Complete Guide to Visiting Sequoia National Park
Enter a National Park where you are surrounded by massive trees that tower overhead. The highlight of Sequoia National Park is the giant trees, but you can also find some great hiking trails, snowshoeing, and caves to explore. Visit Sequoia any time during the year and make sure to stop at the General Sherman Tree (which stands more than 275 feet tall!!)
You will often see Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks listed together. These parks are separate, but since they are managed together will sometime be listed this way.
Essential Guides to Sequoia Canyon National Park
Highlights of Sequoia Canyon National Park
The highlights of this national park are clearly the massive trees although there are other interesting sites as well. Giant Sequoia trees are part of the Redwood family and are not only one of the largest trees, but also one of the oldest trees in the world. Giant Sequoia trees are endangered and one of the best thing about visit Sequoia National Park is getting to see these giants. Below are a list of the highlights of visiting Sequoia National Park:
- See the massive Sequoia Trees: Don’t miss the biggest – General Sherman, and a walk through Muir Grove
- Hake a hike: Some of the best hikes include: Big Tree Trail, Alta Peak, Little Baldy, Moro Rock, Congress Trail
- Walk through Tunnel Log
- Giant Forest Museum
- Watch the sunset at Beetle Rock
- Crystal Caves
Things to Know About Visiting Sequoia National Park
Below you can find some general information on visiting Sequoia National Park to help you plan your visit. m,
Best Time to Visit Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is open year round and is a great year round destination. If you want warm weather, the best time to visit is between June and September, although in recent year wildfires have also limited activity during the summer months. Winters are generally mild but wet. The table below shows the average temperature and precipitation in Sequoia NP. Like many National Parks, the varied elevation means the temperatures change throughout the park based on elevation.
It’s always a good idea to check park closures on the official site before planning your trip.
How to Get to Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is located in central California. The closest airports to Sequoia National Park are:
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport
- Bakersfield Airport (closest airport)
- Los Angeles International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
The best way to reach Sequoia is to drive in on Highway 198. Below are some common driving times to get to Sequoia:
- King’s Canyon to Sequoia: 1 hour
- Fresno to Sequoia: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- San Francisco to Sequoia: 4.5 hours
- Yosemite to Sequoia: 2.5 hours
Need to Know about Sequoia NP
If you are visiting Sequoia National Park, you should also plan to visit King’s Canyon. The 2 parks are located near each other and both can be visited in a few days.
Sequoia is a popular National Park and reservations should be made in advance if you are planning to camp and it’s often worth purchasing a National Parks Pass in advance if you plan to speed up the entrance into the park.
How Much Time do you Need in Sequoia National Park?
One day is enough time to see the highlights of Sequoia National Park but if you want to enjoy both Kings Canyon and Sequoia NP you can easily spend several days in these parks.
Lodging Near Sequoia National Park
During our families visit to Sequoia National Park, we were planning to stay in one of the park’s campgrounds in early November. We were expecting cold temperatures, but an early snow storm dropped about 5 feet of snow on the park. We pivoted and ended up staying in the Wuksachi Lodge.
In addition to the lodge, there are a number of campgrounds within Sequoia National Park. You can book these campgrounds in advance through the National Parks Service.
If you aren’t interested in camping, some of the best places to stay near Sequoia National Park include apartment or cabin rentals – you can see some options here or see some of the options below:
- Mt Williamson Motel and Basecamp: This is a basic motel accommodation but a great option for visiting as a family
- Buckeye Tree Lodge: An excellent place to stay with a swimming pool
- Sequoia Resort: This large property offers rooms with kitchens just 12 miles from Sequoia NP
Looking for more information on visiting US National Parks? Check out our guide: The Ultimate Guide to Planning a National Parks Trip