The road to the mountain, fittingly called Whitney Portal, starts in the center of Lone Pine. If you're planning a road trip, We stayed a night in the tiny town of Lee Vining on the shore of Mono Lake. Its especially important to pack this when visiting Sequoia and Yosemite in the winter. 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. Along the way, you can stop about halfway in Modesto, CA for a bite to eat. Bearpaw Specific Reservations: (877) 436-9726. 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. We will not be hiking anywhere because of the dog. Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? 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. Depending of the time of the year you travel, your first stop is Joshua Tree National Park. In the valley, park your car for the day and ride the free visitor shuttle buses to avoid traffic jams. 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. Best Months: April, May, June & SeptemberHours: Open 24 hours per day, 365 days a yearEntrance Fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. *Note: The road to Glacier Point is closed in 2022 for repairs. Tip: If your flight gets in early enough, and you still want to spend the night, you really should check out the Golden Gate Bridge and/or the Fishermans Wharf. Massive, ancient giant sequoias live in three groves in Yosemite National Park. 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. P.O. waiting for our flight, and making it to the destination. Enter a city to drive through, or find all, trips from Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park. This park is a bit far from any urban areas, so for the best experience while here, stay within the park. If you decide to visit Yosemite, youll have the chance to drive along the beautiful Tioga Road, and, more importantly once youve crossed the Sierra via the Tioga Pass to see three gems of California: Mono Lake, Bodie Ghost Town and Mammoth Lakes (and surroundings). If within your dates and budget look at the John Muir Lodge. With its highest peak at 14,494 feet (4,418 meters), Mt Whitney is at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. As far as Im concerned, the best choice is Yosemite National Park, from almost every aspect. Read More Sacramento to Portland Drive [Best Road Trip Stops + Places to Eat]Continue. The following trails are closed due to the Washburn Fire: The western portion of the Perimeter Trail (from the Galen Clark Tree to near the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail). 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 Majestic Mountain Loop is a new route created from existing highways that sets up a three-day driving itinerary of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, as well as Yosemite National Park. This is a relatively short flight in a private plane, but you might be planning to book a commercial flight. Search for RV campgrounds. There is no firm estimate of when other areas with Sequoias may reopen. The beauty of a landscape is not an absolute value, to each his own, but we can still try to make some objective points. Spend a day soaking up the natural splendor and breathtaking beauty of Yosemite National Park on this full-day excursion from San Francisco. Along that trip, you should stop at the General Sherman tree, which is the largest known tree on earth. Just like in both Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, there are plenty of exciting things you can do in Kings Canyon National Park. So what do you do in this scenario? Fresno (11 answers) It can be purchased online in advance to save time at the entrance. Yosemite also has some giant sequoias in the area of Mariposa Grove (it recently reopened and restored while it was closed for years), but they are not as tall or even as numerous. Grant Grove is reached via Highway 180 from Fresno. If you hope to do any hiking or explore the less crowded portions of the park, its best to add a day or two to this stop. If it's a real road trip, you might want to check out interesting places along the way, or maybe eat at a great restaurant. Exit off highway 41 to Kings Canyon Highway 180 east. Take the full day to do it, and head out the Ash Mountain Entrance to Three Rivers. helping you figure out travel plans in detail. El Capitan is the feature that actually launched the National Park Service over a hundred years ago. How long is the drive from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to Yosemite National Park? Or is that too much and redundant? The total driving time is 4 hours, 51 minutes. Located northeast from Las Vegas on I-15, Utah's first national park is a crowd favorite for good reason: The nature is truly insane. About 30 miles from Mammoth Lakes, youll reach the tiny town of Lee Vining, the gateway to Yosemite National Park through Tioga Pass. 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. Converted from a historic market building, the museum houses interactive exhibits that teach about tree ecology and the history of how the park came about. There is a variety of trails from easy to strenuous within the grove, as well as some accessible trails. include how many minutes to get to your local airport, wait Now it sits on Lake Havasu, surrounded by an oasis in the arid desert of Arizona. This scenic drive through the heart of California will take you to three National Parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia. Here's the quick answer if you are able to make this entire trip by car without stopping. (The one-mile hike back to the parking lot gains 500 feet and is strenuous.) Realistically, you'll probably want to add a buffer for rest stops, gas, or food along the way. you'll be able to customize this plan, choosing your own airports 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. drive for about 1.5 hours. Like with all of our road trips, you can easily reverse course, and fly into LA and out of San Francisco. When