Road Trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Connecting with nature is perfect for a road trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. So, if you need to escape the city, this trip is definitely for you!
Driving 280 miles from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks takes six hours and fifteen minutes. Prominent places include Bakersfield, Fresno, Alamo Mountain Loop, Santa Clarita, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Castaic Lake.
On this tour, plenty more wonderful locations and attractions exist. Please keep reading to the end for more details.
How far is it from Los Angeles to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and how long does the drive take?
The distance between Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park from Los Angeles is about 280 miles. Traveling from Los Angeles to both of these locations takes about 6 hours and 15 minutes if you take the most direct and shortest route.
But chances are, you’re going to wish to look into this route a little further. If you can spare the time, the sheer diversity and beauty of the natural elements along this road make multiple stops and short detours rewarding.
So why not plan one or more overnight stops so you can fully enjoy everything and what there is to see and experience along the way?
The most convenient driving route from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
California State Route 65 and Interstate 5 are the most direct routes to the national parks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
Along the way, you are going to explore many unique tourist attractions, as well as some stunning towns and cities. The trip will provide some amazing views.
If you don’t have a vehicle in the city or you’re flying into Los Angeles, you need to hire a car right away as feasible for your road trip.
Route of a road trip from Los Angeles to the National Parks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon
From Los Angeles on Interstate 5, crossing Rocky Peak Park and reaching Santa Clarita. Be sure to check out Six Flags Magic Mountain just outside the town, then head north through Castaic Lake and Wakefield Winter Wonderland.
If you have time, stop at Pyramid Lake and proceed on the highway past Fort Tejon State Historic Park. Follow Route 99 past Wheeler Ridge and continue on it to Bakersfield.
Stop here for a rest, then go out of town on Route 65. If you want, you can choose to turn out on Route 155 and explore Isabella Lake, or you can continue on the main road till you pass Rocky Hill. From here, you can take Generals Highway and Sierra Drive to the parks, or make a detour to Fresno.
The ideal places to make a stop between Los Angeles and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Magnificent towns, vibrant cities, and fascinating tourist attractions await on your road trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
You should think about making reservations for the best of the most excellent if you want to give yourself enough time to visit some of these locations. The best resorts along the route are those highlighted below:
Experience the tranquility of Santa Clarita
It can get boiling while driving through California, so you should stop in somewhere like Santa Clarita. After a tiring trip, the amazing hot tub at La Quinta by Wyndham Santa Clarita is the perfect place to relax and prepare for further adventures.
Dark curtains and wooden furnishings provide a classy touch to the room’s décor. Additionally, they have large king-size beds that will enable you to sleep soon.
This pet-friendly hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, cardio equipment in the on-site gym, a continental breakfast to fuel your day, and the always-welcome whirlpool.
Additionally, the cost is reasonable for all that this place has to offer. Not to mention the National Parks itself, all of Fresno’s attractions are close by and just waiting to be explored.
Relax in style in Bakersfield
When it comes to locations to stop along the road, Bakersfield is a natural one because of its location on the route. Although there are a few excellent hotels in the area, none of them match The Padre Hotel’s luxurious accommodations and elegant decor.
This hotel’s amazing food choices are one of its key attractions. The modern, cozy, and light-filled rooms include every luxury you could need for an amazing stay, including an amazing window viewing of the city.
The Rabobank Arena, Theater & Convention Center, and several other well-known Bakersfield attractions are all accessible by walk from this resort.
While the hotel is slightly more expensive than the majority of its nearby competitors, Bakersfield hotels are still affordable, so you won’t be running over the budget.
Relax in a luxury Fresno pool
You might also reserve a place in Fresno if you choose to deviate close to the finish of your journey. The DoubleTree by Hilton Fresno Convention Center offers the best pool in the city and is easily accessible between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
The attractive rooms achieve exactly what they’re supposed to: they offer you comfort and, if required the room and gear you need to complete some job.
You can work out in the excellent gym or go out into town for some exploring after enjoying a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant.
