Due to heavy visitation, be prepared for delays at park entrances. In summer, on Fridays, Saturdays, and on holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, long lines of cars have extended from the entrance stations. Learn how to plan for a wait at the entrance station.
Note that navigation systems may not give accurate directions to the park. Eshom Road is rugged and may not be passable, especially during storms or when snow is melting. There are no roads in these parks that cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
To Kings Canyon National Park's Entrance at Big Stump on Hwy 180
Fresno Distance: 60 mi/97 km
Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Take CA-180 E to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park.
San Francisco Distance: 250 mi/402 km
Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Take I-80 E to I-580 E. Continue onto I-205 E, merge onto I-5 N. Take CA-120 E to CA-99 S. Then take exit 133B onto CA-180 E. Continue to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park.
San Jose
Distance: 217 mi/349 km
Time: 4 hours
Take CA-85 S and merge onto US-101 S. Take exit 356 onto CA-152 E. Take CA-99 S. Take exit 133B onto CA-180 E. Continue to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park.
Sacramento
Distance: 240 mi/386 km
Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Take US-50 E/CA-99 S towards Fresno. Take exit 133B onto CA-180 E. Continue to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park.
Reno Distance: 365 mi/587 km
Time: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Take I-80 W towards Sacramento. In Sacramento, take CA-99S. In Fresno, take exit 133B onto CA-180 E. Continue to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park.
Lake Tahoe Distance: 330 mi/531 km
Time: 6 hours
From South Lake Tahoe take US-50 W towards Sacramento. In Sacramento, take CA-99S. In Fresno, take exit 133B onto CA-180 E. Continue to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park.
Yosemite National Park (southern entrance at Wawona on Hwy 41)
Distance: 130 mi/209 km
Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Take CA-41 S toward Fresno. In Fresno, take exit 128 onto CA-180 W. Merge onto CA-180 E. Continue to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park.
To Sequoia National Park's Ash Mountain Entrance on Hwy 198
Visalia Distance: 36 mi/58 km
Time: 45 minutes
Take CA-198 E to the Ash Mountain entrance of Sequoia National Park.
Los Angeles Area Distance: 225 mi/362 km
Time: 4 hours
Take any highway to I-5 N. Continue onto CA-99 N toward Bakersfield/Fresno. Take exit 96 onto CA-198 E towards Visalia. Continue to the Ash Mountain entrance of Sequoia National Park.
San Diego Area Distance: 344 mi/538 km
Time: 5 hours, 50 minutes
Take I-805 N or I-5 N to CA-99N toward Bakersfield/Fresno. Take exit 96 onto CA-198 E towards Visalia. Continue to the Ash Mountain entrance of Sequoia National Park.
Las Vegas
Distance: 400 mi/644 km
Time: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Take I-15 S towards Los Angeles. Take exit 179 onto CA-58 W towards Bakersfield. In Bakersfield, continue onto CA-99 N toward Fresno. Take exit 96 onto CA-198 E towards Visalia. Continue to the Ash Mountain entrance of Sequoia National Park.
Death Valley National Park (West Entrance)
Distance: 310 mi/499 km Time: 5 hours 25 min Take
CA-190 W to US-395 S and turn left. Continue onto CA-14S. Turn right at CA-58 W. Take the ramp onto CA-99 N. Take exit 96 onto CA-198 E towards Visalia. Continue to the Ash Mountain entrance of Sequoia National Park.
Be Prepared
There are no gas stations within park boundaries, though there are limited, seasonal stations on nearby national forest lands. Electric vehicle charging stations may be available near the parks.
