🇺🇸 Sequoia National Park | One-Day Trip Guide 🚗🍃

A practical one-day round trip guide from the South Bay to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park (we only visited Sequoia). While the main attractions are well-connected, the distances inside the park—especially to Kings Canyon—are longer than they appear. Waiting for shuttle buses 🚌 (approx. 15 min each) also adds time, so trying to cover everything in one day can be tiring and may leave little room to truly enjoy the scenery. Plan wisely based on your pace! ⏰ Driving from South Bay to the park entrance takes about 4 hours. Once inside, allow another hour on winding mountain roads 🏔️—slow going with many curves and traffic. 🎟️ Entry: $35 per person. You can buy online in advance to skip the line. 📲 Download offline maps ahead of time — no signal in most areas! After the mountain drive, you’ll reach Giant Forest Museum 🏛️—also the shuttle bus hub. ⚠️ On weekends, popular spots like Moro Rock and Tunnel Log are shuttle-only. Parking is very limited. 📍 Our one-day route: 1️⃣ Moro Rock A 15-minute stair climb from the shuttle stop 🧗‍♀️. At the top, you’ll see the Great Western Divide 🏞️. On clear days, snow-capped mountains are visible. Below, vast forests show signs of prescribed burns 🔥—a natural management practice, not wildfire damage. 2️⃣ Tunnel Log A fallen giant sequoia you can walk or drive through 🚗🌲. A short walk away: Parker Group Sequoias and a massive tree root—both photogenic and impressive 📸. 3️⃣ General Sherman Tree You can drive here (40 min from Giant Forest). Park and walk 15 min down the trail 🌳. You’ll pass several sequoia groves, including the Congress Trail near the end. The tree itself is majestic 👑—worth seeing, though it’s often crowded. We didn’t stay long. 🍎 Tips: Eat a good breakfast and bring snacks 🥪—there are no proper meal stops once you enter. Wear sunscreen, especially at Moro Rock ☀️. Pack water, wear layers, and comfortable shoes 👟. You won’t cover everything, but you can still experience the magic of the giants in a day 🌲💫 #SequoiaNP #NationalParks #GiantSequoias #CaliforniaTravel #OneDayTrip #HikingTips