Booking choice: The private Sequoia and Kings Canyon day from LA, from $1,190 per group (up to 5). Check dates Tour details
Kings Canyon National Park was created on 4 March 1940 and absorbed the older General Grant National Park, set up in 1890. Since then it has been run together with Sequoia National Park next door, and the National Park Service treats the two as one unit with one entrance fee.
About 97% of the two parks is designated wilderness. What most visitors see sits along one road: Highway 180 enters at Big Stump from Fresno, passes Grant Grove, then drops into the canyon to Cedar Grove. The NPS says Cedar Grove "holds the features that gave Kings Canyon National Park its name". The catch is that the canyon road is seasonal.
The quick answer
The top sights are the General Grant Tree and Panoramic Point in Grant Grove, then Zumwalt Meadow, Roaring River Falls, Muir Rock and Mist Falls in Cedar Grove. Entry in 2026 is US$35 per vehicle for 7 days, covering Sequoia too, with no entry reservation. Highway 180 into Cedar Grove usually opens in late April and is expected to close on 13 November 2026.
What are the top sights in Kings Canyon National Park?
The NPS highlights the General Grant Tree and Panoramic Point in Grant Grove, and Zumwalt Meadow, Roaring River Falls, Muir Rock and Mist Falls in Cedar Grove.
Grant Grove is the easy half: big trees a short walk from the car, just inside the Big Stump Entrance, which is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Fresno. Cedar Grove is the canyon itself, about an hour further down a seasonal road, with river walks and the trailheads into the High Sierra. The table puts the main stops side by side, with the NPS distances.
| Sight | Area | Walk (round trip) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Grant Tree | Grant Grove | 0.5 mi (0.8 km) | The Nation's Christmas Tree; Braille and tactile features |
| Panoramic Point | Grant Grove | n/a | Road from Grant Grove Village opens about late May, closes with snow; no RVs or trailers |
| Roaring River Falls | Cedar Grove | 0.4 mi (0.6 km) | Shady walk to a waterfall in a granite chute |
| Zumwalt Meadow | Cedar Grove | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) to the meadow view | Trailhead 4.5 mi (7.2 km) east of Cedar Grove Village |
| Muir Rock | Cedar Grove | n/a | One of the Cedar Grove features the NPS names |
| Mist Falls | Cedar Grove | 8 mi (12.9 km), 4 to 5 hours | About 600 ft (183 m) of climbing, all in the last mile |
| Boyden Cavern | Sequoia National Forest, on Highway 180 | 45 to 60 minute tour | Not in the national park; open into November 2026, check before going |
What is there to see in Grant Grove?
The General Grant Tree, 268 ft (82 m) tall and the world's second-largest tree according to the NPS, on a 0.5 mile (0.8 km) trail from its parking lot.
President Coolidge named the General Grant Tree the Nation's Christmas Tree on 28 April 1926, and Congress made it a National Shrine on 29 March 1956. The trail is short and has Braille and tactile features, so it works for almost everyone. Panoramic Point Road, which starts at Grant Grove Village, generally opens the Wednesday before Memorial Day and closes with snow; RVs and trailers are not allowed on it.
Grant Grove sits at about 6,500 ft (1,980 m) and has the park's main base: the Kings Canyon Visitor Center (its store accepts cash, and there is cell service around it), John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins and three campgrounds. The NPS says John Muir Lodge and Cabins close after 28 November 2026.
Both private day tours on this site stop here. The private day from Los Angeles lists about an hour in General Grant Grove and a visit to the Kings Canyon Visitor Center. Its itinerary does not include Cedar Grove.
A private car from Los Angeles for up to five people: the General Grant Tree, the General Sherman Tree, the Tunnel Log and sunset at Moro Rock, with fees and taxes included per the listing.
Explore the private Sequoia and Kings Canyon day from LA Tour detailsHow do you drive Highway 180 to Cedar Grove?
