Would March be an o.k. time to visit Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP, and Yosemite on a drive from Palm Springs to San Francisco?

I gather Kings Canyon Scenic Byway will be closed.

Where would be a good place to stay for visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon?

March is typically the heaviest snow month in Sequoia/Kings Canyon. If you are interested in winter activities then it would be a great time to go, however be advised that the road that runs between the two parks will most likely be closed, as will the road that goes down into Kings Canyon itself. You should still be able to get to Giant Forest via Highway 198, and the Grant Grove area can still be accessed via Highway 180.

On the other hand, the weather this year has been anything but normal so anything is possible. There is a lot of snow in the parks at the moment due to the recent winter storms that have come through, but prior to that there wasn't much at all. After receiving some snow back in December there was a big heat wave that came through where temperatures were high enough to melt most of it off. If you do plan on visiting the parks, call the National Park Service at 559-565-3341 ext. 941 to check current road and weather conditions.

I have not been there that time of year, but due to elevation, March is still winter in Sequoia. The park web site says that the Generals Highway is open, except when the snow is heavy and they haven't plowed yet. I bet it would be pretty, but be prepared for winter conditions.

Check out the Sequoia-Montecito Lodge. ***kim***

Thank you for the warning about snow and road conditions. We will look forward to these National Parks later in the year.

HTTY

We went to Sequoia in mid-July a few years back and it was lovely. I think it would have been better a couple weeks earlier because the wildflowers were on their way out for the season - still quite a few to be seen, but they were looking a little tired.