Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park - Plan Your Visit

Kings Canyon National Park by US-Parks

Operating Hours Seasons

The two main entrances (on highways 198 180) are open daily year-round.

Highest visitation is in July and August. It can be difficult to find a campsite at popular campgrounds on summer Saturdays.

Local Partners Information Resources

Park newspaper

Sequoia Natural History The Sequoia Fund - supports important park projects

The Sequoia Fund - supports important park projects

Drafting of Park General Management Plan - status

Getting There

Plane

The closest commercial airports are in Fresno and Visalia.

Car

NOTE: Gasoline is not sold within park boundaries. Be sure to fill up in one of the towns near the park entrance OR at one of three locations in the national forest bordering part of the park: year-round at Hume Lake (near Grant Grove), and late spring into fall at Stony Creek (between Giant Forest and Grant Grove) or Kings Canyon Lodge (between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove).

To Sequoia Park entrance: from Highway 99 at Visalia take Highway 198 east for approximately 1 hour.

Note: The 16-miles of road from Ash Mountain to Giant Forest includes 130 curves and 12 switchbacks. Due to this, there is a vehicle-length advisory for the 12 steepest miles within that stretch. From Potwisha Campground to the Giant Forest Museum, the advised maximum vehicle length is 22 feet (6.7 m). The alternative: take Highway 180 from Fresno to Grant Grove, then turn south on the Generals Highway.

Maximum legal length limits on the Generals Highway are 40 feet (12 m) for single vehicles or 50 feet (15 m) for vehicles plus a towed unit. If you are towing a smaller vehicle, consider camping in the foothills and using the smaller car to explore.

To Kings Canyon Park entrance: from Highway 99 at Fresno take Highway 180 east approximately 1-1/4 hours.

PET OWNERS: Keep in mind that dogs are not permitted on park trails and it may be too hot to leave them in the car.

Bus

In Sequoia Park, the 16-miles of the Generals Highway from Ash Mountain to Giant Forest contains 130 curves and 12 switchbacks. There is a vehicle-length advisory for the 12 steepest miles within that stretch. From Potwisha Campground to the Giant Forest Museum, the advised maximum vehicle length is 22 feet (6.7 m). The alternative: take Highway 180 from Fresno to Grant Grove and turn south on the Generals Highway as far as the Giant Forest.

Maximum legal length limits on the Generals Highway are 40 feet (12 m) for single vehicles or 50 feet (15 m) for vehicles plus a towed unit.

Public Transportation

There is no public transportation to these parks.

Getting Around

All roads in the park are very curving; many are steep, most are narrow. Always keep right of the yellow lines, and pull into a turnout to let those behind you pass. Downshift when going downhill, even in automatic transmission vehicles. This lets the engine help to slow you down and helps to avoid the common problem of burned-out brakes.