Yosemite to Sequoia National Park: Explore Two Iconic Parks
It will realistically take you 4-4.5 hours to drive from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park.
In Google or Apple Maps, use “Yosemite Valley” and “General Sherman Tree” as your starting and end points. Both of these locations take you to the most popular areas inside the park.
TL;DR Yosemite National Park to Sequoia:
- Start your drive early
- Expect at least 4 hours of driving
- Plan 1 attraction in Yosemite and 2-3 attractions in Sequoia
This post will cover everything you need to know about getting from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park, including our recommendations for what to do in each park!
Let’s dive into it!
Can you drive through Yosemite to Sequoia National Park?
Yes! Sequoia and Yosemite are directly connected through CA-41 and CA-180.
There are four primary highways you need to know between Yosemite and Sequoia:
- Wawona Road
- CA-41
- CA-180
- Generals Highway
Wawona Road begins near the iconic Tunnel View at Yosemite and travels south toward the Mariposa Grove. Wawona Road is a winding and curvy highway that showcases some incredible vistas within Yosemite.
CA-41 begins at Yosemite’s South Exit. It is about 62 miles from the South Exit to Fresno, CA and will take you about 1.5 hours to drive.
CA- 180 E begins in Fresno and will take you all the way up near Grant Grove Village. This route is about 53 miles and about a 1 hour drive.
The Generals Highway is the primary road that runs through Sequoia National Park. You can take the Generals Highway to the main attractions within Sequoia, including General Sherman and Moro Rock. The highway connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
Can you visit Yosemite and Sequoia at the same time?
Yes, you can technically visit Yosemite and Sequoia within one day.
But you will not spend any meaningful amount of time in each park. The Sequoia park entrance is approximately 4 hours from Yosemite National Park.
A Realistic Day Trip from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park
- Start at Tunnel View in Yosemite (15 min)
- Drive from Tunnel View to Mariposa Grove (45 minutes)
- Hike around Mariposa Grove and see the Grizzly Giant (1-2 hours)
- Drive from Mariposa to Fresno for lunch (1.5-2 hours)
- Fresno to Grant Grove Village in Kings Canyon(1-1.5 hours)
- Explore the General Grant area (1 hour)
- Take Generals Highway to General Sherman in Sequoia (45 min to 1 hour)
- Explore General Sherman area (1 hour)
- Hike Moro Rock (1-2 hours)
- Explore the Giant Forest Museum area (2 hours)
- Drive from Giant Forest Museum to Foothills Visitor Center (1 hour)
Total Time: 13 hours (including drive time)
If you plan a longer trip (3+ days) then you can definitely see Yosemite and Sequoia all in one trip! (more on that later!)
Which is better, Yosemite or Sequoia?
Each has its pros and cons, but from our overall experience, we would rank Sequoia higher than Yosemite National Park! This is probably a controversial opinion, given how iconic Yosemite National Park is, but we absolutely love Sequoia National Park!
Pros and Cons for Yosemite
Pros:
- Grand Vistas and mesmerizing views like Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls
- Hikes suitable for all skills and levels
- One of the most famous parks in the US
Cons:
- Traffic, long lines, and no parking if you arrive after 8am.
- You will not avoid crowds at any time (Yosemite gets 13.6 million visitors per year)
- You need more than 3 days to really get the most of Yosemite
Pros and Cons for Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Pros:
- Giant sequoia groves with iconic trees: General Sherman and General Grant
- Generals Highway and Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
- Easy to visit two parks in one day (Kings Canyon)
Cons:
- Very curvy road up to the park – high potential for car sickness
- Not as many hiking trails unless you explore deep within the park
- Relatively small park that can be explored in one full day
Our Verdict
If you are planning a 4-5 day road trip, definitely choose Yosemite. With multiple days you’ll have the opportunity to arrive early, avoid traffic, and see each of the different sections of the park.
If you only have 1-2 days, consider visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon. We guarantee that seeing giant sequoia trees will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Getting up close to General Sherman was spectacular and it’s unlike anything we’ve done at any national park since.
How do I get from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park?
The fastest way to get from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park is via CA-41 S.
This route will take you straight south through Wawona, Oakhurst, and eventually to Fresno.
From Fresno you will take 180 E until you reach the Generals Highway in Kings Canyon National Park.
The Generals Highway runs north and south through the heart of Sequoia National Park.
Yosemite and Sequoia National Park Road Trip Itinerary (Multi-Day)
If you have 3+ days to spend between Yosemite and Sequoia, you can definitely see most of the major sights within each park! The ideal time to visit would be somewhere between 4-5 days.
We’ve written an extensive Yosemite 2 Day Itinerary, but here’s what we’d do if we were taking a road trip from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park:
- Day 1-3: Pay a visit to Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, and Mariposa Grove
- Day 4-5: Discover Sequoia NP and Kings Canyon, and explore the giant trees throughout the park.
This, of course, can be modified. But however you split it up, we definitely recommend spending one more day in Yosemite than in Sequoia.