there is heavy snow, roads are sometimes closed between the parks. Please read also this article for more information about national parks in winter. View a map with driving directions From convenient shuttle stops, it's an easy stroll right up to the base of double-tiered Yosemite Falls, the continent's highest . We included the must-see stops and highlights along the way, plus practical tips and planning essentials for visiting both parks. This trail connects to other routes that will help you find a quiet spot away from the crowds. Website: nps.gov/yose. Drive through gold rush towns to the scenic Sierra Nevada. To better understand the various options mentioned, open the map and select the level with the park and time of year you are interested in to see the itinerary. For road conditions outside of the park, please call 800-427-7623 or visit these CalTrans webpages: Highway 180. That's what Trippy is perfect for, 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. The 1,700 year old General Grant tree (second-largest by volume in the world) and Kings Canyon Visitor Center is also immediately following this entrance. The western portion of the Perimeter Trail (from the Galen Clark Tree to near the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail). In my opinion, the best part of Kings Canyon National Park is the Generals Highway. Which one is the most beautiful, Yosemite or Sequoia? However, coming back up I noticed many people having trouble. Famous for their Summer Family Camp, make early reservations here if you plan on going with your family to ensure you get a room. After escaping the kitchen life, he is now focused on his passion for the outdoors and world travel. or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world. Going on a tour in the U.S. National Parks is definitely a wonderful experience. As such, make sure that youre well prepared not only for the rapidly changing weather conditions and for the effects of the altitude. The more famous of the two parks, Sequoia was busier. But before you reach your destination, you have a few other places you can stop to explore. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.. Best Months: May, June, September & OctoberHours: Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a yearEntrance Fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. The drive south to Kings Canyon National Park takes about 2.5 hours, and goes through the heart of Fresno, CA about halfway through. This 1.2-mile easy trail loops around a meadow on a paved path with interpretative signs that tell you about the history and interesting facts about the trees and the other flora and fauna. However, several places are worth a stop. Youll have plenty of opportunities to see Giant Sequoias in Sequoia National Park, but you might as well get started by dropping by the largest Sequoia grove in Yosemite. Parks & Trips was created to help guide those that want to travel the National Parks and ski resorts of the US and Canada. We started off in the greener Sonoran desert, home of the giant saguaro, in bloom this time of the year. Because of the curvature of the Earth, the 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. Purchase your tickets for the 50-minute guided tour at least two months in advance and carve out almost half a day for the whole experience. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Keep a Roadside Emergency Kit on hand as you will be driving for hours and passing through different terrains and narrow and windy roads with very few services. It's okay, you can start planning your Discover the Tuolumne Grove on a hike. Here's the quick answer if you are able to make this entire trip by car without stopping. With the airports selected, we can estimate the travel time to and 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. 6- (Optional) Sequoia National Park. the way, check out the full road trip planner: In the quick calculation above, we assumed you had a private Re: Can You Drive Through Sequoia National Park to Yosemite? Consider adding Sequoia National Park to your itinerary. The driving time from Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park is: 4 hours, 51 minutes Average driving speed: 44.2 mph Kilometers per hour: 71.2 km/h This is based on typical traffic conditions for this route. Get the reverse directions for a This enormous granite dome is only accessible via technical climbers on a 15-mile round trip hike that spans multiple trails. Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions May 1, 2023. Upon reaching the lookout, youll have 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The drive takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Entrance Fee: US$ 35 Vehicle 7 Day Pass (or free with America the Beautiful Pass) Campgrounds: Yes, spread across the park (see campgrounds) Accommodation: Notoriously challenging, some lodging in Yosemite Valley, more in surrounding areas. the results with the flight time calculator to see how much 3 2. Parking is limited. There were plenty of Airbnb options in this area, but there are also a handful of hotels and motels in the same vicinity. (whether it's first class or coach). This time in the summer though, I would suggest just drive along on your road trip to Yosemite. And, to see the original London Bridge, the same one the childrens rhyme claimed was falling down. Another recognizable feature at Yosemite is the Half Dome, which is further into the park, near the Yosemite Valley Visitors Center. Departure airport: Visalia Municipal Airport (VIS), Arrival airport: Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH). Next, drive for another 31 minutes then stop in Fresno and stay for 1 hour. 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. The distance between Phoenix and Yosemite National Park is 650 miles (the shortest route, through Los Angeles, via I-10). The trail from the Mariposa Grove toward Wawona. With the full itinerary planned out, we can estimate But in 2021 we opted to drive. The reservations are only $2.00, and they give you three days to enter the park. 