The Best Guide to Sequoia and Kings Canyon with Kids
If you’re planning a trip to Sequoia National Park or looking for a great Kings Canyon itinerary with kids – you’ve come to the right place. We absolutely loved these parks and this guide will help you have the best time in Sequoia and Kings Canyon with kids.
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In our opinion, you could spend 4-5 days in these two parks and definitely not get bored. But if you’re looking for a shorter trip to see the major highlights, one day in each park will give you an amazing experience. You’ll get to see some of the biggest trees in the world, a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon, and stunning views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Should I visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park With Kids?
Whenever I’m asked which of the National Parks is most kid friendly, I always recommend visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon. It’s a fantastic family vacation with a ton of easy and accessible trails and also has the “wow factor” that we all crave in the National Parks!
What’s So Special About Sequoia National Park?
Sequoia is home to the massive General Sherman Tree, the biggest tree in the world by volume. These incredible trees can live to over 3,000 years old and make you feel tiny as you walk among them, an experience you can’t find anywhere else!
Sequoia was also the first National Park created to protect a living organism, and the second national park overall. Afterwards, General Grant National Park (now Kings Canyon National Park) was established just one week later to protect the Sequoia groves. Kings Canyon is also one of the deepest canyons in the United States at over 8,000 feet deep (even deeper than the Grand Canyon!)
These parks have some EPIC easy hikes that are perfect for families! Check out our guide to the 7 Best Easy Hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks!
How to Get To Sequoia National Park
If you’re flying into California, your best bet for cheap flights is likely going to be flying into Los Angeles (LAX). From there you would have about a 3.5 hour drive to Three Rivers (depending on traffic) which is near the entrance to Sequoia National Park. Another option is to fly into Oakland or Fresno.
Drive Times from Major Airports to Sequoia National Park:
- Fresno to Sequoia: 2 hours
- Los Angeles to Sequoia: 4.5 hours
- Oakland to Sequoia: 4.5 hours
Getting Around Sequoia & Kings Canyon
Having a car is a must! These two parks are very spread out, and part of the experience is the beautiful drives, including the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. There is a shuttle during certain hours in the Giant Forest area of Sequoia, but there are no shuttles available in Kings Canyon at this time.
We always rent our cars from Economy Bookings. We’ve always had good experiences, and it saves us a TON of money. Book your rental car here!
*At one point we stopped our car for a creature crossing the road, then as we got closer we realized this was a tarantula!! Don’t let this scare you, the spiders are only found in the foothills region so don’t expect to run into them at higher elevations. Bring your binoculars in case you see a creature from a distance!
Do I Need a Park Reservation to Visit Sequoia?
To get into the park you will need a National Park Pass but not a vehicle reservation like some National Parks. If you frequent the National Parks, I would recommend buying an America the Beautiful Pass which will get you annual access to any of the National Parks (except those with extra entrance requirements) for $80. If not you can purchase a 7 day park pass for $35.
Where to Stay
Whether you choose to camp, stay at one of the family friendly accomodations inside one of the national parks or pick a hotel, airbnb, or VRBO in a nearby town you will have an amazing time.
However, be mindful that the roads into both Kings Canyon and Sequoia are very windy roads. While they are absolutely stunning to drive, this can add a bit of drive time to your exploring days that you need to factor in if you’re staying outside of the park. We did stay at a fantastic VRBO in Exeter, California that I would highly recommend if you’re willing to spend a little extra time driving.
If you are wanting to avoid driving any extra time, I would definitely recommend staying at the Wuksachi Lodge for Sequoia National Park or the John Muir Lodge to be closer to Kings Canyon. We visited both of these lodges and they are beautiful and in great locations.
Keep in mind that even if you stay inside the park, you’ll have to drive a bit to get from one park to the other – at least they are beautiful drives!
