Los Angeles To Sequoia National Park Road Trip: Best Route, Stops, & Itinerary
I have spent the last few years traveling full time in my campervan. One of my favorite road trips to date was from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park with my mom! She flew into LAX and we drove up to Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and then explored Yosemite together.
Luckily, I have some California based nomad friends who gave me all the best recommendations for this road trip from LA to Sequoia National Park, so I’m rounding up the best recommendations and sharing my trip itinerary with you.
In this article I’ll cover:
- The best route from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park
- Things to do along the way
- Free road trip map
- Sequoia National Park vacation itinerary (+ day trip itinerary)
- Kings Canyon National Park itinerary
- Where to stay
Distance from LA to Sequoia National Park
The distance from LA to Sequoia National Park is just over 200 miles, and takes at least 4 hours to drive (but typically closer to 5.5 hours with traffic).
We got lucky and left first thing Saturday morning and the drive from LA to Sequoia National Park only took 4.5 hours.
If you can, I would avoid rush hour at all costs because… it’s LA. The traffic there is insane.
The drive from LA to Sequoia is really pretty. Once you get out of LA it’s quite scenic.
My mom loved the miles upon miles of orange groves driving through Bakersfield, and I loved the smell of pine trees and the steep mountain roads as we got closer to Sequoia National Park.
Planning A Trip To Sequoia National Park
LAX is the best airport to fly into for a trip to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon.
There are lots of flight options, and LAX has reasonably priced tickets.
Los Angeles is also a great place to pick-up an affordable rental car, or if you’re feeling adventurous I highly recommend renting a camper van for your California National Park road trip!
Other Ways To Get To Sequoia National Park From LA
Don’t want to drive? Don’t worry! There are a few other ways to get from LA to Sequoia that don’t require you to have a vehicle or drive yourself.
Book A Tour
From LA there are several great options for private or group tours to Sequoia National Park. Depending on how much time you have there are options for day trips or multi-day trips.
- Day Trip to Sequoia National Park from Los Angeles + Kings Canyon – Private Tour
- Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park + Yosemite (2 days) – Private Tour
- LA to Sequoia National Park + Kings Canyon (2 days) – Private Tour
- LA to Sequoia National Park + Kings Canyon + Yosemite (2 days) – Group Tour
Bus Or Train
From Los Angeles, you can take an Amtrak train or a bus to Visalia.
Amtrak runs from Union Station in LA to the Visalia train station. The trip is 7.5 hours and around $45 per person for a one-way ticket.
Bus routes also run from Union Station to Visalia, and cost around $40 per person, one-way. If you plan ahead, you can get a direct route which will only take 4 hours. Most routes have a transfer and take closer to 7 hours.
From Visalia you can take the Sequoia shuttle for $20 per person, round-trip. The Sequoia shuttle connects you with the park shuttle system. However, the Sequoia shuttle only runs during the summer!
Map: Los Angeles To Sequoia National Park And Kings Canyon
Use this road trip map to plan your itinerary from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park! I’ve labeled items by park (noted by color) as well as by activity type (noted by icon).
How To Use This Map:
Open this map in your browser by clicking the icon in the top right corner. Then click the star icon on the left-side bar. This will save the map to the Google Maps app on your phone so you can easily reference it during your trip.
Locate this map in your Google Maps app by selecting ‘you’ at the bottom of the phone app and then scroll down and click ‘maps’ to find saved trip maps like this one.
What To See On The Drive From LA To Sequoia National Park
In full transparency, I didn’t find many can’t-miss stops between LA and Sequoia National Park. The drive is mostly through rural farm land in the central valley. However, there are a few things worth seeing.
Stop 1: Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita is only 35-minutes from LA and is a fun town to spend a few hours in.
You can taste wines at vineyards like Agua Dulce Winery, enjoy a hike at Placerita Canyon Nature Center or check out the neat rock formations at Vasquez Rocks Natural Area.
Six Flags Magic Mountain is just past Santa Clarita and is a popular theme park. Rides like Twisted Colossus, Goliath, and X2 are fan favorites.
Stop 2: Bakersfield
Bakersfield is large farming community, so during harvest season you can expect to find plenty of fresh fruit stands along the road.
