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National park

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Two neighbouring parks in the Sierra Nevada, known for giant sequoias. Large motorhomes should plan the access road carefully, because the southern approach is narrow and steep.

State
California
Established
1890 / 1940
Best season
Late May–Oct (all roads open)
Road
Generals Highway, Highway 180

Before you go

  • The park service advises against vehicles over 22 ft (about 6.7 m) on Generals Highway between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Museum.
  • For longer vehicles the park service names Highway 180, the northern entrance, as the preferred route.
  • The campgrounds have no electrical or water hookups. Length limits apply at individual campgrounds, so check them before arrival.

Planning

The two parks are managed together by the National Park Service and border each other. The main areas are Giant Forest and Grant Grove for the big trees, Cedar Grove in the Kings Canyon, and Mineral King in the south. Services are limited, so stock up in the towns before entering. Road conditions and construction delays change during the year. Check the park's official road and alert pages before each leg.

Camping

The park service lists fourteen campgrounds in five areas: Grant Grove, Cedar Grove, Mineral King, South Fork and the Giant Forest region. None has hookups. Trailers and RVs are not permitted in the Mineral King campgrounds. Rules on reservations, length limits and backcountry permits differ by campground and season, so read the official campground page before you plan an itinerary.

Getting around

Generals Highway runs from Highway 198 to Giant Forest and on toward Grant Grove. Vehicles over 24 ft (about 7.3 m) are not advised between the Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha. On Moro Rock–Crescent Meadow Road, single vehicles over 22 ft (about 6.7 m) and towed units are prohibited from May to Labor Day weekend, so park at the Giant Forest Museum and use the shuttle. RVs and trailers are prohibited on the Panoramic Point road.

FAQs

Which road is better for a large motorhome?

The park service names Highway 180, the northern entrance, as the preferred route for longer vehicles. The Generals Highway from the south is narrow and steep, with advisories above 22 and 24 feet.

Are there hookups in the campgrounds?

No. According to the park service there are no electrical or water hookups for RVs in the parks. Plan your water and power supply accordingly.

Can I take an RV to Mineral King?

RVs and trailers are not advised on Mineral King Road and are not permitted in the campgrounds there. Check the park's vehicle restriction page for road advisories before you set out.

Places to see

General Sherman Tree – Giant sequoia tree towers among other treesPhoto by Sebastian Frederik Jacobsen on Unsplash
Editor's pick
Nature

General Sherman Tree

The largest living tree on Earth by volume, a giant sequoia in the Giant Forest.

Three Rivers, CA
Moro Rock Trail Sequoia July 2017 001© King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0
Views

Moro Rock

A granite dome in Giant Forest climbed by about 350 steps cut into the rock, with views over the Great…

Sequoia National Park, CA
Zumwalt Meadow – Kings Canyon (3796665229)© Chris M Morris · CC BY 2.0
Nature

Zumwalt Meadow

An easy loop through a meadow on the floor of Kings Canyon beneath the granite walls of Grand Sentinel and…

Kings Canyon National Park, CA
Grizzly Falls - panoramio© ogwen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Nature

Grizzly Falls

A waterfall a few steps from a picnic area on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, strongest in late spring. It…

Kings Canyon National Park, CA
General Grant Tree – Sequoia Tree (base) in General Grant Grove, Kings Canyon National Park (July 2023)© Marty Aligata · CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick
Nature

General Grant Tree

One of the largest trees on Earth, designated the Nation’s Christmas Tree, at the end of a paved…

Kings Canyon National Park, CA
French Fries at Whitney Portal Store, California (27355421054)© m01229 · CC BY-SA 2.0
Nature

Whitney Portal

The trailhead for Mount Whitney, at 8,300 feet at the end of a steep 13-mile road from Lone Pine. A…

Lone Pine, CA
Manzanar National Historic Site – Manzanar Guard Tower© Thomas Swan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Editor's pick
History

Manzanar National Historic Site

One of ten camps where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. The old auditorium houses…

Independence, CA
Alabama Hills (51636328079)© Person-with-No Name from USA · CC BY 2.0
Editor's pick
Nature

Alabama Hills

Rounded boulders and arches below the Sierra crest, used as a set for hundreds of westerns. A short loop…

Lone Pine, CA

Campsites nearby

All campsites in California · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026