Camping in Sequoia National Park:
- Grant Grove Campgrounds – Azalea, Crystal Springs, Sunset Campground
- Foothills Campgrounds – Potwisha, Buckeye Flat, South Fork
- Lodgepole and Giant Forest Campgrounds – Lodgepole, Dorst Creek
Camping in Kings Canyon National Park:
- Cedar Grove Campgrounds – Sentinel, Canyon View, Moraine, Sheep Creek
- Mineral King Campgrounds – Cold Springs, Atwell Mill
NOTE: if you are planning to use a camper or RV, check the size limit for the different campgrounds and roads. As I said above, both parks have very windy roads and may not be safe for campers above a certain size.
ANOTHER NOTE: Azalea, Potwisha, and South Fork Campgrounds are open year round for your winter vacation. Most of the campgrounds require advance reservations so make sure to plan ahead. The Giant Forest Campgrounds felt pretty central to the activities that we wanted to do, if we were to stay in the park I would have wanted to stay in the Giant Forest area.
Sequoia Hotels & Lodges:
- Wuksachi Lodge – This lodge is located in the Giant Forest Region and has the most amenities nearby including a full service restaurant and cocktail lounge. Further, this lodge also makes for easy access to the General Sherman tree, one of my favorite spots in the parks!
- John Muir Lodge – Located in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park near the General Grant Tree. This lodge is in Kings Canyon, but it’s a lot closer to Sequoia than the others.
Kings Canyon Hotels & Lodges:
- Grant Grove Cabins – These cabins are located nearby the General Grant Tree, Panoramic Point, and the Big Stump.
- Cedar Grove Lodge – Located nearby to Zumwalt Meadow, Muir Rock, and Roaring River Falls. This Lodge is located deep inside Kings Canyon, so a much less central but beautiful area nonetheless!
Vacation Rentals Outside of Sequoia National Park:
Powell Ranch – This is where we chose to stay in Exeter, California, and let me tell you – this place is a KIDS PARADISE! They have a huge variety of animals including goats, chickens, ducks, a turtle pond, and cows. In addition to the animals, they have fruit trees all across the property where you can pick your own fruit, depending on what is in season. We had incredible, juicy fresh oranges that were so delicious.
They also delivered fresh eggs to our house in the morning upon request. We visited in the heat of the summer, so the large pool with a waterslide was just what we needed after a long day of exploring followed by a hot tub in the evenings when it cooled down. If you’re looking for a unique stay near Sequoia and Kings Canyon with kids, Powell Ranch is it.
Things to do in the Sequoia National Park (by Region)
Looking for the best easy hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park? Here are our 7 favorite easy hikes! If you’re looking for the best hiking packs for kids, we love the Osprey Poco Plus Hiking Backpack and also the Ergobaby Front Carrier for smaller kids.
Sequoia National Park by Region:
If you’re looking for a more in depth guide for Sequoia National Park activities, check out our post on the Best Things to do in Sequoia National Park!
Foothills Region
This is the first region you would encounter if you are entering the park from the Three Rivers area. You won’t see much of this area on instagram because it doesn’t have the massive Sequoia Trees that the park is known for.
Highlights of the Foothills Region:
- Hospital Rock Pictographs
- Hospital Rock Swimming area (talk to a Ranger before swimming here to make sure it’s safe!)
*I’ve also read that there is Poison Oak in the foothills region, so keep a lookout if you are planning to hike here.
Giant Forest/Lodgepole Region
This area is the most popular place in the park, for good reason. It’s the hub for activities like the General Sherman Tree, the Giant Forest Museum and more! This region is also a great place to stay if you want to be centrally located to the park’s hot spots.
Highlights of the Giant Forest Region:
- The General Sherman Tree (an absolute MUST – the biggest tree in the world!)
- Congress Trail – a trail that links up with the General Sherman tree where you get to see even more massive Sequoia Trees. And learn about how fire plays an integral part of the life of Sequoia trees.
- Beetle Rock
- Moro Rock
- Tunnel Log
NOTE: From the Giant Forest/Lodgepole Region you can proceed directly to Kings Canyon National Park if you want. However, this would make for an incredibly long day for anyone, let alone if you are traveling with children, so I would recommend splitting each park into a different day.
