Best Cabin Camping near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, CA

Amazing views all around the campgrounds. If you want to get of away from the city this is the place to be...Love it.

Lodgepole Campground itself is located in the beautiful Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in the central California region next to the amazing Sierra Nevada. Lodgepole is near the Kaweah River.

The Giant Sequoia Forest it's a thing of beauty and the famous General Sherman Tree - the world's largest tree is an incredible experience to see up close.

We went to the Lodgepole Campground-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and stayed for 3 nights at Site: 130. Check-in Time is 12:00 PM and Check-out Time was also 12:00 PM.

This was a great site especially if you have kids with you. We had a 4 and 6 year old with us and the bathroom was super close to the site. The site was also close to the creek and little pools formed to dip your feet in... water was cold at the end of August! Loved the fire pit and the table and our camping neighbors were super friendly.

The site was also walking distance to the shuttles that takes you to the various areas of the majestic and beautiful national park: Morro Rock, General Sherman Tree, Museum center, etc. We even saw bears while we were in the shuttle.

The kids loved seeing deers, chipmunks and the bears from inside the shuttle. There was a bear's bathing pool that I wanted to check out but we didn't get to... NEXT TIME FOR SURE 😊

This was stop to be able to visit Manzanar Internment camp.

Tent sites are gravel and mostly level. They all have water, a table and fire ring. Trees are still young. Very close to Owens lake(within view).

We had a lot of wind that came blowing up the valley from the south. There is very little protection for the tent campsites. Almost killed the tent.

Hosts were very helpful in getting us situated despite the need to switch sites(too many people).

Free muffins and coffee in the morning! Nice pool and hot tub, as well as bathrooms and laundry facilities.

Easy access into  town for dinner or groceries.

If you’re looking to camp in California, Sequoia National Park should be one of your top destinations. They have cabin and tent camping. I have stayed in both. There are trails galore and GIGANTIC trees bigger than your car. This beautiful setting is worth visiting year round and I recommend camping during the less touristy times in early Spring and Fall. You are near lakes, waterfalls, and an array of bodies of water. I recommend coming up the back end up the park for an easier ascent rather than via the 198. The 198 takes you up a steep, but beautiful, hair pin turn ridden road. If you get car sick easily, take the route through Fresno.

We were able to stay in the cabins for a night and they were small but clean. Some cabins have electric and some do not, but honestly, electric is not necessary while camping here so if you can’t don’t have it don’t worry. The area is very close to some awesome sequoia groves and was very quiet which was great. There are showers for people who stay in certain areas, but you need tokens from the front desk at check in. Don’t forget to ask, we didn’t know until we were naked, ready to go :). Hosts were very nice. Overall, great experience here.

Backing up to the John Muir Trail all the way into the back country of the high Sierra is this Gem of a ranch. It has amazing amenities, such as cabins, tent cabins, developed hot springs, all meals included, toilets and running water, horses back tours/packing, backpacker resupply, and store. 

Getting there however is quite a feat. First you have to traverse a one lane road nearly 30 miles back into Florence Lake. Then you have to take a boat ride to the other side of the lake, and finally you have to hike 5+ miles to the ranch. It is all worth it for the sunning views, great food, amazing fishing, hiking, and all around experience.

Somewhere up near the starry night a pinecone the size of a cat begins its descent to the soft, needle laden ground below. It softly thumps against a branch, and then another, and still another. What seems like minutes, indeed enough time to walk a ways down a path, or find the restroom, or toss a ball many times with kids, the soft thumping grows a little louder, and boldly becomes a clunk…clunk…thunk…until the pinecone emerges from the cover of limbs and lands…bouncing…on the ground at my feet. This is the mighty sugar pine; a tree whose girth is so large in its own right that our family of five cannot manage to stretch our arms, hand-in-hand, around the whole of the tree. And yet, like the small dog that mercilessly barks, the giant sugar pine displays its fantastically large pinecones as a means to say, "I am here", rather than get lost among the biggest trees in the world by volume---the giant sequoias.

This isn't just a land of giant trees. Sequoia and King's Canyon boast some of the most grandiose monuments in all of the continental United States: the deepest canyon, the tallest mountain, incredible caves, the view from Morro Rock, a collection of some of the highest mountain passes, and an expansive backcountry wilderness. Despite the many wonderful park visual aids to teach visitors about the size of these great sequoias, and even standing at the foot of these great trees, I found it impossible to comprehend their size. The extremes of this beautiful place bring with them a sense of humility, much like standing at the edge of the ocean, and all that remains is peace and serenity. While we found this park to be far more awe-inspiring than Yosemite, really than any of the any parks we've visited, it is far less touristed and crowded.

And then there is the wildlife. California Black Bears were resting in every meadow that we walked by, usually making a meal of grubs in the rotting logs. We stopped to let a mama Quail pass with all her babies in a row behind her. Marmots greeted us from the hidden nooks, running here and there to find something to nibble.

