I need some advice. We are staying in Sedona, AZ for a four days early fall 2025 and want to go to Sequoia National Park as part of this same trip and then head home to the Midwest. I'm debating if it's do-able to drive directly from Sedona to Visalia and stay two nights in Visalia to go to Sequoia National Park or if that would be too brutal. I know it would be around 10 hours of driving. There are no cities along the way that seem appealing to stop. Bakersfield seems rundown or at best boring. My other option was to go to Las Vegas, stay two nights, and then on to Visalia for two nights which adds a lot of expense to the trip. What are your thoughts about going from Sedona to Sequoia National Park in the most pleasant manner possible. I am flexible in the number of days but I hate to waste money staying somewhere that is not really worth the time. For background, we have seen the Red Rocks and Hoover Dam and been to Las Vegas a couple of times.

Welcome to Fodors. We moved your thread from Tech Support to the United States forum and tagged it for California, Nevada and Arizona.

Drive all that way for just one full day in SNP? And then drive some/most/all? of the same route in reverse as you're heading home? Sorry, but I don't see the point for a single day. When, exactly, in "early fall"?

FWIW, I'd rather spend four days in Sequoia and one day in Sedona... And I'd rather stay IN Sequoia than in Visalia

I’m going to suggest a place much closer to Sedona that may be unlike anyplace you’ve been, not a city but a village surrounded by canyon walls, part of the Grand Canyon complex, beautiful hikes with waterfalls, & whether it’s “worth it” will be up to you. My son & I visited 40 years ago & it was possibly our most memorable adventure together.

Supai, Arizona, home of the Havasupai Tribe.

https://theofficialhavasupaitribe.co...out-supai.html

https://www.visitarizona.com/places/cities/supai/

I agree, that’s a long drive for 1 day at Sequoia.

Yes, try to stay in Sequoia NP for at least two days. We were able to rent a cabin and it was wonderful after the day-trippers left in late afternoon. You can wander around the giant trees in relatively peace and quiet.

I tried repeatedly to combine east of the Sierra locations with Sequoia NP, really worked at it, and ultimately it never made sense.

You really need to add Sequoia NP to an existing California holiday. Incidentally that national park burned rather badly recently. Although it has the biggest sequoia, I found the groves at Calaveras Big Trees SP just as impressive but in a less crowded and less steep setting, and less remote (although farther from Arizona).

Welcome to Fodors.

1) No matter what do not stay in Visalia. For Sequoia Either stay inside the park or in Three Rivers.

2) tom_mm is correct -- Sequoia is not a good fit with Sedona (nor with Las Vegas for that matter). Stick to Arizona or stick to California.

3) Another no matter what - driving 10+ hours for one day in Sequoia makes no sense on any level

Is this a road trip (driving cross country from the mid-west and back home again) . . . or are you flying out west and renting a car? If flying, where were you planning to fly home from after Sequoia. LAX is a 4+ hour drive from Sequoia.

I think you can cut a day from Sedona which would give you more time to get to Sequoia. You are right that there really isn't anything memorable to see along the route. If you think you'll be able to make another trip, it would likely be best to save Sequoia for another time.

I’ve never been to Sequoia National Park, but I agree with most of the comments here—driving 10+ hours just for a one-day stay doesn’t seem worth it. Either stay longer or plan to visit another time.

Actually it will be between 9/21-9/23. We probably won't be back to this area again (maybe northern CA but not here) in our lifetime, so I thought we'd try to go.

thank you. That sounds super interesting. I'm not sure we are fit enough for that but I appreciate it.

Can you share why 'not Visalia?' I reserved the Darling Hotel which looks nice.

I think we are not 'fit' enough for the Grand Canyon idea but that sounds cool. I added Sequoia because as a retired couple, I'm not sure we will get back to this area again. Can someone tell me why not Visalia? I reserved the Darling Hotel and that looks nice--and close to the park. Is it dangerous or something? Thank you. for your responses.

'Close to the park' is irrelevant - the park is enormous - over 400,000 acres and with Kings Canyon is almost 800,000 acres.. Visalia ia about an hour from the Visitors center. But that is just the visitors center -- it is well over 2 hours into the main groves / sites. If you can't get into the one of the in-park properties, then Three Rivers would be MUCH more convenient than Visalia.

Why this Park? To see some big trees or to tick a National Park>?

As far as Grand Canyon, most people do no more than stare into the Canyon from the rim after parking nearby or riding a shuttle bus to one of many lookouts. Makes more sense than Sequoia as an addon to Sedona.

For lafe fall in the Sierra Nevada and much of the west, that is some of the worst of fire season (although now seems like it is year round).

I like to recommend Trail of 100 Giants for those who want to see sequoia trees. It is only accessible when there is no snow on the road. We stay in Kernville, Mountain Mesa, or one of the other communities along Lake Isabella. Route 158 cuts across the south end of the Sierra Nevada from Ridgecrest and you don't need to go through Bakersfield.

I thought of this because it’s closest to Arizona and doesn’t require entering the Central Valley. But this is the rock southern bottom of the trees’ natural habitat and I’ve read recent droughts have killed a lot of them. This is from TripAdvisor not my experience.

If the OP is on a road trip the total detour is less than 10x2 hours if going home via I-80. Also there are Sequoias in Northern California, tiny groves either side of I-80, and Calaveras already mentioned is what I would consider Northern California, and I think could be accessible from the eastern slope on the way to Reno in September, through the mts to see the trees then back the same way.

Adding: I’m a tree guy, and the Calaveras trees were just as impressive to me as the ones in the national park. Sequoia NP is remote and a real commitment in time, and I wouldn’t say it was essential to visit these trees unless you want to see the biggest one. That so much of the park burned is a bummer hanging over the visit, although maybe if entering the park from the south this is not as obvious.

https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/st...ay/9710401002/

Trail of 100 Giants fared relatively well.

Thank you, all. In considering your advice, I think this is probably not a good plan to go to Sequoia National Park on this trip. We will focus on AZ. Maybe we will plan a future trip to Sonoma/Napa and drive there then. It looks to be a four hour trip one way from there... not that close either but maybe more to see along the way...or. maybe go to Oregon wine country and see the redwoods. You don't' get a sense of the great expanses out west until you try to plan a car trip out there. Appreciate all of your input.

Good decision. But do note Sequoia NP is more than 4 hours from Napa or Sonoma -- more like 5.5 hours unless you hit traffic through Concord/Walnut Creek/Tracy. Could be longer. If it is to see Sequoias and not specifically ticking off a national park Calaveras Big Trees State Park is much nearer. It is barely 3 hours from Napa to the park.