Sequoia and Kings Canyon in winter: one ticket covers both parks, $35 per vehicle; from this year nonresidents 16+ pay an extra $100 each, so two foreign visitors pay $235, waived with the $250 nonresident annual pass. What to know about the General Sherman Tree in winter; the Generals Highway's hairpins (not recommended over 22 ft) and weekday hazard-tree delays of up to 30 minutes; the General Grant Tree, named the Nation's Christmas Tree in 1926, 100 years ago; Hwy 180 into deep Kings Canyon, Mineral King and Crystal Cave are closed in winter; chains, fuel, charging and a one-day plan.
Key facts
- 35 dollars per car, plus 100 per foreign visitor; 235 dollars for two people.
- Carry chains in winter; the Generals Highway has hairpins, and the northern section has weekday delays.
- In winter, just see the two big groves; deep Kings Canyon, Mineral King and Crystal Cave are closed.
- Information as of early November 2026; before you go, call the park's road line again.
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Two parks, one ticket
First, one minute on the two parks.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks sit side by side, and one ticket gets you into both. From Los Angeles to Sequoia's south entrance is about 4 hours; from Fresno to Kings Canyon's Grant Grove, about an hour and a half.
The two parks are linked by a mountain road called the Generals Highway. In winter it is open most of the time, but snow can bring chain requirements or even temporary closures.
Before you go, call the park's road line: 559-565-3341, press 1, then 1.
The fee: how much for two?
A private vehicle is 35 dollars, valid for 7 days, covering everyone in the car, for both parks.
But starting this year, nonresidents aged 16 and older pay an extra 100 dollars each. So two foreign visitors in one car pay 35 plus 200: 235 dollars.
With the 250-dollar nonresident annual pass, the surcharge is waived. With three or more adults, or if this trip also includes Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, the pass is the better deal. We did the math in Episode 5.
Tree one: General Sherman
First, the Sequoia side.
From the south entrance, drive up the Generals Highway. Between Hospital Rock and Wolverton Road it's one hairpin after another; the park advises against vehicles over 22 feet, about 6.7 meters, and in winter this is where chain controls appear most.
At about 2,000 meters you reach the Giant Forest and the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume.
Winter notes: the road to the upper Sherman Tree parking lot isn't plowed, so cars may not be allowed in after snow; the road to Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow isn't plowed in winter either. Check the park's road conditions page before you go.
Generals Highway: weekday delays
From the Giant Forest north to Kings Canyon, you still take the Generals Highway.
According to the park's November 1 update, crews are removing hazard trees on the northern section; on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. you may wait up to 30 minutes. There's no work on federal holidays.
So if time is tight, drive this stretch on a weekend, or get through before 8 a.m.
Tree two: General Grant
At the north end of the Generals Highway is Kings Canyon's Grant Grove and the second famous tree, the General Grant Tree.
In 1926 it was named the Nation's Christmas Tree, 100 years ago this year. Every December the park holds an event called the Trek to the Nation's Christmas Tree: hundreds of people walk to the tree, sing carols together and lay a wreath. That's the answer to the second question.
2025 was the 100th trek, held on the second Sunday of December. For this year's date, check the park's announcements.
Where you can't go in winter
In winter, a few places are off limits.
One: Cedar Grove, deep in Kings Canyon. The stretch of Highway 180 beyond Hume Lake Road closes every year in early to mid November and usually reopens in late April or early May.
Two: the Mineral King road is already closed, until the Wednesday before Memorial Day next year.
Three: the Crystal Cave road is closed too, until next spring.
So in winter, the focus is the two giant sequoia groves: Sequoia's Giant Forest and Kings Canyon's Grant Grove.
Chains and road conditions
Driving here in winter, chains are key.
The park says chains may be required on some roads at any time, and which vehicles need them can change; vehicles without proper traction devices may be stopped and turned away.
So always carry a set of chains in the right size, even with 4WD. If your rental company doesn't allow chains, we covered that in Episode 8.
Also, most of the park has no cell signal, so download offline maps in advance.
Fuel and charging
Fuel is inconvenient inside the park. Coming from the south, fill up in Three Rivers below the entrance; from the north, fill up in Fresno.
EVs: fast chargers are in the valley towns like Visalia and Fresno, so charge to full before heading up. It's a long climb, and with the heater on in winter, leave plenty of margin.
A one-day plan
If you only have one day, here's how I'd do it.
In the morning, fill up in Three Rivers, enter the south entrance, take the Generals Highway slowly, and reach the Giant Forest and the Sherman Tree by late morning.
After noon, drive north on the Generals Highway, see the Grant Tree at Grant Grove in the afternoon, then take Highway 180 down to Fresno.
Winter days are short, so finish the mountain roads before sunset.
General information only. Rules change; check official notices before you go.
Official sources
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon road conditions (NPS)：https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
- Fees：https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/fees.htm
- Nonresident fee：https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/commercial-tours-and-nonresident-fees.htm
Routes, parking and gas stations, shown on maps and real footage, one section at a time.
