Ruby Van Deventer County Park

If your total length is over 20’ this park won't work for you; it's set up for tent campers and has a tight turnaround. The first few campsites on the right have parallel parking spots which you can fit a van or truck camper into. No reservations; first come first served, $20 cash. 4th of July was full, but I was the only one there on a Friday night in March. No showers, but clean, lit restrooms with running water. It's a worthy alternative to pricier options around, if you can fit.

What a great little spot to stop for the night. Not a very big park. We were camping out of our truck this trip, so we didn’t have any problems. Our motorhome ( 30 ft.) would never fit. When they say no bigger than 19ft. trailers, they mean it. Perfect for vans and tents. Bathrooms were nice, clean & with flushing toilets. Great access to a calm little river. Beautiful , big trees!

NORTH Bank Road, not south.
This CG is not for big rigs. I have a 31’ class C and had to do a 5 point turn to get through the turn around and barely fit in the layout of a riverfront site (though the sites feel roomy). The turn into the campground is about 120 degrees. That said, it is beautiful here with towering redwoods and deciduous trees and very relaxing. The river meanders slowly. Families with kids were enjoying its waters, as was my dog. The campground is very close to it. I did not check bathrooms since I have my own. I was happy to get 2 bars through Verizon here. Hoping to catch some fish.

We have stayed at the Ruby Van Deventer campground before and we will again. The campground itself is great. It's located along the Smith River on Hwy 197 about half way between Crescent City and Brookings. You can choose to be nestled in the thick canopied Redwood camp sites or right on the edge facing the river which allows much more lighting. The campground is fantastic even thought the entrance is a bit sketchy sitting on a corner. The host, however, seemed to be nonexistent. Not once did I see the host travel through the campground and check on the sites / campers to see how they were doing or clean up. I never saw the trash bins emptied. The bathrooms were truly atrocious, coated in bugs (yes I know it's a campground but this was truly bad for a place with a host), dirty, and the toilets didn't even have seats thus making you either sit on the nasty porcelain or try to hover to do your business.

I will undoubtedly stay here again at some time because hosts come and go. It's $15 is a much more acceptable alternative to the $28-35 of Jedediah Park right up the road.