News Release

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks announce campground fee increase and booking windows for 2023

Date: December 21, 2022
Contact: Rebecca Paterson, 559 702 3400

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. December 21, 2022 – On January 1, 2023, campground fee increases will take effect for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This is the first of two increases, with the second set to take effect in 2024. This phased increase brings Sequoia ancd Kings Canyon National Parks’ campground fees in line with prices of similar campgrounds in the area and follows a public comment period that was announced in August 2022.  

The increases will be implemented as follows:  

Site Type	Current Fee	January 1 2023	2024
Standard Campsite	$22	$28	$32
Stock Campsite	$22	$40	No change
Mid-sized Group Campsite	$40	$50	No change
Large Group Campsite	$50, $60, $70	$60, $70, $80	No change

No changes are currently being considered for park entry fees ($35 per vehicle, $20 per person, or $30 per motorcycle).  

The additional revenue collected under these fee increases will enable the parks to keep up with the rising costs of campground operations, as well as support ongoing maintenance and renovation projects, including the replacement of fire rings, picnic tables and food-storage boxes, the rehabilitation of comfort stations, and the removal of barriers for improved accessibility.

The National Park Service has also established booking windows for all campgrounds for the 2023 season. In response to public feedback, these windows vary in length to allow for different approaches to trip planning.  

Lodgepole, Potwisha, Sentinel, and Azalea campgrounds, as well as all group campsites throughout the parks, will have a 4-month booking window. In an effort to accommodate last-minute campers, Crystal Springs Campground will have a 2-day booking window (with the exception of its group sites). All other campsites will have a 1-month booking window. All campsites will be reservable same-day if they are still available. Campsites must be reserved using Recreation.gov.  

As a reminder, at this time most campgrounds in the parks are closed for the snowy winter season. Sites in Potwisha Campground (Sequoia National Park) are available and must be reserved through Recreation.gov. Sites in Azalea Campground (Kings Canyon National Park) are first-come, first-served during the winter months but will require reservations in the spring and summer.  

For more information about camping at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, visit go.nps.gov/SEKIcampgrounds. To make camping reservations on the go, download the free Recreation.gov mobile app by searching for Recreation.gov in the Apple Store (iOS devices) or the Google Play Store (Android devices).