Highlights of Things to do in Kings Canyon National Park with Kids
Grant Grove Region
This is the closest part of the park near Sequoia National Park and the part that is actually connected. If you are only visiting Kings Canyon and not Sequoia, the following are all things to do in Kings Canyon National Park. The Grant Grove visitor center is the best place in Kings Canyon to get souvenirs. The rest of the park had very limited amenities.
Highlights of the Grant Grove Region:
- General Grant Tree – a kid friendly hike to see the second largest tree in the world, plus more along the way!
- Big Stump Grove – see a Sequoia grove that was chopped down. Here you can see the cross cut of the massive stumps
- Panoramic Point – beautiful overlook point
- Hume Lake – technically outside of the park, but along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway – a great spot to fill up on gas and take a swim!
And check out our guide to 11 Can’t Miss Kings Canyon National Park Things to do with Kids!
Cedar Grove Region
This region will take you down into the depths of Kings Canyon (the deepest canyon in the entire US!). You’ll take a beautiful scenic drive to get to the bottom, and encounter several hikes and fun stops along the way.
Highlights of the Cedar Grove Region
- Kings Canyon Scenic Byway – a 50 mile EPIC drive that you definitely can’t miss if you’re visiting Kings Canyon
- Zumwalt Meadow – our favorite hike in Kings Canyon!
- Muir Rock – a cool swimming hole located at Road’s End
- Roaring River Falls – easily accessible waterfall that is stunning!
- Stop for ice cream along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
Where to Eat and Drink near Sequoia & Kings Canyon?
Three Rivers
- Sequoia Coffee Co.
- Sierra Subs and Salads
- Three Rivers Brewing
- Ol Buckaroo
Inside the Parks
- The Peaks Restaurant at Wuksachi Lodge (breakfast)
- Wuksachi Pizza Deck
- Grant Grove Restaurant
- Pinehurst Lodge (not technically in the park)
How many days to spend in Sequoia & Kings Canyon?
I would say you need at LEAST one day in each National Park. I would not recommend trying to visit both parks in one day, especially if you’re traveling with kids. However, if you want to experience a more leisurely itinerary, you could easily spend three or four days exploring the highlights.
Sequoia National Park Itinerary
One Day in Sequoia National Park
If you’re wondering how many days in Sequoia National Park, I would suggest 1 or 2 days to see the highlights. You can definitely have a more leisurely National Parks trip if you spread this out, and there is always more to explore. But we were able to see the things we wanted to see in one day, and someday we’ll be able to make it back to explore some more!
1st Stop: General Sherman Tree
You’ll want to get up early to see the biggest tree in the world! This is a popular spot so you won’t regret getting there before the crowds. And you’ll be able to find a parking spot as well.
2nd Stop: Hike the Congress Trail
Since the Congress Trail connects to the trail for the General Sherman Tree, you’ll want to just do this all in one if you’re planning to do both hikes!
3rd Stop: Visitor Center/Giant Forest Museum
Check out the visitor center or Giant Forest Museum and get your National Parks Passport stamped. This is also a great time to pick up souvenirs and talk to a ranger about the rest of your day.
4th Stop: Beetle Rock
This is a super quick stop with a great view, it’s also right by the Giant Forest Museum so you shouldn’t have to move your car or find parking again.
5th Stop: Big Trees Trail
If you’ve had enough hiking for the day you can skip this stop, but this paved trail is great for strollers if your kids have had enough but you want to keep exploring.
6th Stop: Moro Rock
See above for my description of this trail – it may not be kid friendly depending on the age of your kids. And it can be really busy, but it was an amazing hike and one of the highlights of our time in Sequoia.
7th Stop: Drive through Tunnel Log
This is another stop that can be really busy and I probably would skip it if there is a huge line of cars. But how many people can say they’ve driven their car through a log?? So fun!
Here is a full 2 day itinerary for Sequoia & Kings Canyon with your kids!
