United
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver
San Francisco is the connection most visitors use, putting the redwoods within reach from almost anywhere.
ACV · McKinleyville, California
Flying to the redwoods
There is a commercial airport twenty minutes from the redwoods. Here is whether to use it, what driving costs you if you do not, and how to get from the terminal to the trees.
- Airport code
- ACV
- Actually in
- McKinleyville
- To Arcata
- About 15 min
- To Prairie Creek
- About 45 min
First, the confusion
It has four names—and none are the town it is in
The airport is officially California Redwood Coast–Humboldt County Airport. Booking sites may still call it Arcata–Eureka Airport. The code is ACV, and it is physically in McKinleyville.
When searching flights, use the airport code. ACV is what every airline booking system recognizes.
Who flies here
A small airport with useful connections
ACV has a focused network of service to western hubs. Routes can change more often than at a large airport, so use this as a starting point and confirm your dates before booking.
Alaska
Seattle
A useful nonstop for Pacific Northwest visitors and connections north.
Breeze
Las Vegas, Burbank, Provo
Burbank can be a practical alternative to LAX for southern California travelers.
Also here
Coast Guard & general aviation
ACV hosts the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sector Humboldt Bay, county hangars, and transient private-aircraft parking.
The real decision
Fly here, or fly somewhere else and drive?
Flights into ACV can cost more than a major airport. The question is whether the saving is worth the drive.
| Airport | Drive to Arcata | Worth it when |
|---|---|---|
| ACV — McKinleyville | 15 min to Arcata | Almost always, if the fare is within reach. You can land and be in the redwoods the same afternoon. |
| STS — Santa Rosa | About 4 hrs to Arcata | The alternative worth checking when ACV fares are high. It is a straight Highway 101 drive, avoiding Bay Area traffic. |
| SFO — San Francisco | About 5.5–6 hrs to Arcata | Often the widest choice of flights and fares, with a much longer drive and Bay Area traffic to navigate. |
| OAK — Oakland | About 5.5 hrs to Arcata | Similar to SFO and sometimes easier to leave. |
| MFR — Medford, Oregon | About 3.5 hrs to Arcata | Best considered for a trip focused on the northern parks and Crescent City. |
Landing
Getting from the terminal to the trees
It is a small terminal with rental desks, a café, Wi‑Fi, and short walks to everything.
Strongly recommended
Rent a car at the airport
The parks are spread across more than one hundred and fifty miles, with little transit between them. Reserve early—summer rental fleets can sell out.
If you are not driving
Airport shuttle
Door to Door Airporter serves Arcata, Eureka, and beyond. Book ahead instead of expecting a ride to be waiting.
Available, but thin
Uber and Lyft
They can help with transfers to town or a house, but coverage thins beyond the towns and is not a practical option for trailheads.
Worth knowing
Fill up before heading out
Fuel is easy around Arcata and McKinleyville and scarcer north of Orick or west toward the Lost Coast.
Drive times from ACV
- TrinidadAbout 10 min
- McKinleyvilleAbout 5 min
- Arcata PlazaAbout 15 min
- BaysideAbout 20 min
- EurekaAbout 25 min
- Big LagoonAbout 25 min
- Prairie Creek & Fern CanyonAbout 45 min
- Avenue of the Giants (north end)About 1 hr 15 min
- GarbervilleAbout 1 hr 45 min
- Crescent CityAbout 1 hr 45 min
- Shelter CoveAbout 2 hr 30 min
The question everyone asks
Does fog cancel flights?
ACV has a reputation for weather delays—this is a coastal airport in one of California’s foggiest regions. But delays and diversions remain the exception, not the rule.
Instrument approach capability has improved reliability, although summer fog can still affect flights.
- Build in a buffer on the way out if you have a tight connection.
- Morning fog is normal and often clears by midday.
- Keep a plan B for an important trip; Medford and Bay Area airports are drivable, if distant.
- Check flight status before leaving for the airport—it is only a short drive from Arcata.
Practical
Things worth knowing before you fly
- Bring a REAL ID, passport, or other accepted document for domestic flights.
- Reserve a rental car before booking your flight; local supply is limited.
- Arrive with enough time for security, even at a small terminal.
- Pack layers regardless of season—foggy summer days are common here.
- Download maps before leaving town; cell coverage disappears in the parks and along the Lost Coast.
- Pick up groceries in McKinleyville or Arcata before driving toward the coast or southern Humboldt.
Airline routes, rental desks, and shuttle operators change. Confirm current details at flyacv.com before traveling.
Where to stay
Twenty minutes from the terminal
For an easy arrival, a base near Arcata puts you close to the airport and central to the northern parks and the Avenue of the Giants.
Redwood Retreat
Our group-friendly Bayside home is three miles from Arcata, with outdoor gathering space, a hot tub, and room for up to sixteen guests.
- 16+ guests
- 7 bedrooms
- Hot tub
- Near Arcata