From Grant Grove it is 29 miles (47 km) and about 60 minutes to Cedar Grove Village. The road is open seasonally, usually from late April to mid-November.
The NPS says Highway 180 from Grant Grove to Cedar Grove generally opens on the fourth Friday in April and closes in mid-November; for 2026 the closure is expected on 13 November. When it is closed, Caltrans shuts it just beyond the Hume Lake Road junction, 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Grant Grove Village, because of rockfall. Even before then, Cedar Grove Lodge, the market and grill, the showers and the Cedar Grove Visitor Center close after 25 October 2026. Details are in our Highway 180 closure post.
Fill up before you go: there are no gas stations or EV chargers in the parks. Gas is sold year-round at Hume Lake in the national forest. From Fresno, the NPS gives 60 miles (97 km) and about 1 hour 15 minutes to the Big Stump Entrance, and calls Highway 180 the preferred route for longer vehicles because it is straighter, less steep and wider.
What is there to do in Cedar Grove?
Walk to Roaring River Falls and Zumwalt Meadow, see Muir Rock, or hike 8 miles round trip to Mist Falls.
The canyon floor at Cedar Grove sits between about 3,500 and 4,700 ft (1,070 to 1,430 m). A 1941 NPS guide quotes John Muir describing the walls as 2,500 to 5,000 ft high and the valley as "considerably more than a mile" below the surrounding mountains. In summer it gets hot down here, into the 90s°F (above 32°C).
- Roaring River Falls: 0.4 mi (0.6 km) round trip from the road; biggest in late spring and early summer.
- Zumwalt Meadow: 0.8 mi (1.3 km) round trip to the meadow view. Sections washed out in 2019 flooding, and it can flood in spring.
- Mist Falls: 8 mi (12.9 km) round trip from Road's End, 4 to 5 hours, to one of the largest waterfalls in the parks. Rocks are slippery and currents can drag swimmers under.
- Backpacking: Cedar Grove gives some of the best access to the High Sierra wilderness. Overnight trips need a wilderness permit.
Some trails near Cedar Grove, including Hotel Creek and the Cedar Grove Overlook, pass through the 2024 Happy Fire burn area. River safety is covered in our bears and safety guide.
Want the big trees without the drive? The private Sequoia and Kings Canyon day includes park fees and pickup at a location you choose.
Check dates for the private Sequoia and Kings Canyon dayHow much does it cost to enter Kings Canyon National Park?
In 2026 the NPS charges US$35 per private vehicle, US$30 per motorcycle or US$20 per person on foot or bike, valid 7 days for both Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
The National Park Service's fees page (updated 17 April 2026) says each non-US resident aged 16+ pays a US$100 nonresident fee on top unless entering with an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The NPS adds that this includes people on commercial tours, so if you book a tour, ask the operator how it is handled.
The entrance stations are cashless; pay by card or digitally, or buy a pass online in advance. The remaining 2026 fee-free days, for US citizens and residents only, are 27 October and 11 November 2026. All the numbers are in our 2026 entrance fees post.
| Pass (2026, NPS) | Price | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | US$35 | 7 days, both parks |
| Motorcycle | US$30 | 7 days, both parks |
| Per person on foot or bike (16+) | US$20 | 7 days, both parks |
| Nonresident fee (non-US residents 16+) | US$100 per person, on top | Unless entering with an annual or America the Beautiful pass |
| Sequoia and Kings Canyon annual pass | US$70 | US citizens and residents only |
| America the Beautiful, resident annual | US$80 | Federal annual pass |
| America the Beautiful, non-resident annual | US$250 | Federal annual pass |
Do you need a reservation for Kings Canyon National Park?
Not to enter. The NPS says entrance reservations are "not accepted or required", but campsites and summer wilderness permits are booked in advance.
Nearly all campgrounds in the parks need an advance reservation on Recreation.gov, at US$32 a night for a standard site of up to six people in 2026. From 1 November 2026, Azalea Campground in Grant Grove becomes first-come, first-served. Dispersed camping is not allowed in the parks, but it is in parts of Sequoia National Forest.
