Sequoia & Kings Canyon RV Camping: Campgrounds Among the Giants

Standing at the base of General Sherman — the largest tree on Earth by volume — you understand why people haul their rigs up mountain highways to get here. The trunk is 36 feet across. The first major branch, 130 feet up, is nearly seven feet in diameter. The tree was already ancient when the Roman Empire fell. And it is surrounded by thousands of others almost as large, growing in groves so dense the canopy filters the Sierra Nevada sunlight into cathedral shafts.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon are technically two national parks administered as one. Together they protect the southern Sierra Nevada’s most spectacular giant sequoia groves, the granite depths of Kings Canyon (one of the deepest canyons in North America), and over 800,000 acres of wilderness stretching from oak-studded foothills to 14,000-foot alpine peaks. The parks see about 1.9 million visitors per year — substantial but roughly half of Yosemite’s volume, which means the campground scramble is real but not quite as brutal.

The practical challenge for RV campers is that these parks were not designed for big rigs. The Generals Highway between Sequoia’s foothills entrance and the Giant Forest is one of the most restrictive major park roads in the national park system — vehicles over 22 feet are prohibited on key sections. No campground inside either park offers hookups. And for 2026, two popular campgrounds are closed entirely due to storm damage, squeezing available sites even further.

But there are ways to make it work, and this guide covers all of them. From the in-park campgrounds that can handle RVs to the private full-hookup parks in the gateway town of Three Rivers, here is what you need to know to camp among the giants. For a broader look at California options, see our best RV parks in California guide.

What You Need to Know for 2026#

Before you plan your trip, two critical updates that most competitor guides have not caught up with:

Buckeye Flat Campground is closed for the entire 2026 season. The campground sustained extensive damage from the severe winter storms during the 2022-2023 season, and recovery work is still underway. Buckeye Flat was one of the lower-elevation campgrounds along the Kaweah River in Sequoia, popular for its riverside setting and warmer temperatures. It will not accept campers this year.

Dorst Creek Campground is also closed for 2026. Dorst Creek, which normally offered over 200 sites in a forested setting along the Generals Highway between Lodgepole and Grant Grove, has not identified operating dates for this season. Disaster recovery at the site is ongoing.

These closures remove roughly 270 campsites from the parks’ inventory. The practical effect is increased pressure on the remaining campgrounds — particularly Azalea, Lodgepole, and Sunset — during the summer season. Book earlier than you normally would, and have a backup plan that includes the private parks outside the gates.

Generals Highway: The RV Bottleneck#

The single most important thing to understand about RV camping at Sequoia and Kings Canyon is the Generals Highway vehicle restriction. This is not a suggestion — it is a hard limit enforced by the park.

Vehicles longer than 22 feet are not permitted between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum. This section of the Generals Highway was built between 1921 and 1926. It includes steep grades, hairpin switchbacks, a 10 mph speed limit, and road widths that simply cannot accommodate long vehicles. Rangers will turn you around.

For RVs longer than 22 feet, the workaround is to enter via the Kings Canyon entrance (Highway 180 from Fresno) rather than the Sequoia entrance (Highway 198 from Visalia/Three Rivers). Highway 180 is a wider, better-engineered road that reaches the Grant Grove area — home to Azalea and Sunset campgrounds — without the tight switchbacks. From Grant Grove, the Generals Highway heading south toward Giant Forest and Lodgepole is also restricted for vehicles over 22 feet, so big rigs should plan to base at Grant Grove and visit the giant sequoia groves by tow vehicle, shuttle, or unhitched.

Vehicles longer than 24 feet are not advised between the Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha Campground on the lower section of the Generals Highway. If you are heading to Potwisha with anything larger, proceed with extreme caution.

The bottom line: if you drive a Class A motorhome or tow a large trailer, your campground options inside the parks are essentially Azalea and Sunset in the Grant Grove area, accessed via Highway 180. Accept that limitation early and your trip planning gets much simpler.

