A Perfect 1-Day Sequoia National Park Itinerary
We visited for our 3rd annual August anniversary National Park trip, and were able to do a lot in one day. So this 1-day Sequoia National Park itinerary will break down what we saw, hikes you don’t want to miss and of course what we ate!
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Tips for Visiting Sequoia National Park
How Many Days Do You Need?
Of course if you wanted to add on additional days, you could easily continue exploring. But I’d recommend moving on to Kings Canyon National Park or Yosemite if you have more time to give you the best experience.
Best Time to Visit
However, weekends in the summer also meant longer lines. You have to use shuttles to get around the park, and we did experience some longer lines. So a weekday would probably be best if possible.
How to Get to Sequoia National Park
The Sequoia National Park entrance is about 3.5 hours from Los Angeles and 4.5 hours from San Francisco. But if you’re able to fly into Fresno, it’s only a little over an hour from there.
There are two entrances from the western side of the Sequoia National Park:
- Highway 198 from Visalia via Three Rivers, CA
- Highway 180 from Kings Canyon National Park via Fresno, CA
We took the Highway 198 entrance as we were coming up from Los Angeles and staying in the Tulare / Visalia area.
Getting Around Sequoia National Park
You’ll spend a good amount of time both in your car and on shuttles.
This surprised me a bit because it looks on the map like you can just drive up the highway and park near the various hikes. But parking was pretty limited when we arrived around 11am on a Saturday afternoon. We ended up driving up to the Lodgepole Visitor Center and found a parking spot there for the day.
It worked out just fine for us. But if you have a lot you want to see and do, consider leaving early and accounting for shuttle times between activities.
Park Fees
All visitors who enter the park are required to pay an entrance fee. Private vehicles are $35 and commercial vehicles start at $70. This fee is valid for seven consecutive days.
We usually visit at least two parks per year, so we got the interagency National Parks Pass at $80 per year, which gave us access to all US National Parks for 12 months. Now we have an excuse to book another trip!
Where to Stay near Sequoia National Park
AutoCamp Sequoias is opening in Three Rivers, CA in October 2024! And if it were open during our visit in August, we absolutely would have tried to stay there. We’ve stayed at AutoCamp Zion and AutoCamp Yosemite and had amazing experiences.
The Wuksachi Lodge is located inside the park, and would be a great spot to stay overnight near the giant trees. It’s nestled into the forrest and they have a dining deck, full-service restaurant, fire pits on the patio and a gift shop. But at nearly $500/night, it was beyond what we wanted to spend.
There are also camping options inside the national park you could reserve, and would be really fun for a summer camping trip.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Tulare, CA, about an hour from the park entrance. The room was great, beds were comfy, and the cinnamon rolls for breakfast were a nice bonus! I racked up some Hopper carrot cash credit, so we applied this credit to make it a super affordable overnight trip.
We spent some time in the cute town of Visalia, which is where we intended to stay before we snagged a good deal in Tulare. Visalia has some cute restaurants, breweries, and an old-school theater.
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1-Day Sequoia National Park Itinerary
If you’re like me, you want to maximize your trip and make sure you don’t leave with any FOMO. I mean, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so you gotta make sure you make it count!
While there are a lot of things to do, I think we hit the highlights well and I felt perfectly content with what we prioritized. So I definitely recommend copying this Sequoia National Park itinerary, but feel free to make it your own.
Enter the Park and take a Scenic Drive
The drive from the park entrance to the top of the mountain where the sequoia trees live took about 45 minutes.
There are a few cool sites to see along the way like the Sequoia National Park sign, Tunnel Rock, Vista Point and a few other overlooks, which we’ll talk about below.
Park at the Lodgepole Visitor Center + Lunch
Parking and food options are limited in the park. So trust me, you’ll want to go straight to this spot and prepare for the day ahead.
The Lodgepole Visitor Center has a market where you can buy snacks, and a quick service restaurant to grab a bite to eat. We shared a grilled chicken sandwich and a package of fresh blueberries. It was the perfect fuel for the hikes ahead of us.
And the picnic area outside the visitor center was a great scenic and sunny spot to enjoy lunch.
Take Shuttle 1 to General Sherman Tree
This is what you came for! Time to see the biggest tree in the world (by volume), General Sherman.
The shuttle drops you off at General Sherman Tree loop, a super easy half-mile loop. You’ll not only see General Sherman, but several other impressive trees like The Twins.