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. 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. Compare If you go, pace yourself, especially on the way back up from the famous tree. 5- Yosemite National Park (1:50 hour drive) Welcome to Yosemite! How far is Yosemite National Park from Sequoia National Park? At the foothills of Mammoth Mountain, the town lays at an elevation of 7,880 feet, and it is the gateway to the scenic mountain, and to the Devils Postpile National Monument. Located just along the highway, the Redwood Mountain Overlook offers views of the large groves of giant sequoia trees in the park, including the canopy of the Redwood Mountain grove. 2023 Chef Travel Guide | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Disclosure Policy. So, as soon as we got a reservation to visit the park, we set off on our first road trip of the summer, the longest at the time during the pandemic. Fill up in Visalia if youre coming in from Yosemite to get better prices than the ones on Three Rivers. The Crystal Cave is one of the more than 200 natural caves in the park, but was well worth the $18-$5 (depending on age) admission price. To avoid crowds, the best time to visit the parks would be from December to February, as significantly fewer visitors come in during the winter instead of summer. Drinking water is available only at the welcome plaza (year-round) and arrival area (summer only) so plan accordingly. The shoulder seasons are a great time to visit as the crowds are lower as kids are back in school, but the weather is still very pleasant. Even the room interiors were designed to reflect the surrounding nature perfectly. Read More San Francisco to Monterey Drive [Best Stops on Pacific Coast Highway]Continue. Your plane flies much faster than a car, so the flight time is about 1/7th of the time it would take to drive. The trail to the General Sherman tree is a half-mile long and paved, making it easy for just about anyone to follow it. You may have to rent a car with all-wheel drive if driving in the winter. With cellphone reception being very limited in these parks, you might want to go back to how people used to navigate with this illustrated paper map covering Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Last-minute trip to Yosemite this weekend, Yosemite National Park to Sequoia National Park drive, distance from Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park flight plan. Water is not available; bring drinking water for everyone in your group who will be hiking this trail. This is especially great if youre driving during the summer and just want a cold drink to cool you down. Starting at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, you will drive down Wawona Road, where you can take a slight detour to visit Mariposa Grove and its giant sequoia trees. View amapfor details. Also, watch the 15-minute informative movie before grabbing your map and proceeding to the many trails and sights in the park. A short interpretive trail starting at the Visitor Center gives you more choices to explore the surroundings. If you have time, and you are there at the right time of the year, enjoy a few hikes through the park. You can see: Joshua Tree National ParkMount WhitneyMammoth Lakes Devils Postpile National Monument (depending on the season)Sequoia National ParkKings Canyon National Park, Driving through the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts, Take a Short Hike and Have a Picnic Under the Pines, 3. Both parks are open 24/7, 365 days a year, and do not require reservations, but depending on the season and weather conditions, some roads leading into the parks are closed. out how long it will take to drive between any two cities, This will also depend on which airport you fly into for Yosemite as far as the drive time. You can not enter the park without one of these reservations. Now finally, let's look at an example flight from VIS to MMH and figure out how long it would take to fly including for security, board and taxi on the runway, land at the other open-ended. Lodging options inside Yosemite National Park are managed by Yosemite Hospitality, and range from simple tent cabins at the High Sierra Camps to deluxe rooms at The Ahwahnee. Believe it or not, there will certainly be a cheaper direction, and if the direction of the trip doesnt matter to you this is always a great way to save some money. who wants the trip to end? Driving non-stop from Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park How far is Yosemite National Park from Sequoia National Park? Its also very accessible as it does not require any hiking to see the view. Lake Havasu City you have 190 miles from Phoenix, and it generally takes three-and-a-half hours to drive it without stop. Kings Canyon is about 10.3 miles from Sequoia National Park and will take you about a 20-minutes drive from one park to the other. You can also calculate the cost to drive from Sequoia National Park to Yosemite National Park based on current local gas prices On a hot day, youll find the best hikes on the higher elevations, surrounding the alpine lakes along Tioga Road. With plenty of benches and gorgeous viewpoints, it is worth stopping often, to soak up the views. The best entrance to Kings Canyon is the Big Stump Entrance, which is right next to Pinehurst. This is based on typical traffic conditions for this route. If you google photos of the two parks, you would likely say to yourself,Do I have to choose? Now let's assume you have a private jet and you can fly in the and leave at 2:25 pm. 3:48 pm Yosemite. There are a cluster of wonderful Airbnbs in the area, but they are about an hour or more away from the parks main entrance. Unfortunately, over the years I have come to realize that this question is far from obvious. There are also viewpoints in Sequoia (e.g. And if you know Sequoia National Park well, please help your fellow Following are driving directions from both directions: Directions from Yosemite: Take highway 41 south from Yosemite Valley to Fresno. Driving from Sacramento to Portland? Water is not available; bring drinking water for everyone in your group who will be hiking this trail. We also covered the drive to Kings Canyon National Park and the best things to do there, which covers the entire Majestic Mountain Loop, in case you want to add it to your itinerary. The Giant Forest Museum and Moro Rock are a couple more must-stops along the way. As its name suggests, this is the end of Hwy 180, and the road simply loops back. Traveling early may.fly into Fresno 9am on Thursdayleaving on Sunday. 