Most visitors opt for a more popular neighbor to the north (Yosemite) but Sequoia & Kings Canyon take the cake for me with a multitude of hikes, elevation changes and dramatic views. The parks border each other, allowing for easy access to each. Lucky for you, I’ve spent many days in both parks which allows me to show you how to visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon in 1 day.
Not enough time for Kings Canyon? Check out my blog post for the best things to see and do in Sequoia here.
Driving Route Options for Sequoia & Kings Canyon
First thing’s first, to see all of Sequoia & Kings Canyon in a day, you will need a vehicle. During the summer, there are shuttles within Sequoia but they only stop at a couple of popular sites. There are no shuttles in Kings Canyon.
With two separates entrances to the parks, you have a couple of different options for seeing both in one day:
- Ash Mountain entrance: Beginning with Sequoia and ending in Kings Canyon
- Big Stump entrance: Beginning with Kings Canyon and ending with Sequoia
There is a third entrance to the park specifically for the Mineral King Road. Mainly driven to access trailheads for long day hikes, we’ll skip this in our one day itinerary.
For this post, we’ll start at the south entrance of Ash Mountain and see the parks in order of location. For more specific things to do/hiking routes in Sequoia, click here.
Sequoia National Park
If you’re wanting to see both parks in one day, begin your morning as early as possible; we usually try and be in by 6 a.m. Check out the current rates for entry here, a price that also includes entry to Kings Canyon.
The Foothills
As soon as you enter Sequoia, the Generals Highway starts climbing, supplying you with some amazing views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada’s. Stop and see the Tunnel Rock a mile past the entrance of Sequoia. Other things to see in the Foothills includes the Marble Falls Trail, Hospital Rock, and Paradise Creek.
The Giant Forest
Although it’s only about 15 miles from the Foothills to the Giant Forest, it takes about 45 minutes by car. Generals Highway zig-zags at a steep incline around lush trees and cliffside bluffs. Take the time to pull off at the turnouts to catch the various views you get around each turn.
The first stop in the Giant Forest will be at the Giant Forest Museum. From here, you can choose to park and take the shuttle to surrounding spots or drive yourself up the Crescent Meadow Road.
Info for seeing the Giant Forest area:
- If you’re visiting Sequoia at a busier time, I suggest parking at the Giant Forest Museum and using the shuttle.
- There are small parking lots at each different site in the Giant Forest but parking is very limited and pull outs rarely exist.
- The parking lot at the Giant Forest Museum fills completely around 10 AM so arrive early!
- Place all food in the bins provided while you are away from your vehicle to prevent break ins from bears.
- If using the shuttle service, bring along everything you’ll need, including the park map in case you want to do some hiking.
For a full guide on what to see and do in Sequoia NP, click here
There are many noteworthy things to see in the Giant Forest and Crescent Meadow area. The first is the Big Trees Trail, a 2/3 mile paved loop that brings you up close and personal with the Sequoia trees.
Another must-see stop is the short but elevated climb to the top of Moro Rock. This may be a little challenging for some but it’s totally worth it if you make it to the top!
Read More: Climbing Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park
Crescent Meadow
To see the most fragile wetland in Sequoia, take the road’s end to Crescent Meadow. Less than a mile from there is the Tunnel Log, the only drive-through tree in the park. On the way out of the Crescent Meadow area, stop by the Parker Group, a small concentration of enormous Sequoia trees. The fallen giants laying on the forest floor is my favorite part to see how massive the roots are.
After a few hours of exploring the Giant Forest, drive the 2.2 miles north to the General Sherman Tree. Hike down to the base and take some time soaking in the massiveness of the largest tree in the world.
Read about my favorite day hike in Sequoia here!
Kings Canyon National Park
After leaving Sequoia National Park, there isn’t much more to see except for short hikes until you arrive to Kings Canyon. To keep on track with the schedule, you should be arriving to the General Grant Grove in Kings Canyon by 1 p.m.
General Grant Grove
Stop at the Grant Grove Village before continuing your journey. Multiple hikes exist in the General Grant Grove area with other things to see like the Giant Tree Trail, Panoramic Point Road, Big Stump Basin and the General Grant Tree.
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
By 3 p.m. you should be hopping on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. After leaving the General Grant Grove area, you actually exit Kings Canyon and enter Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.
In fact, the majority of the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is in this National Monument area but it’s one of the best drives in the entire world (at least I think so!) The views are incredible around every corner.
Read More: Why Kings Canyon Should Be On Your National Park Radar
Tips for Driving the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
- Be sure to check the road conditions here before heading out on the Byway as the road is only open part of the year.
- The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (CA 180) is an out and back road.
- Beginning from General Grant Grove, the drive is about 35 miles one way.
- Driving it straight through, you’ll reach the end in about an hour.
- To have enough time for pull offs, photos and short hikes, I would say that 4 hours is a good chunk of time to see the best of Kings Canyon.
- More in-depth backcountry hiking trails exist in Kings Canyon to make a lengthier stay out of the area.
I’m not kidding when I say that the views of Kings Canyon change around every turn. You’ll find yourself constantly stopping to pull off the side of the road to breathe in the sights & snap some pics. Within no time, the different stop-worthy sites within Kings Canyon start appearing.
Convict Flat & Boyden Cavern
An awesome area on the scenic byway in Kings Canyon is near Convict Flat. This is when the scenery of Kings Canyon really begins to take hold as the one lane road hugs the edge of the bluffs while constantly twisting around the peaks. There is a pull-off near the Convict Flat campground; stop and look to the southeast to see a waterfall that drips from hundreds of feet above.
Boyden Cave is also located near Convict Flat and is a unique adventure to your Kings Canyon itinerary. Take the 45 minute guided tour beneath the 2,000-foot high marble walls of Kings Gate and explore the various formations in this amazing cavern.
Back to Kings Canyon National Park
Once you pass by the Cedar Grove Overlook, you’ve officially made it into Kings Canyon National Park. As stated before, this road ultimately ends at the Roads End Permit Station so you will be coming back the same way you went in. There are hundreds of miles of trails that begin here in Kings Canyon and many other things to see.
Need some gear to go backcountry hiking and camping in Kings Canyon? Check out my full gear guide here!
Canyon View & Knapp’s Cabin
Located a mile east of the Cedar Grove Village is this U shaped canyon that reveals the glacial history of Kings Canyon. Not too much further from there is Knapp’s Cabin, the remnants of a 1920s California businessman’s fishing storage shed.
Zumwalt Meadow
My favorite area in Kings Canyon is Zumwalt Meadow, an easy 1.5 mile loop trail at the base of the mountains. Crossing the bridge over the Kings River, the trail winds you through lush meadows with high granite peaks
After coming to Road’s End, you’ve reached the end of your journey! Simply head back the way you came, exiting the park from CA 180.
Read More National Park Posts HereBefore heading in to National Parks, it’s imperative that you’re familiar with the “Leave No Trace” principles.
Read More: Leave No Trace: The 7 Rules of the Backcountry
Learn more about Leave No Trace on their website here.
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On your next trip you definitely have to do Crystal Cave. It’s gorgeous! It was our kids first caving adventure and now they are hooked. Coming from the bay we have never entered from the southern end of the park so I enjoyed your photo of tunnel rock. May have to do that end next visit!
YES! I definitely want to! I actually didn’t know about it until we were already by it so we didn’t go but I would love to see it. We stayed at the south entrance of the park which I liked because then we could end with Kings Canyon. Maybe try that route next time! 🙂