In-Park Campgrounds#

None of the campgrounds inside Sequoia or Kings Canyon offer hookups — no water, no electric, no sewer connections. Every site is dry camping. This is standard for NPS campgrounds in the Sierra Nevada, and it means you will rely on your freshwater tank, battery bank or generator, and holding tanks for the duration of your stay. Dump stations exist but are limited (more on that below).

Campsite fees across the parks are $32 per night for 2026. Reservation windows vary by campground. Azalea uses a four-month rolling window during its reservable season, so confirm the live Recreation.gov calendar rather than applying one release rule across both parks.

Azalea Campground (Kings Canyon)Park details →#

Azalea is the campground many RVers should target: it is open year-round, reached via Highway 180, and has one unusually long RV record. Site 93 can accommodate an RV up to 47 feet, while the campground trailer ceiling is 30 feet. Other pads can be shorter, so the individual record—not the campground headline—controls.

The campground sits at 6,500 feet elevation in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon, surrounded by a mixed conifer forest of sequoias, sugar pines, and white firs. The 110 sites are spread across several loops, each with a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and a bear-proof metal food storage box. Flush toilets and potable water are available throughout. There are no showers.

During the main May-through-October season, sites use a four-month rolling reservation window. From November through April, the campground shifts to one 20-site first-come, first-served loop paid through Recreation.gov Scan & Pay. Install the app before arrival because cell service is limited.

Generator hours are 9 AM to 9 PM. The Grant Grove Village — with a restaurant, gift shop, market, and visitor center — is a short drive from the campground.

• Sites: 110
• Max RV length: 47 feet at site 93; site-specific elsewhere; trailers max 30 feet
• Hookups: None
• Cost: $32/night
• Season: Year-round (reduced sites Nov-Apr, first-come first-served)
• Reservation: Four-month rolling window in the main season; FCFS/Scan & Pay in winter
• Elevation: 6,500 feet
• Dump station: No on-site (nearest at Princess Campground on Hwy 180, summer only)
• Access: Highway 180 from Fresno — suitable for large RVs

Big rig strategy: Azalea is the in-park option to investigate. Use Highway 180 and the Kings Canyon entrance, then confirm the live road conditions and the exact site’s equipment record. Park the rig and explore Giant Forest, Moro Rock, and the General Sherman Tree by a smaller vehicle or current shuttle service. Do not take a long rig south on the restricted Generals Highway segment.

For the exact $32 fee, site 93 caveat, bear-locker dimensions, cancellation rules and winter payment workflow, read our full Azalea Campground guide.

Sunset Campground (Kings Canyon)Park details →#

Sunset sits adjacent to Azalea in the Grant Grove area, sharing the same 6,500-foot elevation and Highway 180 access. It is the larger of the two Grant Grove campgrounds with 158 sites, but it operates seasonally — typically late May through September.

The campground occupies a forested setting similar to Azalea, with sites spread among tall conifers. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and food storage box. Flush toilets and potable water are available. The maximum RV length is 30 feet — more restrictive than Azalea, which makes this campground better suited to smaller Class C motorhomes, van conversions, and travel trailers.

Sunset also has two group sites (A and B), each accommodating up to 30 people and five vehicles. No RVs or trailers are allowed in the group sites.

With Dorst Creek closed for 2026, Sunset will absorb some of the displaced summer demand. Expect competition for sites to be tighter than usual, particularly on weekends from June through August.

• Sites: 158 (individual) + 2 group
• Max RV length: 30 feet
• Hookups: None
• Cost: $32/night
• Season: Late May through September (approximate)
• Reservation: Recreation.gov
• Elevation: 6,500 feet
• Dump station: No on-site
• Access: Highway 180 from Fresno

Potwisha Campground (Sequoia)Park details →#

Potwisha is the lowest-elevation campground in the parks, sitting at roughly 2,100 feet in the oak-and-chaparral foothills zone along the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. That low elevation is both its appeal and its limitation. The warmer temperatures make Potwisha comfortable for camping in early spring and late fall when the higher campgrounds are buried in snow or closed. But the 24-foot maximum RV length and the narrow approach road mean this campground is for small rigs only.

