The good-sized city of Redding acts as a gateway town to the whole Shasta and Lassen region. Set right in the middle of the I-5 route, Redding has every major service you might need on your travels.

Getting There

Most Californians get to Redding via I-5, whether they’re coming from the north or the south. It’s right on the freeway, with plenty of exits leading to the different parts of town. Watch for signs to take you where you need to go in town.

Redding also boasts a municipal airport with some commercial service. The Redding Municipal Airport (6751 Airport Rd., 530/224-4320, http://ci.redding.ca.us) offers flights on Alaska-Horizon and United-Sky West airlines. Flying in and out of such a small airport ain’t cheap, but you’ve got the advantage of far shorter ticketing and security lines.

Redding is an easy town to navigate, and parking tends to be a breeze (and free). You might have to hunt for a spot in historic downtown on summer weekends or during local events, but otherwise don’t sweat it. Turtle Bay has two huge parking lots that make visiting a snap, and all the motels have private, ample lots.