Sequoia National Park Lodging: KÜHL’s Guide on Where to Stay

Sequoia National Park- home to the world’s tallest tree, the mighty “General Sherman,” is a magical location in the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range.

A simple detour through this vast adventure land on your way to or from Yosemite or Death Valley is awe-inspiring. But we recommend setting aside at least two days to truly experience all its sights and sounds. And don’t worry- we’ll help you figure out where to stay in Sequoia National Park. 

Sequoia National Park lodging comes in different forms to suit different people’s needs and budgets. Nature lovers who prefer basing their stay in the middle of nature will appreciate the lodgings and cabins scattered around the park. Sequoia also offers 14 in-park campgrounds, both walk-in tent sites and RV sites.

The two local towns of Three Rivers and Visalia also offer plenty of great places to stay near Sequoia National Park for those looking for an added touch of comfort. Fresno and Bakersfield- the largest cities nearby (about 1 to 2 hours away)- have more lodging and dining options for visitors looking for the best Sequoia National Park hotels. 

Here are our top recommendations for cabins, cottages, campgrounds, resorts, and hotels that offer the best Sequoia Park lodging. 

Key Takeaways 

• You’ll need two to three days to do Sequoia National Park justice. 
• None of Sequoia National Park’s campgrounds has RV hookups. 
• Dispersed camping in Sequoia National Park is allowed only for those hiking with backcountry permits. 
• Bearpaw and Sequoia High Sierra Camps offer the best options for unplugging in luxury

Map

Fivespot Cabin 

• Starting price: $175 - $245 per night (depending on season)
• Closest trail: Redwood Canyon Trailhead, 9.6 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: Art, garden, fully-equipped kitchen, free Wi-Fi, and a sauna

Fivespot Cabin is a wonderfully remote 1940s one-bedroom cabin in a gorgeous setting. Located a short and easy 15-minute drive from Sequoia National Park, Fivespot has extremely nice views from the front porch and at the back, and it’s a great location for some privacy. 

There’s so much that this small cabin has to offer, including a flourishing garden, a small kitchen, a gas bbq, vintage books, board games, a fireplace, walls filled with art, and an outdoor shower with a sauna! 

Fivespot is a great place if you are wondering where to stay near Sequoia National Park with a family. It’s also an ideal location for a couple’s getaway or a personal artist’s retreat to rejuvenate that creative flow. The hosts of this cabin are artists themselves, so it’s worth checking out their store for intricate nature-inspired prints.

Merrynook Cabin 

• Starting price: $175 - $245 per night (depends on season)
• Closest trail: Redwood Canyon Trailhead, 9.6 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: Built in the 1930s, three bedrooms, Wi-Fi and parking available

Merrynook Cabin is the sister cabin of Fivespot. What was once a restaurant serving chicken to hungry loggers in the 1930s is now a stylish and thoughtfully planned holiday home in the Sierra Nevada foothills. 

Merrynook Cabin is just 15 minutes from the Sequoia National Park entrance. Its key highlight is its homey atmosphere, which packs everything you need on a relaxing vacation getaway. We are talking of two full-sized bedrooms, one small bedroom, a spacious kitchen, a living room, a beautiful patio deck with a piano, a green garden, laundry, and more. Add the friendly and super helpful hosts, and it’s clear why this is one of the top-rated Sequoia lodging options.

Grant Grove Cabins 

• Starting price: $120 - $300 per night
• Closest trail: General Grant Tree Trail, 0.8 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: Surrounded by giant Sequoias, close to the General Grant tree

Grant Grove Cabins are a cluster of cabins at Grant Grove Village with excellent proximity to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. The cabins range from modern to rustic, with a few tent-style cabins. All come with basic amenities such as bathrooms, heating, and electricity.

The best part about staying at Grant Grove Cabins is your location within the forest. You’ll be a walking distance of the world-famous General Grant tree. These cabins also put you a short stay away from some of the most fascinating trails in California. Trail highlights include:

• Hiking the North Grove Loop, a quick 1.5-mile hike that travels through gorgeous meadows and flowing creeks. 
• Exploring Buena Vista Peak, an incredible 360-degree view overlooking giant Sequoias. 

