One Day in Sequoia National Park Itinerary: What Not to Miss

Ready to walk amongst giants on a day trip to Sequoia National Park?

Filled with mammoth trees and epic landscapes, Sequoia National Park is one of the few places left on Earth where you can see some of the world’s biggest trees, the Sequoias.

Having lived in Los Angeles for three years, Sequoia is a camping favorite amongst locals and my friends. But there are good things to know before you go, like winter road closures, terrible wildfires, and how not to get attacked by a wild bear. So, to take the stress out of planning and make the most of your day trip, I’ve got the perfect one day in Sequoia national park itinerary for you.

This guide is a carefully curated itinerary detailing where to go, what to see, and how to make the most of your time in the park. A single day is plenty of time for Sequoia, so much so, you can even combine it with a visit to nearby Kings Canyon National Park.

Sample One Day in Sequoia Itinerary

Got everything in one scroll! Here’s a day trip itinerary for you with the option to tack on King’s Canyon in the afternoon.

If you’d rather get just take a guided tour to the best of Yosemite and Sequoia, this full day trip will take you to all the highlights straight from San Francisco

Book This Tour

Morning:

• Start your day early to make the most of your visit or to combine your trip with next-door neighbor King’s Canyon National Park.
• Begin your adventure at the Foothills Visitor Center. On Generals Highway, stop at overlooks and under Tunnel Rock.
• Hike up to Moro Rock (for the sunrise) or just a panoramic view from this granite dome.
• Drive Through Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia.
• Head up the road to the decorated Crystal Cave (Reservations required!)
• Visit the Giant Forest Museum to learn about giant sequoias.
• Take an easy walk on the Big Trees Trail to see some of the park’s largest trees.
• Gaze up at the General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest tree by volume.

Afternoon:

You can either spend the latter part of the afternoon heading north to King’s Canyon or going for an afternoon hike in Sequoia.

• Recommended Places in Sequoia: Crescent Meadow, Tokopah Falls, and the Giant Forest.
• Recommended Places in King’s Canyon: Grant Grove (for more giant sequoias), Buena Vista Peak, or Mist Falls.

Quick Facts to Visiting Sequoia

Did you know some Sequoia National Park trees are over 3,000 years old? The park also hosts the world’s largest tree by volume, the General Sherman Tree! Stretching over 631 square miles in the southern Sierra Nevada, Sequoia National Park is a land of massive mountains, deep canyons, and colossal trees.

Things to Know Before you Go!

1. Know Your Roads: Use Highway 198 to enter Sequoia National Park and Highway 180 to reach Kings Canyon National Park.
2. Fuel Up: There are no gasoline stations within the park!
3. Seasonal Access: Some areas, like the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, are only open from mid-May through mid-October.

Morning in Sequoia National Park

Foothills Visitor Center

Your first stop after entering through the Ash Mountain Entrance is the Foothills Visitor Center. This is the lowest elevation area of the park and can feel much warmer than the higher sections, especially in summer.

Pick up a map, ask rangers about any closures, and pick up a Crystal Cave ticket if you haven’t already booked online. There are some exhibits here on the park’s ecosystems and wildlife as well.

From here, the road begins to climb sharply, with elevation gaining over 5,000 feet by the time you reach the Giant Forest. The next few stops are along this stretch.

Tunnel Rock

Just two minutes past the visitor center is Tunnel Rock, a pullout you can visit without even taking a full break from the drive.

The massive granite slab once served as part of the road—cars literally drove underneath it. Now it’s just for pedestrians, and while it’s not a long stop, it’s a good landmark for how quickly the scenery starts to shift as you head uphill.

Overlooks Along Generals Highway

The next section of Generals Highway is steep and winding. There are several signed pullouts that are worth stopping for.

Amphitheater Point gives you one of the first broad views of the Kaweah River canyon and the Sierra peaks beyond. Eleven Range Overlook, a bit farther up, is another good stop, especially early in the day before the haze sets in.

Moro Rock

• Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip
• Difficulty: Short but steep with stairs and railings

The road to Moro Rock is narrow, so in summer it may be closed to cars and accessible only via shuttle. Once you’re at the base, the climb is short but intense, about 350 steps carved into granite, with railings most of the way.

At the top, you’ll have sweeping views over the western Sierra, the canyon below, and on clear days, you can see all the way to the Central Valley. Many come for the sunrise but anytime early morning is better here before crowds and haze build up.

Tunnel Log

Continue down Crescent Meadow Road (the same road that leads to Moro Rock), and you’ll pass Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia that was cut in 1938 to allow cars to drive through it. If the road is open and your car is small enough, you can drive under it for the classic photo.

