Sequoia National Park
 

Hi everyone

I'm hoping someone can give me some information on the Sequoia National Park.

My partner and I are travelling to the US for a month in September. He tells me he has always dreamed of seeing the tree known as General Sherman (largest living thing in the world apparently).

We are hiring a car in San Francisco and driving down the coast and out to Las Vegas also.

From what I have researched and read, this National Park seems to be extremely far from anything?? Getting directions on the internet I was told it is a good 10 hr drive from Las Vegas.

Can anyone provide me with more information on this National Park, if it is near anything else that is worth seeing along the way.

My partner would be devastated if we didn't go, so I'm trying to plan as much in advance as possible to ensure we have ample time to make this visit.

Thanks in advance!

Unless you have already been there, I wouldn't miss Yosemite. It is approximately a 3 hour drive from Sequoia. I know someone who did a loop from Las Vegas through Death Valley, Sequoia, Yosemite -- they were continuing on through Zion, etc. after but you could continue on to San Francisco (about 4 hours from Yosemite). Or start in San Francisco, down the coast, over to Sequoia and Yosemite -- not sure the best route after that, may have to backtract back down around the mountains). Not sure where you are flying in and out of. There are alot of different ways you can do this trip, especially since you have a month. There is no direct route across the Sierras -- you have to go around the bottom. (or over Tioga Pass which may be closed at that time of year).

You'll get other answers I'm sure, but hopefully this can get you started researching.

<i>From what I have researched and read, this National Park seems to be extremely far from anything?? Getting directions on the internet I was told it is a good 10 hr drive from Las Vegas.</i>

Perhaps this will give you some idea of driving times to other nearby cities:
DISTANCE &amp; TIME to SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK Entrance via Hwy 198 from:

* Visalia - 46 miles—allow 1 hour
* Fresno - 76 miles—allow 1 hour 30 minutes
* Bakersfield - 114 miles—allow 2 hours
* Yosemite NP Wawona Entrance - 138 miles—allow 2 hours 45 minutes
* Los Angeles - 225 miles—allow 3 hours 45 minutes
* Oakland or Sacramento - 250 miles—allow 4 hours 30 minutes
* Death Valley NP West Entrance - 320 miles—allow 6 hours 15 minutes
* Las Vegas - 400 miles—allow 6 hours 30 minutes

For other information on Sequoia as well as Kings Canyon National Park, their web site &lt;http://www.nps.gov/seki/&gt; has a lot of information. Hope this helps some.

IMHO the time estimates given above are not realistic. I'd add 3o minutes or more to each of them.

There is also National Christmas Tree (Grant's tree) in the nearby Kings Canyon.

Sorry can't help with driving, was on a bus tour.