Consider stopping by Murray Family Farms for delicious fresh fruit. Depending on the time of year, you can pick your own fruit, attend a pumpkin or sunflower festival, or Christmas At The Farm.
💡 LA To Sequoia Driving Tips:
⛽ Bakersfield is the last large city you’ll pass through from LA to Sequoia. I recommend filling up on gas here, and getting any groceries you’ll need.
These items are available closer to Sequoia National Park, but they’re also more expensive.
📶 Past Bakersfield cell reception becomes sparse. Download your maps before you leave!
Stop 3: Three Rivers
Three Rivers is the town just outside of Sequoia National Parks south entrance. It’s a smaller town, but it’s filled with unique mountain charm.
The Orange Works cafe is a few minutes outside of Three Rivers, but worth a quick stop in for some ice cream or a hot pastrami sandwich on fresh baked bread.
Tony’s Taverna On Wheels is a delicious food truck in Three Rivers with famous greek food like gyros and falafel pitas.
Slick Rock Recreation Area is a great place for a picnic and to cool off in the Kaweah River. There’s a parking fee of $10. When the river is calm, there are smooth rocks you can ride like a water slide.
Optional Spring Detour: Antelope Valley
If you’re visiting Sequoia National Park between March and May, then I recommend a detour on your route from LA!
This is the perfect time to stop by Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve and see some incredible rolling hills exploding with red poppy flowers.
It’s a tad bit out of the way so check the live camera footage to see whether the fields are blooming.
Unfortunately, my trip was the second week of March and the poppy’s weren’t blooming yet, so we skipped it.
Los Angeles To Sequoia National Park Day Trip Itinerary
If you only have time for a day trip to Sequoia National Park from Los Angeles this is the itinerary I recommend:
Sequoia National Park Day Trip From Los Angeles
In total, this itinerary has 10 hours of driving – 5 hours each way.
Expect to spend about 20-minutes at Foothills Visitor Center, Tunnel Rock & Amphitheater Point Overlook, and Moro Rock each. One hour in total.
Budget another 1.5 hours for lunch at Crescent Meadow and the hike to General Sherman.
In total, expect to spend 2.5 hours exploring the park and 10 hours driving with this one day trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia itinerary.
Sequoia National Park Itinerary
Personally, I think 2 days is the perfect amount of time for a Sequoia National Park itinerary. I would also spend 1 day in Kings Canyon National Park (more on that next).
With even more time, I would add 3 or 4 days in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is only about 2.5 hours from Sequoia National Park.
For our trip, we visited all 3 parks! My mom flew into LA, we visited Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite, and then she flew out of San Francisco – it worked perfectly.
Things To See And Best Hikes In Sequoia
There’s a lot of fun and easy hikes in Sequoia National Park, and even the drive through the park is breathtaking.
1. Foothills Visitor Center
Stop at the Foothills Visitor Center first!
It’s one of the first things you’ll come to when you enter Sequoia, and it’s a great opportunity to ask the ranger on duty about important information, like trail closures, wildlife activity, and scheduled ranger programs.
2. Tunnel Rock & Amphitheater Point Viewpoint
On your drive deeper into the park be sure to stop at the pull offs for Tunnel Rock and Amphitheater Point Viewpoint.
Tunnel Rock was part of the original roadway through the park, but as cars grew larger and no longer fit under the tunnel the road was rerouted around it.
3. Moro Rock Trail
Moro Rock Trail is great for sunrise or sunset. If you get to the park early I recommend stopping here on your way up to General Sherman so you can continue farther into the park without retracing your steps.
Moro Rock Trail is an easy 20-minute hike and you’ll have panoramic views from the summit.
4. Tunnel Log & Crescent Meadow
From Moro Rock, take a short detour to Crescent Meadow and pass under Tunnel Log – a giant sequoia tree which fell across the road in 1937.
Crescent Meadow is a great spot for a picnic lunch, or to spend some time walking along the lush meadow.
Crescent Meadow Loop Trail is 1.3 miles and takes around 30-minutes to hike.
5. General Sherman Tree + Congress Trail
Next, head on to General Sherman Tree and Congress Trail. This area of the park can get extremely busy, so I recommend trying to get here as early in the day as possible to avoid crowds and find parking.
