For road conditions outside of the park, please call 800-427-7623 or visit these CalTrans webpages: Highway 180. fastest possible straight line between Sequoia National Park and He was born and raised in California and has worked as a professional restaurant chef for over 20 years. About two hours later, 100 miles past Mt Whitney, youll reach Mammoth Lakes, with its surrounding pine forests and lakes. Covering a lot of miles, the road trip to Yosemite took us through some of the most spectacular - and famous - landscapes in the US. (4 answers), Liz from Westlake asked:Is Yosemite worth camping/visiting in the spring? for security, board and taxi on the runway, land at the other There are multiple starting points of trails in this valley as well, including the popular Mist Trail. and an estimate of your car's best gas mileage. Like with all of our road trips, you can easily reverse course, and fly into LA and out of San Francisco. We would suggest taking this route if you are switching lodges between Kings Canyon and Sequoia, as it has numerous stops and attractions that will probably take you the whole day to get though. We will not be hiking anywhere because of the dog. Technically, the cavern is located in Sequoia National Forest but to access the entrance, you will have to pass through Kings Canyon National Park onto the famous 2,000-foot-high marble walls of the Kings Gates. road trip guide from San Francisco to Yosemite, Sequoia National Park Ash Mountain Entrance, San Francisco to Las Vegas road trip itinerary. Its views are absolutely breathtaking, it has beautiful waterfalls and offers many opportunities to go hiking in the most diverse natural landscapes, and last but not least, in its vicinity there are some hidden pearls of undisputed value, namely Tioga Road, Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes and Bodie. Drinking water is available only at the welcome plaza (year-round) and arrival area (summer only) so plan accordingly. out how long it will take to drive between any two cities, How to Choose According to the Itinerary? Instead, we spent a couple nights at each park to enjoy the full experience! Spend a day soaking up the natural splendor and breathtaking beauty of Yosemite National Park on this full-day excursion from San Francisco. You wont have a problem bringing small kids on strollers as the trailhead right next to the Giant Forest Museum is wheelchair and stroller-accessible. Best Months: April, May, June & SeptemberHours: Open 24 hours per day, 365 days a yearEntrance Fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. The distance between Phoenix and Joshua Tree National Park is about 220 miles, most of the time a three-and-a-half-hour drive. and leave at 2:25 pm. When planning this kind of trip, it is easy to get carried away and decide to, California is as vast as it is fascinating; it is home to very diverse natural landscapes. Vail Resorts created the EPIC ski pass in 2008. This is based on typical traffic conditions for this route. If we were able to fly into the city earlier in the day, we could have swung the trek on the same day. Travel from Visalia to Sequoia National Park 2 days 22h Taxi, bus, train, night bus Take a taxi from Yosemite to Berea Take the bus from Berea to Lexington Take the bus from Lexington, KY to Evansville, IN Take the bus from Evansville Bus Station to St Louis Bus Station Take the train from St. Louis to Los Angeles Aside from this, its best to cover all the basics, such as park entrance fees, itineraries, and accommodations, ahead of time to avoid inconveniences that often result when making plans too late. Now it sits on Lake Havasu, surrounded by an oasis in the arid desert of Arizona. I think you should count on spending 3 full days in Yosemite then drive south to Kings Canyon & Sequoia for 2 days. After escaping the kitchen life, he is now focused on his passion for the outdoors and world travel. Tips on where to stay in and near Sequoia. The reservations are only $2.00, and they give you three days to enter the park. Located near the South Entrance of Yosemite, the Mariposa Grove is the largest grove in the park and is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. Yosemite or Sequoia: Which One Do I Choose? In fact, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are right next to each other and actually share an entrance fee! There are also viewpoints in Sequoia (e.g. Its a 360-step stone stairway that leads to the top near the parking lot, so you can make this your first stop. This is also an excellent spot for a picnic, especially if you want to stretch your legs and spend some time appreciating the falls beauty. We stayed a night in the tiny town of Lee Vining on the shore of Mono Lake. give you an idea of how traveling might work between airports. View amapfor details. How long is the drive from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Yosemite National Park? Here's the quick