Grant Grove Cabins are quite popular, and for a good reason, so book a reservation in advance.

John Muir Lodge 

• Starting price: $210 per night 
• Closest trail: North Grove Loop Trail, 1.4 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: Family-friendly, pet-friendly, 36 guest rooms

John Muir Lodge is a modern, stone-and-timber facility named in honor of John Muir, a Scottish explorer and conservationist known as the “Father of the National Parks.” This lodge comprises 36 natural light-filled guest rooms, each with comforts like Wi-Fi, a bathroom with a shower/tub combination, a flat-screen TV, and a coffee/tea maker. The lodge also has a common room where guests can play games or read books while relaxing by the fireplace. Its public balconies at the west end are another scenic spot to watch the magical Sierra sunset while chatting with fellow guests. 

John Muir Lodge is open seasonally between early April and early October. Its convenient location in Grant Grove Village offers immediate access to most areas of interest in the park, including the Grant Grove visitor center, General Grant tree, and Panoramic Point. The family-friendly General Grant restaurant is a short five-minute walk away.

Cedar Grove Lodge

• Starting price: $178 
• Closest trail: Zumwalt Meadow, 1.5 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: located at Kings Canyon- the least crowded area of Kings and Sequoia National Parks

For those looking for a serene Sequoia National Park lodging away from the buzz in Grant Grove and Wuksachi areas, we give you Cedar Grove.

Open May through mid-October, this is a 1920s-era motel nestled in a glaciated canyon inside Kings Canyon National Park. It consists of 21 rooms: 18 standard rooms with double beds and three patio rooms, each with a queen-size bed and a private patio to kick back after a day of hiking.

The rooms have clean bathrooms with hot showers and free Wi-Fi, and there’s a cafe and a market where you can buy souvenirs and unique gifts. Loungers set right by the river offer a great place to read a book or relax as you listen to the sound of the rolling river, especially in the afternoon.  

Wuksachi Lodge

• Starting price: $272 per night 
• Closest trail: Wuksachi Trail, 3 miles long 
• Water on-site: Yes 
• Highlight: more contemporary hotel in a prime location 

The Wuksachi Lodge is the best Sequoia National Park hotel if your family hopes to experience the mighty sequoias without compromising the comforts of a nice hotel. This is a stone-and-cedar hotel in the middle of a beautiful forest at the Ash Mountain entrance to Sequoia National Park. 

The Wuksachi Lodge comprises four buildings. The main lodge has a lobby with a warm wood stove, a full-service restaurant, and a small gift shop. Then there are three separate buildings that comprise this lodge’s 102 guestrooms. The rooms have an upscale, natural decor and boast all the comforts you’d need for a relaxing experience, including a private bath, a bed with down comforters, satellite TV, and a laptop-friendly workspace. Heating, ceiling fans, a mini-refrigerator, a coffee maker, and daily maid service are other perks that come with every room in this Sequoia National Park lodge.

Montecito Sequoia Lodge

• Starting price: $249 per night (varies depending on the season)
• Closest trail: Big Baldy Trail, 2.2 miles 
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: located on a private lake exclusively for its visitors!

Montecito Sequoia Lodge is an incredibly popular Sequoia lodging option, especially among families because of its location and the ton of activities it offers. The location of this lodge allows you to access any part of the two parks within an hour. In fact, it puts you midway between the General Grant tree in Kings Canyon and the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia Park. But its major highlight is the private lake that turns it into a summer camp. A year-round hot tub, a heated outdoor swimming pool, and staff-led evening activities like archery, riflery, and guided hikes are other attractions to look forward to. 

Montecito Sequoia Lodge has 37 accommodations divided into Family Rooms (four guests), Large Family Rooms (six guests), and Forest Cabins that accommodate 4-6 guests. All the rooms have a private bathroom, except for the Rustic Mountain View cabins, which feature a shared bathhouse. There is free Wi-Fi and a communal TV in the lobby. 

Stony Creek Lodge

• Starting price: $149 per night 
• Closest trail: Stoney Creek Trailhead, 1.1 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: rustic lodge between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks 

Stony Creek is a small rustic lodge within the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Its location makes it one of the best places to stay near Sequoia National Park for visitors who want to explore Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks. 