General Sherman is the largest known tree on the planet (by volume) and still growing. It’s 275 feet tall and believed to be 2,200-2,700 years old!
It blows my mind to think that something living today was also alive in BC times.
The full Congress Trail is just under 3 miles and takes a little over an hour to hike. The first giant sequoia you come to is General Sherman.
If you’d prefer a shorter hike you can hike in to see General Sherman and then back out, which is just 1.2 miles total.
I really liked the Congress Trail. It’s an easier hike with a well maintained trail, so it felt more like a wander through the woods than a full hike.
Even in the off season the trail was really busy, so be prepared for limited parking.
❤️ A Love Note About AllTrails ❤️
My Favorite App For HikingSome links on this post show you the detailed AllTrails guide for each recommended hike. I love AllTrails+ for my National Park trips. It allows me to easily pre-plan my hikes, save trails to personalized lists for easy access, and download them so I can access route information while out of cell service.
As a solo hiker, the live sharing capabilities make me feel much safer knowing someone else has my coordinates, and if I wander off the trail the app alerts me so I don’t get lost.
6. Tokopah Falls
Finally, head farther up the mountain to Tokopah Falls. This is a moderate hike just under 4 miles with a little more than 600 feet in elevation gain. It ends at Tokopah Falls.
Unfortunately, the falls can run dry towards the end of the summer so I recommend talking with a ranger ahead of time if you’re unsure whether this trail is worth doing during your trip.
7. Watchtower Trail
If you’re spending two days in Sequoia National Park I recommend adding Watchtower Trail to your itinerary. It’s a moderate 8.3 mile hike with some significant elevation gain and takes about 5 hours to complete.
The views along the hike are stunning, including lakes and panoramic views. It’s less popular than the trails in the sequoia groves so you can escape the crowds a bit.
Where To Stay At Sequoia National Park
Wuksachi Lodge is the only hotel accommodation located inside of Sequoia National Park.
It’s a beautiful and very conveniently located lodge, but it books up quickly so you want to make reservations far in advance.
Outside the park, there are two options: Three Rivers or Visalia.
Three Rivers is the closest, but also fairly remote with limited options:
- AutoCamp Sequoia – unique Airstream glamping experience
- Comfort Inn & Suites – mid-range
- The River Inn – budget
- Soleil Luna – 2 bedroom vacation rental
Visalia is 30-minutes farther, but has more affordable hotel accommodations:
- Wyndham – conveniently located, pet-friendly, budget
- The Darling – luxury boutique hotel
It’s also possible to camp in Sequoia National Park. In total there are 6 campgrounds.
Foothills Area Campgrounds: Potwisha and Buckeye Flat
Lodgepole & Giant Forest Area Campgrounds: Dorst Creek and Lodgepole
Mineral King Area Campgrounds: Cold Springs and Atwell Mill
All of the Sequoia National Park campgrounds require advanced reservations which can be made on the recreation.gov website.
We stayed at Potwisha campgrounds on our trip, which is the only campground open during the winter.
It’s close to the Foothills entrance, which is at lower elevation so it’s much warmer than the campgrounds farther up the mountain.
I enjoyed this campground, but like most National Park campsites the spots are clustered together without much privacy. Come prepared for noisy neighbors and early morning activity.
Kings Canyon National Park Itinerary
If you’re able to add another day onto your LA to Sequoia road trip itinerary, I highly recommend spending it at Kings Canyon!
I really loved this park, and it’s conveniently located right next to Sequoia so it’s worth a trip.
Things To See And Best Hikes In Kings Canyon
Did you know that Kings Canyon is one of the biggest canyons in the US?! It’s even deeper than the Grand Canyon! The park is really massive, and it’s divided into two sections: Grant Grove and Cedar Grove.
Most people visit the western section (Grant Grove), which is has the most infrastructure and is the easiest to access.
1. Grant Grove Village & Visitor Center
On your way into the park I recommend stopping in Grant Grove Village. It’s a quaint little village with a gift shop, amenities and the visitors center.
I always make it a priority to stop at the visitor center when I get to a National Park. There are rangers on duty who have great information on current trail closures, wildlife activity and ranger programming.
