During the summer of 2020, we took an incredible road trip from Sequoia to Yosemite National Park. We started at home, in San Diego and headed through Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and then Yosemite. National Park road trips are my absolute favorite and I love looking forward to them each summer. Here are some key considerations for your overall planning before we get into all of the details for an amazing road trip through Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks.
Table of Contents
PLANNING TIPS
BOOK LODGING AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE
If you want to stay in the National Park, which I recommend you do if you are able, you need to plan ahead. Lodges in Yosemite Valley book out a year in advance, as do the cabins in Kings Canyon’s Grants Grove. You can always catch last-minute cancellations, but holding some reservations during summer or school breaks a year in advance is ideal. You can always cancel if plans change.
HOW TO BOOK IN-PARK LODGING
If you are reading this to plan a last-minute national parks road trip, and want to stay in the park, do not panic. I have had great success with last-minute cancellations, but you must be diligent. I will bookmark the lodging reservation page and check it every day- even multiple times per day. The reservations are released in real-time, so you may be able to grab one in the weeks leading up to your visit.
- Sequoia & King’s Canyon National Park Lodging – https://www.visitsequoia.com/
- Yosemite National Park Lodging – https://www.travelyosemite.com/
I always hold a free cancellation reservation outside the park through Expedia for a plan B. Just keep the cancellation deadline on your calendar to ensure you are not charged.
OTHER BOOKING OPTIONS FOR IN-PARK LODGING
Also, be aware of the policies of the website NationalParkReservations.com. This site comes up immediately when searching and almost appears it is part of the National Park Service. However, they have a 10% non-refundable cancellation fee that is only mentioned in the fine print of your confirmation. This can be very expensive for those booking multiple nights in multiple lodges.
They can sometimes get you a room when the park is sold out, but it will cost you more. Our experience in Bryce Canyon was wonderful, but I have seen others that have lost hundreds due to cancellations. If you need a last-minute option, try them, but if you are booking in advance, definitely book direct!
CHECK CURRENT CLOSURES
COVID-19 had closed all National Parks and things were just starting to reopen leading up to our trip. We were super lucky to have both parks and our in-park lodging reservations open up right before our scheduled trip. Although things have opened back up, use the links I include below to the National Park Service official website and lodging options to check current conditions and closures for your visit.
The COVID situation is so fluid and things are always changing. In addition, weather and, unfortunately, California fires in the sequoias have affected openings in the Sierra this year. You want to be aware of what is open so your trip will run smoothly!
GET THE KIDS EXCITED
Build your kid’s schema by checking books out at the local library about the National Parks! I love getting ready for a trip by reading about the different animals and sights we are going to see. I love these inexpensive rookie readers as souvenirs for the kids too. However, my son has grown out of them so we have moved on to this National Park book at this Yosemite book.
DRIVING ITINERARY
In summary, we took five nights for the trip. This is the driving itinerary we planned. The best decision we made was to give ourselves a night before each National Park just outside the entrance. This strategy was key for several reasons. Not only did it save money, but it also maximized time in the parks.
- DAY ONE – SAN DIEGO TO EXETER
- DAY TWO – EXETER TO SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
- DAY THREE – SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS TO OAKHURST
- DAY FOUR – OAKHURST TO YOSEMITE
- DAY FIVE – YOSEMITE
- DAY SIX – YOSEMITE TO HOME (SAN DIEGO)
OUR ROUTE ON A MAP
PLANNING WHERE TO STAY EACH NIGHT
As I mentioned above, I love staying in park when vising national parks. However, the hotels outside of Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks are much cheaper than the in-park lodging options. When planning your trip, it is important to consider your timing.
When you are waking up in the park and want to maximize your day exploring, you don’t want to stress about the drive into the next park. If you cram your day to explore and drive from Sequoia to Yosemite, you will either sacrifice enjoying Sequoia and Kings Canyon or your first beautiful evening in Yosemite. I highly suggest a night in between. Oakhurst or Fresno are great options between Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks.
Nothing makes a road trip more stressful than jam-packed plans. Staying outside of the park saved us money and gave us a full day to explore the park and then drive to our next destination. Another bonus is the outside of the park lodging options usually include breakfast so we were able to hit the road first thing! They also tend to have laundry rooms which come in handy for long road trips.
KID-FRIENDLY PLANNING
Our guides to Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park below include all of the details to make the trip family-friendly. However, when going on road trips, I like to bring a few extras along to entertain the kids. Read more about our road trip favorites here.
When going to National Parks, I love to take advantage of Junior Ranger programs and pack some other things to enrich their trip. You can read more about our favorite things to pack for kids in National Parks here. I love requesting visitor guides for the parks before traveling as well. My son has fun looking through them in the car and it helps me plan our adventures!
REQUEST FREE VISITOR GUIDES
These guides are free from the county tourism bureaus that surround Sequoia and Yosemite National Park. You can download the e-versions or request a guide to be mailed to you!
Sequoia National Park
Visit Visalia – Visalia County
Discover the Sequoias – Sequoia Tourism Council
Yosemite National Park
Visit Yosemite – Madera County
Yosemite Vacation Planner – Mariposa County
YOSEMITE & SEQUOIA TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES
Check out my other Sequoia & Yosemite trip-planning resources here! Here you can find itinerary details, what to see with kids, and all of our lodging and dining recommendations!
- Plan Your Trip to Yosemite National Park with Kids
- Biking in Yosemite Valley
- Secret Yosemite – Hiking Hetch Hetchy
- Two Days in Yosemite National Park
- Plan Your Trip to Sequoia National Park with Kids
