Where to Stay Near Sequoia National Park

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Are you trying to figure out where to stay in Sequoia National Park? With only a handful of lodges inside the park and several small gateway towns nearby, choosing the right base can make a huge difference to your trip.

When Dave and I visited Sequoia, one of my biggest struggles was figuring out how to stay outside the park but still close enough to come and go easily. On a map everything looks close, but the winding mountain roads mean you can accidentally book accommodation hours away from the main attractions.

In the end, I was so unorganised that I didn’t book anything and we were forced to camp in a mosquito ridden dispersed camping area. We survived but next time I would definitely prefer to camp at a proper campsite or stay at one of the lodges inside the park.

To help you avoid my mistake…

This guide breaks down the best places to stay in Sequoia National Park, including both lodges inside the park and nearby towns outside the park. I’ve also included some camping option for anyone travelling on a budget or planning to sleep under the stars.

Girl standing in the middle of Sequoia Trees

Wuksachi Lodge: $300- $350 a night (right next to the main sights in the park)

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Montecito Sequoia Lodge: $100 – $350 a night (in between Kings Canyon and Sequoia)

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Comfort Inn: $125 – $150 a night (1 hour from General Sherman)

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AutoCamp Sequoia: $300 – $600 a night (the most unique stay)

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My top picks for hotels in Sequoia National Park

My Top Pick for First-Time Visitors

Wuksachi Lodge

Type of accommodation: Large lodge in the middle of Sequoia National Park
Location: 8 minute drive from General Sherman
Cost: $300 – $350 a night

Book the Wuksachi Lodge

Staying Inside Sequoia National Park

Table of Contents

✔ Pros of Staying inside the park

Wake up surrounded by Giant Sequoia Trees and the sounds of birds
You have easy and fast access to the most popular spots which means you can get there before the crowds
Perfect for sunrise and sunset explorers (like Dave and I)!

❌ Cons of Staying inside the park

You need to be extra organised because places inside the park book out super early, especially for the Summer months.
There are fewer amenities such as restaurants, grocery stores and limited wi-fi.

Best lodges & cabins inside Sequoia National Park

Wuksachi Lodge (near the Giant Forest)

Name: Wuksachi Lodge
Type of accommodation: Large lodge in the middle of Sequoia National Park
Location: 8 minute drive from General Sherman
Cost: $300 – $350 a night

The Wuksachi Lodge is the main lodge inside Sequoia National Park and is only an 8 minute drive from General Sherman. It’s pet friendly, has an onsite restaurant and limited wi-fi available. It looks absolutely stunning, with panorama views.

This is definitely where we will be staying next time we visit Sequoia National Park.

Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park — Credit: Wuksachi Lodge (via Expedia)

Montecito Sequoia Lodge (about a 40 minute drive from General Sherman)

Name: Montecito Sequoia Lodge
Type of accommodation: Lodge set next to a lake
Location: 40 minute drive from General Sherman / 20 minutes to Kings Canyon Visitor Centre
Cost: $100 – $350 a night

The Montecito Sequoia Lodge is a bit further away from the main attractions in Sequoia National Park but technically still inside the park. If you are planning on exploring both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, this is one is perfect because it is in between the two.

This lodge includes a daily breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet and has a seasonal outdoor pool, a 24-hour snack bar and tennis and basketball courts.

Campgrounds in Sequoia National Park

There are 14 campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The closest one to the General Sherman Parking lot is Lodgepole. It is only a 6 minute drive. The campground is typically open May through November. Reservations can be made up to four months in advance. All sites are reservation only through the national parks website.

The next closest campground is Dorst Creek Campground, which is a 22 minute drive from the General Sherman parking lot.

Staying Outside Sequoia National Park

✔ Pros of Staying outside the park

More dining options
Often cheaper than staying in the park (unless you are camping of course)

❌ Cons of Staying outside the park

You have quite the drive to get into and out of the park each day. (30-90 minutes to the most popular spots)
Three Rivers (which is the closest town to Sequoia) can get extremely hot in the Summer.

Where to stay outside Sequoia National Park

Comfort Inn & Suites Sequoia / Kings Canyon

Name: Comfort Inn & Suites Sequoia / Kings Canyon
Type of accommodation: Hotel
Location: 1 hour drive from General Sherman
Cost: $125 – $150 a night

Located about 1 hour from the General Sherman parking lot, the Comfort Inn is a solid choice for a comfortable and clean room with an outdoor pool to cool off in at the end of your day of adventures. If I were planning on saving some money on accommodation, I would stay here.

AutoCamp Sequoia

Name: Autocamp Sequoia
Type of accommodation: Beautiful Glamping Accomodation
Location: 1 hour drive from General Sherman
Cost: $300 – $600 a night

Don’t let the name fool you. The Autocamp Sequoia is BEAUTIFUL! It is also located in Three Rivers so is around a 1 hour drive to get to General Sherman and the other main attractions in the park. This place is the definition of glamping at its finest.

You can choose to stay in either an airstream, a beautiful renovated cabin or a gorgeous glamping tent. It also has a lovely swimming pool area for cooling off on those hot summer days.

Our Thoughts

If it is your first time visiting Sequoia National Park and you want to spend as much time in the park seeing the sights as possible, I would definitely recommend booking the Wuksachi Lodge.

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