Sequoia National Park — Visitor Info
Sequoia National Park protects the southern Sierra Nevada's giant sequoia groves, including the General Sherman Tree — the largest tree on Earth by volume. Sequoia is administered together with neighboring Kings Canyon National Park as a single NPS unit, so one entrance pass covers both parks. Here's what to know before you go.
Page content last verified: July 2026
Visitor Centers
Three visitor centers serve the Sequoia side of the parks — tap one for official hours & facility info.
Hours vary seasonally — confirm current hours on the official NPS visitor centers page before you go.
Entrance Fees & Passes
The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle (motorcycle $30, per person on foot/bike $20), valid for 7 days and good at both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks plus the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest. An SEKI Annual Pass is $70 (also covers Hume Lake). Non-U.S. residents pay an additional $100/person unless holding an Annual or America the Beautiful pass. Entrance stations (Ash Mountain on the Sequoia side, Big Stump on the Kings Canyon side) are cashless — credit/debit only, though cash is accepted at Foothills and Kings Canyon Visitor Centers. Entrance passes can also be purchased online in advance. No vehicle reservation is required to enter.
Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass
4th graders (and their families) can visit free with an Every Kid Outdoors pass, available at everykidoutdoors.gov. Present it (digital or printed) at the entrance station.
Areas of the Park
Sequoia National Park is organized into five areas: Foothills (near the Ash Mountain entrance, hot and dry in summer), Giant Forest (home to the General Sherman Tree, Crescent Meadow, and Moro Rock), Lodgepole and Wuksachi (services and lodging at higher elevation), and Mineral King (a remote, high-elevation area open only in summer, reached via a separate road from Three Rivers). Foothills, Giant Forest, and Lodgepole stay open year-round; Mineral King and neighboring Cedar Grove (in Kings Canyon) are open late spring through early fall only.
Vehicle Length Advisories
Roads to Giant Forest and Lodgepole are narrow and winding. Vehicles over 22 feet (6.7 m) are advised to enter via Highway 180 through Kings Canyon rather than the steeper Generals Highway from the south. Mineral King Road is narrow, winding, and largely unpaved — RVs and trailers are not recommended on it and are not permitted in the Mineral King campgrounds. See the NPS oversized vehicle guidance before you plan your route.
Crystal Cave
Crystal Cave reopened for guided tours after storm and wildfire damage to the access road and trail. Tickets are sold separately (not at the cave) through the Sequoia Parks Conservancy and are not included with the park entrance fee. Check the official Crystal Cave page for current season dates, ticket sales, and tour options.
Permits & Reservations
You do not need a permit or reservation to enter the parks or day-hike. You do need one for:
Wilderness (Backcountry) Camping
Overnight trips into the backcountry require a wilderness permit, with quotas on popular trailheads in summer. Permits are shared across the Sequoia-Kings Canyon wilderness.
Crystal Cave Tours
Tickets must be purchased in advance through the Sequoia Parks Conservancy — they sell out, especially in summer.
Campgrounds & RV Options
Sequoia has six campgrounds across three areas. There are no RV hookups anywhere in the parks. Reservations are required at nearly all sites via Recreation.gov; sites fill quickly in summer.
All campsites include a picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof food storage box. Fees and availability change year to year — confirm current details before booking. Full campground list and reservations: Recreation.gov.
Good to Know
- One pass, two parks: your Sequoia entrance fee is also valid in neighboring Kings Canyon National Park the same trip — see our Kings Canyon guide.
- No gas stations in the parks: fuel up before you arrive — gas and repair services are only available in surrounding national forest towns.
- Summer shuttles: a free shuttle operates within Sequoia National Park in summer, with some service from nearby towns and on select winter holidays.
- Bears are active: food and scented items must be stored in provided metal boxes — never left in vehicles.
- Air quality: summer ozone levels can exceed federal health standards, especially in the foothills — check current air quality before strenuous hikes.
More National Parks
See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.
Fees, campground availability, and road/trail conditions change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks site before you go.
Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Basic Information · NPS – Visitor Centers · NPS – Camping · NPS – Current Conditions & Alerts
