McKinleyville is a census-designated place (CDP) located in Humboldt County, California, in the United States. It is situated at an elevation of 141 feet (43 meters) and lies approximately 5.25 miles (8.4 km) north of Arcata.
According to data from the 2020 census, McKinleyville had a population of 16,262 residents, representing an increase from the 15,177 people recorded in the 2010 census.