Stony Creek offers 11 rooms with private bathrooms, a telephone, and an in-room data port. Guests can choose between smaller rooms with a queen size bed or larger rooms with a queen and a twin bed. Large families of up to six people can be accommodated in two rooms with a connecting door.

Meant to offer you a comfortable stay among the sequoias, Stony Creek has a restaurant that serves breakfast and pizza, an outdoor dining patio, an ATM, and a gift shop. Be sure to check out the lovely stony creek just a short walk behind the lodge. 

Sequoia National Park Cabins

• Starting price: $115 - $175 per night
• Closest trail: Salt Creek Falls, 4.8 miles long
• Water on-site: No, bring your own
• Highlight: Great location

The Sequoia Campground boasts ten different cabins that offer everything a typical home would have, plus a prime location in a forest surrounded by ancient trees.

Most cabins are rather small but can easily accommodate two to three people. You’ll have easy access to some of the best trail systems in the national park, which gives you an excellent opportunity to explore and be immersed in nature.

Silver City Mountain Resort

• Starting price: $176 per night
• Closest trail: Eagle Lake Trailhead, 3.4 miles long (one-way)
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: Nestled in a stunningly beautiful remote area

Visitors looking for a more authentic Sierra Nevada experience should look no further than Silver City Mountain Resort. Hidden deep within Sequoia National Park, the drive to this boutique resort is not for the weak-minded. But its location offers a remote getaway where you can get some solitude away from the crowds in other park areas.

Staying at Silver City Mountain Resort also puts you minutes away from Mineral King Valley, one of the wonders of the Sierra Nevadas that epitomize its beauty. 

Silver City Mountain Resort has 16 cabins with kitchens fully stocked with everything from pots and pans to dishes and banking bowls. Other property amenities include free parking, free internet, a coffee shop, and a kids’ outdoor play area with equipment.

The Cabins at Buckeye Tree Lodge

• Starting price: $200 - $300 per night
• Closest trail: Indian Head River Trailhead, 1.7 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: Kaweah River

Less than a mile away from the entrance of Sequoia National Park is the well-established Buckeye Tree Lodge. Directly across the street from the main lodge is a series of beautiful cabins containing a nice mix of modern amenities and rustic cabin life. These cabins are hidden in a dense forest with the flowing waters of Kaweah River a few steps outside your door. 

The Cabins at Buckeye Tree Lodge has ten cabins, ranging from an intimate one-bedroom to a multi-bedroom cabin sleeping up to eight people. The area also includes a wellness studio where you can participate in yoga, receive a relaxing massage and even join a meditation walk along the riverside. They have all the amenities one would need, along with incredible scenery and a prime location.

Sequoia River Cottage 

• Starting price: $250 - $350 per night
• Closest trail: Cobble Knoll Rec. Area, 2 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: River access 

The Sequoia River Cottage is a quaint cottage getaway located directly on the banks of the Kaweah River. The cottage includes two bedrooms, a loft, two bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, a full kitchen, Wi-Fi, and stunning mountain views.

This vacation getaway is located in Three Rivers, a beautiful town with plenty of places to find good food. The drive is only 17 minutes away from the entrance of the Sequoia National Forest and offers all the comfort and privacy you are looking for in a cozy cottage.

Sequoia National Park Glamping

If your idea of “roughing it” is staying in a spacious tent or cabin while being pampered with creature comforts like hot showers, air conditioning, and 5-course dinners, Sequoia National Park offers that too! Glamping in Sequoia National Park will be a bit expensive. But combining the natural splendor of this paradise with the luxuries of a resort is an experience you can’t beat. 

Bearpaw High Sierra Camp 

• Starting price: $350 per night
• Closest trail: High Sierra Trailhead, 11.5 miles long 
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: A full-service canvas tent campground overlooking the Great Western Divide

Bearpaw High Sierra Camp is one of the best places to stay in Sequoia National Park for glamorous campers. Established in 1934, this is a rustic camp dramatically perched at the edge of a precipice. The breathtaking views of the Great Western Divide, particularly during sunrise, are an unparalleled experience of the Bearpaw High Sierra. 