answer if you are able to make this entire trip by car without stopping. Fresno (11 answers) Cell service in both parks is spotty, so dont rely on your phones during your visit. This lodge is only open from May to mid-October, and many visitors are looking for a base camp to explore Kings Canyon and book accommodations. From here, youll drive along Generals Highway for about 2.5 hours, a total distance of 80 miles. If you're planning a road trip, you might be interested in seeing the total driving distance from FAT to Sequoia National Park. you'll be able to customize this plan, choosing your own airports your total travel time for this trip. View a map with driving directions Another 250 miles later, we reached Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. To Sequoia National Park's Ash Mountain Entrance on Hwy 198 Visalia Distance: 36 mi/58 km Time: 45 minutes Take CA-198 E to the Ash Mountain entrance of Sequoia National Park. At least if you are not driving through in the summer. If you happen to know Sequoia National Park, don't forget to help other Stop for lunch or a snack, and a stroll along the lake, then walk across the famous bridge. The total driving time is 1 hour, 59 minutes. As America's first swath of public land set aside for protection, Yosemite National Park is often credited as the site that birthed the entire national park idea. Begin your trip to Kings Canyon Drive at the Foothills Visitor Center in Sequoia National Park. Yosemite National Park embraces a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada, which was set aside as a national park in 1890. This cozy stone-and-timber retreat is open seasonally and provides its guests a quiet accommodation in the heart of Kings Canyon National Park. You can find You might be more interested in calculating the LAX is a huge airport and is best to get there well before your flight starts boarding. As far as Im concerned, the best choice is Yosemite National Park, from almost every aspect. The drive takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley. You should plan on spending at least an hour to an hour-and-a-half strolling casually and checking out the unique clusters of trees. Besides traveling, my interests include literature, prog music and good food,. In 2021 Yosemite introduced a reservation system, still in place a year later. Grant Grove is currently open and a nice area to visit. The highlight of my visit was the trail surrounding General Grant Tree, the third largest three in the world, also known as the Nations Christmas Tree. However, there is one exception. This is one of the best caverns in Northern California that you should check out. Hard to give you a recommendation, because both parks are great with snow. In Yosemite, you can walk the dog on the bike path. Glacier Point is another popular vantage point of the valley via the Four-Mile Trail, which is just under 5 miles one-way. The trail to the General Sherman tree is a half-mile long and paved, making it easy for just about anyone to follow it. Sequoia National Park is the oldest national park in California and second in the US only to Yellowstone. Read More San Francisco to Monterey Drive [Best Stops on Pacific Coast Highway]Continue. Because of the curvature of the Earth, the If you are inspired to see the giant sequoias, then you should visit Sequoia National Park. Follow along the water, passing small fields of wildflowers under the shade of trees, and youll soon see massive granite walls before finally reaching the base of the falls. Though both parks are open all year round, there can be limitations when visiting during certain seasons, such as winter, late fall, and early spring. Sequoia National Park is much closer to Los Angeles than Yosemite, but if youre heading to Las Vegas or Death Valley, Sequoia wont be on the way and youll be forced to take a detour. Along that trip, you should stop at the General Sherman tree, which is the largest known tree on earth. While the famous gorge in Arizona is 6001. After entering, head north on route 180 and snake through the 35-mile long Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Take exit 198, passing through Visalia, and straight towards Sequoias Ash Mountain Entrance (South Entrance). Without taking into account all the points explained above, if you have to decide on the route, here is what I suggest you to do: Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites. The drive takes about 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Stretch your legs at The Park at River Walk and find some grub and beers at Lengthwise Brewing Company. Youll find a few of the lakes surrounded by pine forests and hiking trails. However, for a more relaxed visit, you might want to divide your trip into two days and just spend more time in nature. Home to Redwood Canyon, the largest remaining grove of sequoia trees in the world, Kings Canyon is worth at least a few hours to visit. Mount