There’s a big reason over a million people visit Sequoia National Park each year — giant sequoia trees! Here, you can see five of the 10 largest trees on earth. You won’t find another place like Sequoia National Park, and camping is the best way to experience all it offers.
Today, we’ll highlight the 11 best Sequoia National Park camping spots to help you decide where to stay. Let’s start planning your trip.
Planning a Camping Trip to Sequoia National Park
The best, albeit busiest, time of year to visit Sequoia National Park is between June and August. You can expect beautiful weather, but also big crowds. If you plan to camp during the summer, make reservations well in advance. Also, remember summer is fire season in California and will likely have fire bans.
If you want to camp with low crowds, consider visiting in May, September, or October instead. You can take in the beautiful wildflower blooms in the foothills in spring, while fall brings crisp air for cool hikes through the giant Sequoias.
Snowy weather and closed campgrounds make winter a challenging time for Sequoia National Park camping, although it’s not impossible. Expect road and campsite closures in certain areas, and come prepared with snow chains for your tires. Potwisha Campground is a good option for camping between November and April.
Tips for Sequoia National Park Camping
Reservations: To ensure you snag a spot at your preferred campground, you’ll want to make a reservation. If camping inside Sequoia National Park, you can book on Recreation.gov up to six months in advance. For private campgrounds outside the park, contact the business directly.
Pets: Pets are allowed on leashes at campgrounds within the national park. However, they can’t come on trails. Consider the weather and make appropriate plans for your pet while you explore.
Food Storage: Sequoia National Park is bear country, so you’ll need to take precautions while camping in the area. All campsites within the park provide food storage lockers that you are required to use. If backcountry camping or staying at a private campground, consider investing in a bear canister.
Pro Tip: Keep your food and your family safe while camping by using a bearproof containers. Learn more about the benefits of using bear canisters.
The 11 Best Sequoia National Park Camping Spots
We’ve assembled a list of the 11 best camping spots in and around Sequoia. These campgrounds offer a mix of primitive and developed camping for tent campers and RVers. Let’s find out which one you should book for your camping trip to Sequoia National Park.
1. Cold Springs Campground
Address: Mile 23.4 Mineral King Road, Sequoia National Park, CA 93271
Amenities: Cold Springs Campground is considered a primitive campground. It has 40 tent-only campsites and nine walk-ins. However, you can use vault toilets and potable water seasonally. Each camping spot includes a food storage locker to protect your groceries and other scented items from bears.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: If you want seclusion sprinkled with adventure, look no further than Cold Springs Campground. Relax in the wooded surroundings of Sequoia’s southern mountains, head out for an unforgettable hike, or fish the East Fork of Kaweah River.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10
2. Buckeye Flat Campground
Address: Mile 6 Generals Highway, Sequoia National Park, CA 93271
Amenities: This Sequoia National Park camping spot is 7 miles from the Ash Mountain Entrance. It has 27 sites for tents, including two ADA-accessible sites. You can’t bring RVs to Buckeye Flat. Amenities include flush toilets, potable water, trash and recycling bins, and food storage lockers.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: Named for the California buckeyes trees that grow in this area, this campground offers a unique and beautiful atmosphere. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the easy access to hiking trails and fishing from Buckeye Flat Campground. You can take the Paradise Creek and Middle Fork Trail nearby and visit the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10
3. Lodgepole Campground
Address: Mile 0.5 Lodgepole Rd, Lodgepole, CA 93262
Amenities: Lodgepole Campground has a total of 214 campsites. It has 76 tent-only ones, and 16 require guests to walk in. RV spaces can accommodate rigs up to 40’ long, but there are no hookups. Amenities include a dump station, potable water, flush toilets, food storage lockers, and trash and recycling bins. You can also buy ice and firewood seasonally.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: Camping at this Sequoia National Park campground will have top attractions nearby, like the General Sherman Tree and Tokopah Falls Trail. Plus, Lodgepole Village is next door. It gives you access to a visitor center, market, deli, post office, showers, and laundry facilities.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 10/10
4. Dorst Creek Campground
Address: Mile 29 Generals Highway, Sequoia National Park, CA 93262
Amenities: Dorst Creek Campground has 222 RV and tent sites with food lockers at each. It can accommodate RVs of all sizes and has some pull-through sites. Campers will find potable water spigots and flush toilets. While it has no RV hookups, Dorst Creek is one of the few campgrounds in the area with a dump station.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: Camping at Dorst Creek puts you between Sequoia and Kings Canyon, allowing you to spend time in both national parks. You can also hop on the trail to the Muir Grove of Giant Sequoias directly from Dorst Creek.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 10/10
5. Stony Creek Campground
Address: Lat/Long: 36.665 / -118.833
