Travel Answers

I'll be in the park April 20-21, are tire chains going to be required even if no snow is present? I'll be sticking to the Kingshighway. I'll only have an evening and morning there, planning on Giant forest and Moro Rock, anything I should know?

Actually , I am trying to decide to stay inside or outside the park. I need a handle on drive times to help me make that decision. So If I am 3 rivers area: Drive time to Ash mountain entrance? Drive time to Giant Forset Drive time to Moro Rock Drive time to Crescent Meadow So, If I am in John Muir Lodge area: Drive time to Grant Grove Drive time to Cedar Grove Drive time to Yosemite entrance

I am starting to put together an extended trip. Part of trip includes time in these parks. I completely understand within national park lodgings and accept that "it is what it is." However, the reviews of the best places in these parks just resound with negatives and have left my head spinning on where to stay. I will be entering from the south and will spend a couple of nights in the three rivers location to get acclimated after travel. I thought we would spend time at two locations in the park to avoid driving in and out but I can't seem to settle on anywhere because of the terrible reviews (trip advisor) I've figured out the hikes and the drives. So where to stay for 3 nights each?

Hi, I'm going with some friends on a trip in June to San Francisco and Los Angeles and we wanted to pass by one the National Parks.... we don't have many days so we want to spend 2 days at Yosemite National Park or Sequoia National Park. Can anyone that has visited these 2 Parks give me they're opinion of what which Park they recommend / prefer? Thanks in advance, Michael

I'm riding out of Vegas on October 7th. I plan to spend a day in Death Valley (actually just a sunset and a sunrise). Then I would like to cross the Sierras into Sequoia National Park. I would like to take Sherman Pass road. Can anyone tell me what the conditions on this road are like this time of year? Also, is there fuel available on that road? (J41).

I understand there is a small market inside the park. Anyone know if they have fresh fruit, lunchmeat, eggs, cheese, milk and ice. Any vegetables? Smokes? Please email me at barajas@email.com. I would appreciate any other info on this small store. We have a big family and may need to add to our food supply. Thanks Pat

My husband and I are travelling to see some of the National Parks by rail this fall. We are leaving Portland OR on the 19th of October and have to be in Las Vegas on the night of the 23rd or early on the 24th. We know that some of the facilities will be closed but would like to see as much as possible. Neither one of us is a great hiker and we are trying to do as little by car as possible. Is it doable or are we just dreaming? I have figured out how to get into Yosemite (where should we stay that is not too pricey?) and we can leave by booking a train to Fresno and getting the bus out of the park. How to get to Sequoia - is my only option renting a car?

We are staying at Dorst Campground for 1 week with a group of friends and family the end of June this year. From what we've read, all food needs to be stored in the bear containers provided by the park. However I'm now wondering if we'll have enough room in the containers to fit our dry food and coolers. Does anyone know the size of the bear containers for the campsites? It also sounded like there are a few group bear containers, and I am wondering about the size of them as well. Also any tips or information you can give us about camping there relating to food, would be great. We've done a lot of camping, both backpack and car, but now with kids we do mostly car camping around Las Vegas area, so food issues aren't revelant. I just want to make sure we have enough food for us for the week, and have adequate storage for our refridgeable items. On our campsite we'll have possibly 6 adults and 2 kids. Thanks!

I am going to be in Las Vegas for a week next week and would like to take a trip for a couple of days north or west of there. Any suggestions from anyone? We are considering Death Valley, Sequoia, or possibly California Coast. How far is it to the coast, or Sequoia? Thanks D

I am coming from Fresno and will have about 1 1/2 days to spend in Sequoia/King's Canyon. My hotel is in Three Rivers near the Sequoia entrance. I had some questions. In this short time, is it worthwhile to visit Grant's Grove (particularly since my hotel is near Sequoia)? I figure I can take 180 from Fresno, visit Grant's Grove, and then head through the park to Three Rivers. Or is it better just to head to Sequoia first from Fresno (is 99-198 the fastest way?) and just concentrate on Sequoia/Giant Forest, skipping King's Canyon and Grant's Grove.

The bus picks up at different hotel locations in Visalia. As far as backpacking goes, the bus has a lot of leg room and also bike racks for any cyclists. Overall, the cost for a round-trip ticket is pretty reasonable, plus the free shuttles take you to multiple locations when inside the park.