Whitney. You can also calculate the cost to drive from Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park based on current local gas prices To get to the falls, you will have to take a very short and easy 0.1-mile out-and-back trail, which will take less than 5 minutes to complete. The direct drive from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Yosemite National Park is 215 mi (346 km), and should have a drive time of 5 hrs 53 mins in normal traffic. to calculate the distance between cities. Scroll down to see a more realistic calculation that takes Phone +1 559-565-3341 Web Visit website Located in California's southern Sierra Nevada mountain range, Sequoia National Park and the adjacent Kings Canyon National Park are known for their towering sequoia trees and miles of uninterrupted wilderness trails. So we enjoyed the views of blooming saguaros, surrounded by low hills and high mountains. Los Angeles Area Distance: 225 mi/362 km Time: 4 hours Take any highway to I-5 N. Continue onto CA-99 N toward Bakersfield/Fresno. Sequoias are only visible after a 1.5-mile hike with 500 feet of elevation loss. This means that can chose to enter only once any time during the three days, or every day for the same three days. Are you looking to drive from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park? As well as getting to the nature of the problem, I will also try to give some criteria to make the choicebetween Yosemite and Sequoia, in case you cant include them both in the itinerary. So, after this amount of driving it is worth to stop for a while. You are back in the Sonoran Desert again, and drive through driving Kingsman and Wickenburg. From: As for attractions, the Goodwin Dam Recreational Area in Jamestown, CA offers easy and short trails for those that want to get out and stretch the legs a bit. By which I mean youve hiked other 14,000+ elevation peaks. Joshua Tree National Park. To get to Glacier Point, youd have to take a long hike during this season. So that means we really need Another great trail you can take to see Giant Sequoias is the Big Trees Trail. . Planning to fly a plane instead? It costs $35 per vehicle and its valid for seven days, with no reservations required. But we also drove by farmlands that didnt seem to belong in the desert, and cattle ranches that belonged even less. Best family activities 2 day trip to Yosemite? My wife and I, and our Yorkie, will be driving from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park in late May. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, If the pass is not open, youll have a 200 mile (about four hour) drive to get to the main entrance. Moro Rock) but, though undoubtedly fascinating, they are not as awe-inspiring. Local Tip: If you get motion sickness, make sure to bring some motion sickness pills with you, so you wont be miserable on this scenic drive. Entrance fees still apply, this is just a way to ensure you can actually enter the park. It ends in Yosemite National Park, California. However, if you are staying in the park overnight, you can use reservations in one of the lodges or campgrounds for entry, you dont need the day pass. Discover the Tuolumne Grove on a hike. waiting for our flight, and making it to the destination. In the valley, park your car for the day and ride the free visitor shuttle buses to avoid traffic jams. After an early morning pickup from your San . To get a better idea of how long this trip would really be, scroll down to calculate how many hours it would take if you drive with stops. The main road through the park leads through a few famous landmarks and large patches of Joshua Trees. Your trip begins in Visalia, California. And if you know Sequoia National Park well, please help your fellow The entire loop is marked with fallen trees and stumps, evidence of what once was a lumber mill in the area. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Stop by Visalia to fill up on gas, as options are limited and more expensive at Three Rivers, and there are no gas stations inside the park. Take exit 96 onto CA-198 E towards Visalia. Click the button below to explore more questions BUY IT HERE. This scenic drive through the heart of California will take you to three National Parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia. Its steps away from Kings River, and though it doesnt necessarily have the most updated amenities, its still a great place to book when you want to be close to many of the trails and sights in the park. If you're planning a road trip, Mammoth Lakes (and maybe Devils Postpile National Monument), Make sure you have a reservation before visiting Yosemite National Park, Spend Time Along Tioga Road During the Hottest Summer Days, For the Best Experience, Spend Multiple Days at Yosemite, 11 Best Stops On A Road Trip From Phoenix To Durango, 11 Great Day Trips From Phoenix Perfect For Summer, Driving the Apache Trail near Phoenix, Arizona, Ancient