Otherwise, park nearby and walk up. There’s also a bypass route if your vehicle doesn’t fit.

Crystal Cave

• Distance: 0.8 miles each way
• Difficulty: Moderate, with a steep return hike

Crystal Cave is a marble cave system hidden in the foothills, with guided tours that show off underground streams, stalactites, and narrow passageways. The access road is narrow and only open during the summer season.

You’ll need a timed-entry ticket and it will be take about two hours for the experience. After a steep descent through forested switchbacks, you’ll reach the cave entrance where a park guide leads the tour. It stays around 50°F inside year-round, so bring a jacket.

Because it’s out of the way and timed, many travelers skip this—but if you’re interested in geology or want something different from the trees and overlooks, this can be a good mid-morning detour.

Giant Forest Museum

Back near the center of the park, the Giant Forest Museum sits at the hub of several major trails and is the main interpretive center for learning about the sequoias themselves.

Exhibits inside cover how the trees grow, how fire impacts them, and the difference between a sequoia and a redwood. The museum is small but well-done, and it’s a good place to park for walking the Big Trees Trail or continuing into the forest by foot.

Big Trees Trail

• Distance: 1.2-mile loop
• Difficulty: Easy, flat, and fully paved

This loop circles around Round Meadow, one of the most accessible places to see giant sequoias up close without a strenuous hike. Interpretive signs along the way explain the delicate balance that allows these trees to grow to such massive sizes.

The path connects easily back to the museum or can serve as a jumping-off point if you want to head deeper into the forest.

General Sherman Tree

• Distance: 1 mile roundtrip
• Difficulty: Moderate, paved trail with a steep uphill on the return

This tree is the park’s marquee attraction. At over 275 feet tall and with the largest trunk volume of any tree on Earth, the General Sherman is an anchor point in the heart of the Giant Forest. Arrive before noon if possible! By midday, the parking lot fills quickly.

The trail to the tree is wide and paved. You’ll pass through several younger sequoias before reaching the base of Sherman. There’s a wooden fence around the tree to protect the roots, but you can walk a full circle around it. The Congress Trail splits off here if you want to extend your walk into deeper parts of the grove.

Afternoon Options

If Staying in Sequoia

Crescent Meadow

This is one of the quieter corners of the Giant Forest, with level trails through open meadows and groves. Look for the wooden sign that calls it the “Gem of the Sierra.” The main trailhead leads to a loop around the meadow, but you can also branch off to see Tharp’s Log, a 19th-century cabin built into a hollow sequoia, or continue farther to Log Meadow.

Tokopah Falls

• Distance: 3.8 miles roundtrip
• Difficulty: Moderate

The trail starts from Lodgepole Campground and follows the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. For most of the hike, you’ll be walking along granite cliffs with views of the high country around you. The waterfall itself drops over 1,000 feet, but the best view comes from the base at the end of the trail. It’s especially good in early summer when snowmelt is high.

Giant Forest (Further Exploration)

If you still have energy, the Congress Trail connects to several other points of interest in the Giant Forest, including the President Tree, the Senate Group, and quieter groves with fewer visitors.

If Heading to King’s Canyon

Grant Grove

This section of Kings Canyon feels like a smaller version of the Giant Forest. The General Grant Tree is the second-largest sequoia in the world and has a short, paved loop around it.

This grove also includes the historic Fallen Monarch, which you can walk through, and the Gamlin Cabin nearby. It’s usually less crowded than General Sherman, especially in the late afternoon.

Buena Vista Peak

• Distance: 2 miles roundtrip
• Difficulty: Moderate with consistent uphill

The trail begins near the Kings Canyon Overlook turnout. It’s a quick hike to a granite summit with panoramic views over Redwood Mountain Grove and the surrounding Sierra crest. If you’re looking for a short hike with a quiet finish to the day, this one gets good light in the evening.

Mist Falls

• Distance: 8 miles roundtrip
• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous due to length

Located deeper in Kings Canyon, this trail starts in the valley at Road’s End and follows the South Fork of the Kings River. It’s flat for the first two miles, then begins to climb toward the falls.

Mist Falls is one of the taller waterfalls in the park and worth the effort if you’re staying nearby or getting an early start. It will be hard to fit this into just a day trip to both the parks.

Where to Stay in Sequoia

If you’re planning to overnight in the park or nearby, the location you choose makes a big difference. Inside the park, most lodging is centered around Giant Forest and Lodgepole. Outside, Three Rivers is the main gateway town.

