Located just off of the Redwood Hwy, US-101, exit 769 on Hwy 169 near the city of Klamath, the entrance fee of $5 includes as many drives through the huge, thriving tree you wish, a restroom made out of an 8 foot (2.4m) diameter redwood, a small gift shop and, across the road, Emus. We waited our turn, which was not that long even though we visited on a Friday in August, and drove through the tree twice; the kids loved it and we got our must-have pictures like everyone else. While the emus have nothing to do with redwoods, we did find watching them interesting. A bit touristy and silly? Absolutely, but more than $5 worth of fun and how many other chances are you going to get to drive through a tree?
For 5 bucks you can drive through a Redwood tree and I thin k it was well worth it. It is a tight fit for those with large vehicles and if you have a trailer you cannot get up to it but can park at the bottom and walk up to take pictures. It is 17 wide and full of life. You can spend as long as you want and it was well worth the visit. Even though this tree has been cut. You environmentalists who think it is a problem should just look up and see that the tree is alive and thriving.
The reason for our trip to California was for Richard to be able to cross off one item on his bucket list, Drive Through a Tree. He was about 6 when he saw the famous drive through tree that fell down in the early 1960's so we went to northern California to see the 3 trees you can drive through there. The first we went to was the Drive Through Tree. It is open all the time, so we were able to go on Christmas Day. The tree is large enough to fit a standard vehicle but it looks like the car will never fit. You drive up to the tree, circle around and drive through. Take time to take pictures and enjoy. We drove and walked through, taking about 30 minutes to really take in the size of the tree. Really cool.
To drive the car thru this 785 old tree with 2.23 m wide and 2.90m height is a fun. The tree is 17ft in diameter at eye level and 90ft tall to the point where the top was blown off. Really its fun to drive thru . we were here after our visit to the Kuchel visitor center and lady Bird Johnson grove.Its just a fun. you love it. Remember, its a private property.
This attraction is $5.00 per car and is a unique experience. It is short drive off the highway. It is probably fairly busy in the summer but in October it was not. The vehicle that you drive through the tree can not be a large vehicle or will not fit. Would recommend it and children would really think it was neat.
This is my third time through the tree... possible that it is my fourth. It is something that must be done at least one time. There are 3 drive through trees that exist near the 101 hwy... my daughter had such a strong memory of it that we brought her friend 6 years later :) if you are on the 101 it must be done!!!
Drive though implies you can take your car through. I read reviews that made it sound fun in a kitchy sort way . In reality - fit a car through? NO. A bike or motorcycle could make it, I imagine. This appears to actually just be a way for some people to fund their own private park and make some money collecting $5 a car. I paid the $5 drove up to the tree, turned around and drove on. The beauty of the redwoods along 101 or the scenic detours (older roads) is much more magical and mysterious. Don't waste your money on this trap. It's not that the hole in the tree is that small… it's that the claim is untrue. I can't imagine the car that could fit.
If you want to do something fun and drive through a tree this is worth the $5 fee. We actually managed to drive through twice as it was quiet. My wife managed to take some pictures of both the car going through and also from inside. Pretty cool and if you have kids I can imagine they would love it just as much as you!
So I have mixed reviews about this. I guess I pictured something else, less touristy and more natural, like driving down Howland Hills Road passing trees. You drive off the road to this tree - which has been turned into a tourist trap. For a small fee, you can drive your car through the tree, only if your car is small enough! It felt strange and forced to me. I'm sure kids will love it but for me I felt wrong after doing it.
We had visited the Drive Thru Tree in Legitt earlier in the day, but a few members of our party traveling separately hadn't had the opportunity to stop, so we decided to visit the Tour Thru Tree. After you pay you drive up a short hill and there's the tree. No touristy gift shop and no bathrooms as compared to the Drive Thru Tree. However, this works out to your advantage in my opinion as it's a more intimate experience than the other tree.After driving (or I should say touring) through the tree, you can go back around and do it again if you want, or park your car and walk through.Our Honda minivan fit just fine with the mirrors folded in although we only had about an inch to spare on each side. I also recommend you have someone in your group get out for a photograph while you stop in the tree and have everybody lean out the windows. It makes a great souvenir photo.