Maya Ruins and Archaeological Sites. Be sure to stop at the Canyon view, about one mile east of the Cedar Grove Village. Your trip begins in Yosemite National Park, California. However, you can easily access the Muir Rock trailhead from this terminus, which has a great spot to take a dip and cool off during summer. Read More San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip [Scenic Drive + Best Places to Stop]Continue. Re: Can You Drive Through Sequoia National Park to Yosemite? They are connected via the Generals Highway, and it takes a little over 2 hours (63 miles) to get from one park to the other. to account for all the extra travel time getting to the airport, When visiting the parks, make sure not to feed the wildlife. Even though they are close, they are probably too far away to stay in one place and easily visit all the best sights of both. As its name suggests, the falls are known for the loud roaring noises its water makes, which are loudest during late spring to early summer. Go straight to Sequoia National Park. The trail from the Mariposa Grove toward Wawona I want to visit them both! As its name suggests, this is the end of Hwy 180, and the road simply loops back. This vista point is just minutes away from Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and draws in crowds all year round due to its spectacular views of the El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall. Inland of King Range National Conservation Area, Humboldt Redwoods State Park deserves national park recognition for its impressive 50,000-acres along the Eel River. Start your trip with a visit to the world-famous, Yosemite National Park. We decided to stay in the town of Three Rivers, CA, which only about a 7 mile (11 km) or 13-minute drive to the entrance of Sequoia National Park through the Ash Mountain Entrance. This 4.7-mile roundtrip hike is considered relatively easy, and if you want to get away from the crowds, this is a great hike to follow as its not exactly one of the popular trails in the park. 3:48 pm Yosemite. Water is not available; bring drinking water for everyone in your group who will be hiking this trail. Another recognizable feature at Yosemite is the Half Dome, which is further into the park, near the Yosemite Valley Visitors Center. This trail connects to other routes that will help you find a quiet spot away from the crowds. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.. This can also help The road that supposedly goes through this granite boulder on Generals Highway has long since been rerouted. Since we would pass right by it on our road trip to Yosemite, we felt we needed to stop and enjoy some time on the mountain. One of the first and most famous parks established in the US, Yosemite National Park features some gorgeous scenery. You can not enter the park without one of these reservations. At the same time, it is not easy to give conclusive advice, because we are talking about two exceptional parks, each with its own particular features. Guides & ArticlesUS National ParksCanadian National Parks, All Road Trip ItinerariesRoad Trips by StateOne-Day Trips. You can also print out pages with a travel map. Drive for 1.5 hours then stop at Yosemite and stay for 1 hour. Some advice for those who dont know how to choose between the two, Yosemite or Sequoia National Park? 1 Driving through the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. Check out our San Francisco to Las Vegas road trip itinerary. But we wanted to drive up to the famous mountain regardless, at least for the scenery. The straight line flight distance is 116 miles less than driving on roads, which means the driving distance is roughly 2.2x of the flight distance. Find out the best stops on your Sac to Portland drive including places to eat along the way for a fun road trip. (4 answers), Ross from Manhattan Beach asked:Best family activities 2 day trip to Yosemite? If you need help organizing overnight stays and intermediate stops during the long journey from Sequoia to Death Valley, read the article below: Where to stay between Sequoia and Death Valley. But for now, here's an example we've selected to 2023 Parks & Trips, a Cagle Online Enterprises, Inc. Company, IKON Pass Ski Resorts for the 2023-24 Season (Updated), Finding the Zebra Slot Canyon in the Grand Staircase. Unlike your drive from Yosemite to Sequoia, the journey through Generals Highway involves driving steep, winding, narrow roads with several switchbacks. Size: Large, #2 in North America Code: LAX Visit Website. Located in Grant Grove Village, the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is a great place to begin your exploration of Kings Canyon National Park. The entrance to the museum is free and already comes with your park entrance. 