Overnight backpackers need a wilderness permit. In the 2026 quota season, 22 May to 26 September, it costs US$15 per trip plus US$5 per person; from 27 September 2026 to 20 May 2027 permits are free and self-issued. Crystal Cave tours also need advance tickets and run through 1 November 2026.
The lodges, including John Muir Lodge in Grant Grove and Cedar Grove Lodge, are run by Delaware North and booked through it.
How many days do you need in Kings Canyon National Park?
There is no official answer. One full day covers Grant Grove and a drive to Cedar Grove; two days let you add Sequoia or the Mist Falls hike.
Work from the drive times. Grant Grove to Cedar Grove is about 60 minutes each way, and the NPS says driving the Generals Highway alone, end to end, takes at least two hours plus stops. Mist Falls is a 4 to 5 hour hike on top of that.
- One day: the General Grant Tree in the morning, Highway 180 down to Roaring River Falls and Zumwalt Meadow, back up by evening. In season only.
- Two days: add the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia, 28 miles (45 km) and about 60 minutes from Grant Grove.
- Three days or more: Mist Falls from Road's End, Panoramic Point, a night in the canyon at Cedar Grove Lodge.
How to split time between the two parks is in our Sequoia vs Kings Canyon guide.
How do you get to Kings Canyon National Park without a car?
Join a tour. Two of the three California tours on this site are private day trips with transport: the listing for the private day tour includes the Sequoia and Kings Canyon entrance fees, and the listing for the day from Los Angeles includes all fees and taxes.
The nearest airports are Fresno Yosemite International, about 1 hour 15 minutes from the Kings Canyon entrance, and Visalia Municipal. From Los Angeles the drive to the Sequoia entrance is about 225 miles (362 km) and 4 hours, so a day trip from LA is long either way.
The private day tour from Los Angeles covers up to five people for one price, and the listing offers pickups in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego and Bakersfield. Guests are clear about the length: "It is definitely a long day trip, but well worth it!" (John, Oct 2026). The private Sequoia and Kings Canyon day takes up to six in a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, with pickup at a location you choose, per the listing. Its route includes the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, the General Grant Tree and Redwood Mountain Overlook, then the General Sherman Tree. Neither listing includes Cedar Grove, so drive yourself if the canyon floor is the priority.
A private driver-guide for up to six, the General Grant and General Sherman trees, Redwood Mountain Overlook and Moro Rock, with park entrance fees included per the listing. Only 4 reviews so far, all 5 stars.
Explore the private Sequoia and Kings Canyon day Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
What are the must sees in Kings Canyon National Park?
In California's Kings Canyon National Park, the NPS highlights the General Grant Tree and Panoramic Point in Grant Grove, and Zumwalt Meadow, Roaring River Falls, Muir Rock and Mist Falls in Cedar Grove.
Do I need a reservation for Kings Canyon National Park?
No entry reservation is needed. Book campsites on Recreation.gov, and wilderness permits in the summer quota season (22 May to 26 September in 2026).
How long does it take to drive through Kings Canyon?
Grant Grove to Cedar Grove is 29 miles (47 km), about 60 minutes one way. The road is open roughly late April to mid-November; the 2026 closure is expected on 13 November.
Why is Kings Canyon National Park so special?
It holds the General Grant Tree, the Nation's Christmas Tree, and the glacier-carved canyon at Cedar Grove that John Muir described as more than a mile deep, with vast wilderness beyond the road.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon Private Day Tour from LA
- Private transport from Los Angeles in a 4WD or car
- General Grant Tree, General Sherman Tree and the Tunnel Log
- Sunset at Moro Rock
Sequoia and Kings Canyon Private 1-Day Tour
Both parks without driving (only 4 reviews so far)
General Sherman Tree and Congress Trail Walk
The big trees on foot with a wildlife biologist
