Ferndale is about 20 minutes from Fortuna. You can spend the day there strolling through the picturesque downtown and enjoying the Victorian architecture.
Fort Bragg is about 100 miles south of Fortuna, and it may take you several days to explore this coastal community. There's a scenic train ride that will take you through undisturbed forests. You may want to set aside an afternoon to stroll down Glass Beach and look for shiny bits of polished glass.
In Benbow, visitors can spend a week playing golf, fishing on the Eel River, and exploring old-growth forests. This town is about an hour south of Fortuna.
Fortuna is a city in the northern reaches of California, sitting off scenic Highway 101. In the late 1800s, the town's primary industry was logging. Soon after, the railroad came, increasing both commerce and the population of Fortuna. The lumber mills processed vast amounts of wood from local forests and exported their products to San Francisco, Sacramento, and other large cities. The town grew rapidly over the next few decades as jobs, abundant natural resources, and fertile farmland attracted the settlers. The community is now known for its agriculture and old-growth forests.
Redwood trees surround Fortuna, and Redwood State Park protects several groves and Fern Canyon. The parks in this region offer a number of recreational activities, including fishing, swimming, ocean kayaking, mountain biking, and camping.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park is north of Fortuna near Crescent City, CA. Visitors can take the Stout Grove Loop Trail to see more giant trees. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a spot where you can view wildlife, particularly the Roosevelt elk herds. These state parks have RV sites, well-marked trails, and numerous picnicking areas.
There are many opportunities to fish in Fortuna. The Eel River is a major waterway, and anglers can snag rainbow trout, Coho salmon, and Chinook salmon. In nearby Trinidad and Eureka, visitors can charter a boat to try their luck at ocean fishing. During crab season, you can throw a crab pot off the Trinidad pier, or you may be able to throw a crab ring out in the ocean during your charter.
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park sits on Van Duzen River; some of the campsites are even on the water. Star Wars fans may want to visit this park because some scenes from Return of the Jedi were filmed in nearby groves. This area is a good swimming and fishing spot, too. The park accepts RVs around 24 feet. There are no hookups, but water is available, as well as showers and bathrooms.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park offers these same RV conditions. Here, visitors can stop at the Founder’s Grove before they hit one of the numerous forest trails or drive the Avenue of the Giants. There's also a visitor’s center where campers can pick up more information.
Benbow Lake State Recreation Area is now called Benbow State Recreation Area because the reservoir has been removed. Anglers can still fish on the Eel River. If you rented a large travel trailer or motorhome, it's a good idea to use the south entrance. The north entrance is not big-rig friendly and can be challenging to maneuver. RVs around 30 feet can fit at this state park, but there are no hookups.
Daffodil Festival - This floral festival is held every spring in Fortuna. Gardeners bring in hundreds of these yellow flowers for visitors to enjoy.
Fortuna Rodeo - This rodeo is 100 years old. Every July, Fortuna fills with cowboys, vendors, and carnival rides.
Hops in Humboldt - Hops in Humboldt is a craft beer event held at Rohner Park in Fortuna in the fall.
Apple Harvest Festival - In the autumn, a city-wide event allows visitors to find all things apple-related, including fresh-squeezed cider, and catch some live music in Rohner Park.
About 10 minutes outside Fortuna is the River's Edge RV Park in Rio Dell. All of the sites are back-in, and they offer a mix of full hookups and dry camping. Ancient Redwoods RV Park is set up to handle large motorhomes and trailers. The park has almost 50 paved spots with 20-, 30-, and 50-amp power. There are pull-through and back-in sites, and the campground has a dump site and store. It's located in Redcrest, which is about 20 minutes south of Fortuna. Giant Redwoods RV & Camp is in Myers Flat, roughly 30 minutes away from Fortuna. The campground is on the Eel River, and there are RV sites by the water. All of the spots have hookups, cable, and WiFi.
There are several types of RV storage facilities available in the area. Some operations will store your RV indoors in a giant warehouse, and many gated lots are covered. Utilizing one of these setups means your RV is locked in a secure building or behind locked gates, and moving it to one of these businesses lets you free up parking space at your home. Berry RV Storage is in nearby Eureka, and the owner will keep your recreational vehicle behind a locked gate on a gravel pad. J's RV Center offers gated storage, and they have an RV parts store and repair center on-site. This facility is also in Eureka.
Redwood National Park is comprised of over 800,000 acres of old-growth forests, making it the largest redwood park in the world. If you're up for a challenging hike, apply for a free permit to see the Tall Trees Grove. The park supervisors give out passes so that they can control how many people are up there at one time. There are dozens of other easy and moderate trail systems that do not require special passes, however, like the Big Tree Wayside 10-minute path. This national park has four campgrounds, and the state manages them. Most of the RV sites are about 24 feet, and there are no hookups.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is in Lassen County, California. While driving up to this mountain park, some standout landmarks you'll see are Lassen Peak and Cinder Cone. Once inside this protected range, visitors get to see geothermal areas, including boiling fumaroles and hydrothermal vents. The 500-plus acre park has over 30 miles of trails for walkers, hikers, and mountain bikers. Manzanita Lake Campground has the most RV sites, but there are some RV spots at the Lakeside and Mineral campground, too. There are no hookups in the park, but there is a dump station, fresh water, and a store.
After viewing Lassen Park, you can head to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon about 200 miles away. This national park is best known for its icy blue water and for Wizard Island, which is an old volcano that pokes out of the lake's surface. You can drive or walk the Rim Drive if you want to see every angle of the lake and island. The Mazama Campground is open to RVers in the summer, and a few of the sites have power. There's a dump station, flush toilets, and showers.
The Fortuna Theatre is a standout landmark. The exterior retains its Art Deco style, but the inside has been remodeled to host today’s big-screen movies. You'll spot the neon-lit tower in the center of the town. Many California landmarks honor the past pioneers. In the neighboring community of Ferndale, visit the historic cemetery to see the names of early settlers and some headstones from the 1800s. There are pleasant views of the city from this hillside graveyard. Back in town, stop at Shirley’s Pocket Park, which showcases native plants. It's located next to Firemen’s Park near the end of Main Street.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Fortuna, CA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Fortuna?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Fortuna from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Fortuna?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.