Sequoia National Park, in California’s southern Sierra Nevada, protects the largest trees on Earth. Its star is the General Sherman Tree, the biggest single tree by volume anywhere, and you can reach it on a paved road. For a road trip, the park is mostly about one route, the winding Generals Highway, and the groves and viewpoints along it.
Sequoia was established in 1890 and is managed jointly with Kings Canyon National Park next door: one entrance ticket covers both. Here is how to get in, what to see, what the weather is like at different elevations, and how to drive here from Yosemite.
The giant sequoias and the General Sherman Tree
Giant sequoias grow naturally only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, and the Giant Forest grove, between about 5,000 and 7,000 feet, is one of the finest stands. The General Sherman Tree is the headline:
| General Sherman Tree | Figure (NPS) |
|---|---|
| Volume | About 52,500 cubic feet |
| Height above base | 274.9 feet |
| Maximum diameter at base | 36.5 feet |
| Rank | Largest tree in the world by volume |
It is not the tallest tree (coast redwoods are taller) or the widest, but no other single tree holds as much wood. A short paved path leads down to it, and the walk back up is a reminder that you are high in the Sierra. Nearby, the Congress Trail loops through dozens more giants and is the best easy walk in the park.
Two other classic stops sit off the side road that leaves the Generals Highway near the Giant Forest Museum: Moro Rock, a granite dome with a staircase to the top and a view over the foothills, and Crescent Meadow, a quiet meadow ringed by sequoias at the end of the road.
Driving the Generals Highway
The Generals Highway is the spine of the park. From the Ash Mountain entrance it climbs in tight switchbacks from the hot foothills to the sequoia belt, then runs north past Giant Forest and Lodgepole to Grant Grove in Kings Canyon.
- Foothills to Lodgepole: allow an hour one way for the climb.
- Lodgepole to Grant Grove: 45 minutes to an hour, staying at roughly the same elevation.
- Vehicle length: vehicles longer than 22 feet are not advised between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum, and longer than 24 feet between the Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha.
If you drive an RV or tow a trailer, enter from the north on CA-180, which the park recommends for longer vehicles. Expect delays too: the park has warned of waits of up to 30 minutes on the stretch between CA-180 and Giant Forest, including the Sherman Tree area.
Entrances, fees and getting there
There are two main ways in:
- Ash Mountain entrance via CA-198 through Three Rivers, about an hour from Visalia. Narrow and winding past the gate.
- Big Stump entrance via CA-180 from Fresno, about an hour and a quarter. This puts you in Grant Grove first.
No road crosses the Sierra through Sequoia or Kings Canyon, so you cannot enter from the east side. The entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle for up to seven days, valid in both parks. Since 2026, non-US residents aged 16 and older also pay a $100 per person nonresident fee unless they carry an annual or America the Beautiful pass. There are no gas or EV charging stations in the park, so fill up in Three Rivers or along CA-180.
Sequoia National Park weather
Elevation decides everything here, and a single day can take you from summer heat to snow.
| Zone | Summer (Jun-Aug) | Winter (Dec-Feb) |
|---|---|---|
| Foothills (up to about 4,000 ft) | Highs 89-97°F, lows 61-68°F | Highs 57-61°F, lows 36-39°F |
| Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Grant Grove | Highs 68-76°F, lows 44-51°F | Highs 42-44°F, lows 24-27°F |
In the sequoia groves, snow usually lies deep from December to May. Rain is rare in summer, though afternoon thunderstorms can pop up in the mountains. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable seasons for a road trip.
Winter and tire chains
From fall through spring, carry chains or cables even if the roads look clear. California law requires every vehicle, including 4WD and AWD, to carry chains in chain-control zones, and restrictions go from R-1 to R-3 (everyone must install chains). The speed limit in chain-control areas is 25 mph. Buy or rent chains before you reach the park: once restrictions are in effect, you cannot drive in to buy them. In winter, the Generals Highway between Lodgepole and Grant Grove is not plowed from about the Friday after January 1 to the third Friday in March and often closes for snow.
Driving from Yosemite to Sequoia
Most visitors pair Sequoia with yosemite national park, and the two make an easy Sierra road trip. Leave Yosemite by the South Entrance on CA-41, drive down to Fresno (about 94 miles, a bit over two hours), then follow CA-180 east to the Big Stump entrance, about another hour and a quarter. Plan on three and a half to four hours, longer with stops.
Entering this way, you see Grant Grove first, then drive south on the Generals Highway to Giant Forest and exit through Ash Mountain toward the Central Valley. That north-to-south direction also keeps longer vehicles on the easier roads. With two or three days you can cover Sequoia’s groves and add the canyon country of Kings Canyon. If you are lining up more parks after that, our guide to the parks most worth building a road trip around covers the rest of the West.
Sequoia National Park FAQ
How long should I spend in Sequoia National Park?
One full day covers the General Sherman Tree, the Congress Trail, Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow. Two days lets you add Kings Canyon without rushing.
Is Sequoia open in winter?
Yes, the park is open all year, but snow is common in the groves from December to May. Carry chains and check road status before you leave.
Are Sequoia and Kings Canyon the same park?
They are two national parks managed together, side by side, and one entrance pass covers both.
Can you drive to the General Sherman Tree?
Yes. A parking area sits near the tree, and a short paved trail leads to its base.