I also ask for their advice on the best trails to hike based on my interests and they never disappoint!
2. General Grant Tree
General Grant Tree is considered to be 1,300 years old! It’s located in Grant Grove inside of Kings Canyon and you can see it by taking a short 0.7 mile loop hike.
You’ll also be able to see other giant sequoias in the grove and centennial stump (which is massive).
3. Big Stump Loop
Big Stump Loop is an easy 1.6 mile loop that takes you to the stump of the Mark Twain tree located in Grant Grove.
Mark Twain giant sequoia was cut down in 1891 after reaching a diameter of 16 feet across.
By who? The US military.
Why? Because no one believed that trees that big really existed, so the Army cut it down and hauled it off to display in NYC, London, and around the world. Turns out, people still thought it was a hoax.
4. Panoramic Point Overlook
Panoramic Point Overlook is located along Panoramic Pt road, which is a scenic winding road past Grant Grove Village.
It’s an easy half mile loop with views of the High Sierra peaks, and the glacial gorge of Kings Canyon. It’s truly breathtaking.
5. Hume Lake
If you have more than one day in Kings Canyon I recommend exploring the Cedar Grove area as well.
You’ll take the beautiful Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, which connects Grant Grove (west) with Cedar Grove (east).
Note: the byway is not open during the snowy season.
Along the way, stop at Hume Lake. This is technically part of Sequoia National Forest and is not on National Park property, but it’s still a fun visit to stretch your legs and walk around the lake.
Hume Lake is the farthest point you can reach along Kings Canyon Scenic Byway in the winter.
It’s also dog friendly! My mom and I drove out here in March and I loved that I could take my dog on the hike, too. Van life with a dog isn’t always this easy at most National Parks.
The trailhead for the lake starts in a small village that looks like it’s a fun bustling summer camp during the warmer season.
The trail is under 3 miles, mostly flat, has great views of the lake, and is a loop. Halfway around the lake is a nice beach, which is a perfect stop for a picnic lunch or a hiking snack.
You can also find gas and groceries at Hume Lake. It’s a good spot to refill your tank because there aren’t many other options in this area.
6. Roaring River Falls
Roaring River Falls is located in Cedar Grove, which is part of the eastern section of Kings Canyon National Park.
This trail is an easy 10-minute hike to the falls. It’s a really unique and beautiful waterfall, but it’s also quite crowded so I recommend coming early in the day to find some peace (and parking).
7. Mist Falls
Mist Falls is located in Cedar Grove. It’s an out-and-back trail just under 8 miles with approximately 900 feet of elevation gain that leads to one of the biggest waterfalls in Kings Canyon National Park.
It’s one of the best day hikes in Kings Canyon, and many people say it resembles Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park.
Where To Stay In Kings Canyon National park
There are 3 hotels located inside Kings Canyon National Park:
1. John Muir Lodge is a relatively newer National Park hotel (built in 1998) so it has more amenities than you can usually expect from park lodging. The lobby great room has games, puzzles, and books for guests to enjoy, open-beam ceilings and a cozy stone fireplace.
2. Grant Grove Cabins are perfectly located within walking distance to everything in Grant Grove Village, including the General Grant Tree, market, and visitors center.
There are tent and timber cabins available to rent. I recommend you book cabin 9 “Honeymoon Cabin” if it’s available. It was built in 1910, it’s the oldest structure still standing in Grant Grove Village!
Both John Muir Lodge and Grant Grove Cabins are conveniently located in the Grant Grove area of the park. They both allow dogs ($25/night).
3. Cedar Grove Lodge is the third hotel located in Kings Canyon National Park, but it’s in the Cedar Grove area of the park – less convenient, especially if you’re only spending one day in Kings Canyon.
There are many vacation rentals just outside of Kings Canyon, which are conveniently located with easy access to the park.
I recommend Redwood Grove Cabin or this Historic Cabin in Wilsonia.
If you prefer hotels, the closest town to Kings Canyon is Fresno, which is about an hour from the Grant Grove section of the park.
There are many hotel options in Fresno, such as Fairfield Inn & Suites or Hampton Inn & Suites.
There are also 7 campgrounds in Kings Canyon National Park.