The campground has 40 sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and food storage box. Flush toilets and potable water are available. The setting is river-adjacent, with the sound of the Kaweah providing a constant backdrop. Swimming holes downstream are popular in warm weather.

Potwisha is one of two year-round campgrounds in the parks (along with Azalea) and the only campground with a dump station. That dump station serves the entire Sequoia side of the parks — a critical detail if you are dry camping anywhere on the Sequoia side and need to empty your holding tanks.

Reservations are required year-round through Recreation.gov.

• Sites: 40
• Max RV length: 24 feet
• Hookups: None
• Cost: $32/night
• Season: Year-round
• Reservation: Recreation.gov (required year-round)
• Elevation: ~2,100 feet
• Dump station: Yes — the only dump station on the Sequoia side of the parks
• Access: Highway 198 from Three Rivers — vehicles over 24 feet not advised

Dump station note: If you are camping at Azalea or Sunset on the Kings Canyon side, the nearest dump station is at Princess Campground on Highway 180 (summer only) or Potwisha on the Sequoia side. Plan your dump runs accordingly — in winter, Potwisha’s dump station may be your only in-park option.

Sheep Creek Campground (Kings Canyon)Park details →#

Sheep Creek is the campground you drive to when you want to go deep. It sits in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon, at the bottom of the canyon along the South Fork of the Kings River — a place where granite walls rise thousands of feet on either side and the scale of the landscape overwhelms everything else.

Getting there requires driving Highway 180 past Grant Grove and down into the canyon, a winding 30-mile descent that drops from 6,500 feet to about 4,600 feet. The road is steep with tight curves and is closed in winter. Cedar Grove typically opens in late April or May and closes in mid-November when the first significant snowfall shuts down the road.

Sheep Creek has 111 sites on paved loop roads with fire rings, picnic tables, and bear-proof food storage boxes. Five comfort stations with flush toilets, dish-washing sinks, and drinking water serve the campground. The maximum RV length varies by site, but the road and campground loops can accommodate rigs up to approximately 30 feet. Larger rigs should check specific site details on Recreation.gov before booking.

The Cedar Grove Village, a quarter mile from the campground, has a small convenience store, snack bar, gift shop, coin-operated showers and laundry, and a lodge. This is the most services you will find at any campground in the parks’ backcountry.

• Sites: 111
• Max RV length: ~30 feet (check individual site listings)
• Hookups: None
• Cost: $32/night
• Season: Late May through October (road dependent)
• Reservation: Recreation.gov
• Elevation: ~4,600 feet
• Dump station: No on-site
• Access: Highway 180 through Grant Grove, then 30 miles into Kings Canyon — suitable for moderate-length RVs but demanding drive
• Showers/laundry: Available at Cedar Grove Village (coin-operated)

Canyon experience: Sheep Creek is worth the drive if you want the most dramatic scenery in either park. Roaring River Falls, Zumwalt Meadow, and Roads End trailhead are all within a few miles. But the access road commits you — there is no loop, so you drive in and drive back out the same way. Allow extra time and fuel for the round trip from Grant Grove.

Lodgepole Campground (Sequoia)Park details →#

Lodgepole is the largest campground on the Sequoia side with 214 sites in summer, located at 6,700 feet along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. It is the closest campground to the General Sherman Tree and the Giant Forest — the primary destinations for most Sequoia visitors.

The catch for RVers is access. Lodgepole sits along the Generals Highway south of the 22-foot vehicle restriction zone. If your rig exceeds 22 feet, you cannot reach Lodgepole from the Sequoia (southern) entrance. You would need to enter via Highway 180 through Kings Canyon and drive south on the Generals Highway — but that same 22-foot restriction applies to sections heading south from Grant Grove toward Giant Forest. In practice, Lodgepole is accessible only to RVs under 22 feet.