I'am thinking of enrolling my son in a YMCA skate camp at Lake Sequoia. Can someone share experiences they have with YMCA camps. One of the things is that we are not religious. I' am wondering if the 'C' in YMCA is very prominent when you spend time in such a camp. Daniel de Leeuw

I am planning a lengthy backpack trip within the park in August. there will be 4 of us with packs and suitcases flying into Fresno Airport. I'm wondering if there is some shuttle service to transport us from A)airport to Cedar Grove Lodge and then B) from Cedar Grove Lodge to trailhead (Roads End) so that we don't have to leave a rental car sitting for 10 days @30/day!

Help me decide, VT friends! Later this month, we will be leaving Yosemite on a Thursday and have an afternoon flight to catch on the following Sunday. We would like to tour the EASTERN Sierras, especially Mono Lake to Big Pine, but all passes south of Hwy 88 are likely to be closed... making for a long northerly loop via Carson Pass. Another "wanna do" is to see Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs (a couple of days to do it justice?). Is it worth the time & effort, considering March weather, to do either? ...both? What would YOU do, within this limited timeframe? Does anyone have a good grasp on driving times to either locale (from Yosemite)? Thanks in advance!

We will be in California the first week in August,2008. The main things we want to see are the big trees. We won't be able to visit both parks so, which one is best???

Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are staying at the Grand Canyon - (nearest entrance from Las Vegas) and would then like to drive from the Grand Canyon to Sequoia National Park. How long would it likely take to drive? Then from Sequoia, how far is it back to Las Vegas. Thank you in advance.

I'm taking a southern CA trip this summer, but have limited time. I've got my heart set on visiting Death Valley, and was hoping to jump up to Sequoia for a couple of days as well. But mapquest seems to be telling me the the only way to get between the two places is roughly an 8 hour drive, presumably because the mountains on Sequoia's east side are impassable? I'm really hoping there's a solution to this problem. Please let me know. Thanks!

I am finally going to Sequoia! (next weekend). I'll just be able to spend one day in Sequoia, and plan to start in the Giant Forest, then go to Grant Grove. How long will it take to drive between the two locations? Any suggestions on what to see along the way would be greatly appreciated!

We are travelling from San Jose to Las Vegas by car. We plan to stay overnight in Sequoia NP. I then only want a maximum 5 hour drive before stopping again to visit another national park or some other touristy location and stay the night - finishing the trip to Las Vegas on the third day (again wanting a maximum 5 hour drive). Any ideas?

I am planning a trip to Lone Pine, and would like to sojourn in Sequoia as well. What's the best way to get into the park from the east? Yahoo maps has me taking a 6 hour detour...south on 395, and then north on 99.

We live in the UK, and are flying into Las Vegas for 2 weeks, from September 13th. For our 2nd week (as we head back towards Las Vegas from Santa Barbara, we wanted to find somewhere to base ourselves for a couple of days, where we could do some hiking and see some glorious countryside. Is Sequoia N.P. a good choice? If so, where should we stay, and can you recommend a hotel? MANY THANKS David Howard dahowarduk@ntlworld.com

If you were driving from LA to Vegas and had a choice of either seeing Sequoia or Death Valley, which would you choose? Is it reasonable to see Sequoia one day and then Death Valley the next? Seems like it is not a quick route from one park to the other.

How long is the drive likely to take? Are we crazy for driving Las Vegas to Sequoia on day and on to San Francisco the next?

What is the best (quickest) itinerary between Las Vegas and Sequoia Park ? How much time ? Is there a East entrance to the Sequoia Park ?

Where can we stay in Summer : a) Within the Park ? Suggestion ? b) Near the entrance : where ? In Fresno ? Any suggestion would be helpful. Thanks RAY

This tree is known throughout the world. 1/ Is it far from the park entrance ? 2/ Is it possible to reach it by car ? 3/ I read several notices about it and its high seems to change according to the articles, between 87 and 110 meters. Where is the truth ? (though everybody agrees to consider it is the highest tree in the world). Thanks RAY

Does anyone know of a shuttle service that runs between either Visalia or Fresno and Sequoia National Park? My wife and I are planning a hike from the west side of the park to Lone Pine and want to avoid renting a car that will just sit in a parking lot for a week.