Sequoia National Park 2 Day Itinerary
If you have 2 days in Sequoia National Park, I would recommend doing all the above activities, but spacing them out a bit and spending more time exploring early in the morning and in the evenings when it’s less crowded. The busiest spots are Tunnel Log, Moro Rock, and General Sherman Tree. Plan your day around visiting those in the mornings/evenings. Additional things you can add to your itinerary if you have extra time are Hospital Rock (a fun swimming hole for kids) and Crescent Meadows Loop.
One Day in Kings Canyon National Park
This Kings Canyon 1 day itinerary is jam packed! We wanted to pack as many activities in as we could, because it’s a bit of a drive to get into the canyon, and we didn’t want to make the drive twice. If you’re visiting Kings Canyon with kids and you want to spend more time exploring in the canyon, I would highly recommend staying inside the park so you don’t have to make that drive multiple times. It’s doable, but wouldn’t be my favorite. If you’re wondering, can you do both Sequoia and Kings Canyon in one day? I would not recommend it. Because of the driving time it takes to get to both Sequoia and Kings Canyon, it would be a lot of time in the car for little kids. If you only have one day, choose which park interests you more and spend more time in one of them.
1st Stop: General Grant Tree
A nice leisurely walk to start your morning – also good to stretch your legs before a bit of driving! You’ll also get to see the 2nd largest tree in the world.
2nd Stop: Panoramic Point
Panoramic Point is a quick stop with stunning views, it’s a half mile loop. The views are similar to Beetle Rock, so if you don’t feel like getting out of the car you could skip this stop to save time.
3rd Stop: Hume Lake
If you are at all low on gas you need to fill up here. There are very limited gas options in the park. This is also a good place to get a snack if you need before you keep driving.
4th Stop: Drive the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
This is one of the prettiest drives in the United States! Enjoy the view as you drive down into one of the deepest canyons in the US.
5th Stop: Zumwalt Meadow
A lovely hike through massive rocks and beautiful meadows with upward views of the canyon.
6th Stop: Muir Rock
A perfect stop for swimming in Kings Canyon on a hot day – definitely recommend this!! You can hike here from Zumwalt Meadow or you can just get back in the car and drive (probably the better option with kids).
7th Stop: Roaring River Falls
A really quick stop off the road to see a powerful waterfall. Stop by the Cedar Grove Visitor Center afterwards for a passport stamp and a souvenir. There is also food options here if you need a bite to eat. Just a heads up this visitor center has pretty limited souvenir options.
8th Stop: Ice Cream
Stop for ice cream along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway on your way home. After all that hiking and time in the sun, you earned a few scoops!!
Overall Thoughts on Sequoia and Kings Canyon with Kids?
We absolutely loved these parks and hope you do too! Both Sequoia and Kings Canyon were great to visit with kids and have been one of the more family friendly parks we have visited. Almost all of the trails were short and fairly flat, some of which were accesible by stroller. If you’re looking for your next national park trip with your kids, make it Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Happy travels!
MUST SEE: General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock
WOULD SKIP: Crescent Meadows
NEXT TIME: Someday we’ll be back to see the Sequoia trees in the winter because I’ve heard they are magical!! I would also love to take a backpacking trip since these parks have so much beautiful backcountry.
We’ve got you set for hiking with your kids! Use our packing list to make sure you don’t forget anything.
Hello! I appreciate your blog! Thank you!
it makes my planning a whole lot easier to visit these parks!
Aww, I’m so glad it was helpful!!
This is super helpful. I’m planning a trip with my 5yo and 8yo for this summer, would like to spend one day in each park, and will likely just follow your itinerary. I’m considering whether to stay at the new AutoCamp in Three Rivers or to stay at the Wukshachi Lodge in the park. Any thoughts or recommendations on that?
I think both look awesome (we love glamping!) The difference will be that Three Rivers would be a farther drive to most of the park attractions compared to if you stayed inside the park at the Wukshachi Lodge. If I was you, I would probably make my decision based on cost and how okay I was with a little bit of a drive. The trek from Three Rivers to Kings Canyon can be a little long (although beautiful)!
Thank you!