Bearpaw High Sierra Camp comprises six tent cabins, each with two twin beds, hot showers, and a flushing toilet. A team of five cooks rotates to prepare your meals from scratch daily. And thanks to the small number of guests (12 each night), the meals often taste homemade. 

Bearpaw High Sierra Camp typically opens between mid-June and mid-September (weather permitting). The rates are $350 per adult per night. 

Sequoia High Sierra Camp 

• Starting price: $250 per night
• Closest trail: Marvin Pass, 5.9 miles long
• Water on-site: Yes
• Highlight: Enjoy five-course dinners while enjoying beautiful sunsets  

Sequoia High Sierra Camp is a wilderness site deep inside the Kings Canyon National Park at an elevation of 8,282 ft. Reaching this location requires a 13-mile drive from the main highway and a one-mile hike from the nearest parking lot. But once you arrive, the experience is more than a traditional campfire fare. 

After a long day of hiking, it’s time for a hot outdoor shower under the sequoias with a clear view of the skies. Next, join the other guests for a five-course dinner with a selection of wines (or beer) as you watch the sunset. Later, snuggle in a canvas cabin with a cozy bed, a plush mattress, a feather duvet, and woolen blankets.

Top Sequoia Campgrounds 

How about camping in Sequoia National Forest in case hotels, cabins, and lodges are full? Pitching a tent under the giant sequoias and the starry night sky is easily the best way to experience this Sierra paradise. 

Sequoia National Park has seven campgrounds, most of which require reservations. Outside the summer season, some campgrounds, not all, are first-come, first-served.

Sequoia National Parks also allows dispersed camping in most areas only for those backpacking in California. Dispersed camping in Sequoia National Park is free, but you need a backcountry permit. We highly recommend checking out NPS.gov for updates on closed areas for dispersed camping. 

Here is an overview of the best campgrounds in Sequoia National Park:

Lodgepole Campground

Lodgepole is among the most desired Sequoia National Park campgrounds. This pet-friendly campground is located on the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, a quarter mile from Lodgepole Village and about two miles from Giant Forest Grove. 

Lodgepole has 214 campsites designated as tent-only, walk-in sites, RV sites, or mixed-use (tent, trailer, and RV). RV sites can accommodate rigs up to 42 ft long, but there are no hookups. 

Each site has a picnic table, food storage lockers, and a fire ring. The campground has potable water, restrooms with flush toilets, a dump station, and trash and recycling bins. Lodgepole Village nearby has a visitor center, deli, snack bar, grocery store, post office, and shower and laundry facilities. 

Lodgepole Campground typically opens from late April through late November (sorry, winter campers). Sites cost $22 per night. 

Stony Creek Campground 

Heavily shaded and quiet, Stony Creek Campground is centrally located between Sequoia and Kings Canyon Park. It's nestled along the General's Highway, about 25 minutes from either park. This location makes it the perfect location if you want to stay just a few minutes from the attractions and activities of these parks. Plus, Hume Lake is about 18 miles from here for a day of swimming, fishing, non-motorized boating, and OHV-ing. 

There are 50 tent and RV campsites at Stony Creek Campground. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a bear box. The campground also has restrooms with flush toilets and water spigots. There is a public phone, public showers, a restaurant, a grocery store, and a gas station half a mile away at the Stony Creek Resort. 

Stony Creek Campground generally opens in late May and closes around late September. Costs range from $25 to $54. 

Buckeye Flat Campground 

Buckeye Flat Campground is in Sequoia National Park. It's located about seven miles from the entrance and sits on the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River at an elevation of 2800 feet.

Buckeye Flat Campground has 27 tent-only, reservable campsites that accommodate a maximum of six people per site (including children). Only one vehicle is allowed per campsite, but there's an overflow parking lot at the Hospital Rock picnic area barely a mile from here. A picnic table, a fire ring, and a food storage locker are provided for each site. The campground has potable water and vault toilets. 

Buckeye Flat Campground typically opens between late March and late September. The camping fee is $22 per night. 

Final Thoughts 

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are undoubtedly some of the most beautiful places in the United States. And there are many accommodation options after a day of hiking among giant sequoias, wildflowers, and ferns. You can bet on our selection of the best Sequoia National Park hotels, lodges, and campgrounds for a comfortable getaway at the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains.