Driving Directions ¦ Road Conditions ¦ Vehicle Restrictions ¦ Driving Mountain Roads

Driving to the Parks

You can visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks all year long.

Two highways provide access to the parks. Both become the Generals Highway inside the parks' boundaries and is often referred to as "the road between the parks."

Highway 180 enters Kings Canyon National Park from the northwest via Fresno and provides access to the farthest eastern vehicle-accessible point near Cedar Grove.

Highway 198 enters Sequoia National Park from the southwest via Three Rivers.

There are no roads that cross east-to-west through the parks in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Road construction is ongoing in both parks.Please review our current road construction updates. (Park Map PDF, JPEG)

Important!: If you have a vehicle longer than 22 feet (vehicles towing trailers - the combined length must be less than 22 feet), you will not be able to drive to the Big Trees (General Sherman Tree/Giant Forest), Moro Rock, Crystal Cave, or Lodgepole/Wuksachi Lodge directly from the Sequoia National Park entrance at Hwy 198. This restriction is expected to last through May 2012. Until then, plan to enter/exit the park through Kings Canyon National Park off of Hwy. 180 with vehicles of this size.

However, if you choose to enter Sequoia National Park off of Hwy. 198 with a vehicle greater than 22 feet in length, you will have to turn around 6.1 miles in the park (at Hospital Rock Picnic Area). You will only be able to access: 

- Foothills Visitor Center
- Potwisha Campground
- Hospital Rock Picnic Area
- Buckeye Flat Campground
- Hiking trails at lower elevations (less than 4,000 feet)

WEATHER-RELATED DETOURS MAY BE NECESSARY!
If the Generals Highway is closed between the parks: The recommended alternate route is via Hwy 63. Note: Hwy 245 is not recommended because it is a narrow, winding, two-lane road.

Please note: GPS and route-finding units do not give accurate directions in this area. Double-check your route using the park map and road signs. Do not rely on GPS devices.

For more information on road construction information, road status and length limits and advisories visit the Road Conditions page or call (559) 565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1).