Escape the city with a private day trip from Los Angeles to the towering trees of Sequoia National Park. Enjoy comfortable, air-conditioned transportation and flexible itineraries tailored to your pace.
Free Cancellation See the General Sherman Tree and Moro Rock on a private day trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park.
Free Cancellation Walk beneath the General Sherman tree on a private full-day trip from Los Angeles into the Giant Forest.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Sequoia National Park — from practical tips to personal highlights.
A day trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park means nine hours on the road and a few hours among the largest trees on Earth. You leave the city early, drive 225 miles north up the Central Valley, and climb 5,000 feet into the Sierra Nevada. Expect tight mountain switchbacks, thin air, and massive red trunks.
A paved half-mile trail leads to a 274-foot giant. It holds 52,508 cubic feet of wood. This is the largest tree on Earth by volume.
You climb 400 concrete steps carved directly into a 6,725-foot granite dome. The summit looks out over the Great Western Divide and the Kaweah River canyon. Go at sunrise to beat the crowds.
This is the largest unlogged sequoia grove in the world. The two-mile Congress Trail loops past the President Tree and dozens of other named giants.
A giant sequoia fell across the Moro Rock road in 1937. Crews cut a car-sized hole straight through the trunk. You can drive or walk right through it.
The Generals Highway climbs sharply from the Ash Mountain entrance. Expect blind corners, steep drop-offs, and tight hairpin turns. RVs and trailers struggle here.
Black bears forage in the meadows and campgrounds. You might see them tearing into logs for insects. Stay at least two city buses away.
Booking a Los Angeles departure means committing to a massive 12-hour travel day. Private tours handle the driving, but you still spend most of your time in a vehicle.
All Los Angeles departures are private day trips. Guides pick you up at your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. You set the pace once inside the park.
The drive takes four hours each way. You cover 225 miles up Interstate 5 and Highway 99 before hitting the mountain roads. Pack snacks and prepare for an early morning start.
The $1,729 tour covers the $35 park entrance fee and bottled water. The $1,300 option covers transportation only. You pay for your own meals on both.
You need moderate fitness. The air is thin above 5,000 feet. Even the paved half-mile trail to the General Sherman Tree requires an uphill return walk.
Temperatures swing wildly between the 1,370-foot foothills and the high-elevation sequoia groves. Bring layers. You need sturdy shoes for the trails.
Both private operators offer full refunds if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Weather can force sudden road closures in winter.
You must store all scented items in provided metal lockers when parking. Black bears frequently break into cars for food. The park issues fines for improper storage.
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| All-Inclusive Private Tour | Transport-Only Private Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 12.5 hours | 12+ hours |
| Group Size | Private (your group only) | Private (your group only) |
| Inclusions | Transport, guide, entrance fees, water | Transport only |
| Price | $1,729 per group | $1,300 per group |
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Sequoia National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can drive through the Ash Mountain entrance at any time.
Visitor centers operate seasonally. The Giant Forest Museum and Foothills Visitor Center generally open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The Kings Canyon Visitor Center closes on Tuesdays.
Winter storms close roads without warning. Mineral King and Cedar Grove shut down entirely from December to May. Check the official park website for daily road conditions before leaving Los Angeles.
The Ash Mountain entrance sits 225 miles from Los Angeles. The drive takes four hours via Interstate 5 North, Highway 99 North, and Highway 198 East.
The final stretch up the Generals Highway is steep and winding. The road climbs thousands of feet through tight switchbacks. Vehicles over 22 feet long should avoid this route.
There are no gas stations inside the park boundaries. Fill your tank in Three Rivers before heading up the mountain.
Go between June and September. All roads and facilities are open. The sequoia groves stay cool while the Central Valley bakes.
April and October bring fewer crowds but risk sudden snowstorms. The foothills have pleasant hiking weather during these months.
Avoid winter unless you have tire chains and accept that high-elevation areas might be inaccessible. Heavy snow blocks the roads to the main sequoia groves frequently between December and March.
A 500-foot paved trail leads directly to the General Sherman Tree. An information board details accessible parking and trail sections.
You can buy food at Lodgepole and Grant Grove. Bear-proof storage lockers line all major parking lots.
Summer shuttles run four color-coded routes around the Giant Forest. They stop at major trailheads, museums, and lodges. Riding the shuttle reduces traffic congestion.
Restrooms sit at major trailheads and visitor centers. Cellular service drops completely once you pass the foothills. Download your maps before leaving Los Angeles.
The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle. Entrance stations do not accept cash. You need a credit card or mobile payment.
It takes about four hours to cover the 225 miles to the Ash Mountain entrance. The drive back adds another four hours. You spend eight hours total in the car.
The $1,729 private tour includes the $35 vehicle entrance fee. The $1,300 transport-only tour requires you to pay at the gate. Bring a credit card, as the park rejects cash at the entrance.
Pack layers. The San Fernando Valley might be hot, but the Giant Forest sits above 6,000 feet and stays much cooler. Wear sturdy walking shoes for the trails.
No. Current options from LA are strictly private tours in cars or SUVs. The distance makes large commercial bus tours impractical for a single day.
Yes. Both private tours drive directly to the Giant Forest. You walk a paved half-mile path to reach the tree.
The Generals Highway features tight hairpin turns and steep drop-offs. Hiring a private driver lets you skip navigating these switchbacks. RVs and trailers frequently get stuck here.
Black bears live throughout the park. You might spot them near the roads or meadows. You must stay at least two city buses away and store all food in metal lockers.
Both Los Angeles tour operators offer a full refund. You must cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled departure time.
Tours do not include meals. You can buy food at the Lodgepole Deli or pack your own snacks in Los Angeles. Eat in the car to maximize your time among the trees.
The main attractions sit between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. You might feel short of breath on the stairs at Moro Rock. Drink the provided bottled water and walk slowly.
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This private tour runs about 4.5 hours north from Los Angeles straight to Sequoia National Park in an air-conditioned vehicle. Free pickup covers your hotel. Entrance fees and bottled water are included. It's roughly nine hours of highway driving in a single day—pack snacks and count on a 6:00 AM start. But the reward is immediate once you reach the trees. You'll walk right up to the General Sherman Tree, the largest living tree on Earth by volume, before driving through the carved-out Tunnel Log down the road. Next is Moro Rock. Its 350-step stone stairway climbs a bare granite dome above the Sierra Nevada range. It's windy at the top. Keep an eye out for marmots and black bears around the meadow clearings. Because this itinerary is fully customizable, you control the pace. If someone in your group hates sheer drop-offs, skip the rock and take an easier meadow walk instead. The drive back gets you to your Los Angeles hotel by evening. Bring a warm layer even in midsummer, as Sierra elevation keeps the groves 20 degrees cooler than the city.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This private day trip takes you directly from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park, roughly a four-hour drive north into the southern Sierra Nevada. You set the pace for the day. Once past the foothills, the road climbs through granite switchbacks into the Giant Forest, where thousands of mature giant sequoias grow along the mountain ridges. The main stop is the General Sherman Tree, measuring 275 feet tall and over 36 feet wide at the base. You'll walk the paved half-mile trail to the trunk, with time to branch off onto quieter dirt paths through the grove or look out over the Great Western Divide. It's a long haul in a car. Leave Los Angeles before 6 a.m. to clear city traffic before the morning rush.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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