Winter Camping Road Trip from Roseville (5 Days)

Day 1: Roseville → Lassen Volcanic National Park

Morning: Depart Roseville early and enjoy the scenic 4‑hour drive through the Sacramento Valley into the high country of the Sierra Nevada. Arrive at the park’s southern entrance and stop at the visitor center for maps and safety tips.

Afternoon: Set up camp at Manzanita Lake Campground, which offers winter‑ready sites and stunning lake views. After pitching your tent, take a short walk to the Manzanita Lake Trail for easy photo opportunities of snow‑capped peaks.

Evening: Light a campfire (if conditions permit) and enjoy a hearty dinner under a clear winter sky, listening to the distant hiss of geothermal vents.

Day 2: Exploring Lassen Volcanic National Park

Morning: Hike the Bumpass Hell Trail to witness steaming fumaroles, mud pots, and vibrant mineral deposits—an otherworldly winter landscape.

Afternoon: Drive the park’s main road to the Sulphur Works area for a quick walk among active steam vents, then stop at the Devils Kitchen viewpoint for panoramic vistas.

Evening: Return to camp for a relaxing evening, perhaps stargazing from the lake shore where the Milky Way is spectacularly visible.

Day 3: Lassen → Crater Lake National Park

Morning: Pack up camp and begin the 6‑hour drive eastward, crossing the Cascade Range and enjoying winter forest scenery along Highway 97.

Afternoon: Arrive at Mazama Campground inside Crater Lake National Park, set up your tent, and take a short walk to the Rim Visitor Center for park information.

Evening: Watch the sunset over the deep blue waters of Crater Lake, a breathtaking sight when the lake is partially frozen.

Day 4: Crater Lake → Redwood National and State Parks

Morning: Explore the lake’s rim via the Sunset View Trail, offering sweeping vistas of the caldera and surrounding snow‑capped peaks.

Afternoon: Begin the 5‑hour drive northwest to the coast, arriving at Gold Bluffs Beach Campground where you’ll set up for the night amid towering redwoods and ocean breezes.

Evening: Take a twilight stroll along the beach and listen to the waves, then enjoy a cozy campfire (if permitted) before retiring under the stars.

Day 5: Redwood Exploration & Return to Roseville

Morning: Hike the iconic Tall Trees Grove trail to see some of the world’s tallest living trees, a truly majestic winter forest experience.

Afternoon: Visit the Klamath River Overlook for dramatic coastal cliffs, then start the 6‑hour drive back to Roseville, stopping for lunch in a charming coastal town.

Evening: Arrive home in Roseville, unload gear, and reflect on the winter wonders you’ve discovered on this road‑trip adventure.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Manzanita Lake Campground – 1 night (≈ 6 hrs set‑up & stay) – $30
• Park Entrance – Lassen Volcanic NP – 1 day – $30
• Mazama Campground – 1 night – $24
• Park Entrance – Crater Lake NP – 1 day – $30
• Gold Bluffs Beach Campground – 1 night – $30
• Park Entrance – Redwood National & State Parks – 1 day – $35
• Fuel (≈ 950 mi @ 25 mpg, $4.50/gal) – 38 gal – $171
• Food & Miscellaneous Supplies – 5 days – $80
• Total Estimated Cost – $350

Tips

For a shorter trip, skip the Crater Lake segment and spend an extra day exploring more of the Lassen area or the Redwood forests, reducing driving time to under 8 hours total. If you have an extra day, consider adding a night at Trinity Lake on the way back for kayaking or a relaxed lakeside camp, which adds only a modest amount of driving while enhancing the wilderness experience.