Sequoia is simply an overall smaller national park and could be explored in one day if needed!
Top Three Things to do in Yosemite National Park
These are the three most visited and most memorable areas of Yosemite and a must-do on any national park trip!
Glacier Point
Perhaps the most famous viewpoint located in Yosemite National Park, Glacier Point is a beautiful sight to behold. Sitting at over 7,000 feet in elevation, Glacier Point provides stunning vistas of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley below.
On clear days, you can see Half Dome, Nevada Falls, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains and meadows.
Plus, it’s one of the most beautiful national park drives we’ve ever taken.
Of all the views within Yosemite, Glacier Point was our absolute favorite.
Mariposa Grove
The Mariposa Grove holds a significant place in the entire history of national parks.
It was beneath the Grizzly Giant – the largest sequoia tree in Mariposa Grove – that Theordore Roosevelt and John Muir famously camped and planted the seeds for what would become the extensive national parks service.
Mariposa Grove is home to over 500 fully grown sequoia trees, making it one of the densest populations of sequoias in the entire world.
The most famous tree in Mariposa is the Grizzly Giant. Standing at approximately 209 feet, the Grizzly Giant is Yosemite’s oldest and largest living sequoia tree.
Mist Trail
There are hundreds of miles of trails within Yosemite, but no trip to Yosemite is complete without a hike on the Mist Trail. It by far the most popular hike in the park (according to a park ranger we spoke with!)
This moderately challenging, 7 mile round trip hike famously takes you up alongside a cascading waterfall, up 1,000 feet to the top of Vernal Falls, and up another 1,000 feet to the top of Nevada Falls!
The entire hike was challenging due to several steep inclines and – on the way down – knee buckling declines. Be careful and mindful of your own skills, abilities, and willingness to endure a long hike!
The rewards at each famous stop on the trail are worth it. I don’t think we’ve ever felt so relieved to reach the end of a trail, but I don’t think we’ve been quite as sad to leave the trail behind.
The Mist Trail was our memorable hike within Yosemite!
Always check the NPS for the most up-to-date information about the trail.
Top Three Things to Do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia National Park was our first national park we visited together, and we often consider it our favorite park.
Looking past the sentimentality, we love Sequoia and Kings Canyon because they are home to some of the largest trees in the world – giant sequoias.
There is nothing like standing beneath a giant sequoia, mouth agape, and wondering how in the world this got here.
General Sherman Tree (and surrounding area)
The largest Sequoia tree in the world, General Sherman is the shining star of Sequoia National Park. Standing at over 275 feet with a volume of 52,500 cubic feet, General Sherman is truly unbelievable.
Park at the General Sherman Tree Parking lot and hike 1.2 miles down and back to the tree. Or park near one of the several shuttle stops within the park, and take the shuttle to General Sherman.
There are several walking paths around General Sherman, but another famous trail in the park is the Congress Trail. The trail leads you on an easy walking path through groves of giant sequoia trees. You will famous groups of trees called Senate, the President, and Chief Sequouyah.
The Congress Trail is special because you can get even closer to the sequoias – you may even get a chance to stand right alongside one!
Despite having the ability to touch and walk around the trees, we always advocate for safe and sustainable wilderness practices. Leave no trace!
General Grant Tree
Within Kings Canyon National Park sits the second-largest sequoia tree in the world by volume – General Grant.
Equally mesmerizing, General Grant has the noble label of “the nation’s Christmas tree” and is a sight to behold. The tree stands at 268 feet and has the third largest circumference of any sequoia tree at 107.6 feet at the base.
General Grant sits in the Grant Grove part of Kings Canyon, where you can see other famous sites like the Fallen Monarch, Centennial Stump, and several other larger-than-life sequoia trees.
Moro Rock
And lastly, no trip to Sequoia & Kings Canyon is complete without the famous steps leading up to Moro Rock.
The trail is located within Sequoia and is famous for the 350 stone stairs that lead up to a spectacular view of the Great Western Divide.
While the trail is relatively short (0.5 miles out and back), the trail is very steep. The 350 stone steps are nearly straight up and must be taken slowly despite the safe guard rails throughout. It can feel daunting to peer over the rails and see the sharp drops below!
At the top, you are rewarded with a 360 view of the Sierra Nevada wilderness and a famous view of the Great Western Divide, which separates the Kaweah, Kern and Kings rivers
Final Thoughts: Yosemite to Sequoia Road Trip
You truly cannot go wrong when going on a road trip to these 3 national parks.
Yosemite is one of the most famous parks in the country. There are scenic drives, beautiful hikes, and iconic sites. Once you spend time inside Yosemite, you may very well never want to leave!
Sequoia is one of the most amazing places we have ever been. The giant sequoias along the road are incredible to see leading up to the tremendous Sherman and Grant trees.
Use this road trip guide to start planning your trip from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park!
Ultimately, however you decide to visit these three national parks, we simply hope you go!
