Yosemite/Kings/Sequoia for Thanksgiving week
 

My husband and I are thinking of taking our 10 year old son to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia for Thanksgiving week. I'm looking for advice on where to stay, where to go, and what to hike. I really would love tips on how to divide our time.
We are well-traveled, but have never visited California before. We really don't care for crowds and tend to be off the beaten path people. I'm hoping this will be a slower time in the area. Open to suggestions on how to avoid crowds. Thank you!
Also, flights to Vegas are crazy affordable from North Carolina. Is it a terrible waste of time to fly in there and drive?

>>We really don't care for crowds and tend to be off the beaten path people. I'm hoping this will be a slower time in the area.<<

Fall is a GREAT time for both parks -- but that is definitely not a 'slow' time of year and won't be off the beaten path. Being such a major family holiday, both parks but definitely Yosemite will be fully booked up. You would 100% want to stay in Yosemite Valley - the Majestic (Ahwahnee) or Yosemite Valley Lodge (Yosemite Lodge at the Falls). If they are booked up (very very likely) then book at Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal and keep trying for a cancellation at one of the Valley properties. If you are lucky - then you can cancel at Yosemite View.

The roads into the high country and probably Glacier Point will have closed for the season.

In Sequoia you really do want to stay in the Park.

oops -- didn't see this bit >>Also, flights to Vegas are crazy affordable from North Carolina. Is it a terrible waste of time to fly in there and drive?<< bad idea -- especially for Yosemite but for both parks really. At that time of year the only way to get from Vegas to the parks is the very loooong / butt ugly/ boring route via Bakersfield and north up the central Valley. You would do better to fly in to Sacramento, or SFO, or Oakland, or San Jose (or Fresno but fares will likely be very high into FAT)

Butt ugly! :lol:
I know the park will still be busy, but any off the beaten path hikes or things to do in the park? Thinking we'll do yosemite at the beginning of the week since most schools are still in session then move to Sequoia. Is staying at at AirBNB in Yosemite West advised?

Yosemite West would be very good. The only convenient areas would be El Portal, Yosemite West, and Foresta. Any of them would be good and all have vacation rentals - anyplace else 'near the park' would actually be 1 to 2 hours drive from the Valley. You will be able to get away from the crowds easily -- there are trail heads all over but some will depend on the weather and snow/lack there of.

For Sequoia/Kings Canyon -- I'd really want to stay in the park -- one of these. https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/lodging.htm

Thank you! How would you divide your time in the parks that time of year? We arrive to Yosemite 11/17 and will leave from Sequoia 11/24 early morning. We love to hike more that just visiting the overlooks etc.

I was in Yosemite thanksgiving week a few years ago - here's the fodors posting from that trip. Wonderful trip, hardly anybody there. I stayed in a cabin in Curry Village (aka half dome village) and felt like I had the whole place to myself. Weather in the valley was perfect. Glacier point road was closed, so the only way to get there was to hike up.

https://www.fodors.com/community/uni...vember-998136/

I love this! Thank you! Do you feel like you had plenty of time in the park?

I've been there several times so this that 2013 trip was just a "go play" visit since I was in the area. I believe I spent 2 full days/ 2 nights there, and for me that was sufficient to do the big hikes I wanted to do. At that time of year you are not schedule-limited by shuttle buses or crowds, so it's quicker to get around the valley if you're driving so you don't waste time waiting.

If you want to see the Wanona grove of big sequoias or explore some of the high country (if the road is open) then full days is not enough, but for a sampler / intro trip then you can see and enjoy a lot of the best Yosemite in that time.

>>if the road is open<<

It would be unusual if it is open - only eight times in the last 40 years has the road been open the 3rd week in Nov. But there is always a chance.

I would also expect the road to Cedar Grove at the bottom of Kings Canyon to be closed at that time of year. In addition to Wuksachi and Grant Grove/John Muir Lodge, Montecito Sequoia Lodge located along the Generals Highway between the two is open year round https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvis...Imap1_2015.pdf

Thank you! So, should we consider visiting another time or will we still have plenty to do? The whole idea was to avoid crowds.

You will avoid crowds. As far as things to do, this will be weather dependent. November is the start of our rain (snow at higher elevations) season but you could also have beautiful fall weather. I would go and have back up ideas in case the weather isn't cooperating.

Great time of year to visit Yosemite. There will DEFINITELY be cancellations for Thanksgiving at both the Lodge and the "Majestic" (Ahwahnee)--if you can give yourself the treat of the latter. You just need to try online persistently, daily or more. Most cancellations open up in the month before, but they will be happening even now. A good back up is Yosemite View Lodge or "Big Trees Hotel" (the latter is within park boundaries near Mariposa Sequoia Grove, recently renovated in a spectacular way).
Even if Yosemite Valley hotels are full, hiking in the Valley should not be crowded. Getting on the trail early is always a good plan. DH and I go every November earlier in the month (and a couple of other times a year too --it's the home of my heart) and once organized a whole Thanksgiving dinner for 30 (different tables) at the Ahwahnee with great success (that took planning a year in advance.
Just checked website (www.travelyosemite.com don't use others) and there are openings at Yosemite Valley Lodge (middle priced for Friday Sat Sun etc of Thanksgiving weekend). The Valley will be close to empty in early December. My closest friend and I go there in early December every year.

This is so helpful! Thank you!
We're considering doing Yosemite the first half of the week and Sequoia the second half. I'm tempted to stay in Yosemite for Thanksgiving now though!

I lost message just opened. Sequoia has rooms with two beds available thanksgiving week all the way through--yosemite lodge same starting saturday after. you could reserve the now as a backup. cancellations and money back till a week in qdvance.
then just keep trying until you get what you want. sorry for typing, cat sleeping on lap.

I think I'd probably skip Sequoia since you can see the trees inside Yosemite.

Weather may impact what you can see at that time of year, so have some backup plans. Be sure to read up on what happens if it snows. Many rental cars prohibit chains.

Thank you all for your help! A campsite has opened up at Yosemite so we rented an RV. I'm hoping this will give us more time in the park.

What’s the cost of an RV

According to the park website, all roads (Tioga & Glacier Point) are still open. That can change overnight with one heavy snow, but you may be in luck if you're wanting to see those areas.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Thank you! We're coming from Vegas so REALLY hoping the east entrance stays open at least one more week.