With a national park like this, I'd be willing to sleep in my car! But I didn't have to, fortunately. We stayed in a cabin in Grant Grove, centrally located in the park. The cabin was furnished perfectly, and included all that we needed for bedding. There was a lovely fire fueled stove outside on the covered patio. The showers were good enough and there was a place to wash dishes. Grant Village has a large market for groceries, a restaurant and a visitor center. There is a free shuttle that runs through the park to alleviate any concerns about parking. This review is for General Grant Cabins, which are reservable from a separate entity via the National Parks system. However, it is alongside a campground area where tents and RVs can be parked. This is marked cabins only due to the NPS divisions--search for the campground to learn how to set up a tent or park an RV at the very same location.

This campground is a hidden gem . Absolutely beautiful place to get away.

This is a great place to stay a couple of nights if your looking to acclimate a bit before going Mt. Whitney. It's also just a beautiful campground in general. There are hiking trails from the campground itself, a gorgeous river flowing through it and the camp sites are spacious. It is a short drive from the Whitney Portal Store which has the biggest pancakes I've ever seen and if you go the other way, you can easily get to the Alabama Hills or the cute town of Lone Pine. The sites are shaded and there are pit toilets. It's a terrific campground for families or people just looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city!

CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Big Pine Creek Campground, CA

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20312&actid=31

As we traveled up Rt 395, along the Eastern Sierras, we searched for a campground offering trails into the wilderness…but also one with a shower, as they seem to be a rare commodity…and our last campground was primitive.

Reviews stated Big Pine Creek had showers and modern restrooms, so we drove through the night arriving at 7:00 Sunday morning…hoping for an available site. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.

Turns out, the camper at site 2, beside the Host site, was packing up…so we claim jumped the site. Also turns out…after we paid $22 for the night…Big Pine Creek Campground does not have showers, nor modern restrooms.

So, to set the record straight…there are vault latrines and a river of cold glacier runoff of roughly 40F degrees. However, next to Big Pine Creek Campground is Glacier Lodge (they share the same entrance road and is privately owned)…and they will rent you a shower for $5/5 minutes. For that $5 shower, you can use the modern toilet.

Don’t let that run you off, though. We loved Big Pine Creek Campground. The sites are spacious and the backdrop is gorgeous. Not many campgrounds offer stellar trails into the Inyo John Muir Wilderness…more on that later. Mule deer roam between campsites, ground squirrels and magpies are everywhere. We also noted a resident lizard.

Most sites are somewhat tiered because of the sloped terrain. Site 2 parking pad was large enough for our SUV, but little else. You have a large bear resistant locker in front of a large fixed picnic table, situated on a large, raised, leveled pad that also has the fire pit. Up a few steps is the raised timber tent pad. Numerous large pines and smaller hardwoods populate the sites. Our neighboring site was visible with little obstruction, but was occupied by a delightful French family on holiday, that we enjoyed.

Big Pine Creek Campground is often filled with campers from all over the world and makes for interesting conversations.

Drinking water was a little walk. Last year’s winter had an avalanche destroy their water lines, so others were rerouted. No electric. Also, no cell service. Perfect for unplugging, relaxing and meeting your fellow campers.

There is a trout pond near the entrance that folks were capitalizing on. They were also fishing the creek. The glacier fed creek is cold…like 38 degrees cold. The trails…in a word…Epic!

The North Trail was incredible. We started late and only went to the first and second of seven alpine glacier lakes. The water is so emerald green, it’s surreal. We hiked out and back in 6.5 hours, taking an hour respite for a polar bear plunge in the near freezing lake. I was advised we missed the most beautiful third lake…also referred to as Emerald Lake. The North Fork Trail into The John Muir Wilderness does require permits for backcountry camping…an easy process and well worth it…https://www.recreation.gov/permits/John_Muir_Trail_North_Of_Devils_Postpile_Aa10/r/entranceEntryExitDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72203&entranceId=315543&permitTypeId=1009473747&entryType=1

Of note, along the way is Lon Chaney’s (of Frankenstein, Werewolf and Hunchback of Notre Dame movie fame) backcountry cabin. Lon Chaney would bring guests back by horse and mule train. Upon his passing, it was gifted to the parks.

One horse/mule train passed us on the trail, returning after they deposited their riders and goods out into the wilderness.

The host couple were very helpful and a joy to glean local and trail information from.

A wonderful campground to visit.

Great place to stay. With clean sites and plentiful amenities, you can camp comfortably while seeing the sites that California has to offer.

Of all the places we took our kids on their first camping road trip (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone etc)it was right here in California that they found their favorite here at Kings; big trees ( and fallen giants you could walk through) cave tours, hikes, rivers .. they loved it. So much to cover its best to go to Recreation.gov and choose your camp area. Highly recommended by this family !

