Kings Canyon National Park
Giant sequoias at Grant Grove, a glacier-carved canyon at Cedar Grove, and wilderness trails for hikers willing to walk into the high country.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Kings Canyon National Park lies in the southern Sierra Nevada of California, in Fresno and Tulare Counties. The National Park Service runs it together with Sequoia National Park, directly to the south. Visitors come for the giant sequoias at Grant Grove, including the General Grant tree, the second largest tree in the world by trunk volume, and for Cedar Grove at the bottom of a deep, glacier-carved canyon. Most of the park, about 461,901 acres, is wilderness, so its high country is reached on foot or by horse.
Grant Grove is the only vehicle entrance, about 60 miles east of Fresno on Highway 180. The road continues about 35 miles from Grant Grove Village to Cedar Grove, and there is no vehicle access from Highway 395 on the east side. Snow removal on Highway 180 in winter stops at Princess Meadow. The high country is usually snow-free from late June to late October.
Kings Canyon National Park in five
- Add the $100 nonresident fee to your budgetSequoia & Kings Canyon is one of 11 parks that charge each non-US resident aged 16+ $100 on top of the vehicle fee, unless you hold an annual pass.The $100 parks fee
- Check Highway 180 before you drive to Cedar GroveThe road from Grant Grove into the canyon is seasonal and can close in winter or for fire and rockfall. Check the NPS road and conditions page the morning you go.NPS road and weather updates
- Start with Grant Grove and the General Grant TreeGrant Grove is the first stop from the Fresno side and has a short walk to the General Grant Tree, a giant sequoia. Allow 1–2 hours.
- Use one pass for both parksSequoia and Kings Canyon share an entrance fee page and pass. The Generals Highway links Grant Grove with the Giant Forest in Sequoia.NPS fees and passes
- Pack for altitude and cold nightsGrant Grove sits at about 6,500 ft (2,000 m), so nights are cool even in summer. Carry layers and check winter chain rules.
Things to do in Kings Canyon National Park
See all attractions in Kings Canyon National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- $35 per vehicle, 1–7 days. Non-US residents 16+ add $100 each Read more
- Permits
- No entry reservation needed; wilderness permits for overnight backpacking
- Season
- Open all year; Highway 180 into Cedar Grove is seasonal
- Nearest town
- Fresno, about 1.5 hours; Visalia and Three Rivers on the Sequoia side
- Getting there
- Fly into Fresno (FAT), then drive Highway 180 to Grant Grove
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow, chains
- FebruarySnow, cold
- MarchSnow, quiet
- AprilLate snow
- MayRoads open
- JuneWarm, busy
- JulyPeak season
- AugustPeak season
- SeptemberMild, fewer crowds
- OctoberCool, autumn light
- NovemberCold, first snow
- DecemberSnow, chains
Right now in Kings Canyon National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
2
- Feels like
- -1°
- Humidity
- 96%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Kings Canyon National Park
12:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today6°0°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue4°-3°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 4°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed5°-7°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 5°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu6°-4°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri7°-3°0%Friday: Clear. High 7°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat11°-1°0%Saturday: Clear. High 11°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun12°0°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 12°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 12:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Kings Canyon National Park
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Kings Canyon National Park, checked
Plan around Kings Canyon National Park
Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guide$100 national parks feeWhich parks charge non-US residents
Read the guideYosemite National ParkThe better-known Sierra park, 3–4 hours by road
Read the guideLake TahoeAlpine lake in the northern Sierra
Read the guideLos AngelesThe usual starting city, about 4–5 hours by road
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it, the fee and how to apply
Read the guideKings Canyon National Park FAQ
Do foreign visitors pay extra at Kings Canyon?
Yes. Sequoia & Kings Canyon is one of 11 parks that charge non-US residents aged 16 and over $100 per person on top of the $35 vehicle entrance, unless they hold an annual pass.
How many days do you need in Kings Canyon?
One day covers Grant Grove and a drive along the Generals Highway. Two days lets you add Cedar Grove when the road is open and a longer hike.
Do you need a reservation for Kings Canyon?
Not for standard entry, according to the NPS fee page. Check the park site for campgrounds, lodging and wilderness permits, which have their own rules.
Is Kings Canyon the same as Sequoia National Park?
They are separate parks managed together, with one entrance fee page. Kings Canyon has Grant Grove and Cedar Grove; Sequoia has the Giant Forest, including the General Sherman Tree.
When is the best time to visit Kings Canyon?
June to September has the most open roads and trails. Winter snow can close Highway 180 into Cedar Grove, and Grant Grove stays accessible with chains.