Tentatively open June 15 through December 1 for 2026, with reservations through Recreation.gov at $32 per night. The Lodgepole Village has a market, deli, and gift shop. Showers and laundry are available nearby.

• Sites: 214 (summer); 16 walk-in tent sites plus limited RV sites in spring/fall
• Max RV length: 22 feet (due to road restrictions, not campground design)
• Hookups: None
• Cost: $32/night
• Season: Tentatively June 15 through December 1, 2026
• Reservation: Recreation.gov
• Elevation: 6,700 feet

Quick Comparison Table#

Campground	Sites	Max RV Length	Cost/Night	Season (2026)	Reservable	Elevation
Azalea	110	Site 93: 47-ft RV; trailers 30 ft	$32	Year-round	Yes (May-Oct); FCFS winter	6,500 ft
Sunset	158	30 ft	$32	Late May - Sep	Yes	6,500 ft
Potwisha	40	24 ft	$32	Year-round	Yes	2,100 ft
Sheep Creek	111	~30 ft	$32	Late May - Oct	Yes	4,600 ft
Lodgepole	214	22 ft (road limit)	$32	Jun 15 - Dec 1	Yes	6,700 ft
Buckeye Flat	—	—	—	CLOSED 2026	—	—
Dorst Creek	—	—	—	CLOSED 2026	—	—
Sequoia RV Ranch	56	No limit	~$55-90	Year-round	Yes	1,000 ft

Private Parks: Three Rivers and the Gateway Towns#

The gateway town of Three Rivers sits along Highway 198, strung out along the Kaweah River in the Sierra Nevada foothills about 7 miles from the Ash Mountain entrance to Sequoia. It is a small town — population around 2,000 — with a general store, a handful of restaurants, a gas station, and the private RV parks that provide the full hookups the national park cannot.

Sequoia RV RanchPark details →#

Sequoia RV Ranch is the primary full-hookup option for RVers visiting the parks. The property sits on 8 acres along the North Fork of the Kaweah River, about 8 miles from the Sequoia National Park entrance. It is open year-round and offers what the national park campgrounds do not: water, electric (30/50 amp), and sewer at your site.

The ranch has 56 sites spread across a mix of full-hookup pull-throughs, back-in sites, water-and-electric-only spots, and dry camping areas under oak trees. The riverside sites are the most desirable — the Kaweah runs through the property, and several sites sit directly above the water. Spring-fed swimming holes and fishing spots are on the grounds.

Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Some premium sites include small wooden decks. WiFi, cable TV, laundry facilities (two washers, two dryers), and a dog park area are available. The overall feel is rustic-comfortable rather than resort-polished — think shaded sites along a mountain river rather than a concrete-pad mega-park.

Rates vary by site type and season, generally ranging from $55 to $90 per night for full-hookup sites. Riverside and pull-through sites command the premium.

• Hookups: Full (water, electric 30/50 amp, sewer) on most sites
• Sites: 56
• Max RV length: No restriction (pull-through sites accommodate large rigs)
• Cost: ~$55-90/night depending on site and season
• Season: Year-round
• Amenities: WiFi, cable TV, laundry, fire pits, swimming holes, fishing, dog park
• Distance to park: ~8 miles to Ash Mountain entrance
• Reservation: sequoiarvranch.com or call (559) 561-4333

Base camp strategy: For rigs over 22 feet, Sequoia RV Ranch is the practical answer. Park your rig at the ranch, enjoy full hookups and river access, and drive into the park each day with your tow vehicle. The 8-mile drive to the park entrance takes about 15 minutes. You avoid the Generals Highway restrictions entirely while still having easy access to the Giant Forest.

Other Three Rivers Options#

Sequoia Campground & Lodge offers a mix of RV sites and cabin rentals along the Kaweah River. Some sites have partial hookups. The property is smaller and more rustic than Sequoia RV Ranch but occupies a beautiful riverside setting.