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. In North America alone, there are well over 390 million public acres to explore, comprised of 577 US national parks & forests, 6,600 state parks, and 141 Canadian parks. put together a flight itinerary with actual airports. Cell service in both parks is spotty, so dont rely on your phones during your visit. 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. For example, here are some questions people have asked about Yosemite National Park. because there's an entire community of travelers talking A San Francisco to Lake Tahoe Road trip itinerary featuring the best places to stop between SF and Lake Tahoe. When a giant sequoia fell and blocked the road, the most logical thing the workers could think of was carving a tunnel through it instead of moving the whole thing. 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. My wife and I, and our Yorkie, will be driving from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park in late May. You'll travel through California's Central Valley, the agricultural heartland of the state, with mile after mile of orchards and nut plantations. For only $80, you have a full year of access to all National Parks in the country. Size: Large, #2 in North America Code: LAX Visit Website. Trek to a grove of giant sequoias, marvel at features like El Capitan, and enjoy free time to explore the park's outdoor wonders and historic lodges on your own. to double check the weather. One of the main reasons you to drive to Yosemite from Phoenix are the stunning landmarks you can visit on the way. The best itinerary for a San Francisco to Yosemite Road trip featuring two routes with the best places to stop. Stretch your legs at The Park at River Walk and find some grub and beers at Lengthwise Brewing Company. He was born and raised in California and has worked as a professional restaurant chef for over 20 years. First time visit, how many days should i spend in the park? Perched high up on a granite dome, the Buck Rock Lookout is only accessible by going up a steep 172-step staircase. Tips on where to stay in and near Sequoia. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Want to plan the trip back? Unfortunately, when we visited, in early June, the National Monument wasnt open for the season yet. fastest possible straight line between Sequoia National Park and Check out more tips here. See the Top Questions on the right, full TripAdvisor Website. I want to visit them both! Take a hike among ancient sequoia trees, and enjoy several hours to explore the park's wonders on your own. Buy a pass from REI. In Conclusion: Yosemite vs Sequoia, Which is Better? Restrooms are located at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and areas within the grove. Yosemite-National-Park- Related Read: Best Airport for Yosemite Make the most out of your time at one of the most beautiful national parks in the world by hiking, rock climbing, or simply exploring the incredible scenery. Click the button below to explore more questions Read More Lake Tahoe to Yosemite Road Trip Itinerary [The Best Stops]Continue. This rustic family-friendly lodge is located between Sequoia and Kings Canyon and has been a top favorite among families visiting the area. BUY IT HERE. It was, indeed, getting swallowed by the Thames River, before it ended up in the middle of the desert of Phoenix. We plan to spend the night in Mariposa and then enter the park via the Arch Rock entrance. So now we can finally get an idea of the total travel time from Click on any question to see answers from the community! The extension of Yosemite is over 1158 sq mi, while the Sequoia is just 631 sq mi. Entrance fees still apply, this is just a way to ensure you can actually enter the park. You may find yourself sharing the trail with a crowd as this is a popular walking trail because the 80-foot waterfall is easily accessed just right off the road. In most cases, the default is Yosemite, and the Sequoia is excluded. You will then exit Hwy 41 and drive until you merge onto Hwy 99. Learn more about our policies and disclosures. The swinging bridge at Yosemite National Park provides an . So, if youre planning to go on an epic Yosemite to Sequoia road trip, you might as well add Kings Canyon to the mix and just check out the entire Majestic Mountain Loop. 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. El Capitan is the most recognizable feature in Yosemite, but there are plenty of other places to visit and trails to hike that will easily fill multiple days in the area. Includes access to Kings Canyon. 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. If you are looking for lodging within the confines of the park, the Wuksachi and Montecito-Sequoia Lodges are beautiful, but fill up very quickly. However, with plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy various viewpoints along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, taking in breathtaking views, the windy trip is well worth it. Vail Resorts created the EPIC ski pass in 2008. To see the details on this flight plan, including I could see an itinerary looking something like this depending on your flight .