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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Felton
Spend a half‑day exploring the redwoods and rail rides; add a night at Fern River Resort or stay in nearby Santa Cruz for more comfort.
Felton is a small Santa Cruz County town offering easy access to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Roaring Camp Railroads and canopy tours. One half‑day covers the main sights; add a night if you want forest lodging or to relax after biking.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, fire risk)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at local café | $3–$5 |
| Meal at I Wok Bistro | $12–$20 |
| Roaring Camp train ticket (adult) | $28 |
| Parking at Roaring Camp | $8 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SJC · San Jose International Airport
- About 30 km (19 mi) north, shuttle or rental car to FeltonAbout 19 mi (30 km) north, shuttle or rental car to Felton
Typical fares
- San Jose Airport → Felton (rental car)
- ≈ $40‑$60 per day, depending on vehicle
- Roaring Camp parking
- $8 per day
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is most convenient; bike or walk within town; limited bus service (VTA) to Santa Cruz.
See and do
Known for
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Roaring Camp Railroads
- Redwood Canopy Tours
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | Drive or VTA bus south 8 mi, about 15 min | ≈30 min total |
| Los Gatos | Drive north 6 mi on Highway 9, about 10 min | ≈20 min total |
Sleep
- Fern River Resort
- Forest lodge on Highway 9, limited rooms; book early
- Santa Cruz hotels
- Broader choice 8 mi south, 15‑min drive
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑kul‑pe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra‑see‑as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan‑toh kwes‑ta |
| Where is the restroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?don‑de es‑ta el ba‑nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Lodging is scarce; reserve Fern River Resort well in advance.
- Parking at Roaring Camp is $8 per day.
- Train schedules vary seasonally; check Roaring Camp website.
Felton is low‑risk; typical US small‑town safety. Watch personal belongings on trains and at parking lots.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Felton yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Roaring Camp Railroads
- Redwood Canopy Tours
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Fern River Resort: www.fernriver.com/index.php
- Wikivoyage: Felton, revision 5258987 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5258987
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Felton
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US citizens need no visa for short visits; check entry requirements for other nationalities.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/felton). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.