You may need to wait in line to get a picture in front of General Sherman. Or you can head behind the tree for similar views and plenty of room to take all the pictures you want. Seeing General Sherman in person was kind of overwhelming. It’s insanely massive! Take some time to appreciate it.
Hike or Shuttle to the Big Tree Forest Museum
We decided to hike from the General Sherman Tree to the Big Tree Forest Museum instead of shuttle. We took the south Congress Trail to the Alta trail, which was about 2 miles of easy terrain.
Along this route, you’ll pass by the McKinley Tree, the Lincoln tree, a log tunnel and a beautiful meadow.
We also saw two black bears along this trail, a mama and cub sleeping on a log!
It’s kinda wild to experience this while you’re out in nature and not behind glass at a zoo. But we just walked quietly past and they never seemed interested in us. We also saw two cubs later on near Moro Rock. Pretty cool!
Hike Moro Rock
Hiking Moro Rock was a highlight of the trip!
This hike is similar to Half Dome in Yosemite, but wayyy easier and more safe. The hikes are similar because both are dome shaped rocks that overlook a view of the mountains. And both have a somewhat narrow path that leads you up to the top.
But unlike the wood plank steps and chains leading up to Half Dome, the Moro Rock hike is very safe. The stairs were enclosed almost the entire way up with cement or chains. We saw all ages and various capabilities at Moro Rock making it up to the top and enjoying the view.
Shuttle Back to Lodgepole
Shuttle line 2 will take you from Moro Rock back to the Big Forest Museum. Then you can hop on shuttle 3 toward Lodgepole back to the visitors center for your car.
Tunnel Log
We got a quick glimpse of Tunnel Log from the shuttle, but if you wanted to stop here for a few pics it’s an easy one to add in.
The hike over to Tunnel Log from Moro Rock is about 0.6 miles and a 15-minute walk. There is a shuttle stop there as well if you prefer that over walking.
Dinner/Snack at Wuksachi Lodge
We drove from Lodgepole to Wuksachi Lodge for a quick stop and snack at the lodge. The outdoor patio was beautifully set among the trees and a great spot for a drink or snack. You could also grab dinner in the full-service restaurant if you wish.
Relax in Three Rivers
Heading back toward Visalia, we stopped in the small town of Three Rivers for a beer at Three Rivers Brewing. Then we got dinner at Tony’s Taverna on wheels, a mediterranean style food truck with plenty of seating and a cute outdoor vibe.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Redwoods National Park and Sequoias National Park the same?
Sequoia National Park is located in central California, and is known for having the largest tree by volume, General Sherman. The Redwoods National Park is along the north western coast of California, and is known for having the tallest tree in the world. The two are often confused, but they are over 500 miles apart.
Can you enter Sequoia National Park from the east?
There is no available route to enter the Sequoia National Park from the east. There are two entrances on the west side via Kings Canyon or Three Rivers.
Can you visit the Sequoias in the winter?
Yes, you can visit the Sequoia National Park in winter months and see some of the main attractions and stunning views! However, you should check for road conditions and be prepared for potential chain requirements. Snow can fall suddenly at high elevations, so it’s important to be extra prepared.
Ready to Plan Your Sequoia National Park Itinerary?
If you’re visiting for just one day, this Sequoia National Park itinerary is one to cope/paste!
The trees were more massive and impressive than I imagined. Now I’m excited to book a trip to see the Redwoods soon, which I’m sure is just as magical.
This park is a great one to add to your California bucket list or road trip itinerary.
Happy travels!
-Hannah
Plate & Compass
Plate & Compass is a food and travel blog written by Hannah Falkosky. After quitting her job and spending 8 weeks in Europe on just a few thousand dollars, she found her love for budget travel and sharing tips to help others explore the world. She also spent 15 years working with award-winning chefs and developed a love for artful food and cocktails. Hannah is now based out of Los Angeles, and when she’s not traveling she makes it her mission to explore the best restaurants and cocktail bars while living life to the fullest.
4 Comments
Jessica Meinhofer
Visiting Sequoia National Park for the day sounds amazing. Hiking and massive trees are right up my alley.
Sonia
Sequoia National Park looks like a lot of fun! Great tips on arriving early and planning for the shuttle timing between sights.
Rhonda
These huge trees always amaze me. I have travelled the California coast from Oregon to San Diego and I think the sequoias north of San Francisco is my favourite section.
Lisa B
Sequoia National Park is high on my bucket list. I want to do a trip where I can just visit US national parks and Sequoia will definitely be one of them!