🏕️National Park Data
A deep canyon with a forested floor and steep granite cliffs
A steep granite slope leads from forest to a bare alpine landscape
A guardrail encircles people along a narrow walkway with wide views
A giant sequoia's reddish bark contrasts with the snow around it
A rustic building is surrounded by giant sequoias
National Parks

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

California

💰
Entrance Fee
$35
🕐
Hours
All Day
📍
Location
Three Rivers, CA
📞
Visitor Center
5595653341

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.

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About Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks is a national parks located in California. 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.

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.

💰 Entrance Fees & Passes

The general entrance fee for Sequoia & Kings Canyon starts at $20 (which commonly covers entry for a single private vehicle and passengers for up to 7 consecutive days). The park offers several fee options: Entrance - Private Vehicle ($35), Entrance - Per Person ($20), Entrance - Motorcycle ($30), Entrance - Non-commercial Groups ($20), Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus ($100), Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach ($200), Commercial Entrance - Per Person ($20), Nonresident ($100). If you plan to visit multiple national parks this year, purchasing the America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass ($80) is highly cost-effective, as general entry to most parks will quickly offset the pass cost.

Entrance - Private Vehicle$35
Entrance - Per Person$20
Entrance - Motorcycle$30
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups$20
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus$100
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach$200
Commercial Entrance - Per Person$20
Nonresident$100

🥾 Things to Do

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks offers visitors a diverse selection of outdoor experiences. You can participate in a wide array of activities, most notably Auto and ATV, Scenic Driving, Astronomy, Stargazing, and 35 other recreational activities, depending on the season and weather conditions. Path options exist for both casual strollers and expert backcountry adventurers.

✅ Auto and ATV
✅ Scenic Driving
✅ Astronomy
✅ Stargazing
✅ Camping
✅ Backcountry Camping
✅ Car or Front Country Camping
✅ Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
✅ Group Camping
✅ RV Camping
✅ Caving
✅ Climbing
✅ Rock Climbing
✅ Fishing
✅ Freshwater Fishing
✅ Fly Fishing
✅ Food
✅ Dining
✅ Picnicking
✅ Guided Tours
✅ Hands-On
✅ Citizen Science
✅ Hiking
✅ Backcountry Hiking
✅ Front-Country Hiking
✅ Horse Trekking
✅ Horseback Riding
✅ Junior Ranger Program
✅ Skiing
✅ Cross-Country Skiing
✅ Snow Play
✅ Snowshoeing
✅ Wildlife Watching
✅ Birdwatching
✅ Park Film
✅ Museum Exhibits
✅ Shopping
✅ Bookstore and Park Store
✅ Gift Shop and Souvenirs

📦 Recommended Gear & Packing Checklist

Custom items selected for activities at Sequoia & Kings Canyon

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🎒 Trail Essentials

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🥾 Activity-Specific Gear

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🧥 Apparel & Layers

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💡 Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

📋 Visitor Planning Tips for Sequoia & Kings Canyon

  • →Beat the Crowds: Arrive at the main gates or trailheads of Sequoia & Kings Canyon before 8:00 AM. Parking spaces at popular locations fill up extremely fast, especially during warm peak season weekends.
  • →Monitor Active Alerts: There are currently 1 active alerts for Sequoia & Kings Canyon. Keep an eye on the alert notifications at the top of this guide for crucial information regarding closures or safety issues.
  • →Secure Campsites Early: Lodging and developed campgrounds within and surrounding Sequoia & Kings Canyon get booked out months in advance. Make reservations on recreation.gov as early as the window opens.
  • →Leave No Trace: Help protect the delicate ecosystems of Sequoia & Kings Canyon. Stay on marked trails, pack out all of your waste, and keep a respectful distance from wildlife.
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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.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sequoia & Kings Canyon

The entrance fee for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks is $35 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all 474+ NPS sites and pays for itself after just 2-3 park visits.

About the Author

🧗

James R. Mitchell

Founder & Lead Writer — National Park Data

James has visited all 63 designated US national parks and has been writing about outdoor travel for over 12 years. He spent 8 years as a wilderness guide in the Rocky Mountains before founding National Park Data to help visitors plan better, safer, and more enjoyable park trips.

🏔️ 63 Parks Visited✍️ 12 Years Writing🧭 Wilderness GuideFull Bio →
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