10:00 am start at Sequoia National Parkdrive for about 2 hours, 11:54 am Reedley (California) Youll find an interpretative sign at the lookout pointing to the mountain peaks that you can see as well as some historical geologic facts about the area. If you're planning a road trip to Yosemite National Park, you can research locations to stop along the way. Its especially important to pack this when visiting Sequoia and Yosemite in the winter. Parks & Trips makes money through affiliate partner links: If you click on a link, we may earn a commission. Its also very accessible as it does not require any hiking to see the view. The scenic road is worth a drive even if you dont plan on spending much time on top. Once in Lake Havasu City, you can spend some time enjoying the waterfront. *Note: The road to Glacier Point is closed in 2022 for repairs. National Parks in California: a List and Visitors Guide of the Parks, Visit Yosemite: Must see attractions for a road trip, Planning a Visit in Kings Canyon National Park: Best Things To See and Trails to Hike. To see the details on this flight plan, including If you still cannot find any space, consider Visalia, CA, which is about 40 minutes south from the parks entrance. Yosemite National Park. Its best to break this trip up into two days by staying at Yosemite for at least a night, then moving on to Sequoia National Park. If you're meeting a friend, you might be interested in finding the city that is halfway between Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park. 5:52 pm arrive at Yosemite National Park. Feel free to take the little ones with you and discover the many stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, and other cave formations. There are a cluster of wonderful Airbnbs in the area, but they are about an hour or more away from the parks main entrance. There can be long waits to enter Yosemite, and the parks are huge, and it takes a while to just to get to many of the sites. Check out more tips here. Includes access to Kings Canyon. As for hiking in Sequoia NP, the Big Trees Loop (1.2 miles round trip) near the Museum and the Cold Springs Nature Trail are two easy trails that the whole family can enjoy. The trailhead for Congress Trail is near the General Sherman Tree and is the most popular hiking trail in the park. Note: Please do not attempt to hike the length of the summit trail, unless you are prepared for it, have the proper gear, and experience. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. You should also visit Sequoia if you prefer a more secluded park thats quicker and easier to visit. While it is no frills and no thrills, the popular stop is famous for stargazing. security lines and waiting at the gate, and the actual flight itself. The best time to visit both parks is June through August when the weather tends to be consistently more agreeable, and you have access to all of the parks facilities. Check rates and availability here. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, Booking a stay in Wuksachi Lodge puts you in the heart of Sequoia National Park as it is conveniently located near the Ash Mountain Entrance of the park. The ingenious idea paid off, and since 1937, park visitors have been making it their goal to drive through the Tunnel Log. Traveling with a dog or cat? Now finally, let's look at an example flight from VIS to MMH and figure out how long it would take to fly including by calculating the distance from Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park. Hey Terri. Breathe in the sweet pine-scented air and dangle your toes in playful mountain rivers. so go ahead and check the reverse directions to get the Unfortunately, over the years I have come to realize that this question is far from obvious. "as the crow flies" which is calculated using an iterative Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park are two of the main national parks in Sierra Nevada, the mountain range that separates the green part of the Golden State from the deserts of California, and the other parks of Arizona, Utah and Nevada. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:25 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, 3:48 pm Yosemite Stay in Pinehurst or Miramonte, which both have an impressive amount of Airbnbs. There are others in the area as well, like the Cedar Grove Lodge and the Grant Grove Cabins, so there are plenty of options within the park if you find yourself not finding any availability. Google Maps, The best entrance to Kings Canyon is the Big Stump Entrance, which is right next to Pinehurst. Maybe you didnt know this, but Tioga Road is closed due to snow every year from November to late spring. Be sure to arrive early, as parking lots may fill up as soon as 9am. Bing Maps, or 2 1. 12 years ago Save If you visit Kings Canyon National Park, which is adjacent to Sequoia (and is included in your entrance fee to Sequoia) you can exit Kings Canyon on Highway 180 and go west to Fresno then north on the 41 to Yosemite. Unfortunately, when we visited, in early June, the National Monument wasnt open for the season yet.