Three Rivers Hideaway provides additional RV camping in the Three Rivers corridor. Check current availability and hookup status directly, as smaller properties in this area change their offerings seasonally.

For RVers willing to drive a bit further, Lemon Cove / Woodlake to the west on Highway 198 and the Fresno area to the northwest offer additional RV parks and big-box store resupply options. Fresno is the nearest full-service city, about 55 miles from the Big Stump entrance to Kings Canyon via Highway 180.

Planning Your Trip#

When to Go#

The parks span an enormous elevation range — from 1,700 feet at the Foothills Visitor Center to over 14,000 feet at the summit of Mount Whitney — and the camping season varies dramatically by elevation.

April through May: Potwisha and Azalea (winter sites) are open. The foothills zone is green and wildflower-studded. Higher elevations may still have snow. Seasonal campgrounds and the Cedar Grove road are typically closed until late May. This is a good shoulder season for small rigs at Potwisha or early-season visitors at Azalea.

June through September: All operating campgrounds are open (minus the 2026 closures). This is peak season. Daytime temperatures at Grant Grove (6,500 feet) run in the 70s and 80s. Potwisha at 2,100 feet can hit 100 degrees in July and August. Reservations are essential — weekend sites at Azalea and Sunset book within minutes of the window opening. The free shuttle to Giant Forest runs during summer, which is how big-rig campers at Azalea should access the sequoia groves.

October through November: The crowds thin. Fall color arrives in the sequoia groves and Cedar Grove. Sheep Creek closes for the season (road closure). Lodgepole transitions to limited winter operations. Azalea and Potwisha remain open. October is arguably the best month for RV camping — comfortable temperatures, smaller crowds, and golden light in the groves.

December through March: Winter. Azalea operates with 20 first-come, first-served sites. Potwisha stays open at low elevation. Snow is common at 6,500 feet and above, and chains may be required on the Generals Highway. The parks are quiet and beautiful in snow, but services are minimal.

Reservation Strategy#

Reservation windows differ by campground. Azalea’s main May 20–October 31 season uses a four-month rolling window on Recreation.gov; its 20-site winter loop is first-come, first-served and paid through Scan & Pay. Check the specific campground’s live calendar instead of applying one release rule to the entire park.

For 2026 specifically, the closure of Buckeye Flat and Dorst Creek means roughly 270 fewer campsites during summer. Competition for remaining inventory, including Azalea’s limited long-RV records, will be fiercer than normal. Tips:

• Be logged into Recreation.gov and on the campground page before 7:00 AM PT on opening day
• Have your dates and preferred sites pre-selected
• Midweek arrivals (Tuesday-Thursday) are significantly easier to book than weekends
• Check for cancellations regularly — the system releases cancelled sites back into inventory
• September and October dates are less competitive than June through August

Entrance Fees#

The vehicle entrance fee is $35, valid for seven consecutive days at both Sequoia and Kings Canyon. The park is cashless at the entrance gate — have a credit or debit card ready. An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS sites and pays for itself in three visits.

Supplies and Services#

Fuel: Fill up in Three Rivers or Fresno before entering the park. There are no gas stations inside either park. Three Rivers has one gas station with California-premium pricing. Fresno offers standard pricing and is the last chance for cheap diesel.

Groceries: The Grant Grove and Lodgepole Village markets carry basic supplies at elevated prices. Stock up in Fresno or Visalia for a full resupply. Three Rivers has a small general store adequate for forgotten items but not a full grocery run.

Dump stations: Potwisha (Sequoia side, year-round) and Princess Campground on Highway 180 (summer only) are the only in-park dump stations for 2026, with Dorst Creek closed. Plan your dump runs carefully if you are dry camping for multiple days.

Cell service: Spotty throughout both parks. You may get a weak signal at Grant Grove Village and Lodgepole. Cedar Grove is essentially a dead zone. Download offline maps and communicate your itinerary to someone outside the park before heading in.

