Sequoia National Park is an American national park located east of Visalia, California, in the southern Sierra Nevada. On September 25, 1890, the park was formed to protect 404,064 acres of forested mountainous territory. The park is located south of and adjacent to Kings Canyon National Park. The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are managed by the National Park Service combined as the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in the southern Sierra Nevada were established by Congress at various points in time, yet they share miles of the border. In 1890, Sequoia became the country’s second national park. The third national park, General Grant National Park, was founded in 1940, the progenitor of Kings Canyon.
As the biggest trees in the world and the most diverse range of landscape types can be found here, it is easy to see why this area is so popular with tourists. Learn about the local wildlife and the dangers they face by browsing through these sections. Despite their size and age, our old giant sequoias remain susceptible.
Entrances and how to reach Sequoia National Park
It’s difficult to get about here since the roads are steep and twisty. Many park routes, notably the General’s Highway from the foothills to Giant Forest, have vehicle length limitations and cautions in effect. Although surrounding national forests have petrol stations, there is none to be found in the parks themselves. Driving on park roads may need the use of tire chains if it is snowing. The driving map of the parks and regional maps of the area might help you plan your itinerary.
Expect delays at park gates because of high traffic. Long lineups of automobiles have formed outside the entry stations on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Make sure you know how to deal with a delay at the gate.
Keep in mind that getting to the park may be difficult if you rely on a GPS device. As the snow melts, Eshom Road may be impassable, making it dangerous to travel on it. The Sierra Nevada mountain range cuts right across these parks, and there are no highways to be found.
Park Entrances
Ash Mountain Entrance to Sequoia National Park
The town of Three Rivers serves as the entrance to Sequoia National Park on Highway 198. The road is constrained and winding after the entrance station. It is not recommended to drive a vehicle longer than 24 feet between the Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha Campground. It is not recommended to drive a vehicle longer than 22 feet on the section of road connecting Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum. Tow trucks are subject to this restriction as well.
Entryway to the Mineral King Area at Lookout Point
Look for the intersection of Mineral King Road and Highway 198 in the town of Three Rivers, two miles prior to the Ash Mountain Entrance, if you’re travelling to the isolated Mineral King region of Sequoia National Park. This road is extremely winding, narrow, and in some places, unpaved. Trailers and RVs are not recommended or allowed in the campgrounds. Weather permitting, it is open from late May through the last Wednesday of October. Mineral King and the rest of Sequoia National Park are only connected by trails.
Please be aware that in this area, GPS and route-finding devices may not provide accurate directions. Utilize the park map and the road signs to double-check your route. In most vehicles, Eshom Road might be challenging to drive, especially when the roads are slippery or covered in snow. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks do not have any roads that run through the mountains from west to east.
By Car
If you choose to travel by car to these parks, be ready to navigate curvy, winding mountain roads. For RVs, trailers, and any other vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.8 metres), there are length restrictions and advisories in place. The routes and travel times from nearby cities to the two main park entrances are included in our thorough driving instructions. Tire chains may be needed at any time if you drive on icy or snowy roads.
The national parks do not sell gasoline, but nearby national forests do have gas stations. Electric vehicle charging stations might be available at park lodges, depending on your car.
By Plane
Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Visalia Municipal Airport are the closest commercial airports to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The parks are accessible in a few hours by numerous other airports, some of which are international.
Sequoia National Park entrance is 1¾ hours away by car from both. To get to the parks, you can rent a car at the airport.
Highway 198 is an hour’s drive from the Sequoia National Park entrance To get to the Visalia. Transit Center, where Sequoia Shuttle runs a summer shuttle service to Sequoia National Park, you can either rent a car from the airport or take a bus.
By Bus
Both the Visalia Transit Center and the Fresno Greyhound Station are stops for Greyhound Lines in the cities of Visalia and Fresno, respectively. In the summer, you can connect with park shuttle routes in Visalia to travel to Sequoia National Park. A vehicle can be rented during other seasons.
With additional stops at Fresno State University and the Visalia Municipal Airport, the City of Visalia’s V-Line bus route offers service between the Visalia Transit Center and Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. This route joins the Sequoia Shuttle during the summer.
From the Visalia Transit Center to the Memorial Building in Three Rivers, Tulare County Area Transit provides transportation. In Three Rivers, many businesses start off their guided sightseeing tours. There are numerous private businesses that provide charter bus guided tours of the parks.
By Train
Hanford and Fresno have Amtrak stations that are the closest to the parks.
Amtrak offers bus connections from Hanford to Visalia Transit Center, where one can connect with the Sequoia Shuttle (summer only). On Highway 198, Hanford is located about 20 miles west of Visalia and one hour and 45 minutes from the entrance to Sequoia National Park.
From the Ash Mountain Entrance on Highway 198, you can go to Sequoia National Park’s Ash Mountain
Visalia
Time: 45 minutes for a trip of 36 miles (58 kilometers).
To get to the Sequoia National Park entrance at Ash Mountain, use CA-198 E.
The Los Angeles area
225 miles or 362 kilometers separate you from the nearest point of interest.
Countdown timer: four hours
To get to I-5 N, use any roadway. To continue to Bakersfield/Fresno, use CA-99 N. Take CA-198 E toward Visalia off of exit 96. Continue on to the Ash Mountain gate to Sequoia National Park.
San Diego and the surrounding area
344 miles or 538 kilometers separate you from us.
5 hours and 50 minutes total.
Follow CA-99N toward Bakersfield/Fresno from either I-805 N or I-5 N. Get on CA-198 E at Exit 96 and go toward Visalia. Continue on to the Ash Mountain gate to Sequoia National Park.
Las Vegas
400 miles or 644 kilometers are the required travel distances.
A total of six and a half hours and thirty minutes.
Los Angeles may be reached via I-15 S. Take CA-58 W towards Bakersfield via exit 179 off of I-5. Continue on CA-99 N toward Fresno from Bakersfield. Get on CA-198 E at Exit 96 and go toward Visalia. Continue on to the Ash Mountain gate to Sequoia National Park.
Death Valley National Park(West Entrance)
Time: 5 hours and 25 minutes, 310 miles (499 kilometers).
Once you get to US-395 S, turn left. Then take the CA-14S exit. At CA-58 W, turn right. CA-99 N may be reached by using the CA-99 N ramp. Get on CA-198 E at Exit 96 and go toward Visalia. Continue on to the Ash Mountain gate to Sequoia National Park.
Outside of the park’s limits, there are no gas stations, although there are a few seasonal ones on adjoining federal forest territory. Lodgepole and Grant Grove may have electric car charging stations.