Yosemite, Kings Canyon & Sequoia
Nine days with two full Yosemite days, a transfer day, giant-tree districts and a flexible final day.
Use this trip →Gateways: Fresno round trip; choose Yosemite-area lodging, then Grant Grove and Giant Forest / Three Rivers bases.
Seasonal planning: Best treated as an open-road late-spring to autumn trip. Snow, chain controls, wildfire impacts and Generals Highway access can change the entire route; Tioga Road is not needed.
9 days from arrival to departure · 8 nights. Arrival and transfer days are included in the schedule below. Reviewed 2026-10-18.
Travel ranges are editorial estimates before major delays. Confirm the route between your actual overnight addresses. Airport transfers need rental return and airline check-in buffers.
Numbered stops match your list. Overview locations are not entrances; select access points below. No driving route is drawn.
From arrival to departure.
Day 1. Arrive and approach Yosemite
Travel: Fresno airport → Yosemite Valley: allow 2.5–3.5 hours driving, plus rental pickup and stops.
Check your actual lodging address; El Portal and Wawona require different approaches. A late arrival is for settling in.
Day 2. Yosemite Valley highlights
Travel: Follow the Yosemite one-day guide; gateway commute additional.
Group Tunnel View, Lower Yosemite Fall and a meadow picnic without adding a summit hike.
Day 3. Eastern Valley or Glacier Point
Travel: Valley transport, or 2–3 hours return driving for Glacier Point.
Choose the Mirror Lake day or the Glacier Point day when its road is open. Choose one; preserve downtime.
Day 4. Transfer south to Grant Grove
Travel: Yosemite Valley → Grant Grove via Fresno: allow 4–5.5 hours driving before stops.
Use the west-side road network, not a line across the mountains. Make this a travel and groceries day.
Day 5. Grant Grove district
Travel: Allow 30–60 minutes of local driving before stops.
Explore the General Grant Tree area on open maintained routes. Add an optional open overlook; do not assume a drive into Cedar Grove is available.
Day 6. Move to the Giant Forest district
Travel: Grant Grove → Giant Forest: allow 1.5–2.5 hours via Generals Highway when open, plus stops.
Visit the Giant Forest Museum area if time permits. Check vehicle-length restrictions, road status and your lodging approach.
Day 7. Giant Forest at a comfortable pace
Travel: Allow local driving or seasonal shuttle time, plus a Three Rivers commute if applicable.
Choose an open General Sherman Tree approach and a bounded giant-tree walk. The standard approach has a climb back out; verify accessible parking / routes separately.
Day 8. A flexible Sequoia day
Travel: Choose one nearby district rather than repeating the whole highway.
Use this for a weather-delayed tree visit, a short ranger-led outing if offered, or a rest day. Moro Rock and cave tours are not assumed.
Day 9. Return to Fresno and depart
Travel: Three Rivers → Fresno airport: allow 1.5–2 hours; Giant Forest → Fresno: allow 2.5–3.5 hours, before airport buffer.
Use your real lodging address to plan the airport transfer. Move to Fresno the previous evening for an early flight.
Have fewer days?
With six days, choose Yosemite plus one southern tree district. Remove the flexible day and one park base rather than trying to cover every road.
Official route and access sources
The parks along the way.
Yosemite
3 nights · No separate transfer day · Suggested base: Yosemite Valley / nearby gateways
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
Official park information ↗Seasonal access & reservations
Tioga Road and east-side access Dates vary
Tioga Road usually closes for winter. Opening depends on snow and plowing; historical dates are not a forecast. Verify the crossing before booking an east-side base.
Before you go: Verify Tioga Road for your actual travel dates.
Official guidance ↗ Reviewed 2026-10-19Glacier Point Road seasonal access Typical seasonal pattern
Vehicle access is seasonal and depends on snow and road work. Check the official update before including a drive to Glacier Point.
Official guidance ↗ Reviewed 2026-10-19Selected guidance only; separate from climate comfort and current conditions.
Kings Canyon
2 nights · No separate transfer day · Suggested base: Grant Grove / Cedar Grove
Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees exemplify the diversity of landscapes, life, and beauty here. Explore these pages to plan your visit or to learn about the plants and animals here and the threats they face. Ancient giant sequoias may seem invincible, but they, too are vulnerable.
Official park information ↗Seasonal access & reservations
Mountain road and chain requirements Dates vary
Review each road segment and the dated chain restrictions before choosing an entrance or lodging base. Open lower roads do not establish access to higher districts.
Before you go: Check road access and vehicle chain requirements.
Official guidance ↗ Reviewed 2026-10-19Selected guidance only; separate from climate comfort and current conditions.
Sequoia
3 nights · No separate transfer day · Suggested base: Three Rivers / park lodging
Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees exemplify the diversity of landscapes, life, and beauty here. Explore these pages to plan your visit or to learn about the plants and animals here and the threats they face. Ancient giant sequoias may seem invincible, but they, too are vulnerable.
Official park information ↗Seasonal access & reservations
Mountain road and chain requirements Dates vary
Review each road segment and the dated chain restrictions before choosing an entrance or lodging base. Open lower roads do not establish access to higher districts.
Before you go: Check road access and vehicle chain requirements.
Official guidance ↗ Reviewed 2026-10-19Selected guidance only; separate from climate comfort and current conditions.