I'd love suggestions on the most beautiful and/or efficient route to Sequoia National Park, from Santa Clarita. Also, if anyone knows what sort of lodging one may find just north of Valencia, CA... outside of the city and it's morning traffic jams, that would be super helpful too.

Lodging:

I'll be traveling with family and children (11 & 14), next week, July 18-21. We'll be at Magic Mountain Theme Park, in Valencia, Ca (Santa Clarita) Tuesday night and leaving for Sequoia the fallowing morning. I'm thinking it may be a good idea to drive a bit out of Valencia (north) to find lodging at night after leaving Magic Mountain, rather than just staying right in Valencia, in order to avoid morning traffic jams in the city, as we plan to head up to Sequoia the fallowing morning. I've not been able to find lodging outside of a major city online, but am sure there must be some! Any advice? Lodging suggestions? Insights on morning traffic in Valencia?

Driving Route:

I've heard driving to Sequoia through the San Joaquin Valley is just beautiful.....fruit and vegi farmland for miles! Has anyone made this trip? Would it be more beautiful to take the 65 north to Visalia, then the 198, into Sequoia? Is the 65 still a quick route? Or is it better to go via the 99? Is is better to go clear to Freso, then head towards Sequoia? (We'll be staying in the Grant's Cabins). I've heard that I should avoid the 245 at all costs, as it is a switch back ridden, 15 mph mountain road.

Any thoughts on the trip or Sequoia in general would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Carrie

I don't have answers to your specific questions, but I wanted to chime in about Sequoia itself. We camped there last summer for 4 nights and had a really great time.

I posted a trip report - I will see if I can find it again and bring it to the top so you can read.

Briefly though, the hightlights for us were:

Crystal Cave - a pretty hike down to the mouth of the cave and then a guided tour through it. Really neat.

Giant Forest - there is a visitors center there with a terrific display about the forest. Crescent Meadow is in that area and has a nice, level trail around the perimiter. That was really beatiful with the giant sequoias, the marsh, etc. I don't know if the wildflowers will still be blooming, but they were really pretty when we were there.

Tokopah Falls - this is about 1.5-2 mile hike in from the Lodgepole campground, fairly level with some moderate climbing. The trail goes along the river and is really pretty. The falls themselves are neat too

Hmm, I don't think of the route through the Central Valley as being beautiful, just hot and dry, but I've only taken 99. I'd say try Hwy 65 if you're looking for a more scenic route, it's not supposed to be any longer than 99, it's pretty high speed and it puts you closer to the park once you reach Hwy 198. 65 should have more orchards and such along it, so should be more scenic. Definitely it would be more beautiful in the springtime when the fruit/nut trees are in bloom and the grass is still green.

Lodging:
Driving in a northerly direction from Magic Mountain is not a traffic problem. It will take you about 3 hours to get to Three Rivers from MM - if you are taking Hwy 198 into Sequoia.

The nearest hotel to MM is Hilton Garden Inn, and across the freeway is the Holiday Inn Express. About 3 miles south of MM is the Lyons turnoff on the I-5, and on the west side of the "5" are several hotels. They may be listed under Stevenson Ranch area. The Old Road parallels the freeway from those hotels to MM.

Hwy 198 has 130 curves and 12 switchbacks. The alternative is Hwy 180 from Fresno to Grant Grove.

Castaic - Days Inn in Castaic is about 5 miles north of MM. It will be hot! and plan on having plenty of water with you.

Even though it is a bit longer, I recommend taking 180 rather than 198. The latter is a steep, windy road that is frustrating, especially if you get behind a slow vehicle. 180 makes even more sense because you are staying in Grant cabins, which is right off 180. Take 65 to 180 and you will have a much more leisurely trip. You can then backtrack to Giant Forest,. etc. after reaching Grant cabins.
You will really enjoy Sequoia. The suggestions already given are great and I would add the walks to Tharp Lodge and along the Congress trail.

The drive from Valencia to Sequoia is hot, dry, and lots of bugs on the windshield. Having driven it many times, we take the fastest, most direct route. Visalia and Fresno are just plain icky (sorry to anyone living there - they just aren't vacation destinations) and, in my opinion, the quicker you get through that area and into the Sierra Nevada forest, the happier you will be.