Grant Grove Campgrounds: Azalea, Crystal Springs, Sunset
Cedar Grove Campgrounds: Sentinel, Canyon View, Moraine, Sheep Creek
All of the campgrounds require advanced reservation. The only exception to this is Azalea Campground which operates on a first-come, first-served basis during the winter.
Reservations can be made in advance on the recreation.gov website.
My mom and I stayed at Azalea Campgrounds in March and it was nice, even with several feet of snow. At least the bathrooms were heated!
Best Time To Visit Sequoia National Park
The best time to visit Sequoia National Park from Los Angeles is during the summer, when you can access all areas of the parks. However, you should expect more crowds during this time.
I visited Sequoia National Park in March, and with so much snow still on the ground most of the secondary roads are closed, as are most of the campgrounds in the parks.
While our trip to Sequoia in March worked well for us from a scheduling perspective, it did limit us from fully enjoying the parks.
Tips For Your Sequoia National Park Vacation
These are a few additional tips and tricks I’ve learned to help you plan for the best Sequoia National Park vacation.
Driving In Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Park
Overall, you’ll really need a car or campervan rental in order to get from LA to Sequoia National Park efficiently.
Public transportation options are limited, but feasible – if you choose this option just plan for extra time because the train and bus schedules add at least 3 hours of travel one-way, and many of them require transfers.
Keep in mind that there is no shuttle into Sequoia from Visalia during the winter and there are no shuttles in Kings Canyon any time of the year.
Sequoia offers a free shuttle within the park from late May until early September. You can find detailed information about the shuttle schedule and stops on the NPS website.
During the summer months, I recommend taking the in-park shuttle. Parking lots fill very quickly and it can be a huge time waste to circle for parking. The shuttle will save you tons of time and frustration.
Entrance Fees For SEKI
The entrance fee for Sequoia and Kings Canyon (often referred to together as SEKI) are $35 per vehicle, good for up to 7 days. Unlike other National Parks, this weekly pass grants you access to both parks so you don’t need to pay twice.
Luckily, there are no timed-entry requirements for either park like the vehicle reservation systems in Arches or Glacier National Park’s Going-To-The-Sun-Road.
If you plan to visit more than two national parks this year, consider getting the annual America The Beautiful park pass.
I’ve had this pass for several years and love it. It’s $80 and good for 12 months, which means you’ll save money when you visit your third national park.
Note: You only need one parks pass per vehicle.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park History & Map
Sequoia is the second oldest National Park, the first is Yellowstone. Since it’s conception, the park has been expanded several times.
Sequoia National Park was established in 1890 as a refuge for the giant Sequoia trees, including General Sherman Tree.
Congress passed the act to create Sequoia National Park as a way to stop logging that was destroying the natural habitat.
Sequoia National Park is also home to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, with an elevation of 14,505 feet.
In 1940, Kings Canyon also became a National Park, bordering Sequoia. The land was originally home to the Yokuts and Western Mono tribes.
While there is a road that connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon, it’s not open during the winter months due to snow and unsafe driving conditions.
From the map above, you can see where the road trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park enters the park near the Foothills Visitor Center (southwest part of the park).
From there you can take the road north through Sequoia and cross over into Kings Canyon (unless it’s winter, when the road is partially closed). This closure happened during my trip in March, so I had to backtrack and head into Kings Canyon from the west entrance by way of Fresno, which takes a few hours.
Interestingly, Kings Canyon is not contiguous. The more popular section of the park is attached to the top northwest corner of Sequoia (called Grants Grove).
To access the eastern section of Kings Canyon (called Cedar Grove), you must take Kings Canyon Scenic Byway through Sequoia National Forest – this byway is partially closed during the winter, though, which cuts off the eastern section of the park when it snows.
More Ideas For A Los Angeles To Sequoia National Park Road Trip
If you have more time, I highly recommend you add Yosemite National Park to your road trip itinerary. Even just one day in Yosemite is still worth the drive time (about 2.5 hours).
My mom and I also made a day trip to Pinnacles National Park on our way back to San Francisco. It’s a newer National Park (established in 2013) and is fairly small, making it easy to see with just a few hours.
Here are some additional planning resources for your Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park road trip:
