Driving Directions

A group of cars and people surrounding a fallen sequoia tree.

Driving in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Roads here are steep, winding, and narrow. Vehicle length limits and advisories are in place on many park roads, including the Generals Highway from the foothills to Giant Forest. No gasoline is available in the national parks, though nearby national forests have gas stations. During snowy weather, tire chains may be required to drive park roads. To help plan your route, check our driving map of the parks and regional maps of the area.

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.

 
No Gas

No Fuel

There are no gas stations or chargers within park boundaries, though there are limited, seasonal stations on nearby national forest lands. Electric vehicle charging stations may be available near the parks.

 

Roads to Sequoia & Kings Canyon

 
a map of area highways and surface roads surrounding the parks
 
 
Park Entrances
Park Entrances

Which Entrance Do I Go To?


Ash Mountain Entrance to Sequoia National Park

  • Highway 198 enters Sequoia National Park at the town of Three Rivers. Beyond the entrance station, the road is narrow and winding.
  • Vehicles longer than 24 feet (7.3 m) are not advised between the Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha Campground. Vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m) are not advised between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum.

Big Stump Entrance to Kings Canyon National Park

  • Highway 180 enters Kings Canyon National Park from the west via Fresno.
  • Highway 180 is the preferred route for longer vehicles. It is straighter, less steep, and wider.

Lookout Point Entrance to the Mineral King Area

  • If you're heading to the remote Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park, look for the junction of Mineral King Road with Highway 198 in the town of Three Rivers, two miles before the Ash Mountain Entrance.
  • This road is extremely narrow and winding and is unpaved in some areas. RVs and trailers are not advised and are not permitted in the campgrounds.
  • Only trails connect Mineral King with the rest of Sequoia National Park. No roads cross the mountains west-to-east through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
 


Road Directions

To Kings Canyon National Park's Big Stump Entrance (Highway 180)

City

Distance

Time

Directions

Fresno

60 mi/97 km

1 hour, 15 minutes

Take CA-180 E to the Big Stump entrance of Kings Canyon National Park.

San Fransisco

250 mi/402 km

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

217 mi/349 km

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

240 mi/386 km

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

365 mi/587 km

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

330 mi/531 km

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 Entrance
(Hwy 41)

130 mi/209 km

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 (Highway 198)

City

Distance

Time

Directions

Visalia

36 mi/58 km

45 minutes

Take CA-198 E to the Ash Mountain entrance of Sequoia National Park.

Los Angeles Area

225 mi/362 km

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

344 mi/538 km

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

400 mi/644 km

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)

310 mi/499 km

5 hours 25 min

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.

Last updated: August 27, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271

Phone:

559 565-3341

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