Getting there: A long drive on windy roads behind people generally doing 10mph under the speed limit. Take your time because you sure wont be able to rush. Once inside the campground the road looks more like a lunar landscape with more potholes than pavement. Campsites: The group campsites are fairly spacious and easily fit 15 of us, they are rated to hold 20 people but that might be a bit of a squeeze. All the campsites provide 3 picnic benches, 3 bear boxes (not enough so be weary of how many coolers you have), and only one fire pit with grill grate. Trying to get 15 people around a single fire pit and still within range of the warmth was a major issue. There are shared restroom areas with full plumbing and potable water through the campsite. This campsite was also really, really far away from most of the stuff we wanted to do, I would NOT stay at this campsite again. WARNING: The rangers here are asshats. They were constantly patrolling and searching for a reason to write us a ticket (-1 star). They gave us 3 warnings the first day of our stay for BS nit picky reason (we don't want to put our shit in the bear bin when we are sitting around snacking on it you dick). The Park: Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park were nice but everything you want to do is at least an hour drive each way on windy roads. Kind of a pain. What to do: Go out on some hikes, there are a ton of trails. Go see the giant Sequoias, either General Sherman or General Grant. Go explore some caves, they are awesome.

I came here extra early to get this site because it is a first come first serve thing. The campsite I got was great. There was restrooms fire rings and tables. At night you have to store your food in the bear box because there are bears in this area. It was 18 dollars a night

Sequoia is one of the most underrated parks. It’s is an incredible place. The moment you’re on that winding highway and see the reddish color of a sequoia tree, the feeling is unspeakable.

This Park has everything you need, from food, trails, and views. It’s is incredible to spend a weekend or a week here. I’ve been to redwood and sequoia and sequoia has won me over. The trees are not only MASSIVE in height but also around. The campground is clean and well organized. VISIT SEQUIOA!

Threse are group sites, and they are ample in space and amenities. There are four group sites available and they are currently 2018 renovating some of the sites.

Flush toilets and water spigots throughout the campsites. The road within the campsites is not very good.

We booked this campground for a family vacation it was everything we hoped for. The site could easily accommodate 20 people. Each site had 4 bear boxes which was plenty for our group. Bathrooms were kept clean. It is at the bottom of the canyon so if you want to do the activities up in Sequoia National Park it is about a 2 hr drive each way. This did not bother us as we just enjoyed the views. The campground was quiet at about 8:30 each night. We would definitely stay here again

Wonderful mostly shaded spots next to the Kings river. Spaces next to the meadow are especially nice. Lots of bird watching opportunities. Amenities are the usual for a national park campground. There are showers, laundry, store, and food within walking distance at Cedar Grove. There is also a very small visitor center and amphitheater for ranger presentations. You also have several day hiking opportunities from the campground and even more a short walk or drive away.

We camped in a site near the restrooms and a trail. There was a small stream at the back of the site that occupied kids making fairy houses for hours. Beyond that was the river, which gave a peaceful backdrop for sleep. Plenty of shade, water spigot very convenient. Definitely coming back.

We loved this campground. Far from most of the hiking and especially from the entrance but the roaring river was definitely the highlight of our trip! Very nice cool weather!

Beautiful campground close to the ranger station, surrounded by pine trees and rivers. We had site 8, which was a large site close to the restrooms. there were several great spots to put a tent, a large fallen tree separating use from a site on one side, and backs to a beautiful meadow. We had a pop up trailer and two large dogs which must always a be on a leash. There was a large bear box, a new large picnic table and a fire pit.

Our family has been coming to Kings for over 40 years so we love it. Coming in July, we spend our days at the river swimming and lounging. This trip we encountered quite a bit of afternoon rain and thunderstorms for the first 5 days. Usually it’s not super crowded but this time Yosemite closed from the fires and we got inundated with a lot of ill-mannered people.

There are beautiful hikes, rivers for fishing, lots of wildlife, and beautiful views. There is a small store and snack bar nearby. Sentinel is probably one of the quieter campgrounds because it’s close to the ranger station.

Some cautions: very steep and twisting road to enter the canyon. We had some damage to our van from rocks coming down to the road as we were driving on. The thousand foot steep drop made it hard to swerve. Also there are bears so don’t leave any food out or in your tent. If you leave your coolers in your car make sure the are covered. Be careful in the rivers as the current is super strong. Also please pick up your trash.

King’s Canyon is equally amazing, but much less crowded, than Yosemite Valley. We visited on the Sun/Mon after July 4th, and although this campground was almost full, the others in the canyon were completely empty the entire time. Leaving us the run of the park when it came to visiting sites and hiking.

Although everyone should visit the Yosemite Valley at least once, Kings Canyon would be my multi-day choice a second time around for sure. Crystal clear waters, scenic hiking and stunning waterfalls.

Campsites are typical national park style, with minimal ground cover and no firewood to collect. It should go without saying that this is an active bear area, and all rules apply.

Services are very limited after dark throughout the Sierra Nevada park systems, and the remote location makes modern amenities hard to come by. Bring anything you think you may need.

Basic bathrooms, no showers. Small store/rangers office and maybe a small eatery open in peak season throughout the day.

Sentinel campground is closest to the ranger station, where the Mational Park service rangers host many programs. There is also a small store and informational center with the rangers station. They also operate an outdoor ampitheather.

Close also to the general store, which is about a quarter mile away. There are spots available there. Also rooms for rent,

Flush toilets and water spigots are available throughout the campsites.