A deep canyon with a forested floor and steep granite cliffs

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

National Parks · California

NPS/Rick Cain

📍 StateCalifornia
🏛️ TypeNational Parks
🎟️ Entry$35
🏃 Activities39
Official NPS Website →
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Adjacent national parks in California

The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is the consolidated management structure for Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park in California. Both parks have been jointly administered since 1943. They have a combined size of 1,353 square miles (3,500 km2). It was designated the UNESCO Sequoia-Kings Canyon Biosphere Reserve in 1976.

WikipediaWikidataSource: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

About Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

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.

Park Photos

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

Activities

Operating Hours

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

The parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some park roads and roads that access more remote parts of the parks close in the winter due to snow accumulation. Rarely, extreme weather conditions may cause roads into the parks to be closed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to enter Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?

Entrance - Private Vehicle: $35.00. This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling in a single vehicle for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument. Entrance - Per Person: $20.00. This entry fee is for a single person traveling on foot or by bicycle. It is valid for 1-7 days in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument. Entrance - Motorcycle: $30.00. Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles, scooters, or similar motorized vehicles with up to 4 total passengers to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument. Entrance - Non-commercial Groups: $20.00. Non-commercial groups traveling in vehicles that have a capacity of up to 15 passengers pay a $35 vehicle entrance fee or use a park pass. Groups traveling in a bus or vehicle with a capacity of 16 persons or more are charged $20 per person, up to the maximums listed for commercial groups with comparable passenger capacity ($100 or $200). People 15 years old or younger, anyone with a pass that may be used for park entry, and drivers hired for transportation only are exempt from the per person fee. Commercial Entrance - Van: $75.00. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 7-15 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price. Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus: $100.00. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 16-25 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price. Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach: $200.00. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 26 or more people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price. Commercial Entrance - Sedan: $25.00. The charge for vehicles with a seating capacity of 1-6 passengers is $25, plus $20 per passenger, with a maximum total fee of $75. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of one or more people traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price. Commercial Entrance - Per Person: $20.00. The per person fee for vehicles with a seating capacity of 1-6 passengers is $20, plus $25 per vehicle, with a maximum total fee of $75. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of one or more people traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price. Nonresident: $100.00. Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

What are the best activities at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?

Popular activities at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks include: Auto and ATV, Scenic Driving, Astronomy, Stargazing, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use).

What is the weather like at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?

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.

How do I get to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?

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

Entrance - Private Vehicle$35

This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling in a single vehicle for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Entrance - Per Person$20

This entry fee is for a single person traveling on foot or by bicycle. It is valid for 1-7 days in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Entrance - Motorcycle$30

Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles, scooters, or similar motorized vehicles with up to 4 total passengers to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups$20

Non-commercial groups traveling in vehicles that have a capacity of up to 15 passengers pay a $35 vehicle entrance fee or use a park pass. Groups traveling in a bus or vehicle with a capacity of 16 persons or more are charged $20 per person, up to the maximums listed for commercial groups with comparable passenger capacity ($100 or $200). People 15 years old or younger, anyone with a pass that may be used for park entry, and drivers hired for transportation only are exempt from the per person fee.

Commercial Entrance - Van$75

This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 7-15 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus$100

This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 16-25 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach$200

This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 26 or more people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Sedan$25

The charge for vehicles with a seating capacity of 1-6 passengers is $25, plus $20 per passenger, with a maximum total fee of $75. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of one or more people traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Per Person$20

The per person fee for vehicles with a seating capacity of 1-6 passengers is $20, plus $25 per vehicle, with a maximum total fee of $75. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of one or more people traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Nonresident$100

Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

Weather

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.

Directions

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.

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Location

Coordinates36.7128, -118.5874

Official Resources

NPS Official Website