Located on the far Northern California coast, about 9-10 hours north of San Francisco by car, Crescent City derives its name from the crescent-shaped beach that defines its harbor. Highway 101 passes through the city on its way north to the Oregon Coast. Highway 199 follows the Smith River inland towards Oregon's Illinois Valley to the north-east and the southern Oregon interior.
Crescent City offers an abundance of outdoor recreational activities due to the close proximity of the Pacific Ocean, the Smith River and Klamath River, Redwood National and State Parks, and the Smith River National Recreation Area. Visitors are also attracted to two lighthouses, the Ocean World aquarium, and Elk Valley Casino.
Crescent City offers mild summer coastal temperatures average 60-70 degrees, with inland summer temperatures much warmer. Winter temperatures average 40-50 degrees.