• Wuksachi Lodge – This is the main hotel inside Sequoia National Park, open year-round and located about 15 minutes from the Giant Forest Museum. Rooms are basic but comfortable.
• Montecito Sequoia Lodge – Located between Sequoia and Kings Canyon, this family-friendly lodge has meals included and easy access to both parks.
• Three Rivers – Just outside the Ash Mountain entrance, this is the best base if you’re coming in for the day. There are a few motels, inns, and vacation rentals here, but availability fills quickly in summer.

If you’re visiting in winter or shoulder seasons, check road conditions—some areas may be closed or require chains.

Campgrounds in Sequoia

Camping is popular and fills fast, especially between June and September. Most sites require reservations in advance through Recreation.gov.

• Lodgepole Campground – The most central option for day hikes and proximity to the Giant Forest. Flush toilets, a small market, and shuttle access make it a good all-around pick.
• Dorst Creek – About 10 miles north of Lodgepole. Less crowded and good for larger groups or families.
• Potwisha Campground – Located at lower elevation near the Foothills Visitor Center. Open year-round and easier to access early or late in the season, but it gets hot in summer.

Bear boxes are provided at all campsites, and required. Food storage rules are strictly enforced.

Places to Visit with More Time

If you have another day or two in the park, these spots give a deeper look at the range of landscapes in Sequoia and nearby Kings Canyon.

• Mineral King – A remote, high-altitude valley in the southern part of the park. The road is long and narrow, but the hiking and scenery are worth it.
• Alta Peak Trail – A strenuous day hike (14 miles roundtrip) with sweeping views from 11,000 feet. Start early and expect alpine conditions well into summer.
• Roaring River Falls & Zumwalt Meadow – Located in Kings Canyon’s Cedar Grove area, these are a few other short walks.

Day Trips from Sequoia

If you’re using Sequoia as a base, a few destinations nearby are realistic as day trips:

• Kings Canyon National Park (2–2.5 hours) – Technically part of the same park unit, but with a separate entrance and a different feel. The drive to Cedar Grove is slow but scenic.
• Exeter Murals (1 hour) – A small agricultural town known for more than 30 large outdoor murals and local food stops.
• Visalia Visalia (1 hour) – A mid-sized Central Valley good for restaurants, resupplying, or overnighting if you’re coming from or heading back to the Bay Area or Los Angeles.

Is One Day Enough for Sequoia?

One day is enough to see the major highlights, including the General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, and the Giant Forest. You’ll spend a lot of time driving, especially if you’re entering and exiting the park on the same day, but the big sights are close enough together to make it work.

If you’re hiking or visiting in summer when shuttle lines and parking can slow things down, having an extra day makes the trip less rushed. But for a well-planned day trip, you can still hit all the iconic stops.

Best Time to Visit

Late spring through early fall is the most accessible time to visit, when the roads are fully open and most trails are accessible.

May and June are ideal if you want to catch wildflowers blooming in the foothills and see waterfalls running strong from snowmelt. July through September is peak season. Everything is open, but crowds are heavier and shuttles may be required in busier areas like Giant Forest.

Early fall, especially October, brings cooler temperatures and fewer visitors.

Winter visits are possible, but access is limited to lower elevations unless you have snow chains or a 4WD vehicle. High-elevation roads, including the connection between Sequoia and Kings Canyon, often close after the first major snow.

How to Get to Sequoia

Most visitors enter through the Ash Mountain Entrance near Three Rivers, which is the main southern access point. From there, Generals Highway takes you into the heart of the park.

• From Los Angeles – About 4.5 hours via Highway 99 to Visalia, then east on Highway 198.
• From San Francisco Bay Area – Around 5 hours via I-5 or Highway 99 south, then Highway 198.
• From Fresno – You can enter through the Kings Canyon side using Highway 180, which connects to Sequoia via Generals Highway in summer (closed in winter).

There’s no reliable public transportation into the park. The closest airports are Fresno (FAT) and Visalia (VIS), but rental cars are essential for getting around.

Use DiscoverCars to find rental car deals, or rent and RV or campervan through Outdoorsy.

Final Thoughts: Day Trip to Yellowstone

Walking among the giant sequoias, climbing the steps to Moro Rock, and standing at the base of the General Sherman Tree are some of the most memorable parts of a Sequoia visit. If you have more time, it’s absolutely worth staying longer to explore deeper trails and quieter groves.

If you’re already in the area, consider adding a visit to Kings Canyon National Park, it’s right next door and has some of the best canyon views in the Sierra.

Cat Xu

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Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.

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