Amenities: Stony Creek campground has 50 tent-only reservable spaces. This area has vault toilets and potable water, and each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and food locker. Because California Land Management operates this campground, campfires, barbeques, and portable camping stoves require a campfire permit.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: This campground lies in Sequoia National Forest, about 18 miles south of Hume Lake. If you enjoy fishing or boating, head up to the lake for a fun day on the water. You can also fish in the creek that runs along the campground. Additionally, you’ll find the trailhead for Jennie Lake Trail across the street.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10
6. Potwisha Campground
Address: Mile 3.7 Generals Highway, Sequoia National Park, CA 93262
Amenities: You’ll find 42 tent and RV sites at Potwisha Campground, including two ADA-accessible areas. The maximum RV length allowed is 24’. Amenities throughout the campground include food storage lockers, trash and recycling bins, flush toilets, and potable water spigots.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: Potwisha Campground is hot and dry in the summer. However, you may love this Sequoia National Park camping spot in the winter. Because it’s in the foothills, you likely won’t experience snow during the colder months. Hikers will also enjoy having easy access to Marble Falls Trail.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 7/10
7. Sunset Campground
Address: NM525a Road, Grant Grove, CA 93633
Amenities: You can bring RVs up to 30’ to Sunset Campground. And you can choose from 158 sites. Campers can use the potable water and flush toilets, but it has no hookups. Each campsite also has a picnic table and food storage locker.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: Sunset Campground is another excellent camping option for travelers wishing to visit both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. It’s only 3 miles from the Kings Canyon entrance. This campground is also near Grant Grove Village, which has a market, post office, visitor center, and more.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10
8. Azalea Campground
Address: Azalea Drive, Grant Grove, CA 93633
Amenities: Azalea Campground has 110 reservable sites open from mid-May through early November. It can accommodate RVs up to 30’. And while it has no hookups, you can find flush toilets and potable water throughout the campground. Campers should use the food storage lockers at each site.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: Azalea Campground is near Kings Canyon and Grant Grove Village, so you’ll have many amenities and things to do. The General Grant Tree, the second largest giant sequoia, is also nearby.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10
9. Crystal Springs Campground
Address: Crystal Springs Road, Grant Grove, CA 93633
Amenities: Crystal Springs has 50 campsites, and some can accommodate RVs up to 25’. However, this campground has no hookups. Amenities include picnic tables, food storage lockers, flush toilets, and potable water spigots.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: Crystal Springs Campground puts you close to the Kings Canyon National Park entrance and Grant Grove Village. Stop by Grant Grove Stables for a trail ride through this majestic landscape if you enjoy horseback riding.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10
Pro Tip: After exploring Sequoia National Park, check out these other 7 Amazing National Parks in California.
10. Sequoia RV Ranch
Address: 43490 N Fork Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271
Amenities: Sequoia RV Ranch has 55 campsites with partial and full hook-up spots. It has a dry camping area as well for both tents and RVs. Amenities include Wi-Fi, a bathhouse with coin-operated showers, and a laundry facility.
Pet-Friendly: Yes, with a fee of $2 per pet.
Why You’ll Love It: This is a private RV camping area outside Sequoia National Park, but it’s only 8 miles from the Sequoia entrance. You may enjoy staying at Sequoia RV Ranch on the Kaweah River if you love watersports. You might even want to snag a deluxe riverside spot to do some fishing directly from your campsite.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10
11. Three Rivers Hideaway
Address: 43365 Sierra Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271
Amenities: The final Sequoia National Park camping site on our list offers 57 campsites. Some are dry camping, but most have partial or full hookups. Three Rivers Hideaway also provides Wi-Fi, laundry, showers, flush toilets, and a dump station. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and grill.
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Why You’ll Love It: At only 3.5 miles from the entrance, Three Rivers Hideaway is the closest RV park to Sequoia National Park. It also sits right on the Kaweah River, 5 miles from Lake Kaweah. You can go boating, kayaking, whitewater rafting, fishing, or swimming.
Morton Road Trip Rating: 7/10
Experience the Majesty of Sequoia National Park
Whether you want to go camping for a weekend or longer, you won’t run out of things to see and do in Sequoia National Park. These campgrounds within and outside the park offer beautiful trails and scenery. You can choose sites to fit your needs and amenity preferences.
Most sites allow you to bring your furry friends, so no one has to miss out on the fun. From the majestic Mount Whitney to the towering General Sherman Tree, the unforgettable sites of this park will beckon you back for another visit. And when they do, you’ll know exactly where to stay.
About three hours west of Sequoia is Pinnacles National Park—another must-see destination in California! It made our list of 11 National Parks You’ve Probably Never Heard Of.
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Joan Wolfsen
Friday 14th of April 2023
I'm 78 and have given up on "rustic" or "primative" camping. Do you ever feature upscale resorts. We travel 6 mos a year, have visited all the national parks in the contiguous US, all the states and love new places. What might you have for us?