Is the Drive from San Diego to Sequoia and Kings Canyon Worth It?

Planning a road trip from San Diego to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is an exciting adventure for fans of stunning landscapes and towering trees. This route highlights California's varied scenery, from coastal views to mountain forests. The opportunity to visit these famous parks makes the journey worthwhile. Both parks provide breathtaking vistas, unique geological features, and some of the world's tallest trees.

But is it worth the 7-hour drive?

Below, I’ll discuss the differences between the parks, each park, what to do, camping sites, share my tips and tricks, and discuss that long drive!

Ready for a National Park adventure?

 The Difference Between Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Both parks are located in the Sierra Nevada mountains (a dream!) and feature tall Sequoia trees. They share a border and are managed together, but Sequoia and Kings Canyon are separate national parks.

Key differences include popularity: Sequoia attracts more visitors. Sequoia offers a summer shuttle system on weekends to manage crowds, whereas Kings Canyon does not. These shuttles are very useful—trust me, they were great for Labor Day weekend, though it started to feel too crowded for my liking. That weekend, Sequoia had more than 50,000 visitors for the long holiday!

Kings Canyon boasts one of the deepest canyons in the U.S., even deeper than the Grand Canyon. Additionally, Kings Canyon is larger—about 722 square miles compared to Sequoia's 631—bringing the total area to around 1,353 square miles.

Sequoia is home to the world's largest tree by volume, the General Sherman Tree, while Kings Canyon has the second largest, the General Grant Tree.

Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is home to the General Sherman tree, the largest tree in the world. Did you know that it also hosts Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States?

To visit Sequoia from Kings Canyon, drive south past Grant Grove and follow the signs for Sequoia. You'll then be on Generals Highway, the scenic route connecting both parks, where many dispersed camping spots are available along this road.

On my second night, I camped off the road in Sequoia, and it was very peaceful—apart from some distant people having a Labor Day party with loud music. By then, I was tired of the crowds, especially after a full day dealing with others who weren't respecting park rules. A nearby fire outside Kings Canyon also drew more visitors to Sequoia, as the smoke there was worse.

Tunnel Log

This was my final stop in the park via the shuttle. They kindly dropped us off there—sometimes shuttles just pass by without stopping—while continuing to the last stop on the route. The Tunnel Log is a passage carved through a fallen sequoia tree. Visitors can drive through it, but only on weekdays when Crescent Meadow Road is open.

You can also reach this location on foot from Moro Rock, which is just before this stop. I wasn’t sure how long the walk would take, so I waited for the next shuttle. The walk is only about 0.75 miles one way and should take around 15 minutes.

Moro Rock 

Moro Rock provides a brief but demanding ascent to an impressive viewpoint in Sequoia National Park. The hike is certainly worth the effort. To reach the top, you'll climb 400 steps (a 0.6-mile round trip) on a granite dome. Although the view from the summit was slightly less dazzling than anticipated due to smoke from a fire outside Kings settling in the valley, I still enjoyed the hike!

 The General Sherman Tree

The world’s largest tree by volume stands 275 feet tall, nearly as tall as the Statue of Liberty, and this tree is said to be at least 2,200 years old! Not a bad-looking tree! It became more famous in 2021 when it was wrapped in a protective aluminum material because lightning caused a fire that killed many trees.

Hike the Congress Trail

From the Sherman Tree trail, you can hike a 2.7-mile round trip that offers views of more giant sequoias. My only regret is not completing the entire trail; I only hiked about a mile because I felt rushed to catch the next shuttle.

Actually, I could have hiked to the next pickup spot for the second shuttle, but I wasn’t sure if that would be quicker or if waiting was the right choice. On a holiday weekend, hiking tends to be faster! Still, it was amazing to walk among these towering trees.

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon has two main areas: General Grant Grove and Cedar Grove/Zumwalt Meadows. I only had an afternoon to explore because of the fire, so I skipped the next morning’s hike due to smoke. As a result, I mainly visited the General Grant area and the byway.

General Grant Grove is home to the largest sequoia trees in Kings Canyon, including General Grant, the second-largest tree in the world. This short, 0.3-mile loop trail allows you to walk among these enormous trees, offering a great preview of what you can expect to see in Sequoia!

Lodgepole Visitor Center

Just past the entrance to Giant Forest, the Lodgepole Visitor Center and store serve as a convenient one-stop shop for food, drinks, and supplies. Next to the store, the visitor center offers Wi-Fi, which is priceless given the lack of cell service. I used it to book a last-minute campsite on the park's opposite side—especially lucky since it was Labor Day weekend and the campground had just reopened nine days earlier after years of closure.

Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

This drive is a must! The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) covers about 50 miles and takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. It connects the park to the other side and winds quite a bit, offering some of the most beautiful—and sometimes dramatic—views of the canyon.

When I visited, the scenery was somewhat obscured by fire, but the canyon remained stunning. There’s no cell service or amenities along most of the route, except for a lone Airbnb camping spot with an old-fashioned gas station where you can't pump your own gas. I should note that fuel here was very costly, but since there are no gas stations inside the park, it is the best option for anyone traveling across the park.

Is it worth the 7-hour drive? Yes, but not during Labor Day or similar long weekends. It was too crowded. Unfortunately, I had to go then, which was inconvenient, but I'm glad I went. I just wish I had more time to explore during less busy weekends!