The swimming pool area, however, is the real jewel of this location. Its attractive decor and vast size make it the ideal setting for socializing with other tourists.
Not only is the hotel incredibly reasonably priced, but the city offers plenty to do and is still relatively close to your final destination.
Attractions on a road trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
You’ll want to stop at a lot of amazing places on your road trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This comprises some compelling historical, scenic, and cultural locations in addition to modern cities and attractive little towns.
It would take you two to three weeks to visit them all. However, if you have limited time, this list of some of the most interesting ones will help you decide what to look at.
1-Griffith Observatory excellent resource for learning about the universe. Great spot for taking in breath-blowing views of Hollywood, the Pacific Ocean, downtown Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Basin.
2-Universal Studios-Film studio and theme park of global fame, featuring famous rides and attractions like The Wizarding World of Harry PotterTM, The Secret Life of Pets, and the must-do studio tour.
3-Santa Clarita –Mentryville, also referred to as California’s Pioneer Oil Town, is one of the state’s most historically significant places.depicts “Pico Number 4,” the oil well with the longest-running history in the world.
4-Mission San Fernando Rey de España-Spanish mission in Los Angeles’s Mission Hills area. It was established in 1797 and is currently the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Archival Center.
5-Six Flags Magic Mountain, a 260-acre theme park named “The World’s T12hrill Capital” and selected as the best theme park in the nation by USA TODAY readers.
6-Hasley Canyon Park –Kids will love this lovely park. serves as a location for concerts and other important events.
7-Castaic Lake State Recreation Area –This California State Water Project reservoir is a wonderful family-friendly destination with a lovely lake where you can hire a boat, swim, fish, camp, and go hiking.
8-Vaquero Beach at Pyramid Lake – Popular beach on Pyramid Lake, just behind the Visitor Center for Vista del Lago. Great spot for kayaking, paddle boarding, pedal boating, and swimming.
9-Fort Tejon State Historic Park – a historical site that, up until 1864, was an outpost of the US Army. Situated close to the summit of Grapevine Canyon in the San Emigdio Mountains, this park covers 647 acres and features grasslands, marshes, hillsides covered with oak trees, and several restored structures, including the remnants of Fort Tejon.
10-Bakersfield –This wonderful cultural hub is home to several top-notch museums and galleries, such as the California Living Museum and the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History. a fantastic place to go trekking. with several paths connecting to the Sequoia National Forest’s mountains in the Kern River Ranger District.
11-Porterville –This lively city is hidden in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is home to several beautiful lakes, fascinating historical museums, an adventure park, and fantastic restaurants.
12-Fresno –The country’s agricultural heartbeat. known for its stingray touch pool and sea lion display at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. offers Woodward Park’s beautiful Shinzen Japanese Garden as well.
When is the best time to drive from Los Angeles to the national parks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon?
The period of June through August offers the best weather for a road trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
considering this is the peak time of year, you may expect far greater visitor numbers and accommodation costs than during other times of the year.
Many of the routes of parks might be affected by snowfall during the winter. Although you might not be able to see everything that the parks have to offer, make sure you have the snow chains for your tires if you decide to visit during the winter.
Visit is advisable in the late spring and early fall seasons. since there are usually fewer visitors and the weather is pleasant. Also, hotel rates are usually cheaper.
Generally, on weekends and holidays, if you are going to experience traffic delays, make sure to schedule your stops accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need at Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park?
You can explore the main highlights of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park in 2-3 days. If you want to hike more or visit remote areas, 4-5 days is ideal.
How long does it take to drive through Sequoia and Kings Canyon?
Driving through Sequoia and Kings Canyon takes about 2-3 hours without stops. However, with scenic stops and short hikes, plan for 4-5 hours.
Where do you stop between Los Angeles and Sequoia National Park?
Popular stops between Los Angeles and Sequoia National Park include Bakersfield and the small town of Visalia. You can also visit Lake Kaweah for a scenic break.
What is the best time to visit Sequoia?
The best time to visit Sequoia is from June to September for mild weather and accessible roads
for more details kindly visit http://nps.gov/seki
