Humboldt County has 2 DMV field offices and 21 active public high schools serving 4,886 students. Teens anywhere in the county can take California's 30-hour online driver education course, then the permit test at any DMV office.
DMV offices in Humboldt County
Humboldt County averages about 2,443 high-school students per DMV office. The Garberville office is open only part of the week. No DMV office in Humboldt County lists weekend hours. Book on the DMV appointments page (opens in a new tab); what to bring is on our permit visit checklist.
| Office | Address | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2500 6th St, Eureka 95501 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
| Garberville DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1180 Evergreen Rd, Redway 95560 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
Cities in Humboldt County: nearest DMV and high schools
Each incorporated city with its 2026 population, the number of public high schools inside it or with its mailing address, and the nearest DMV office to them. Families in unincorporated Humboldt County use the office nearest home.
| City | Population (2026) | High schools | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka | 26,163 | 5 | Eureka (2.4 mi) |
| Arcata | 19,570 | 4 | Eureka (6.2 mi) |
| Fortuna | 12,185 | 3 | Eureka (15 mi) |
| Rio Dell | 3,224 | 0 | No high school address in city |
| Ferndale | 1,365 | 1 | Eureka (16 mi) |
| Blue Lake | 1,149 | 0 | No high school address in city |
| Trinidad | 291 | 0 | No high school address in city |
Licensed driving schools in Humboldt County
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address in Humboldt County (DMV list checked 2026-10-04). The list is alphabetical; we do not rank schools. Confirm a license on the DMV lookup (opens in a new tab) before you pay.
| Driving school | DMV license | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Driving/Traffic School | E3686 | 1307 Union St, Eureka | (707) 442-1355 |
| Humboldt Driving School | E2063 | 2936 J St, Eureka | (707) 442-4083 |
Driving in Humboldt County: redwood two-lanes and the Eureka-Arcata corridor
U.S. 101 is the main road in Humboldt County, and its design changes a lot from town to forest. Between Eureka and Arcata, Caltrans closed several median crossings, including Bracut and Bayside Cutoff, so fewer drivers turn across highway traffic. Drivers coming from Indianola Cutoff now pass under the highway at the new Brad Mettam Memorial Interchange. Caltrans lists a northbound signal at Airport Road as the main work left. It still plans to finish the corridor project (opens in a new tab) in 2026. At quiet times, practice using the full acceleration lane to reach highway speed before you merge.
In southern Humboldt, U.S. 101 squeezes through Richardson Grove (opens in a new tab) as a narrow two-lane road with old-growth redwoods right beside the lanes. North of Orick, a curve near Prairie Creek (opens in a new tab) has more crashes than the statewide average, and Caltrans plans a grippier surface there. Roosevelt elk graze near these roads, and the park service calls stopping in the roadway to watch wildlife highly unsafe. Keep your speed down in the trees and stay centered in your lane. If you want to look at elk, pull into a marked pullout (opens in a new tab) first.
Quick answers
Sources
- California DMV field office list (fetched 2026-10-05) (opens in a new tab)
- California Department of Education: public schools directory, 2025-26 (fetched 2026-10-05) (opens in a new tab)
- California Department of Finance: E-1 population estimates, January 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- California DMV: Teen drivers (opens in a new tab)
- California DMV Occupational License Lookup: driving schools (checked 2026-10-04) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 1: Eureka-Arcata U.S. 101 Corridor Improvement (US 101) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 1: Richardson Grove Improvement Project (US 101) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 1: 101 Prairie Creek Curve Improvement Project (US 101) (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service: Safety at Redwood National and State Parks (wildlife and road safety) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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