakers, and canoeists can also explore the Eel River and nearby Lake Pillsbury to the east. Soakers visit Orr Hot Springs, which has communal and private hot pools, a spring-fed cold pool, a moderate-temperature pool, a steam room, and a dry sauna. The nearby Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve protects some of California's oldest and tallest redwoods, with quiet trails through ancient forest. Ukiah Valley wineries and the Mendocino Coast, about 40 miles west, round out day trips.

Inland Mendocino County has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. In Ukiah, summers are hot, arid, and mostly clear, while winters are cool, wet, and partly cloudy. Summer is the busiest RV season: daytime highs frequently push into the 90s Fahrenheit, lake levels are highest, and most local parks run at capacity, so sites should be locked in well ahead. Spring and fall are the most comfortable windows for RV travel. The best stretch to visit Ukiah runs from mid-March through mid-June and again in October, when daytime temperatures are moderate and wildflowers or fall color appear along inland trails. Winter is the wettest stretch and the slowest for camping. The months with the most rainfall are December and January, and several area campgrounds, including the PG and E Eel River Area Trout Creek Campground in Potter Valley, close for the off-season. Fire restrictions are common during the dry late-summer and early-fall months, so confirm campfire rules at check-in.

Sites range from full-hookup RV parks to rustic public campgrounds with limited services. Redwood Empire Fair RV Park is a pavement-and-gravel urban park in Ukiah with laundry, showers, and an on-site host; it sits on a working fairgrounds, so weekend event noise is possible. PG and E Eel River Area Trout Creek Campground has 16 sites with tables, grills, vault toilets, a 34-foot maximum RV length, and no hookups or dump station, and the final approach is rough dirt road. Orr Hot Springs is rustic and unplugged: there is no cell service and no Wi-Fi on the property, pets are not allowed, and guests bring their own towels, robes, and toiletries. Cell coverage is patchy throughout the back roads west and east of Redwood Valley.