Propane: Not available inside the parks. Fill before you arrive. Three Rivers has limited propane availability — Fresno or Visalia is a safer bet.

What to See With Your Rig Parked#

Once your RV is set up at camp, the parks offer enough to fill a week without running out of things to do.

General Sherman Tree and the Giant Forest — The largest tree on Earth (by volume) and the surrounding grove of massive sequoias. Accessible from Grant Grove via the free summer shuttle or by tow vehicle. The Congress Trail is a paved 2-mile loop through some of the largest trees in the world.

General Grant Tree — The third-largest tree on Earth, located in Grant Grove a short walk from the Azalea/Sunset campground area. This is the most convenient major attraction for RVers based at Grant Grove.

Moro Rock — A granite dome with a stairway to a panoramic summit view of the Great Western Divide. Short but steep climb (300 stairs). Located in the Giant Forest area, accessible by shuttle or tow vehicle.

Kings Canyon Scenic Byway — The 30-mile drive from Grant Grove down into Cedar Grove is one of the most dramatic canyon drives in the Sierra. If your rig fits (under 30 feet recommended), Sheep Creek campground at the bottom puts you in the heart of the canyon.

Crystal Cave — A marble cave with guided tours, located off the Generals Highway. Advance tickets required. Not accessible to vehicles over 22 feet on the approach road.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Can I take a large RV into Sequoia National Park?#

You can enter via Highway 180 and the Kings Canyon entrance, but the exact site and road segment still control. NPS advises vehicles over 22 feet against the Generals Highway between Potwisha and Giant Forest. At Azalea, site 93 has a published 47-foot RV record while trailers are capped at 30 feet; other pads can be shorter. Park the rig and use a smaller vehicle for restricted roads.

Are there any full-hookup campgrounds inside the parks?#

No. Every campground inside Sequoia and Kings Canyon is dry camping only — no water, electric, or sewer connections at any site. For full hookups, you need to stay outside the parks at a private campground like Sequoia RV Ranch in Three Rivers.

Where can I dump my RV tanks in the parks?#

Potwisha Campground has the only dump station on the Sequoia side of the parks. On the Kings Canyon side, Princess Campground on Highway 180 has a dump station that operates during summer only. With Dorst Creek closed for 2026, these are your only in-park options.

How far in advance should I book campground reservations?#

As soon as the campground’s own booking window opens. Azalea uses a four-month rolling window for the main season, so calculate the opening date from your arrival and watch Recreation.gov. Its November–April loop is first-come, first-served. The 2026 closures of Buckeye Flat and Dorst Creek make a backup site especially important.

Is Sequoia or Kings Canyon better for RV camping?#

Kings Canyon offers the approach most large-RV travelers should investigate. NPS directs vehicles over 22 feet toward the Highway 180 entrance. Azalea’s site 93 has a 47-foot RV record and the campground trailer limit is 30 feet, but other sites are shorter. Compare the exact equipment record before treating any campground as a large-rig fit.

What is the best campground for big rigs?#

Azalea Campground is the in-park option to investigate first. Site 93 has a published 47-foot RV record, trailers are capped at 30 feet, and other pads can be shorter. Use Highway 180 and the Kings Canyon entrance, then verify current road conditions and the exact site before bringing a long rig.

Can I see the giant sequoias if I camp at Grant Grove?#

Yes. The General Grant Tree is within walking distance of the Grant Grove campground area. For Giant Forest, verify the current shuttle and road plan; NPS tells vehicles over 22 feet to use Highway 180 for Lodgepole and Giant Forest rather than the winding Highway 198 foothills approach.

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Sequoia and Kings Canyon reward campers who do their homework. Site-specific equipment limits, no in-park hookups and mountain-road guidance create real constraints. Match the route to the rig, bring enough water and propane, and book early.

For the direct decision guide, read Yosemite vs Sequoia for RV camping. For a complete overview across the state, check the best RV parks in California.