Skip to content
Park'd
Get the app
California · Est. 1890 & 1940

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Last verified $35 / vehicle

Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees exemplify the diversity of landscapes, life, and beauty here. Explore these pages to plan your visit or to learn about the plants and animals here and the threats they face. Ancient giant sequoias may seem invincible, but they, too are vulnerable. — nps.gov

SEQUOIACALIFORNIA36.43°N · 118.68°W
KINGS CANYONCALIFORNIA36.80°N · 118.55°W
A deep canyon with a forested floor and steep granite cliffs
Photo: NPS/Rick Cain

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks at a glance

State
California
Established
Sequoia 1890 · Kings Canyon 1940
Size
865,964 acres
2025 visits
2,158,128
Entrance
$35 / vehicle

Best time to visit

When is Sequoia & Kings Canyon quiet?

Sequoia & Kings Canyon is busiest in July and quietest in February. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, September is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.

In 2025 the park logged 1,378,337 recreation visits, the #23 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.

Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Sequoia & Kings Canyon open right now? →

Sequoia National Park

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA
JFMAMJJASOND
Monthly recreation visits: Jan 44,736, Feb 40,616, Mar 57,038, Apr 82,305, May 121,237, Jun 134,182, Jul 194,120, Aug 178,451, Sep 123,152, Oct 93,195, Nov 60,188, Dec 47,026.

Quietest: FebruaryBusiest: July

Kings Canyon National Park

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA
JFMAMJJASOND
Monthly recreation visits: Jan 20,623, Feb 15,937, Mar 16,338, Apr 34,946, May 83,623, Jun 108,906, Jul 118,321, Aug 95,217, Sep 73,668, Oct 51,007, Nov 28,629, Dec 18,015.

Quietest: FebruaryBusiest: July

Fees & passes

What it costs to visit Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Private vehicle$35
Motorcycle$30
Per person (on foot / bike)$20
Nonresident fee, per person 16+$100
Sequoia & Kings Canyon annual pass$70

From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov

Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.

Reservations · 2026

No park-wide reservation

The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.

Every park that needs a reservation in 2026 →

Things to do

Things to do in Sequoia & Kings Canyon

The National Park Service lists 60 things to do in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, from quick stops to full-day outings. The shortest come first.
All activities →
  • Sequoia Historic Entrance Sign1-15 Minutes

    Stop by this historic entrance sign to take pictures and learn about its unique significance to Sequoia National Park.

    Pets OK
  • Tunnel Log5-10 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall

    Since 1935, people have been driving through Tunnel Log. You too can join in on the novelty of driving through a fallen Sequoia.

    Pets OK
  • Visit the Foothills Visitor Center5-75 Minutes · All year

    This visitor center is one mile past the Ash Mountain entrance station along the Generals Highway. Stop here for information, maps, books, gifts, and restrooms. Browse exhibits about the ecology and human history of the…

  • Visit the Kings Canyon Visitor Center5-75 Minutes · All year

    At the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, learn about three regions in Kings Canyon National Park: giant sequoia groves, Kings Canyon, and the High Sierra. Watch a 15-minute movie (English/Spanish). A park store sells books,…

  • Visit the Lodgepole Visitor Center5-120 Minutes · All year

    With brand new museum exhibits, a Park Store, and a wilderness information counter, the Lodgepole Visitor Center is the place to be.

  • Learn the Inside Story at a Ranger Program15-60 Minutes · Summer

    Discover the parks with an expert! Learn more at an all ages ranger program.

  • See the General Sherman Tree in Snow15-60 Minutes · Winter

    Enjoy an up-close experience walking around the big trees, including the largest tree on Earth.

  • Grant Grove Loop Winter Trail30-60 Minutes · Winter

    Visit one of the world's largest living trees. President Coolidge proclaimed the General Grant tree the Nation's Christmas tree in 1926, making it the perfect place to visit for the winter.

Show all 60 things to do

From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.

By activity

The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.

Weather

Weather at Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Because of the extreme elevation range in the parks, weather conditions vary widely between areas. In summer, the sequoia groves have comfortable temperatures and the foothills are hot and dry. Snow lingers on high-mountain passes well into summer. In fall, conditions can range from summer-like to winter-like.

Winter brings snow to sequoia groves and rain to the foothills. Be prepared for tire chain requirements. Spring is a great time to hike in the foothills and snow begins to melt at higher elevations.

From the National Park Service.

Getting there

Getting to Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Two highways enter the parks. Hwy 180 from Fresno leads east to Kings Canyon National Park, then continues 30 miles east to Cedar Grove. Hwy 198 from Visalia leads east to Sequoia National Park via Three Rivers. Inside the parks, Highway 198 becomes the Generals Highway, which connects 198 to 180.

Vehicles over 22-feet long should enter the parks via Highway 180. In winter, the Generals Highway between the parks often closes. Chains may be required on park roads. No roads cross the parks east to west.

47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA, 93271 · Directions on nps.gov

Nearby

National parks near Sequoia & Kings Canyon

  1. Death Valley National Park86 mi~2 h drive (est.)
  2. Yosemite National Park109 mi~3 h drive (est.)
  3. Pinnacles National Park139 mi~3 h drive (est.)
  4. Channel Islands National Park183 miChannel Islands is not reachable by road
  5. Joshua Tree National Park237 mi~6 h drive (est.)

Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.

Closest big cities: Los Angeles (167 mi) · San Jose (183 mi) · Las Vegas (187 mi) · Sacramento (201 mi)

Road trip

Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Kings Canyon & Sequoia

4 parks, about 300 miles between them (~7 h of driving, estimated).

Sequoia & Kings Canyon is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.

Photos of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

A steep granite slope leads from forest to a bare alpine landscape
Photo: NPS/Rick Cain
A guardrail encircles people along a narrow walkway with wide views
Photo: NPS/Paul Johnson

FAQ

Sequoia & Kings Canyon, quickly

When is the best time to visit Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?
If you want fewer people, go in September, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and February the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?
$35 / vehicle. Also: $100 nonresident fee (16+). An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park, and waives the nonresident fee.
Do you need a reservation for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks in 2026?
The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
What are some things to do in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?
The National Park Service lists 60 things to do in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, including Sequoia Historic Entrance Sign, Tunnel Log, Visit the Foothills Visitor Center, Visit the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, Visit the Lodgepole Visitor Center. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
When did Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks become a national park?
Sequoia National Park was established on September 25, 1890. Kings Canyon National Park was established on March 4, 1940.
What is the closest national park to Sequoia & Kings Canyon?
Death Valley National Park, about 86 miles away in a straight line (roughly 2 hours' drive, estimated).

Sources · 4

  1. 1.Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks — official site · National Park Service
  2. 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
  3. 3.Kings Canyon National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
  4. 4.Sequoia National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

About this page

Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/seki.

Park'd · free on iPhone & Android

Been to Sequoia & Kings Canyon? Log it.

Park'd keeps your national parks map, trips, photos and stats in one place on iPhone and Android. Check off Sequoia & Kings Canyon, add the trip, and see how many of the 63 you've got left.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play